Tektronix signal analyzer delivers high performance at mid-range cost

Every time I finish a briefing with Tektronix, it seems I say, "Wow." (And, I've been covering RF on and off for 16 years.) This new product, the RSA5000 series signal analyzer, is no exception. Once again, it seems to me that Tektronix has listened intently to its customers and brought them 2X bandwidth, 2X memory, and advanced real-time analysis, all in an instrument that is priced in the "mid-range," specifically with a starting U.S. MSRP of $34,900.


What are its best apps? Well, for those working in embedded RF (like automotive tire-pressure systems, radio surround sound, and Bluetooth), it can help avoid self-jamming and interference issues. For radio designers, especially for those crowbarring into the white spaces, it helps analyze the success of dynamic frequency selection. For those worried about their spectrum, such as the FAA and smart-grid deployers, it helps system designers to determine the best technology for the density, i.e. fixed versus mobile. What do all of these design scenarios have in common? Tight budgets.

So, Tektronix introduced the RSA5000 series of 3.0 and 6.2GHz signal analyzers. Tektronix reports that these are the first real-time signal analyzers on the market, allowing you to see not just spectrum, but amplitude, phase, and frequency in real time.

Key spectrum analysis features:

• +17 dBm 3rd-order Intercept at 2 GHz
• ±0.5 dB absolute amplitude accuracy to 3 GHz
• Displayed average noise level –154 dBm/Hz at 2 GHz and –150 dBm/Hz at 10 kHz Phase noise –109 dBc/Hz at 1 GHz and -134 dBc/Hz offset 10kHz from a 10MHz carrier
• 1 GHz sweeps at 10 kHz RBW in < 1 second

Capabilities
The DPX option supports real-time signal analysis, converting to amplitude, phase, and frequency view and updating 50,000 times per second. (This option is also available now as a firmware upgrade to the RSA6000 series.) The DPX feature's amplitude view, for example, is really helpful if you are looking for frequency abberations on a hopping radio or phase drift. The instrument also now has frequency edge triggering, allowing designers to trigger on an aberration on a frequency.  Specifically:

• Collect 292,000 spectrums/second
• 5.8 us minimum signal duration
• captures signals within signals
• Triggers: frequency mask, runt, time qualified, and frequency
• Capture up to 7seconds of signal at full bandwidth (85MHz)

Pricing and availability
The RSA5000 Series is available now with U.S. MSRP starting at $34,900.

More Information:
Website
Datasheet