A real spectrum analyzer unlike any other

So many things about the RSA306 spectrum analyzer are new and different that it’s hard to know where to begin.  For one, there’s no other spectrum analyzer that has its physical attributes. At just 1.2 lbs, and measuring 1.5 in. thick by 5 in. wide by 7.5 in. long, it’s more like a paperback book than an advanced electronic instrument.

But make no mistake: this is a serious instrument. It has a 9-kHz to 6.2-GHz range, and inside this range it can look at an instantaneous band of 40 MHz at any time, capturing signals with a minimum duration of 100 µs with an accuracy of 1 ppm and a dynamic range from −160 to 20 dBm.  It’s also rugged, meeting Mil-Std 28800 Class 2 requirements for harsh conditions.  So at a price of $3,490, you get an instrument that has twice the range of its closest competitors, not to mention a real-time processing capability at least 1,000 times faster.

What you don’t get is all the knobs and buttons associated with traditional spectrum analyzers. Instead, the RSA306 relies on a user-supplied laptop or tablet with a USB 3.0 interface, a minimum of 8-Gbyte RAM, Intel i7 (for the full real- time specification), and a Windows 7 or 8 64-bit OS.  The analyzer works seamlessly with the latest version of SignalVu-PC software, a proven application that is available to users at no cost. Also, an open API lets customers create their own custom Windows-based interface — using, say, Matlab or Python — to manipulate raw data coming from the instrument. Thus users not only  have immediate access to advanced analysis tools, but also the ability to customize the instrument to their exact needs.

The RSA306’s characteristics make it a natural for many potential users. Among them are  RF design and development teams on a tight budget, university lab classes where students need their own instruments, security and quality personnel on the hunt for questionable transmitters or interference sources, and field installers and maintenance personnel who want performance without the bulk.

The RSA306 is the first of a new kind of professional instruments, and its manufacturer  says it won’t be the last. They state “The RSA306…will be joined by similar instruments taking advantage  of the availability of affordable desktop computers and laptops with sufficient processing power to handle complex test and measurement analysis along with high-speed USB 3.0 interfaces.”