Tektronix recently announced its RSA6100A series of real-time spectrum analyzers. The analyzers are designed specifically for digital RF systems, simultaneously delivering 110 MHz real-time bandwidth and 73 dB spurious-free dynamic range. Signal instabilities and previously invisible transients can now be captured using the Tektronix DPX waveform image processing.
Dr. Jeff Reed at Virginia Tech University said, "Many new and emerging applications need to detect and analyze RF signals that quickly change frequencies or use complex modulation techniques. Traditional instruments often cannot adequately perform the measurements needed for these applications, requiring home-grown solutions that are often expensive and inefficient."
Reed said that Tektronix had addressed these problems by adding time domain capabilities through the RSA family of real-time spectrum analyzers, which is very useful in the work he has been doing with software defined and cognitive radio development.
Tektronix said the analyzers are able to achieve 48,000 spectrum measurements per second, compared with a maximum of 50 spectrum measurements per second for other analyzers. This allows signals as brief as 24 microseconds to be captured with 100 percent certainty. The waveform image processor provides an intensity-graded persistence display that holds anomalies until the eye can see them.
The new features available in these units could be of interest if you work with spread spectrum systems or are trying to track down intermittent interference. To learn more about this new analyzer and to see displays showing the difference between it and older spectrum analyzers, visit the Tektronix Web site online and see the RSA6100A series data sheet. Unfortunately, while the analyzer has options to demodulate and measure many types of digital signals, ATSC 8-VSB is not one of them.
Tektronix showcased DTV test equipment at IBC2006, including the RTX130B integrated MPEG and RF signal generator that works with DVB-C/QAM and ATSC/8-VSB devices such as set-top boxes and DTV sets.
