Spectrum analyzers reach 14 GHz

-- Test & Measurement World, 9/5/2006 4:39:00 AM

The Tektronix RSA6100A Series of spectrum analyzers combine real-time performance, capture bandwidth, and dynamic range to meet the needs of digital RF applications. They employ Tektronix DPX waveform-image-processor technology to produce a live RF spectrum presentation that reveals difficult-to-detect RF signals and signal anomalies.

The first offerings in the new series—the 6.2-GHz RSA6106A (priced from $69,900) and 14-GHz RSA6114A (priced from $75,000)—provide 110-MHz real-time acquisition bandwidth with a 73-dB spurious-free dynamic range.

The DPX technology displays the live spectrum by processing more than 48,000 spectrum measurements per second, compared to 50 per second for other analyzers. DPX achieves this rate (assuring a 100% probability of intercept for signals as narrow as 24 µs) by using dedicated, real-time hardware to process the incoming signal. In addition to live RF, the waveform image processor provides an intensity-graded display to show the history of the occurrence for dynamic signals and immediate feedback on signal variations over time.

Tektronix is targeting the RSA6100A Series of spectrum analyzers at radar, mobile-communications, software-defined-radio, cognitive-radio, and surveillance applications. Initial customers include X-COM, a radar developer; TelASIC, a supplier of radio subsystems; and Virginia Tech, where a researcher explores software-defined and cognitive radio. For more on these applications, click here.