The HBflex™ scanning receiver is a PCTEL® scanner designed for testing wireless networks across both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequency ranges.
HBflex supports network testing for 5G NR, LTE, 2G/3G cellular, public safety, WiFi, and private radio technologies. It is designed to support simultaneous mmWave and sub-6 GHz measurements, helping operators test 5G networks, optimize spectrum usage, and support transition to 5G.
Product Overview
HBflex is designed for:
- mmWave network testing
- Sub-6 GHz network testing
- 5G NR deployment testing
- LTE and legacy cellular testing
- Public safety coverage testing
- WiFi testing
- Private radio testing
- Walk testing
- Drive testing
- Interference investigation
- Spectrum and channel verification
HBflex supports both FR1 and FR2 testing workflows, depending on scanner configuration, software options, and licenses.
Frequency Range
HBflex supports:
| Range | Details |
|---|---|
| Sub-6 GHz | 10 MHz to 6 GHz |
| mmWave | 24 GHz to 40 GHz |
Supported mmWave bands include:
- n257: 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz
- n258: 24.25 GHz to 27.5 GHz
- n260: 37 GHz to 40 GHz
- n261: 27.5 GHz to 28.35 GHz
Supported Bands
HBflex may support:
- 5G 3GPP FR1
- mmWave 3GPP FR2
- 2G
- 3G
- 4G
- CBRS
- Public safety
- WiFi 2.4 GHz
- WiFi 5 GHz
- Other bands deployed globally
Supported bands may vary by scanner configuration.
Supported Technologies
HBflex may support the following technologies:
- 5G NR
- LTE FDD
- TD-LTE
- NB-IoT
- UMTS
- GSM
- CDMA
- WiFi
- P25
- DMR
- TETRA
- Analog FM
- Custom Channel Power measurements for additional technologies
Key Features
HBflex features may include:
- 4G/5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, also known as DSS
- Non-Terrestrial Network, or NTN, measurements
- Dual polarization beamforming measurements
- 2x2 and 4x2 LTE MIMO measurements
- Simultaneous mmWave and sub-6 GHz measurements
- Hot-swap battery system
- Windows® laptop support
- Android™ tablet support
- Bluetooth® connection
- USB connection
- Blind Scan for automatic channel detection
- LMR active channel scan
Connection Options
HBflex can connect to supported host devices using:
- USB
- Ethernet
- Bluetooth®
When troubleshooting connection issues, confirm the scanner model, serial number, host device, software version, and connection type.
5G New Radio NR Capabilities
HBflex supports 5G NR measurement modes such as:
- NR Top N Signal
- Synchronization channels, including PSS and SSS
- PBCH
- Layer 3 Reporting
- MIB for FR1 and FR2
- SIBs 1 through 9 for FR1
- Dual polarization beamforming measurements for FR1
- Blind Scan
- Mobile Blind Scan
Common 5G NR data modes include:
- PCI
- Beam Index
- PSS-RP
- SSS-RP
- PSS-RQ
- SSS-RQ
- PSS-CINR
- SSS-CINR
- RSPBCH-RP
- RSPBCH-RQ
- RSPBCH-CINR
- SSB-RP
- SSB-RQ
- SSB-CINR
- SSB index
- SSB-RSSI
- SSS Delay Spread
- Time Offset
5G NR Measurement Notes
HBflex supports different 5G NR measurement behavior for sub-6 GHz and mmWave.
| Item | Sub-6 GHz | mmWave |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum channels | 24 FR1 channels | 8 FR2 channels |
| Maximum PCIs | 8 | 8 |
| Maximum beams per PCI | 8 | 64 |
| Typical measurement rate | 30/sec | 20/sec with 2 RF ports, 6/sec with 1 RF port |
LTE FDD and TD-LTE Capabilities
HBflex supports LTE FDD and TD-LTE measurements including:
- Top N Synchronization Channel Reference Signal
- P-SCH and S-SCH
- Resource Block measurements
- Wideband and subband measurements
- Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
- Layer 3 Reporting
- Blind Scan
- Mobile Blind Scan
- NTN measurements
Common LTE data modes include:
- PCI
- RP
- RQ
- CINR
- Cyclic Prefix
- Time Offset
- Delay Spread
- RF Path Measurements
- MIMO measurements
- NTN Frequency Offset
NB-IoT Capabilities
HBflex supports NB-IoT measurements including:
- Top N NRS
- NPSS
- NSSS
- Layer 3 Reporting
- Blind Scan
Supported operation modes may include:
- In-Band
- Guard Band
- Stand-alone
UMTS, GSM, and CDMA Capabilities
HBflex supports legacy cellular technologies including:
UMTS / WCDMA / HSPA+
Measurement modes may include:
- Top N Pilot
- Layer 3 Reporting
- Blind Scan
- Mobile Blind Scan
GSM
Measurement modes may include:
- Color Code
- Layer 3 Reporting
- Blind Scan
- Mobile Blind Scan
CDMA
Measurement modes may include:
- Top N PN
- CDMA Layer 3 Reporting
- Blind Scan
- Mobile Blind Scan
WiFi Capabilities
HBflex supports WiFi measurements using supported USB WiFi adapters.
Supported WiFi data may include:
- Signal Strength
- Noise Level
- Channel Number
- Channel Bandwidth
- BSSID
- Device Name
- SSID
- Security Protocol
- 802.11 Media
- Beacon Interval
- Channel Utilization
Supported WiFi frequency ranges include:
- 2.4 GHz to 2.483 GHz
- 5.15 GHz to 5.85 GHz, subject to country regulations
Supported adapters may vary by software version and configuration.
Public Safety and LMR Capabilities
HBflex supports public safety and LMR testing for technologies such as:
- P25
- Analog FM
- Mixed Analog/P25
- DMR
- TETRA
P25 Capabilities
HBflex supports P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 measurements.
Measurement modes may include:
- Downlink Decode
- Uplink Decode
- RSSI
- Downlink Active Channel Scan
P25 data modes may include:
- SINR
- RSSI
- OOS-BER
- Frame BER
- Network ID
- Mobile ID
- Auto Classification of Phase and Modulation Type
- Frequency Offset
- Symbol Deviation
Analog FM Capabilities
HBflex supports Analog FM measurements including:
- Decode
- RSSI
- Squelch Type
- MDC-1200
Analog FM data modes may include:
- SINR
- RSSI
- Frequency Offset
DMR Capabilities
HBflex supports DMR measurements including:
- Downlink Decode
- RSSI
- Downlink Active Channel Scan
- Uplink Decode
DMR data modes may include:
- SINR
- RSSI
- Frame BER
- Frequency Offset
- Color Code
- Mobile ID
- Symbol Deviation
- Symbol Deviation Aggregate
- Modulation Fidelity
TETRA Capabilities
HBflex supports TETRA measurements including:
- Decode
- RSSI
- Downlink Active Channel Scan
TETRA data modes may include:
- SINR
- RSSI
- Frame BER
- Color Code
- cSysCode
- MCC
- MNC
- Location Area Code, also known as LAC
Power Measurements
HBflex supports power measurement functions including:
- RSSI measurements
- Custom Channel Power
- Enhanced Power Scan, also known as EPS
- Spectrum analysis
Custom Channel Power can support examples such as:
- P25
- DMR
- EDACS
- Analog LMR
- TETRA
- LoRa
- Other supported channelized technologies
RF Characteristics
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Sub-6 GHz frequency range | 10 MHz to 6 GHz |
| mmWave frequency range | 24 GHz to 40 GHz |
| Safe RF input range | ≤ +0 dBm |
| RF operating range | -20 dBm max |
| Frequency accuracy | ±0.05 ppm GPS locked; ±0.1 ppm GPS unlocked |
| Spectrum analysis range | Greater than 90 dB |
Physical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum power | 25 W max |
| Size | 10.10 in D x 6.50 in W x 4.40 in H |
| Weight | 7.26 lb |
| Operating temperature | 0°C to +50°C |
| Storage temperature | -30°C to +80°C |
| Humidity | 5% to 95% relative humidity, non-condensing |
| Data storage | 32 GB SD |
| Host communications | USB 2.0, Ethernet, Bluetooth® |
Antenna Ports
HBflex antenna ports include:
- RF sub-6 GHz: SMA Female, 50Ω
- Bluetooth: SMA Female, 50Ω
- GPS: SMA Male, 50Ω SMB
- RF mmWave: 2.92 mm Female
GPS / GNSS
HBflex supports GNSS functionality including:
- Galileo
- GPS
- GLONASS
- SBAS
- QZSS
GPS/GNSS features may include:
- 56-channel internal receiver
- 2.5 meter position accuracy
- Cold start acquisition under 30 seconds
- Hot start acquisition under 2 seconds
Safety, EMC, and Environmental
HBflex is listed with the following compliance and environmental references:
- Safety: EN 62368-1
- EMC: EN 301 489-1
- Shock and vibration: MIL-STD-810G, SAE J1455
- RoHS: Directive 2011/65/EU and amendment 2015/863, RoHS 3
When to Contact PCTEL Technical Support
Contact PCTEL Technical Support if:
- HBflex is not detected by SeeHawk software
- USB, Ethernet, or Bluetooth connection is not working
- mmWave measurements are not appearing
- Sub-6 GHz measurements are not appearing
- Blind Scan does not detect expected channels
- RF measurements appear inaccurate
- Expected bands or technologies are missing
- GPS lock is not working
- WiFi adapter is not detected
- Firmware or software compatibility is unclear
- Calibration or measurement accuracy is in question
When contacting support, provide:
- Scanner model
- Scanner serial number
- Software name and version
- Scanner firmware version
- Connection type: USB, Ethernet, or Bluetooth
- Host device type: Windows laptop or Android tablet
- Technology being tested
- Frequency band or channel
- Whether the issue is sub-6 GHz or mmWave
- Description of the issue
- Error message or screenshot, if available
Related Products and Software
This article may relate to:
- HBflex™ scanning receiver
- SeeHawk® Touch
- SeeHawk® Collect
- SeeHawk® Reports
- SeeHawk® Central
- PCTEL scanning receiver accessories
- Windows laptops
- Android tablets
Notes
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Supported bands, technologies, data modes, software features, and frequency ranges vary by scanning receiver configuration.
Upgrades may be available for previously purchased scanning receivers. Contact a PCTEL sales representative for more information.
PCTEL® and HBflex™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of PCTEL, Inc.
Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG.
©2026 PCTEL, Inc. All rights reserved.
February 2026