Technologies SSA3021X Spectrum Analyzers,9 kHz to 2.1 GHz with Free Tracking Generator

I love having the tracking generator as I frequently have to tune filters. This should NOT be an option, it should always be enabled. The reason I say this is because there are a number of these analyzers which do not come with the TG enabled. By doing this Siglent is alienating a large amount of potential customers. This is an inexpensive analyzer... but 90% of the time you don't need a high end $20,000 analyzer to resolve interference issues or to align a duplexer. Overall this is a good entry level spec an for everyday use. I carry it in my truck to all of my jobs In the Siglent soft case. I've been very satisfied with its durability and performance. So now my R&S and Anritsu analyzers stay in the lab.

When I bought it, I was in doubt because I didn't believe it was possible to acquire a device with these characteristics for the price offered. I was very satisfied as it exceeded all my expectations. Excellent device, lots of interesting features, and Tracking Generatos is fantastic for my activities. I recommend without restrictions.

Works great, software up-gradable. Love it.

No complaints on operation except it doesn't save settings from last session, which is kind of a pain. Also, no kickstand. It's tippy, so I have a strap on the handle to keep me from pulling it off the shelf above the bench. But for the money, this instrument is hard to beat

So far, very satisfied with the Siglent SSA3021X spectrum analyzer. Still learning about the many features and user interface. The large screen is great with crisp text and trace for overall excellent visual presentation. The online manual is probably adequate for experienced users but wish there was more on the purpose of some settings. Still looking for literature on the details of operation to get more proficient.

This scope has all of the features that a digital scope 3 times the price had 5 years ago. I have it setup on my ham station desk connected to my Icom 7300 IF output port

Pros: o decent range o low noise floor when optimum RBW is set o very wide range of features for signal analysis (some are pay-LOTS-more-for-it options though) o inter-trace math - very, very nice (up to 3 additional non-concurrent trace captures) o up to 4 discrete markers - knob precision is poor but you can keypad in exact frequencies o tracking generator option permanently enabled - this is a BIG deal for RF designers o external 10 MHz reference I/O - and the native frequency accuracy is quite high in my copy o screen captures are easy; you just need a (small size) USB stick. o N-style RF and TG signal connectors, a good choice for high frequency work o it's light and doesn't take a lot of shelf depth - I recommend using velcro to attach it if it's on a higher perch o affordable, all things considered, though see my remarks on the locked-out firmware options o sturdy carrying handle Cons: o it's REALLY slow - a 200 KHz sweep @ 1 KHz RBW takes about 1/4 second with spectrum open o skews marker position to relative display position when span is changed even if in range o only works down to about 3 kHz so many audio measurements are problematic o won't recognize large modern USB/SSD devices - 32 GB stick ignored, 128 MB stick recognized o 48 hour demo option times erode while you learn other functions o PDF manual is poorly written, out of date for software version, and "help" button isn't very helpful o the "demodulate" function is basically useless - and limited to AM/FM too. SSB? No. Digital modes? No. Etc. o spectrum colors and range EXTREMELY poorly chosen, and not user modifiable o spectrum is upside down (scrolls UP) - this is minor, admittedly, but still annoying o no frequency labels on X axis o Can get into states where it can take up to 20 seconds to recognize power-off button press o I found strong internal birdies at 1.8 MHz and 1.0 GHZ o At 200 KHz BW (14.150...14.350 MHz) and 1 KHz RBW, self-noise floor is between 1uV and 2uV o the 1-3-10 RBW steps are extremely limiting - for instance, 5 KHz RBW is impossible. o the 3 remaining options run about $400 to $500 each; SIGLENT EMI probes another $500 or so Summary: So, the valuable things you're getting here are some very low-noise hardware with a wide frequency range and a tracking generator. Modern (and by that, I mean less than 10 years old) SDR software, much of which is free, often offer considerably better spectrum and waterfall display capabilities in many ways, a broad range of signal analysis features not found in this instrument, many more demodulation modes just about all of which are more capable and certainly more reasonably implemented (seriously, the demodulation feature in this instrument is ridiculously crippled, even if we're just considering AM/FM.) The limit there is that SDR hardware isn't typically capable of the noise floor and ultimate bandwidth this instrument is, so if you need those things, you'll need this instrument or one like it. Likewise, if you need a tracking generator, an SDR+software isn't an option. One of the most annoying things about this instrument is that it is seriously lacking in the speed department. Trace update rates on even a relatively narrow bandwidth (e.g. 200 KHz) are so slow that it is entirely possible to miss impulse signals - they can literally fall between the trace updates and you'll never know they were there. This only gets worse if you use an RBW narrow enough to catch narrow impulses, such as 1 KHz. SdrDx (just as one example) can update faster than your eyes can follow at a 200 KHz bandwidth, and that's at ~24 Hz RBW (8192 pt FFT) with averaging, noise reduction, a MUCH higher performance waterfall, multiple peak tracking, and flawless demodulation all running at the same time. It'll do that on a 10-year old PC, too, so we're not exactly talking state of the art hardware here. If you're thinking about EMI usage, be prepared to spend about another thousand dollars for the EMI option and the associated probe set. While you're thinking about that, be aware that the instrument has some internal birdies, so a screen capture that should demonstrate RF silence may include artifacts that make it appear otherwise, or in the worst case, hide actual EMI you're trying to look for. You should spend some time mapping the birdies with no signal input to the instrument before you embark on any EMI undertakings, that's for certain. Since the instrument doesn't have a battery capability, if your EMI work is done in the proverbial "calibrated cow pasture", you're going to need an inverter to power it, and you'll have to be very careful about RFI from the inverter getting into your measurements. Sure would have been nice if this instrument had a couple hours of battery life. Oh well. It's not an insurmountable problem, it just takes care to deal with. EMI Tip: A quick search revealed **much** less expensive EMI probes available on Amazon. Probably worth a try. So, is the SSA3021X-TG worth the cost? If you're doing RF hardware design, I'd say yes, definitely. Could it be better? Again, yes, definitely. Quite a bit. It probably just needs a faster CPU for most of the things it performs poorly on, such as sweep rates. As far as problems like the 1-3-10 RBW steps and the clueless implementation of the waterfall display, those are most likely shortcomings of the firmware and if so, could conceivably be addressed in a firmware update. One can hope, anyway. The cost of the firmware options, already present in the instrument but which must be unlocked with a license code... I consider those to be entirely unreasonable. Charging for physical probes such as the EMI probes, sure. Already present firmware? No. Consider that if you were to purchase all the firmware options, you'd be looking at a $3000 SA instead of a $1400 SA. That's **without** the SIGLENT probe package.

Love using this device. Works as it should.

The price on Amazon was the lowest (in Canada) I have seen, with free (and fast) shipping. It arrived from RCC Electronics, well-packed (double-boxed). It is easy to use and has more features than I think I will ever need, plus a large bright display, and a very QUIET fan (unlike my old Agilent unit which ROARS!), plus it easily fits onto my bench. As a bonus, it comes with a full parts and labour 3 year warranty. The tracking generator option is permanently enabled (and is very useful), but other options have a limited time functionality without buying a software key to permanently enable them. Apparently these (and upgrade to 3.2GHz bandwidth) could be 'hacked' to be permanently on when this model had an earlier firmware, but maybe not be now (not that I would do that anyway as it voids warranty)

Buen instrumento, incluye la licencia de TG , y trae algunas funcionalidades muy atractivas . Definitivamente ha sido de mucha utilidad cumpliendo mis espectativas, estaria genial poder conseguir los accesorios en amazon mexico .

Assez intuitif lorsqu'on connait la marque Siglent. Les AS ne sont pas forcement abordables mais je le conseille à tou(te)s les passionné(e)s. P.S: Prévoir de la place sur la table de votre labo. Je n'avais pas prêté garde à l'encombrement et il va falloir que je change de table :-)

数日しか使っておりませんが、SIGLENTの良いところは簡単に習得できるところです。わかりやすいインターフェース。操作。ディスプレイも大きく素晴らしいと思います。 小さくて軽量化されているモデルなので直ぐに利用できると思います。 アマチュア局送信機の自作でスプリアス測定ができるスペアナを探していました。 敢えてデメリットを言うと、スペクトラム表示の遅延くらいでしょうか。Iphoneなどの高スペックデバイスを使っているとこういう機器の表示、操作速度のもさもさ感を感じますがしょうがないと思います。

Manual should come with it.