Evaulation_Engineering_August_2020 - 12

SIGNAL AND SPECTRUM ANALYZERS

Signal Hound SM200C 10GbE-connected
spectrum analyzer.

organizations needing increased device
rollout without increasing spend." In addition to remote monitoring, he said, the
Signal Hound instruments can be used in
ATE environments, in SIGINT as a receiver
for third-party applications, and in generalpurpose spectrum-analysis applications.
To meet the challenges of testing nextgeneration 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and other devices, Tektronix offers the 6 Series MSO
oscilloscope, which covers the spectrum
up to 8 GHz with 2 GHz of instantaneous
bandwidth, according to Rodriguez. "Our
unique architecture IP introduces a DDC
(digital down converter) that separates
the signal path, enabling Spectrum View
software to analyze the frequency domain
independently from the time domain.
Correlation between time and frequency
domains is as simple as a finger pinch on
its 15.6-inch touchscreen."
Rodriguez said. "The 4-channel MSO6
with its Spectrum View feature enables
multichannel spectrum analysis as well
as basic multichannel vector signal analysis-both amplitude and phase-and IQ
capture of signals, which is essential for
both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 testing due to the
demand for multiantenna transceiver designs, which use technologies like MIMO
and beamforming to improve SNR."
In March 2020, Tektronix introduced the
RSA7100B spectrum analyzer with up to
800 MHz of real-time bandwidth. "The instrument doubles as an I/Q data recorder
by providing options of up to 2.5 hours of
record time at full acquisition bandwidth,"
he said, adding that it features a 232-ns
100% probability of intercept (100% POI).
Rodriguez said Tektronix in December
2019 (with an update in March 2020)

12

EVALUATION ENGINEERING AUGUST 2020

introduced an API for 64-bit Linux to support the RSA306B, RSA500, and RSA600
Series spectrum analyzers. "This API enables users to build custom signal-analysis
and spectrum-monitoring applications on
Linux Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian systems," he explained. "The new Linux API is
identical to Tektronix's API for Windows,
but due to its flexibility, security, and reliability over a traditional Windows environment, we've seen a significant preference for Linux in recent years in military
and government environments."
Malatest said Per Vices offers the Cyan
platform, which can support solutions
ranging from 500 MHz of bandwidth (up
to 1 GHz) per radio chain, operation to
18 GHz, and up to 16 radio chains. "This
high-performance platform also offers
on board FPGA resources for additional
customer-specific DSP and 4x40Gb/s throughput for streaming data to a host system,"
he added.
B&K Precision offers its
2680 Series spectrum analyzers, which include frequency
ranges from 9 kHz to 2.1 GHz or
3.2 GHz. "Each model includes
advanced measurements such as
channel power, adjacent channel
power, occupied bandwidth, total
power, third-order-intercept, along with
a 2D and 3D spectrum monitor," said Jamie
Pederson, product marketing manager.
Pederson elaborated on the compact
instruments, suitable for both lab and
field use. "The 1-Hz minimum RBW and
advanced measurements work well in
many applications ranging from
R&D, production test, field

test, and EMI precompliance," he said.
"To complement these features, we offer
a reflection measurement option and
reflection bridge which enable VSWR,
reflection coefficient, and return-loss
measurements for tuning and determining the efficiency of antennas, filters, or
RF transmission modules. We also offer
an EMI option and near-field probe kit
that enable the instrument's EMI measurement function, which includes predefined bandwidth set points of 200 Hz,
9 kHz, and 120 kHz; a -6-dB EMI filter;
and the quasi-peak detector as specified
by CISPR 16-1."
Lipps at Newark cited several products,
including the R&S Spectrum Rider FPH
handheld spectrum analyzer, which she
described as "suitable for both field and
lab applications indoors and outdoors. "Its
backlit keypad makes the analyzer usable
in dark environments while the bright,
nonreflecting display makes it readable
in sunshine," she said. "This spectrum
analyzer's lightweight, small form-factor
and ruggedness make it easy to carry. Due
to its fanless design, the analyzer not only
operates noise-free, but is also clean and
reliable, since no dust or water can enter
through the vent guard."
Lipps also cited the Triplett WiFi
HOUND handheld RF spectrum analyzer

Tektronix RSA306B
spectrum analyzer.
Evaulation_Engineering_August_2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Evaulation_Engineering_August_2020
