What is the Ideal Prize?

Just thinking out loud here... how about some RF measurement tools for >1GHz stuff. Bet not much available for $2k, but then again I'm sure the community could offer suggestions.

I was thinking about what RF instrument might work for the poll and was considering some fancy SDR, but I don't have a feel for what is desirable in that field.

dougw  For RF, a spectrum analyzer or vector network analyzer - something a bit cooler than the Nano VNA.

Not sure what limit is being set on this but the following would be a great 'grand prize' IMO: GSP-9300 Gw Instek, Spectrum Analyser, Bench, 9kHz to 3GHz | Farnell

Very capable looking instrument according to the datasheet.. nice that it is portable with optional battery-pack too!

I'm glad you like it and noticed the power pack; always a bonus not having to run power out and should appeal to telecoms engineers out in the field/up masts etc. It's also got a tracking generator. The unit is quite feature rich for the price, many of which cost extra on similar priced units. Seeing as recently gwinstek kindly offered up their oscilloscopes for roadtesting they may decide to do the same with this unit

I'm glad you like it and noticed the power pack; always a bonus not having to run power out and should appeal to telecoms engineers out in the field/up masts etc. It's also got a tracking generator. The unit is quite feature rich for the price, many of which cost extra on similar priced units. Seeing as recently gwinstek kindly offered up their oscilloscopes for roadtesting they may decide to do the same with this unit

I vaguely remember an Instek 'scope or other test equipment at either uni or my first job, but I wonder why the products are not more popular. I noticed when reading the 'scope roadtest page, that the GW Instek instrument supports a spectrum analyzer mode that is more useful than the regular FFT capability on typical 'scopes, and it is close to a full spectrum analyzer except with dBV instead of dBm (since it has a regular 'scope input).

The instrument you mention seems to offer more than a regular full spectrum analyzer, since it has built-in preamp, tracking generator, and really useful resolution bandwidth settings (down to 1Hz : ) and also settings for EMC compliance work too) as well as the tracking generator you mention, and the portability!

So it seems both of these GW Instek instruments offer much more than expected.

This looks really coolThis looks really cool.. currently out of stock at Farnell. Would be a nice bundle for a spectrum analyzer prize:

GWInstek have been around a long time (like me) but sadly I've never used any of their equipment before, and I'm not quite sure why that is. Thinking back I believe Hameg probably owned a large chunk of the 'medium priced oscilloscope'  market back in the 90's and later, as digital oscilloscopes became more affordable, the like Picoscope filled the gap; whilst Tektronix, Lecroy, HP/Agilent and R&S remained the higher priced units.

That's a great add on for educational/training establishments to use. Away from such settings an SDR would probably be better value for money and allow greater flexibility.

Rod, Shabaz:

I was selected in the recent RoadTest for the GW Instek oscilloscope with spectrum analyzer mode and expect to receive it soon.  The spectrum analyzer mode and educational possibilities were what interested me in it.  If there is something you would like looked at or have ideas for testing let me know.