With spectrum analysis and spectrum management requirements expanding into a wide range of new and challenging arenas, the traditional standalone spectrum analyzer approach is often coming up short in its lack of adaptability for today’s field-intensive applications. This white paper lays out an entirely new approach to these challenges. By maximizing the capabilities of a highly portable spectrum analyzer, designed from the ground up for seamless integration with laptop PCs through an easy-to-use application programming interface (API) and an extensible open source platform, this new approach both lowers overall costs and maximizes flexibility.