Applications and deployments for the RFeye Node Plus

Introduction

Driven by advancements in modern communication, radar, and electronic warfare (EW) technologies, RF signals are becoming increasingly complex. Finding these signals is ever more challenging in increasingly crowded environments, and traditional spectrum monitoring tools struggle to keep up.

CRFS’ wideband, highly sensitive passive RF sensors give military and civilian users the power to intercept, detect, and geolocate signals of interest—even in the most challenging RF environments.

The RFeye Node is a powerful RF sensor built for demanding missions and harsh environments. It already includes advanced technology, such as signal detectors operating on the edge that increase the probability of intercept (POI).

However, CRFS has set a new standard for RF intelligence. The RFeye Node Plus is the next generation in RF sensing and spectrum superiority—delivering 3x faster processing, full 100 MHz I/Q recording and streaming, and inbuilt SSD storage.

Whether deployed for SIGINT, ISR, COMINT, ESM, or spectrum planning, the RFeye Node Plus sets a new benchmark for RF intelligence.

1. Application: Capturing I/Q data for spectrum planning  

Developing next-generation spectrum technologies, such as 5G & 6G, depends on deep RF environment analysis. Research and development labs require high-fidelity I/Q data to model future spectrum use, analyze interference patterns, and refine AI-driven signal processing techniques. By capturing real-world RF signals, researchers have the data to carry out tasks such as creating AI models that will enable cutting-edge adaptive and dynamic spectrum access. 

Deployment option: Recording I/Q data on a server 

An RFeye Node Plus deployed on a mast can be connected directly to a server or control PC via a rugged fiber 10GigE link, ensuring high-speed, real-time RF data transfer with minimal latency. 

By recording and storing I/Q data for multiple days, researchers can conduct deep forensic signal analysis using RFeye DeepView. 

This setup provides a continuous, high-resolution spectrum dataset—ensuring researchers have the real-world data necessary to build next-generation wireless technologies. 

2. Application: SIGINT: COMINT, FISINT & ELINT 

Modern signals intelligence (SIGINT) operations require the ability to detect, classify, and analyze complex RF signals in real-time and post-processing. Whether monitoring communications intelligence (COMINT), foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT), or electronic intelligence (ELINT), having access to I/Q data across multiple RF channels significantly increases the coverage and, therefore, the POI for complex multi-layered communications and different signal types. 

I/Q data can be monitored in real-time for tactical SIGINT or captured for forensic analysis to extract intelligence on patterns of life, an adversary’s tactics, and potential threats. 

Deployment option: Multiple RFeye Node Pluses  

Deploying multiple RFeye Node Plus sensors enables multi-channel, wideband SIGINT collection, each capturing 100 MHz of raw I/Q data. When networked together, these RF sensors allow: 

• Simultaneous coverage of different frequency bands (for example, HF for COMINT and SHF for ELINT) 

• Integration with SIGINT software  

Each RFeye Node Plus connects via a rugged fiber 10GigE cable to a control PC running RFeye Site, providing operators real-time visibility into the electromagnetic environment (EME).  

For real-time SIGINT operations, RFeye DeepView streams I/Q data in VITA-49 format, ensuring interoperability with third-party SIGINT analysis tools. Users can stream I/Q data into platforms such as: 

• OmniSIG (created by DeepSig): AI-powered signal classification and anomaly detection 

• SCEPTRE (created by 3dB Labs): Advanced signals exploitation and COMINT/ELINT analysis 

This interoperable ecosystem enables flexible SIGINT operations, enhancing spectrum superiority and real-time RF intelligence extraction. 

3. Application: ESM for battlefield intelligence 

Electronic Support Measures (ESM) are designed to detect, intercept, and analyze adversary electronic emissions, providing critical intelligence for battlefield awareness, threat detection, and force protection. 

Deploying I/Q recording capabilities near the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA) enables EW operators to carry out ESM in contested environments, either as part of the OODA loop or the targeting cycle. The resulting intelligence can help: 

• Identify and classify hostile radar, communication, or jamming signals 

• Observe changes in enemy EW activity 

Deployment option: Rapidly deployable mast deployed remotely 

Deploying an RFeye Node Plus with an integrated 16TB solid-state drive (SSD) on a rapidly deployable mast provides a flexible and cost-effective EW solution for forward operations. 

• Local I/Q data recording at 100 MHz IBW for up to 8 hours enables long-duration signal capture in high-threat environments 

• Secure SSD storage ensures data retention even without network links 

RFeye DeepView allows operators to analyze, filter, and extract Signals of Interest (SOIs) from a large recorded dataset. Operators can: 

• Find LPI/LPD signals designed to evade detection 

• Correlate enemy emitter activity with battlefield movements 

• Conduct forensic RF analysis in post-processing to develop EW countermeasures 

By integrating deployable RF sensors, military forces gain a powerful advantage in EW. Remotely recording hours of I/Q data ensures no critical signals are missed while protecting human life. 

4. Application: ISR or ISTAR 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are transforming Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. Equipped with RF sensors, UAVs provide a force-multiplying capability by extending situational awareness and detecting threats in real-time. 

Deployment option: RFeye Node Plus integrated into a UAV 

Integrating an RFeye Node Plus as a UAV payload enables high-fidelity I/Q recording while maximizing line-of-sight for enhanced RF sensing. 

• The onboard 8TB SSD allows up to four hours of 100 MHz I/Q data recording 

• The UAV can capture wideband RF activity in contested or denied environments 

• Higher altitude increases probability of intercept (POI), reducing multipath propagation 

Upon UAV recovery, the SSD can easily be removed and connected to a PC running RFeye DeepView. Analysts can perform forensic signal analysis on captured I/Q data and extract SOIs for deeper analysis. 

5. Application: Advanced 3D TDoA networks with handoff sensor 

Networks of RF sensors provide an essential capability for geolocating RF emitters, but to operate effectively in real-world scenarios, they require ultra-fast processing and multi-mission flexibility. 

Deployment: An RFeye Node network with at least one RFeye Node Plus 

A 3D TDoA mission requires a network of at least four RF sensors. Adding an RFeye Node Plus to this network will significantly enhance the network’s capabilities. As the RFeye Node Plus has a next-generation processor, it can run detector missions 3 to 4 times faster than standard RFeye Nodes, meaning there will be a higher POI and an enhanced 3D TDoA result due to the increased computational power.   

In addition to this enhanced real-time capability, operators may also need to extract enhanced intelligence from I/Q data. In this scenario, when the network has detected and geolocated an SOI, the RFeye Node Plus can be immediately instructed to capture I/Q data for post-processing, or the I/Q data can be streamed via VITA-49 directly into an application that provides real-time SIGINT.  

While the RFeye Node Plus records or streams I/Q data (becoming the handoff sensor), the rest of the network continues running real-time signal detectors and TDoA calculations, ensuring uninterrupted RF intelligence operations. 

Conclusion  

Demands from spectrum planning and electromagnetic spectrum operations are ever-increasing. RF hardware must keep up.  

The new RFeye Node Plus is built to meet this challenge, providing military and civilian users with real-time signals intelligence capabilities for EW or SIGINT applications while offering high-fidelity I/Q data capture for forensic analysis. 

By delivering the sweet spot of 100 MHz I/Q capture, integrated SSD storage (up to 16TB), a 10GigE SFP port, and processing power increased by a factor of three, the RFeye Node Plus transforms how passive RF sensors operate. 

The RFeye Node Plus is setting the new standard for passive RF sensors.