📋 Contents
📱 App Overview
RF View is a professional S-parameter analysis tool designed for RF engineers who need fast, accurate inspection of Touchstone files on the go. It covers the complete RF characterization workflow — from raw data visualization to circuit simulation and component specification checking — all in a mobile-optimized interface.
5 Chart Types
dB Magnitude, Phase, Smith Chart, VSWR, and Group Delay in a single app.
Circuit Simulator
Build RF networks with L/C/R and transmission line elements. Auto impedance matching and Monte Carlo analysis.
SNP Batch Converter
7 conversion tools: format convert, port mapping, slicing, frequency trim, alignment, CSV export, and band summary.
6 RF Calculators
Band/Frequency lookup, Microstrip, Filter Design, Attenuator, S11↔Z, Q/Loss.
Share & Receive
Open SNP files directly from email, file manager, or cloud storage via Android's share intent.
Band Labels
Markers automatically label LTE, 5G NR, GSM, WiFi, and UMTS bands at each measurement frequency.
🗂️ Navigation & Tab Structure
RF View uses a bottom tab bar with six tabs. Tap any tab to switch instantly — each tab maintains its own independent state.
Cross-Tab Transfers
Data flows seamlessly between tabs. You never need to re-import a file manually:
| From | To | What is transferred |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | Simulator | Loaded SNP file as DUT reference for matching |
| Plot | Converter | Selected (checked) files for batch processing |
| Simulator | Plot | Simulation result as an overlaid trace |
| Converter | Plot | Converted output files for visualization |
| Utils | Simulator | Attenuator or filter network blocks |
📂 Loading SNP Files
RF View supports Touchstone files of any port count: .s1p, .s2p, .s3p, .s4p, and beyond. It also opens .zip archives containing multiple SNP files.
Methods to Open a File
File Picker (Open button)
Tap the Open (folder icon) button in the Plot tab app bar. The system file picker opens — navigate to your SNP file and tap it. Multiple files can be selected at once for overlay.
Share Intent (from another app)
In any Android file manager, email client, or cloud app (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), share or open a .snp / .s2p file with RF View. The file loads directly into the Plot tab.
Load from Examples (Others tab)
Go to Others → Examples for a curated set of real-world SNP files. Tap any example to load it instantly into the Plot or Simulator tab.
Load a ZIP archive
Select a .zip file containing SNP files. RF View extracts all Touchstone files from the archive and loads them as overlaid traces.
📊 Plot Tab — S-Parameter Analysis
The Plot tab is the core of RF View. It displays S-parameter data as interactive charts with markers, legends, and frequency band labels.
Chart Types
Selecting Chart Type & Parameter
- Tap the chart type selector (top-left of the chart area) to cycle through dB Mag → Phase → Smith → VSWR → Group Delay.
- For multi-port files, tap the S-parameter selector (e.g. S11 / S21 / S12 / S22) to choose which parameter to display.
- Multiple parameters from the same or different files can be overlaid simultaneously.
Toolbar Actions
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Open (📂) | Open file picker to load SNP / ZIP files |
| Clear (✕) | Remove all loaded traces |
| Marker (Mkr) | Add / remove frequency marker lines |
| Mkr→CSV | Export marker readout table as a CSV file |
| → Sim | Send current SNP file to the Simulator tab as DUT |
| → Conv | Send checked files to the Converter tab for batch processing |
| Fit (⊡) | Reset zoom to show the full frequency range |
Smith Chart Display Formats
Tap the readout box on the Smith Chart to cycle between display formats:
| Format | Readout shows |
|---|---|
| R + jX (50Ω) | Resistance and reactance normalized to 50 Ω |
| Real + Imag | Real and imaginary parts of reflection coefficient Γ |
| Mag + Phase | |Γ| and angle in degrees (linear magnitude) |
| Log + Phase | |Γ| in dB and angle in degrees |
📍 Markers & Measurements
Markers let you read the exact S-parameter value at any frequency. RF View supports single and multi-band marker modes.
Adding Markers
- Tap Mkr in the toolbar to enter marker mode.
- Single Marker — tap anywhere on the chart to place one marker line. Drag it left/right to sweep the frequency.
- Multi Marker — place multiple markers at specific frequencies. Ideal for checking several band edges simultaneously.
- The marker readout box shows the frequency and S-parameter value for each marker. It can be dragged to any corner.
Band Label Markers
When you place a marker in the frequency range of a known mobile or Wi-Fi band, RF View automatically shows the band label (e.g. LTE B1, NR n78, WiFi 2.4G) next to the marker line. Supported standards:
- LTE FDD & TDD (Bands B1–B71)
- 5G NR Sub-6 (Bands n1–n79)
- UMTS / WCDMA
- GSM / EDGE
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E)
Exporting Marker Data
Tap Mkr→CSV to export all marker readings as a CSV file. The file contains frequency (MHz), S-parameter value, and band label for each marker. Share the CSV directly from the app via the Android share sheet.
🔄 Converter Tab — SNP Batch Tools
The Converter tab provides seven specialized tools for processing Touchstone files. All tools support batch input — load multiple files at once for efficient processing.
📄 SNP → CSV
Convert S-parameter data to CSV format. Choose between wide (columns per parameter) or long (row per frequency per parameter) layout. Supports dB/Phase, Re/Im, and Mag/Phase output.
📊 SNP Summary Table
Generate a band-wise loss summary table (Tx/Rx Low/Mid/High channel) for multiple SNP files. Perfect for production test reporting. Export as CSV.
✂️ SxP → S2P (Slicing)
Extract a 2-port subset from a multi-port SNP file. Select which two ports to keep. Outputs a clean S2P file.
🔀 Port Mapping
Rearrange port numbering in an SNP file. Useful when DUT and test fixture use different port conventions.
🔁 Format Convert
Convert between Touchstone data formats: RI (real/imaginary), MA (magnitude/angle), and DB (dB/angle). Also converts frequency units (Hz, MHz, GHz).
📐 Frequency Range Modify
Trim the frequency range of an SNP file to a specified start/stop. Useful for sharing only the relevant frequency window with colleagues.
↔️ Align Two SNP
Interpolate two SNP files onto a common frequency grid. Choose grid A or grid B as the reference. Essential before cascading or comparing files with different sweep grids.
Workflow
Select a tool
Tap the desired conversion tool from the list at the top of the Converter tab.
Load input files
Tap Add Files to open the file picker. Select one or more SNP / ZIP files. Files can also be sent from the Plot tab via the → Conv button.
Configure options
Set tool-specific parameters (output format, port numbers, frequency range, etc.).
Run & export
Tap Convert / Run. The output appears in a preview. Tap Save to write to storage or Share to send via the Android share sheet. Tap → Plot to visualize the result immediately.
🔬 Simulator Tab — Circuit Simulation
The Simulator tab lets you build and simulate RF circuit networks using lumped and distributed elements. Simulation results can be sent directly to the Plot tab for comparison with measured data.
Circuit Elements
| Element | Type | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Inductor (L) | Lumped | Inductance (nH), placement (series/shunt) |
| Capacitor (C) | Lumped | Capacitance (pF), placement (series/shunt) |
| Resistor (R) | Lumped | Resistance (Ω), placement (series/shunt) |
| Transmission Line | Distributed | Z0, electrical length (degrees) or physical length |
| Microstrip Line | Distributed | Width, length, substrate parameters (εr, h, t) |
| Open/Short Stub | Distributed | Z0, electrical length, termination type |
| DUT (S2P file) | Measured | Load from file; used as a black-box 2-port |
Building a Circuit
Add elements
Tap ＋ to add a circuit element. Choose the type (L, C, R, TL, Microstrip, etc.) and set placement (series or shunt). Elements are added in cascade from port 1 to port 2.
Set element values
Tap any element in the circuit list to open its value editor. Enter inductance, capacitance, resistance, or transmission line parameters.
Set frequency range & reference impedance
Set the simulation frequency range (Start / Stop / Points) and port reference impedance Z0 (default 50 Ω).
Simulate
Tap Simulate. The S-parameters of the circuit are computed and displayed in the simulator's built-in chart. Tap → Plot to send the result to the Plot tab for overlay with measured data.
🎯 Impedance Matching
The Simulator tab includes a powerful impedance matching engine. Load a DUT S-parameter file and RF View will automatically synthesize an L/C matching network to achieve the best return loss at your target frequency.
Auto Matching Workflow
Load DUT
In the Simulator tab, tap Load DUT (or send a file from the Plot tab via → Sim). The DUT's S11 is loaded as the source impedance for matching.
Set target frequency & bandwidth
Enter the Tune frequency (the center frequency to match) and Bandwidth for the matching optimization window.
Choose element type
Select Ideal (ideal L/C, no parasitics) for quick topology exploration, or Real (library component values) for implementation-ready designs.
Run Auto Match
Tap Auto Match. RF View sweeps multiple L-network topologies and presents the best-performing matching network. The result is loaded into the circuit for further tuning.
Monte Carlo Tolerance Analysis PRO
After building a circuit, tap Monte Carlo to run a statistical analysis of how component tolerances (±1%, ±5%, ±10%) affect the circuit's S-parameters. A band of traces shows the worst-case and typical spread, letting you assess manufacturing yield before ordering parts.
🧮 Utils Tab — RF Calculators
Six standalone RF engineering calculators, each accessible from the Utils tab menu.
📻 Band / Frequency Calculator
Look up Tx/Rx frequency ranges and channel bandwidths for LTE, 5G NR, UMTS, GSM, and Wi-Fi bands. Enter a frequency and instantly see which bands overlap. Tap a band to set it as the active marker frequency in the Plot tab.
🎛️ Filter Design
Synthesize basic RF filter prototype networks (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-stop). Select order, topology (Butterworth, Chebyshev), and cutoff frequency. Send the filter network directly to the Simulator tab.
📏 Microstrip Calculator
Calculate microstrip line characteristics from physical dimensions (width, height, thickness, substrate εr, tan δ). Outputs: Z0, effective dielectric constant εeff, conductor loss, dielectric loss, total loss (dB/mm), and guided wavelength λg. Based on the Hammerstad/Jensen model.
⬛ Attenuator Calculator
Design T-pad and Pi-pad attenuators for a given attenuation (dB) and reference impedance. Shows R1/R2/R3 values. The attenuator network can be loaded directly into the Simulator tab.
↔️ S11 ↔ Z Calculator
Convert between reflection coefficient (S11 in dB or Γ magnitude) and impedance (R + jX or Z magnitude). Enter either side and the other is computed instantly. Supports arbitrary reference impedance.
📉 Q / Loss Calculator
Estimate the Q factor and equivalent series resistance (ESR) of a reactive component from its measured S-parameters or impedance data. Useful for evaluating real-world inductor and capacitor quality.
📂 Others Tab — Examples & Videos
Built-in Example Files
Tap Others → Examples to access a library of pre-loaded SNP example files covering common RF use cases:
| Example | What it demonstrates | Loads into |
|---|---|---|
| Band 71 Duplexer | B71 Tx/Rx isolation, multi-band marker table | Plot tab with band markers |
| 2-Port Matching | Automatic L-network impedance matching at 2150 MHz | Simulator (pre-configured auto match) |
| LB Antenna S1P | Low-band antenna S11 matching at 845 MHz | Simulator (L/C matching) |
| Z2P_E Example | Two-port impedance element matching at 4 GHz | Simulator (MLIN matching) |
| 2.4 GHz WiFi BPF | Band-pass filter tuning at 2.442 GHz | Simulator (filter tuning) |
| Duplexer Summary | Band-wise Tx/Rx loss table for 4 × S3P files | Converter → SNP Summary |
Video Clips
Tap Others → Video Clips to watch short tutorial videos demonstrating RF View workflows — from loading your first SNP file to building a full matching network.
⭐ Free vs Pro
RF View is free to download and use for core S-parameter analysis. The Pro upgrade unlocks advanced design features.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| S-parameter plots (all 5 types) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Markers & band labels | ✅ | ✅ |
| SNP batch converter (all 7 tools) | ✅ | ✅ |
| RF utility calculators (all 6) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Circuit simulator (L/C/R/TL) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto impedance matching | ✅ | ✅ |
| Monte Carlo tolerance analysis | — | ✅ |
| Real component library matching | — | ✅ |
| Advanced simulator elements (Z2P) | — | ✅ |
| Unlimited file overlay | — | ✅ |
👆 Gestures & Tips
Chart Gestures
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Pinch / spread | Zoom in / out on frequency axis |
| One-finger drag | Pan the chart horizontally |
| Double-tap | Reset zoom to full frequency range |
| Tap on marker line | Select marker for dragging |
| Drag marker line | Move marker to a new frequency |
| Drag marker readout box | Reposition the measurement readout |
| Long-press on trace | Show trace options (rename, delete, change color) |
Pro Tips
- 📊 Overlay measured vs simulated. Load your DUT's measured S2P in Plot, send it to Simulator, run auto match, then send the simulation result back to Plot — all without leaving the app.
- 🏷️ Let band labels do the work. Place a marker near a band edge and RF View shows the exact band name automatically. No need to memorize frequency tables.
- 📤 Share from any tab. Every output (CSV, converted SNP, simulation result) can be shared via the Android share sheet — send to email, cloud storage, or another app instantly.
- 📂 Use ZIP for lab sessions. Zip all your SNP files from a measurement session into one archive. Open the ZIP in RF View to load everything at once.
- 🔄 Pipeline your workflow. Converter → Plot → Simulator → Plot. Data flows between tabs without re-importing, making iterative design loops fast.
- 🎛️ Tune after auto match. Use Auto Match to get close, then fine-tune element values manually. The simulator updates the chart in real time as you adjust.