3dB Labs
3dB Labs builds the Sceptre signal processing and RF analysis software platform, integrating with 50+ third-party receivers and selling integrated hardware systems to U.S. defense, federal, and commercial spectrum-monitoring customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersWest Chester, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What 3dB Labs does
3dB Labs, Inc. is a privately held Ohio corporation founded in 2004 that builds software and integrated systems for radio frequency (RF) signal processing and spectrum analysis. Its core product is Sceptre, a software platform that integrates with over 50 third-party RF receivers to enable real-time signal detection, identification, and analysis across multiple domains, supporting simultaneous multi-receiver connectivity, antenna position control, pulse descriptor word creation, and unattended operation via a built-in circular pre-d buffer. The company sells through three commercial vectors: tiered Sceptre software licenses (now available through GSA Advantage for federal buyers), Monarch-branded integrated hardware (laptops, rackmount servers, workstations), and application-based systems — Kirby (portable/ruggedized), Citadel (stationary), and LTMS (long-term monitoring).
3dB Labs' customer base is anchored in the U.S. defense and federal market, most notably demonstrated by a $6.1 million Other Transaction Agreement from the U.S. Army awarded in April 2025 to prototype the Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS), a system designed to provide battlefield commanders with real-time sensing and visualization of electromagnetic spectrum activity, motivated in part by vulnerabilities exposed in the Russia-Ukraine War. The company also pursues a broader RF/Spectrum Analysis horizontal across commercial, government, and defense users, distributing through integration partnerships with Keysight Technologies, Signal Hound, DRS, Rohde & Schwarz, Epiq, HTL, and EMR NI, among others. The firm is lean (11-50 employees, headquarters in West Chester Township, Ohio), appears to be founder/independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors, and operates as a for-profit private company without public listing.
3dB Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3dB Labs
- Legal name
- 3dB Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://3db-labs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 3dB Labs builds the Sceptre signal processing and RF analysis software platform, integrating with 50+ third-party receivers and selling integrated hardware systems to U.S. defense, federal, and commercial spectrum-monitoring customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3dB Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Signal Processing and RF Analysis Software
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems (IMABAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)
Keywords
Where 3dB Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Chester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
3dB Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Contracts: Direct government contracting for defense and security applications, including the $6.1M Army contract for S2AS development. Provides prototype development, demonstration, and rapid fielding of spectrum analysis systems to military clients.
- Software Licensing: Sceptre software licensing through multiple tiers available via direct purchase and GSA Advantage government marketplace. License tiers include various capability levels for government and commercial buyers.
- Integrated Hardware Systems: Sale of integrated systems including Monarch laptops, servers, workstations, and application-based systems (Kirby, Citadel, LTMS) pre-loaded with Sceptre software for complete signal analysis solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Multi-tier licensing structure with varying capability levels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
3dB Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3dB Labs designs, develops, and delivers signal processing and RF analysis software (Sceptre platform) and integrated hardware systems (Monarch, Kirby, Citadel, LTMS) that connect to over 50 third-party receivers for real-time electromagnetic spectrum detection, identification, and analysis. The company serves U.S. defense, government, and commercial spectrum analysis customers with both off-the-shelf products and custom engineering solutions, including the Army's Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS).
Product overview
3dB Labs offers a unified signal processing and RF analysis portfolio centered on the Sceptre software platform. The core Sceptre software integrates with over 50 third-party receivers to enable multi-domain signal detection, identification, and analysis. Hardware offerings include Monarch Systems (laptops, servers, workstations) optimized for Sceptre, plus application-based systems: portable Kirby, stationary Citadel, and LTMS for long-term monitoring. The company also delivers government-specific solutions such as the Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS) developed for U.S. Army battlefield spectrum situational awareness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sceptre: Signal processing and RF analysis software platform that integrates with over 50 receivers for real-time signal monitoring and analysis
- Monarch Systems
- Kirby
- Citadel
- LTMS
Products and services
- Sceptre Software Advanced signal processing and RF analysis software platform that identifies and locates anomalous signals across multiple domains. Integrates with over 50 receivers from various vendors (Keysight, Signal Hound, DRS, Rohde & Schwarz, Epiq, HTL, EMR NI) for real-time, offline, and remote signal monitoring on stationary or mobile collection platforms. Enables real-time bit breakout, data streaming, antenna position control, pulse descriptor word creation, and unattended operation via built-in circular pre-D buffer.
Quantifiable outcome
- 14-month prototype development timeline for Army S2AS system with operational demo planned Q1 FY2026
Companies that use 3dB Labs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
3dB Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature8 records
3dB Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Keysight TechnologiescoreKeysight Technologies integrated its spectrum analyzers and FieldFox handheld analyzers with 3dB Labs' Sceptre software platform, enabling unified RF signal monitoring and analysis across multi-vendor receiver environments. This collaboration allows organizations to maintain mixed hardware architectures while using a common platform for signal detection, identification, and analysis. The partnership strengthens the broader signal analysis ecosystem by promoting interoperability between measurement hardware and software-defined receiver platforms.
- U.S. ArmycoreU.S. Army awarded 3dB Labs a $6.1 million other transaction agreement in April 2025 to develop and demonstrate a prototype of the Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS). The 14-month prototype effort informs potential rapid fielding of the system, with operational demo planned for Q1 FY2026. The Army plans to field 10-15 units by end of calendar year 2025 and 40-60 units by FY2027 under a rapid fielding program.
- Signal HoundcoreSignal Hound is listed as a trusted provider of Sceptre software, indicating integration partnership for RF signal monitoring and analysis solutions.
- DRS (Leonardo DRS)coreDRS is listed as a trusted provider of Sceptre software, indicating integration partnership for defense and security applications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
3dB Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SRC Inc. SRC Inc. develops radar, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence systems for the U.S. military, competing with 3dB Labs in defense-oriented spectrum awareness and emitter detection.
- CRFS: CRFS builds RF spectrum monitoring, detection, and geolocation systems used by defense, regulatory, and security customers, competing with 3dB Labs in real-time multi-domain spectrum awareness.
- Epiq Solutions: Epiq Solutions develops software-defined radio and RF sensing solutions for defense and commercial customers, including signal detection and geolocation products that overlap directly with Sceptre and S2AS-style applications.
- Persistent Systems: Persistent Systems provides tactical communications and spectrum-aware networking for U.S. military and allied customers, overlapping with 3dB Labs in defense-focused RF and spectrum situational awareness.
- Signal Hound: Signal Hound manufactures RF receivers and spectrum analyzers that integrate with Sceptre; it also sells its own signal-analysis software, putting it in direct competition for RF test and monitoring customers.
Broad incumbents
- Keysight Technologies: Keysight is the dominant RF test-and-measurement incumbent whose hardware 3dB Labs integrates with; Keysight also offers signal-analysis and monitoring software, making it both a channel partner and a broad competitor.
- BAE Systems: BAE Systems is a global defense prime with electronic warfare, SIGINT, and multi-domain sensing capabilities that overlap with S2AS, and which could compete for follow-on production contracts.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a large defense prime with significant electronic warfare and signals intelligence portfolios; it can field full-rate spectrum situational awareness programs and competes with 3dB Labs for Army and joint-service EW contracts.
- Rohde & Schwarz: Rohde & Schwarz is a major RF test-and-measurement and defense electronics OEM whose receivers are integrated with Sceptre, and which sells broader spectrum-monitoring and signals-intelligence solutions to defense customers.
Emerging players
- Resilient Computing: Resilient Computing is a smaller defense-focused signal-processing and RF engineering firm that provides adjacent technical services and capability in spectrum analysis, partially overlapping with Sceptre's customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
3dB Labs social profiles
Digital presence3dB Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
3dB Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3dB Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
3dB Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3dB Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3dB Labs
What does 3dB Labs do?
3dB Labs designs, develops, and delivers signal processing and RF analysis software (Sceptre platform) and integrated hardware systems (Monarch, Kirby, Citadel, LTMS) that connect to over 50 third-party receivers for real-time electromagnetic spectrum detection, identification, and analysis. The company serves U.S. defense, government, and commercial spectrum analysis customers with both off-the-shelf products and custom engineering solutions, including the Army's Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS).
Is 3dB Labs a public or private company?
3dB Labs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 3dB Labs founded?
3dB Labs was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 3dB Labs based?
3dB Labs is headquartered in West Chester, United States, in the North America region.
How does 3dB Labs make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are software Licensing and integrated Hardware Systems.
Who are 3dB Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SRC Inc., CRFS, Epiq Solutions, Persistent Systems and Signal Hound. Broad incumbents are Keysight Technologies, BAE Systems, L3Harris Technologies and Rohde & Schwarz. Resilient Computing is listed as an emerging player.
Does 3dB Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3dB Labs.
What industry is 3dB Labs in?
3dB Labs's product category is Signal Processing and RF Analysis Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAF, IFF/Identification, Beaconing & Cooperative Surveillance Systems, with a secondary code of IMABAMAL, Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems. Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.