RF Engineer - 1. Why do we need a real-time spectrum analyser?

RF Engineer - 1. Why do we need a real-time spectrum analyser?

[@lohikarhu734]

I supported some of the first RTSA's, and they brought a whole new world of insight into signal analysis, in the early days, often used by those 3-letter agencies to capture and analyze "burst" transmissions, since they were able to act like an oscilloscope, and trigger on signal strength and frequency... They could also be used to analyze bursted signals, with complex modulation, EVM, actual data recovery, really limited more by your depth of understanding of signals, and your imagination... A real stepwise change in signal capture and analysis!

[@DarianCabot]

Thanks for explaining this. I have the Siglent SSA3021X PLUS and learning how to use it. Mine unfortunately doesn't have a real-time mode, so I'll stick with max hold and make a coffee 😅

[@michaellambert3363]

It shows things like spurious emissions that you do not want in your signals. It is a visual representation of the signals so you can see a picture of the signals and it shows a broadband picture of the frequency spectrum that is a part of the signal that is being fed to the device. There are alot of things it is good for.

[@JamesCutlervk2tim]

You need a real time spectrum analyser so you can 1) Record spectrum digitally. 2) You need real time spectrum analysis to be able to demodulate spread spectrum signals (DVB-T, WiFi etc.....)

[@timmytoppy2536]

Chi Good job!!! :)

[@ernestb.2377]

It's a sunny day so I am in the Lab to do some testing?

[@germanjohn5626]

We don't, but the companies need us to believe we do and that we are stupid and can't do our jobs with conventional spectrum analyzers... otherwise they can't sell their overpriced junk.

[@lohikarhu734]

Well. you clearly haven't used an RTSA... Enjoy doing some things the hard way, and enjoy the inability to do some things, at all...