Tools & Test Equipment I: RF Spectrum Analyzer
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The element14 ESSENTIALS of RF Spectrum Analyzers covers the basics of Spectrum Analyzers, including their architecture, types, functions, and operation. To extend the knowledge covered in the main module, this supplementary guide discusses some of the RF Spectrum Analyzers currently available today.
Spectrum Analyzers
The RSA306B uses a PC and the Tektronix SignalVu-PC
RF Signal Analysis Software to provide real-time spectrum analysis, streaming capture, and deep signal analysis capabilities for signals from 9 kHz to 6.2 GHz. Using the latest in commercial interfaces and available computing power, the RSA306B separates signal acquisition from measurement. Data analysis, storage, and replay is performed on a personal computer, tablet or laptop.
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The RSA503A Spectrum Analyzer is part of the RSA500A Series of USB spectrum analyzers that offer high performance portable spectrum analysis in a rugged battery-powered package. The RSA500 series was built to bring real-time spectrum analysis to solving the problems of spectrum managers, interference hunters, and network maintenance personnel who need to track down hard to find interference, maintain RF networks, and keep records of their efforts. It is a USB-based RF spectrum analyzer that captures 40 MHz bandwidths with great fidelity in harsh environments. With a 70 dB dynamic range and a frequency coverage to 7.5 GHz, all signals of interest can be examined with high confidence in your measurement results. The USB form factor moves the weight of the instrument off of your hands, and replaces it with a lightweight Windows tablet or laptop. The optional tracking generator enables gain/loss measurements for quick tests of filters, duplexers and other network elements, and you can add cable and antenna measurements of VSWR, return loss, distance to fault and cable loss as needed.
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The RSA603A Spectrum Analyzer is part of the RSA600A Series of USB spectrum analyzers that offer high bandwidth laboratory spectrum analysis in a small package. It brings real-time spectrum analysis and wide analysis bandwidth to solving the problems of engineers who need to characterize, validate, or manufacture their designs. The heart of the system is the USB-based RF spectrum analyzer that captures 40 MHz bandwidths with great fidelity. With a 70 dB dynamic range and a frequency coverage to 7.5 GHz, you can fully characterize wideband signals up to 40 MHz bandwidths. The USB form factor moves the processing power to the PC of your choice. The optional tracking generator enables gain/loss measurements for quick tests of filters, amplifiers, duplexers and other components, and you can add cable and antenna measurements of VSWR, return loss, distance to fault, and cable loss as needed.
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Accessories
The RSA5600RACK is a rackmount kit that configures select Tektronix Spectrum Analyzers for mounting into a standard 19-inch equipment rack. It is a compatible rackmount kit for both the RSA500 and RSA600 series and holds one RSA500A or two RSA600A models. This rack frame comes completely assembled with the façade and closure plate in place. Additional installation instructions can be found here.
FZ-G1-N ENCORE - Tablet Controller, Tektronix RSA306B and RSA500A Series USB Spectrum Analyzers
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Tektronix offers the Panasonic FZ-G1 tablet controller as an option to the RSA306B and RSA500A series USB spectrum analyzers and as a standalone unit. When purchased from Tektronix, the FZ-G1 includes preloaded SignalVu-PC software, with custom-programmed display settings and front-panel buttons to optimize the SignalVu-PC experience.
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Software
SignalVu-PC is RF and vector signal analysis software that helps you validate RF designs. Whether your design validation needs include EMI/EMC pre-compliance testing, wideband radar, wireless LAN or frequency-hopping communications, the SignalVu-PC comprehensive suite of tools and application software can speed your time-to-insight by showing you the time-variant behavior of these signals. SignalVu-PC's free base version has 17 signal analysis and real-time spectrum analysis tools, with paid add-on options for EMI/EMC pre-compliance testing and de-bugging, vector signal analysis, pulsed signal analysis, and commercial wireless signal analysis.
SignalVu-PC vector signal analysis software uses the same analysis capabilities found in the RSA5000 and RSA6000 Series real-time signal analyzers. Time-correlated measurements can be made of frequency, phase, amplitude, and modulation versus time. Acquisitions from the USB Spectrum Analyzers and all Tektronix MDO/MSO/DPO Series oscilloscopes, including the spectrum analyzer in the Mixed Domain Oscilloscope can be analyzed with SignalVu-PC, adding deep analysis capabilities to these broadband acquisition systems.
The basic SignalVu-PC enables spectrum analysis, RF power and statistics, spectrograms, amplitude, frequency and phase vs. time, and analog modulation measurements. Applications are available for P25, Bluetooth, LTE, Mapping, Playback of recorded files, WLAN, settling time, audio, modulation, pulse, and OFDM analysis. Wideband satellite and point-to-point microwave links can be directly observed with SignalVu-PC analysis software.
DataVu-PC is recording and analysis software used to rapidly find signals of interest in large RF datasets, supporting all Tektronix RSA spectrum analyzers. When combined with the signal recording capabilities of all Tektronix spectrum analyzers, DataVu-PC can turn hours of attended monitoring into fast post-acquisition search, mark and measurement tasks. You can search based on signal amplitude and frequency characteristics, marking each occurrence of an event for later examination. Pulse measurements can be made with the pulse application on up to 2,000,000 pulses and PDWs can be exported in tab-delimited format with headers for integration into other workflows. Should you need to perform in-depth modulation, pulse or standards-based analysis, DataVu-PC can convert recordings to the SignalVu-PC file format (.TIQ), and can convert recordings made with Tektronix USB-based spectrum analyzers and SignalVu-PC from .R3F format into formats compatible with DataVu-PC.
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