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RSA500A

RSA500A Series Realtime Spec An

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Up to 18GHz USB Realtime Spectrum Analyser

 

Battery powered for field use

Find offending transmitters and resolve network issues with the precise & accurate RSA503A, RSA507A, RSA513A and RSA518A USB Spectrum Analyzers, packed with features for your most common tasks out in the field.

 

The RSA500A Series USB spectrum analyzers offer high performance portable spectrum analysis in a rugged battery-powered package.


 


 Introduction

See more with proprietary DPX® technology.

RSA500A-overview-screenshots

 

Primer:

DPX Acquisition Technology for Spectrum Analyzers Fundamentals

Primer - DPX Acquisition Technology thumb

This primer describes the DPX spectrum display and how it addresses situations involving brief, intermittent, complex and / or coincident signals. Also covered are the methods for achieving its key performance specifications.

 

Discover the most difficult, hard-to-find problems with the powerful real-time architecture of the RSA Series. With the advanced DPX® technology, you can see RF characteristics that are practically invisible to a conventional spectrum analyzer.

Tektronix' patented Digital Phosphor technology or DPX® is used in our Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers (RTSAs), to reveal signal details that are completely missed by conventional spectrum analyzers and vector signal analyzers. The full-motion DPX spectrum's Live RF display shows signals never seen before, giving users instant insight and greatly accelerating discovery and diagnosis. DPX is a standard feature in all Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers (RTSAs).

  DPX video   Play icon.png

 

SignalVu-PC Software

Powerful and intuitive. Measurement insight at your fingertips.

The RSA500A operates with SignalVu-PC, a powerful program that is the basis of Tektronix performance signal analyzers. The software controls the spectrum analyzer acquisition and updates measurement displays continuously.

The base version ships free with the product; add options for Bluetooth testing, WLAN testing, P25 compliance testing, pulse analysis and modulation analysis to configure the software for your application.

  Tektronix_RSA500A_Spec_An_with_SignalVu-PC
New to SignalVu-PC?

Video: Introduction and basic settings

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Software update gives dramatic sweep speed increase

Dramatic_Increase_In_SignalVu-PC_Sweep_Speed video thumb

Sweep speed comparison

SignalVu-PC October 2017 Improvements

10 Great New Features

 

The September 2017 version of SignalVu-PC comes with 10 great new features. The most significant upgrade is an increase in sweep speed. Acquire data five to six times faster with this updated version of SignalVu-PC.

Other significant improvements:

  • DPX 100% POI Performance Improvement
  • Windows 10 support
  • CISPR Quasi-Peak, Average and Peak detection in Spectrum and Spurious displays. (Opt SVQP)
  • Multiple Traces in 'spurious' display
  • SignalVu-PC licenses can now be loaded into the instrument for RSA306/500/600.
  • Amplitude Correction for all measurements
  • Bluetooth V5 measurements. (Opt SV31 with Opt SV27)
  • Midas streaming file support
  • 1024 QAM support in WiFi measurements

Since then, there have been further improvements...

  Download SignalVu-PC_button_vividblue   SignalVu-PC-datasheet-button-vividblue  
 

RSA500A with Free SignalVu-PC: Standard Capabilities

Capability

  Description

Spectrum analyzer

Spans from 100 Hz to 3.0GHz, 7.5GHz, 13.6GHz or 18GHz 3 traces + math and spectrogram trace, 5 markers with power, relative power, integrated power, power density and dBc/Hz functions

DPX Spectrum/Spectrogram

Real time display of spectrum with 100% probability of intercept of 100 usec signals in up to 40 MHz span

Swept DPX spectrum for unmatched spectrum measurements across the entire 3.0 GHz to 18 GHz frequency range

Amplitude, Frequency, Phase vs Time

Basic vector analysis functions

RF I and Q vs. Time

Basic vector analysis functions

Time Overview/Navigator

Enables easy setting of acquisition and analysis times for deep analysis in multiple domains

Spectrogram

Analyze and re-analyze your signal in 2-D or 3-D waterfall display

AM, FM, PM analysis

Measures key AM, FM, PM parameters

AM/FM Listening

Hear and record to file FM and AM signals

Spurious Measurement

User-defined limit lines and regions provide automatic spectrum violation testing across the entire range of the instrument

Spectrum Emission Mask

User-set or standards-specific masks

Occupied Bandwidth

Measures 99% power, -xdB down points

Channel Power and ACLR

Variable channel and adjacent/alternate channel parameters

CCDF

Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function plots the statistical variations in signal level

 

Upgrade RSA500A with More SignalVu-PC Applications

SignalVu-PC Option

  Application

SVM

General Purpose Modulation Analysis

SV2C

WLAN 802.11a/b/g/j/p/n/ac measurements (includes options CON, SV23, SV24 and SV25)

SV56

Playback of recorded signal files

SV54

Signal Classification/Survey

SVA

AM/FM/PM/Direct Audio Analysis

SVT

Settling Time (Frequency and Phase) Measurement

SVM

General Purpose Modulation Analysis

SVP

Advanced Signal Analysis (including pulse measurements)

SVO

Flexible OFDM Analysis

SV23

WLAN 802.11a/b/g/j/p measurement application

SV24

WLAN 802.11n measurement application (requires Opt. SV23)

SV25

WLAN 802.11ac measurement application (requires Opt. SV24)

MAP

Mapping and Signal Strength (Requires SignalVu-PC SVE)

SV26

APCO P25 measurement application

SV27

Bluetooth Basic LE TX SIG measurements

SV28

LTE downlink (eNB) RF measurements

SV31

Bluetooth 5 measurements per Bluetooth SIG (requires SV27)

SV54

Signal survey and classification

SVQP

EMI CISPR detectors

SV30

WiGig 802.11ad measurements (only for offline analysis)


EMI/EMC Pre-compliance testing

EMCVu: Your EMI/EMC Precompliance Software

SignalVu-PC now supports EMC pre-compliance testing with EMCVu. EMCVu is an all-in-one software solution for EMI/EMC pre-compliance testing and troubleshooting that runs on your own PC. 

This gives you an easy, fast, accurate and affordable way to determine if your product designs are ready to submit to the test house for EMI/EMC radiation emission compliance testing. This is done through push button support for multiple standards, automated multiple measurement/multiple format reporting, ambient noise calibration and comparison, harmonic markers and faster scans using peak detector and spot measurements with quasi-peak and average detector failures.   EMCVu EMI-EMC Precompliance Software

This video covers new EMCVu features, including:

  • push button support for multiple standards
  • automated multiple measurement / multiple format reporting
  • ambient noise calibration and comparison
  • harmonic markers and faster scans using peak detector and spot measurements with quasi-peak and average detector failures.

Video: EMCVu Demonstration

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DataVu-PC Software

Record-Analysis Software for Realtime Spectrum Analysers

When combined with the signal recording capabilities of all Tektronix USB and PCIe-based spectrum analyzers, DataVu-PC can turn hours of attended monitoring into fast post-acquisition search, mark, and measurement tasks. Analyze your results without adding the extra step of conversion software.

  • Search based on signal amplitude characteristics, marking each event occurence for later examination
  • Make an unlimited number of Scalar pulse measurements with the eMarker application and export the results in Pulse Descriptor Word format for integration into other workflows.

  • Export results to in-depth analysis packages like SignalVu-PC from within DataVu-PC – without any additional conversion software.

Three bandwidth options make DataVu-PC the most affordable way to analyze large files from all Tektronix Spectrum Analysers.

Video: DataVu-PC Introduction

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Be_in_Two_Places_at_Once_video_thumb  
Be In Two Places at Once

With DataVu-PC 3.11, you can now record any signal of interest. Use triggers to start recording and minimize storage requirements and automate your signal search with tools like frequency mask, pulse descriptor words and smart markers. Couple DataVu-PC with two Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers, and you can record and examine two independent frequencies and spans simultaneously. For example, if you’re searching for a specific signal, you can see a very wide bandwidth in one display and zoom in to see certain signals in another display.

 

  Download DataVu-PC_button_vibrantblue   DataVu-PC-datasheet-button-vibrantblue  

 

Models


Model

Frequency
Range

Real-time bandwidth

Miniumum event duration for 100% POI

SFDR (typical)

Contact Us

RSA503A

9 kHz - 3.0 GHz
40MHz
100 μs 70 dBc Config&Quote_buttonTek_Vivid_Green

RSA507A

9 kHz - 7.5 GHz
40MHz
100 μs 70 dBc Config&Quote_buttonTek_Vivid_Green

RSA513A

9 kHz - 13.6 GHz
40MHz
100 μs 70 dBc Config&Quote_buttonTek_Vivid_Green

RSA518A

9 kHz - 18 GHz
40MHz
100 μs 70 dBc Config&Quote_buttonTek_Vivid_Green

 

Application Notes

 

RSA500A Overview - Interference Hunting  

Powerful tools to simplify your time in the field.

With a built-in tracking generator for RF component test and a GPS to geo-locate and map signals, the RSA500 makes field test a lot easier. It gives you fast channel insight with 4x faster scanning capability compared to other spectrum analyzers.

Application Note:
Interference Hunting

  Interference Hunting Application Note thumb

 

Cable and Antenna Testing.

This application note looks at the basics of  line sweeping measurements on cable and antenna systems including a look at why they are important and how to perform them.

Application Note:
Cable and Antenna Measurements

  Cable & Antenna Measurements Application Note thumb
  RSA500A Applications - Cable and Antenna Testing

 

Application Videos

 

Tektronix RSA500A Characterising Radar thumb

Characterising Radar

Application Engineer Alan Wolke shows basic vector signal properties of a 10.5 GHz pulse Doppler radar, such as spectrums over time, frequency deviation over time, and amplitude deviation over time. He also covers quantitative measurements of pulse characteristics like scalar properties (pulse width, rise time, fall time, average power, repetition interval) and vector properties (frequency and phase deviation within pulses, frequency and phase deviation from pulse to pulse, etc.)

Tektronix RSA500A Return Loss Measurements thumb

Cable Testing

Watch how the RSA500A and RSA600A Realtime Spectrum Analysers with optional Tracking Generator and software make Return Loss, Distance to Fault & Cable Loss Measurements.

 Tektronix RSA500A Antenna testing_thumb

Antenna Testing

In this video, you will see how you can overcome the problems of traditional swept spectrum analysers with their slow, low-power processors and limited-to-no real-time capabilities by using the tracking generator in the RSA507A to tune a Rx and Tx antenna. Return loss and VSWR measurements and testing over the air demonstrates the improvement.

Tektronix RSA500A Advanced Spectrum Monitoring_thumb

Advanced Spectrum Monitoring

In this video, we give you some tips on how you use the real-time and maths functions of SignalVu-PC software and an RSA507A to look at changes in the spectrum environment..

RSA500A Interference Hunting on Digital Radio Networks_thumb

Interference Hunting on TETRA (and P25) Networks

Interference hunting on a TETRA or P25 network can be challenging and time consuming however this task is made much easier with a Tektronix realtime spectrum analyser and DPX. Here's a simple guide to interference hunting on digtal radio network using the RSA507A to Discover, Capture & Analyse.

Tektronix RSA500A Measurement of radar-like signals power_thumb

Measurement of Power in Radar-like Signals

Do you need to measure RF power on a radar-like signal? In this video, Fredrik from Tek Nordic shows the different ways to do it - and how easy it is to do it - with the RSA507A Realtime Spectrum Analyser!

Testing LTE Downlinks with a Tektronix RSA500A_thumb

 

Testing LTE Downlinks

See how to make off-the-air measurement of an LTE down-link using a Tektronix USB spectrum analyzer and optional application SV28 which enables:

  • RF measurements (ACLR, SEM, Channel Power, OBW) per 3GPP TS version 12.5, in addition to Cell ID detection
  • Support for both TDD and FDD frame format
  • Presets and pass/fail information to accelerate validation
Muti-channe; RF generation with a Tektronix AWG and RSA500A_thumb

Multi-channel RF Generation

In this short video, you will see how an AWG70001 Arbitrary Waeveform Generator is used to create multi-channel QPSK and QAM16 waveforms which are then analysed using an RSA507A Realtime Spectrum Analyer and SignalVu-PC software.

Decodio software demo with the Tektronix RSA500A_thumb

Quick Demo of Decodio 3rd Party Software with the RSA500A

Watch this quick demo of Tektronix USB spectrum analysers working with Decodio 3rd party software to provide a high-performance solution for wideband signal acquisition, channelisation, demodulation and streaming. Check out the powerful air interface analysis tool for TETRA PMR networks, featuring voice and data content decoding and fast emission detection.

 


 

Accessories

 

Antennas for interference hunting

 Alaris DF-A0047 smart antenna

Tektronix recommends the Alaris DF-A0047 smart antenna with built-in USB compass for direction finding and interference hunting applications.

  • Frequency Range: 20 MHz – 8.5 GHz
    • 9 kHz-20 MHz extension available(0.3m loop antenna)
  • Trigger control for one-hand operation with functions for:Standard armrest extension for ease in long interference hunting sessions
    • Preamp on/off
    • Band switch
    • Push to measure with SignalVu-PC with MAP option

Learn more about the smart antenna » 

 

Antennas

Part Number

Description

119-6609-xx

Whip antenna, BNC, Wideband untuned, with center of sensitivity approximately 136 MHz, passband 5-1080 MHz. 9 inches length.

DF-A0047

Directional antenna, 20-8500 MHz, with electronic compass and preamp

DF-A0047-01

Frequency range extension for DF-A0047 directional antenna, 9 kHz-20 MHz

DF-A0047-C1

DF-A0047 antenna and DF-A0047-01 extension

016-2107-00

Transit case for DF-A0047 and DF-A0047-01

119-6594-00

Yagi Antenna, 825-896 MHz

Forward Gain (over half-wave dipole): 10 dB

119-6595-00

Yagi Antenna, 895-960 MHz

Forward Gain (over half-wave dipole): 10 dB

119-6596-00

Yagi Antenna, 1710-1880 MHz

Forward Gain (over half-wave dipole): 10.2 dB

119-6596-00

Yagi Antenna, 1850-1990 MHz

Forward Gain (over half-wave dipole): 9.3 dB

 

Calibration kits and phase-stable cables

These calibration kits and phase-stable cables are used with the tracking generator and SV60xx-SVPC when making VSWR, return loss, distance to fault and cable loss measurements.

Part Number

Description

CALOSLNM Calibration kit, 3-in-1, open, short, load,  DC to 6 GHz, Type-N(m), 50 ohm
CALOSLNF Calibration kit, 3-in-1, open, short, load, DC to 6 GHz, Type-N(f), 50 ohm
CALOSL716M Calibration kit, 3-in-1, open, short, load, DC to 6 GHz, 7/16 DIN(m)
CALOSL716F Calibration kit, 3-in-1, open, short, load, DC to 6 GHz, 7/16 DIN(f)
CALSOLTNF Calibration kit, 4-in-1 Type-N  (f) short, open, load, through, 9 GHz
CALSOLTNM Calibration kit, 4-in-1 Type-N  (m) short, open, load, through, 9 GHz
CALSOLT35F Calibration kit, 4-in-1 3.5 mm (f)short, open, load, through,  13 GHz
CALSOLT35M Calibration kit, 4-in-1 3.5 mm (m) short, open, load, through, 13 GHz
CALSOLT716F Calibration kit, 4-in-1 7/16 (f) short, open, load, through, 6 GHz
CALSOLT716M Calibration kit, 4-in-1 7/16 (m) short, open, load, through, 6 GHz
CALSOLTNF-75 Calibration kit, 4-in-1 Type-N  (f) short, open, load, through, 75 Ohm, 3 GHz
CALSOLTNM-75 Calibration kit, 4-in-1 Type-N  (m)short, open, load, through, 75 Ohm, 3 GHz
012-1768-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-N(m), 60 cm
012-1765-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-N(f),  60cm
012-1767-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-N(m), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1766-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-N(f), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1746-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N (m) to Type-N (m),  5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1745-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N (m) to Type-N (f), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1747-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(f),  60 cm
012-1752-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(m), 60 cm
012-1750-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(m), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1748-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(f), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1751-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(m), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1749-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to 7/16(f), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1753-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(f),  60 cm
012-1758-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(m), 60 cm
012-1756-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(m), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1754-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(f), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1757-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(m), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1755-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to DIN 9.5(f), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1762-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(m),  60 cm
012-1761-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(f), 60 cm
012-1763-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(m), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1759-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(f), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1764-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(m), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1760-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to TNC(f), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1772-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(m) 60 cm
012-1769-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(f),  60 cm
012-1773-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(m), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1770-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(f), 3.28 ft or 1 m
012-1774-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(m), 5 ft or 1.5 m
012-1771-00 Cable, Rugged, Phase-stable, Type-N(m) to Type-SMA(f), 5 ft or 1.5 m