📋 Contents
🖥️ App Overview & Desktop Advantages
RF View Desktop is the full-featured Windows version of RF View — the professional S-parameter analysis tool for RF engineers. While the Android version is optimized for on-the-go inspection, the Desktop version adds a persistent 3-panel workspace, direct VNA instrument control via GPIB, multi-graph session management, and full config save/load (PCF files).
Built-in File Explorer
Browse, filter, and load SNP files without leaving the app. Bookmarks, drag-and-drop, multi-select.
VNA GPIB Control
Connect directly to your Vector Network Analyzer over GPIB. Capture screenshots and pull S-parameter data live.
Multi-Graph Layout
Manage multiple simultaneous graphs (dB, Phase, Smith Chart, Group Delay) in a single session.
PCF Config Files
Save and restore your entire workspace — graphs, settings, and window size — in a single PCF file.
De-embedding
Remove fixture or cable effects from measurements at input/output ports independently.
Independent Simulator
The Simulator tab has its own Graph List and Plot Settings, fully independent from the main Plot tab.
🗺️ 3-Panel Layout
RF View Desktop uses a two-column layout: a fixed-width Side Panel on the left and the Main Content Area on the right. The Side Panel contains multiple collapsible sections stacked vertically.
📁 File Explorer
The built-in File Explorer lets you navigate your file system and load SNP (Touchstone) files directly without using system dialogs.
Navigation
- Address bar — type or paste a full directory path and press Enter to jump directly to any folder.
- Parent folder button (↑) — go up one directory level.
- Refresh button — reload the current directory listing.
- Double-click folder — enter the folder.
Bookmarks
- Bookmark up to 5 frequently-used folders for one-click access.
- Click the bookmark icon (★) next to the current path to save it.
- Click a saved bookmark chip to jump to that folder instantly.
- Right-click a bookmark chip to remove it.
Loading SNP Files
- Double-click an
.s1p/.s2p/.sNpfile to load it into the current tab. - Drag and drop one or more SNP files from the explorer directly onto the chart area.
- Multi-select (Ctrl+click or Shift+click) then drag to load multiple files at once.
- ZIP files containing SNP files can also be opened by double-click.
Multi-Select & Context Menu
| Action | How to |
|---|---|
| Select individual files | Ctrl+Click |
| Select a range | Shift+Click |
| Select all | Ctrl+A |
| Copy selected files | Ctrl+C or right-click → Copy |
| Cut selected files | Ctrl+X or right-click → Cut |
| Paste files | Ctrl+V or right-click → Paste |
| Delete selected files | Delete or right-click → Delete |
| Rename file | F2 or right-click → Rename |
.s1p, .s2p, .s3p, .s4p extensions are shown with a distinct color so you can spot them at a glance in mixed-content folders.
📊 Graph List Panel
The Graph List is the control center for managing all your S-parameter plots in the current session. Each row (entry) defines one trace on the chart.
Adding & Removing Graphs
- Add (＋) — append a new graph entry with default settings.
- Delete (✕) — remove the selected entry.
- Duplicate (⧉) — copy the selected entry (useful for comparing the same parameter in different chart types).
- Drag to reorder — drag the handle on the left of each row to change the display order.
Per-Entry Configuration
| Field | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Type | dB Mag · Phase · Smith Chart · Group Delay | Display format for this trace |
| Output Port (i) | 1, 2, 3, 4… | First index of Sij |
| Input Port (j) | 1, 2, 3, 4… | Second index of Sij |
| Title | Free text | Auto-filled as "Sij" but editable |
Chart Type Reference
| Chart Type | Y-axis / Display | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| dB Magnitude | dB (e.g. –20 dB to 0 dB) | Return loss, insertion loss, gain |
| Phase | Degrees (–180° to +180°) | Phase response, group delay estimation |
| Smith Chart | Normalized impedance / admittance | Impedance matching, stability circles |
| Group Delay | Time (ns / ps) | Filter flatness, signal integrity |
⚙️ Plot Settings Panel
When you select (click) a row in the Graph List, its detailed settings appear in the Plot Settings Panel below. Changes take effect immediately on the chart.
Display Options
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Graph Title | Text label shown on the chart. Leave blank to hide. |
| Show Title | Toggle title visibility on the chart canvas. |
| Show Legend | Toggle the file/trace legend box. |
| Show Markers | Toggle frequency marker lines and the marker readout box. |
Marker Frequencies
Enter one or more frequencies in the Marker Freqs (MHz) field, separated by commas or spaces. The chart draws a vertical line and shows the S-parameter value at each frequency.
Example: 700, 850, 1900, 2100, 2600 — places markers at LTE Band 28, B5, B2/B25, B1, and B7 uplink edges.
Frequency Range (Start / Stop)
By default the chart shows the full frequency range of the loaded file. Override with explicit Start Freq (MHz) and Stop Freq (MHz) values to zoom into a specific band.
Y-Axis (Cartesian Charts)
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Ref Level (dB) | The top edge of the Y-axis. Default: 0 dB. |
| Y Span (dB) | Total vertical range. Default: 100 dB. Example: Ref=0, Span=60 → Y from 0 to –60 dB. |
Smith Chart Display Format
| Format | What is displayed in the readout box |
|---|---|
| R+jX (50Ω) | Resistance + reactance referred to 50 Ω reference |
| Real + Imag | Real and imaginary parts of the reflection coefficient Γ |
| Mag + Phase | Magnitude and phase angle of Γ (linear) |
| Log + Phase | Magnitude in dB and phase angle of Γ |
Smith Chart Frequency Range Indicator
The Show Freq Range toggle (Smith chart only) draws start/stop frequency markers on the Smith chart arc, making it easy to see which portion of the arc corresponds to your band of interest.
Legend & Marker Box Position
The legend and marker readout boxes can be dragged anywhere on the chart canvas. Their positions are saved per-entry in the Graph List and are also persisted in PCF config files.
🔤 Chart Font & Text Settings
RF View Desktop allows fine-grained control over every text element on the chart. Access the font dialog by double-clicking the section header of the Graph List or Plot Settings panel.
Configurable Text Elements
- Chart title
- Axis labels (frequency, dB / phase / delay)
- Tick labels (axis scale numbers)
- Legend text
- Marker readout box text
- Smith chart impedance annotation
Font Settings Per Element
- Font size — adjust independently for each element
- Bold / Italic — style toggles per element
- Color — pick any color for each text element
💾 Config Save / Load (PCF Files)
RF View Desktop introduces PCF (Plot Configuration File) — a JSON-based workspace snapshot that captures your entire session so you can resume exactly where you left off.
What a PCF File Contains
- All Graph List entries (chart type, port selections, display name)
- Plot Settings for every entry (markers, legend, freq range, Y-axis, Smith format)
- Legend and marker box positions
- Chart font / text styles
- De-embed file paths and flip settings
- Window width and height (restored on load)
Config Menu Buttons
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Load | Open a .pcf or .pcfs file and restore the full workspace. The window is automatically resized to match the saved dimensions. |
| Save | Overwrite the currently loaded config file. If no file is loaded yet, behaves as Save As. |
| Save As | Save the current workspace to a new file chosen via a system dialog. |
| Sync | Pull the latest graph data from the chart and write it back to the current PCF (useful after dragging legend/marker boxes). |
.pcf is the standard single-file config. .pcfs is the Simulator tab variant — it contains independent Graph List and Plot Settings for the circuit simulator. Both are plain JSON and can be opened in a text editor.
Workflow: Session Handoff
Set up your workspace
Load SNP files, configure Graph List entries, adjust Plot Settings, position legends and markers.
Save the config
Click Save As in the Config menu and name the file (e.g. lna_test_2025.pcf). The current window size is saved.
Resume next time
Click Load, select the PCF file. The window resizes, the Graph List is restored, and all settings are applied — ready to continue immediately.
📡 VNA GPIB Connection
RF View Desktop communicates directly with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) over the GPIB interface using the NI-VISA driver — no Python or additional libraries required. Simply install the GPIB-USB driver and connect.
Requirements
- GPIB-USB adapter with NI-VISA driver installed
(e.g. NI GPIB-USB-HS, Keysight 82357B — driver installation automatically includes NI-VISA) - NI-VISA (standalone, if not bundled with the adapter driver)
→ Download NI-VISA (free) - A GPIB-capable VNA (Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, Anritsu, etc.)
visa64.dll (installed by the NI-VISA driver) directly — no Python or pyvisa needed. Keysight IO Libraries Suite also provides a compatible visa64.dll and works the same way.
Compatible GPIB-USB Adapters
| Adapter | Manufacturer | Required Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GPIB-USB-HS | National Instruments (NI) | NI-488.2 / NI-VISA (includes visa64.dll) |
| GPIB-USB-HS+ | National Instruments (NI) | NI-488.2 / NI-VISA |
| 82357B / 82357A | Keysight (Agilent) | Keysight IO Libraries Suite (includes visa64.dll) |
| GPIB-USB-B | National Instruments (NI) | NI-488.2 / NI-VISA |
Setup Steps
Install the GPIB-USB driver
Connect the GPIB-USB adapter to your PC and install its driver. The driver installer automatically sets up NI-VISA (visa64.dll) on your system — no separate download needed in most cases.
Connect the adapter to the VNA
Connect the GPIB cable from the adapter to the VNA's GPIB port. Confirm the VNA's GPIB address in its system settings (typically found under System → I/O Settings or similar). The default address in RF View is 17.
Enter the GPIB address and click Connect
In the VNA Connection section of the side panel, type the GPIB address and click Connect. RF View calls visa64.dll directly and queries *IDN?. On success, the instrument's IDN string is shown (e.g. Keysight Technologies,E5071C,…).
Use instrument functions
Click Save PNG to capture the VNA screen and save it to the current explorer directory. Click Disconnect when done to release the GPIB resource cleanly.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| visa64.dll not found | NI-VISA or GPIB-USB driver not installed | Install the NI-VISA driver or the GPIB-USB adapter driver, then restart the app. |
| viOpen GPIB0::17::INSTR failed | Wrong GPIB address or VNA not connected | Check the GPIB address in the VNA's system menu; inspect the GPIB cable connection. |
| *IDN? failed — check instrument connection | VNA not responding (mid-sweep, locked state, etc.) | Wait for the VNA to become idle and retry. Check that Remote mode is enabled on the VNA. |
| Save PNG failed | No write permission on the target folder | Navigate the explorer to a folder you own (Documents, Desktop) and try again. |
| Connected but screen capture fails | SCPI command varies by VNA model | Currently optimized for Keysight E5071C / E5080B series. Support for other models will be added in a future update. |
🔄 De-embed Panel
De-embedding removes the effect of a fixture, connector, or cable from your measurement. RF View Desktop supports independent de-embedding at both the input and output ports.
How It Works
You provide a separate SNP file (the de-embed file) measured for the fixture. RF View mathematically removes the fixture's S-parameters from the DUT measurement before plotting. The Flip option reverses the port orientation of the de-embed file — useful when your fixture's port 1 faces the DUT's port 2.
Setup Steps
Enable Input De-embed
Check Use Input De-embed and either type the path or browse to the fixture SNP file for port 1 (input side).
Enable Output De-embed (optional)
If the output port also has a fixture, check Use Output De-embed and select the corresponding SNP file.
Set Flip if needed
If the fixture was measured with its ports reversed (port 2 → DUT), enable Flip Input or Flip Output as appropriate.
Apply
Click Apply. The chart updates immediately to show the de-embedded result. Click Clear to revert to the raw measurement.
🗂️ Main Tabs Overview
The main content area is organized into five tabs. Each tab provides a distinct set of functions.
| Tab | Description | Desktop-Exclusive Features |
|---|---|---|
| Plot | Load and visualize Touchstone files. The primary S-parameter analysis workspace. | Multi-file overlay, Graph List, Plot Settings, De-embed, PCF save/load |
| Converter | Batch-convert SNP files: format conversion (RI/MA/DB), port mapping, slicing, CSV export. | Drag-and-drop batch input from File Explorer |
| Simulator | Build RF circuits with L/C/R and transmission line blocks. Run simulations and send results to a built-in plot. | Independent Graph List & Plot Settings — the simulator has its own separate graph management panel (suffix "(Sim)" in the side panel labels) |
| Utils | RF utility calculators: Band/Frequency lookup, Microstrip, Attenuator, S11↔Z, Q/Loss, Filter Design. | — |
| Others | Additional tools: example files, SNP summary tables, advanced batch operations. | — |
Simulator Tab — Independent Graph Panel
The Simulator tab operates its own Graph List (Sim) and Plot Settings (Sim) in the Side Panel. When you switch to the Simulator tab, the side panel sections relabel with "(Sim)" and reflect the simulator's chart state — completely independent from the Plot tab's graphs. Switching back to the Plot tab instantly restores the Plot tab's graph list.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts & Tips
File Explorer Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+A | Select all files in current folder |
| Ctrl+C | Copy selected files |
| Ctrl+X | Cut selected files |
| Ctrl+V | Paste files |
| Delete | Delete selected files |
| F2 | Rename selected file |
| Enter | Navigate into folder / load file |
| Backspace | Go to parent folder |
Chart Interaction
| Action | How to |
|---|---|
| Zoom in / out | Mouse scroll wheel on chart |
| Pan chart | Click and drag on chart background |
| Move marker | Click and drag a marker line |
| Move legend box | Click and drag the legend |
| Move marker readout box | Click and drag the marker box |
| Reset zoom | Double-click chart background |
Pro Tips
- 🔖 Bookmark your data folder. Use the bookmark feature (★) to save your most-used SNP data directories — saves time on every session.
- 📋 Duplicate, then change chart type. Add an S21 entry, duplicate it, and change the duplicate to Phase — this is the fastest way to get both dB Mag and Phase for the same parameter.
- 💾 Save PCF early. After setting up your graph layout, save a PCF file immediately. You can always Sync later after repositioning legends.
- 🔄 Use Sync before closing. After moving legend/marker boxes on the chart, click Sync to write those positions back to the PCF, then Save.
- 📊 Pin the start/stop freq. Use the Start/Stop freq fields in Plot Settings to lock a band view (e.g. 2400–2500 MHz for WiFi 2.4 GHz). The locked range is saved in the PCF.
- 🔬 Switch tabs freely. Navigating between Plot and Simulator tabs does not lose your work — each tab maintains its own state independently.