📡 Siglent SSA3032X Spectrum Analyzer Review & Experiments

[@Afrotechmods]

This is my longest video ever and it is extremely information dense. Please use the table of contents to navigate and watch in multiple sessions as needed. 0:00 Intro 0:33 Unboxing and discussion of inputs 1:24 Screen 1:59 Build quality, fan noise, user interface 5:35 AM and FM demodulation 6:18 Average noise measurements 9:11 Phase noise 9:46 Spurious readings and possible shielding issue 12:25 Amplitude accuracy 12:40 Tracking generator evaluation and experiments 15:35 Advanced measurement kit option 16:13 EasySpectrum software and EMI measurement option 17:47 Introduction to measuring antenna performance 19:30 Reflection measurement software and hardware experiment 21:35 Reflection bridge hardware directivity discussion 22:36 Limitations of directivity experiment 24:18 Final judgement and conclusion

[@madinatore]

you weren't kidding, exellent narration voice, maybe a tiny bit dark

[@zhoumin6927]

👍👍👍👍

[@maurosobreira8695]

Afrotechmods, a big thank you from a hobbyist for posting such a detailed review - I learned a lot! No apologies on the technical aspects, on the contrary, way to go!

[@VovinAtreides]

Just started working on my first rf controlled project and I'm contemplating buying a spectrum analyzer. As I have no experience with them it's hard to know what to look for but you've remedied that quite a bit! The VSWR part especially was very practical and useful! Thanks a lot for the great video!

[@sasines]

Thank you for the excellent video! The quality of the video and audio was outstanding and the information presented was relevant and easy to understand. I have had my SSA3021X for just a week and did all the same tests that you did to help familiarize myself with my new "toy". I hope you will do more videos for this SA. Thanks again!

[@DefekCs]

This is best RF beginner's tutorial I have found up to this point!! ... ironically, it is a review! :D If You get to keep this spectrum analyzer, could You make a tutorial series in RF measuring/testing... please? :) Like, every detail You described here but in bit more depth and every little thing in it's own video.

[@Afrotechmods]

Thank you. Maybe. Depends on how well this video is received and the comments that people leave.

[@benjaminchung991]

I would absolutely love a series of tutorials on RF as well. It's one of the greatest mysteries in electronics for me, and I've loved your videos on other topics in EE.

[@taseti3607]

I have few knowledge about RF, but this review made me learn quite a lot.

[@JoshKaufmanstuff]

even though much of this was over my head, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was educational! You should do this professionally you are a great content creator!

[@JRabba1995]

8:57 the noisiest end of the spectrum at exactly Pi GHz

[@PhiTheProducer]

Javier Rabba happy I'm not the only one to see that.

[@Afrotechmods]

Gotta keep things entertaining somehow...

[@pratwurschtgulasch6662]

nice catch :D

[@stephan935]

I thought I'd only watch a few minutes of it but kept watching til the end. Great video, really informative with good explanations! I'd love to see some separate RF tutorials like somebody else suggested! Edit: This actually makes me reconsider studying RF electronics for my masters degree!

[@stephan935]

@Enoch Kobe This is a scam.

[@mrkattm]

Thanks for the review you did a very nice job, as a EE who is now in management but still enjoys electronics as a home hobby I was considering the Signal hound, Rigol and the Siglent SA.... I have been leaning towards the Siglent and this review really helped. Thanks again and keep up the great work.

[@StaszekAlcatraz]

Please please please keep doing more vids like this. It servers as a good tutorial as well!

[@Nerdthagoras]

This video is amazing. Yes there was a lot of detail but that is a good thing.. You want to know the issues and why they are issues. I wish more reviews of anything were like how you did this one..

[@NGinuity]

I got one of these and a new benchtop power supply about a month ago and love it so far. The wheel on mine seems decidedly more solid than you show, however there still isn't any progressive speed enhancement. My needs for an analyzer are drastically more primitive than you covered so it fits the bill really well. Thanks for doing a good walkthrough on it, I learned a thing or two.

[@Afrotechmods]

Thank you for your feedback. Yeah I figured the wheel on mine could easily have been a one-off manufacturing glitch on the unit I received, but a review is a review and I've gotta be transparent with my audience about flaws and stuff.

[@DrTune]

20:40 "We get this wonky line onscreen that's completely meaningless because of all the losses associated with the connectors and stuff". Cracked me up! Great vid, thankyou.

[@Starlite4321]

Just a note (@18:00) VSWR is NOT "... a measure of how good the antenna is at radiating" although confusion about this is very common. Alas, if only it were. VSWR is a measure of how much power delivered to the antenna input actually makes it INTO the antenna, vs. how much is reflected back down the transmission line. Once the power HAS made it into the antenna, how well it radiates it is a function of about a zillion complicated factors that are so hard to quantify that antenna manufactures pretty much always just measure it as a function of az, el, bandwidth blah blah blah, at an antenna measurement range. And even that measurement is a total nightmare. If only VSWR WERE a measure of how well an antenna was radiating !! Nice video - thanks !

[@NotSleepy]

excellent presentation. Not too long. Just right. Learned a lot. thanks.

[@adolfojp]

I don't know why I watched this. I'm not the target audience. It was extremely soothing.

[@legionaire4017]

Nice detailed look at this instrument. Thanks!

[@AboubakrA]

loved your video, and I just subscribed to your channel, also I'm commenting to vote up for the (RF tutorials) I'd absolutely watch every single one of them

[@microreniassance2929]

Great video. I've got the 3021x+. I ran into this issue that you might not have seen. Start by putting in, say 100KHz signal from a good signal generator. Set the SA to center peak at 100KHz. Now go to span and while zoomed into the peak at center, rotate your knob and step through spans in one direction or another. You'll note the the peak will sit on center and then go off the center and the peak will be read as off 100KHz. Keep turning and the peak will go back to center span and accurate. Using different freqs and different spans, you will get different errors. Some over 1KHz. I'd be interested to know what you think about this. Thanks again for a great video.

[@kungfumaster8171]

Great video. Really enjoyed it and most importantly I've learned some really useful information. Thank you.

[@ctuhena]

This concise, scripted video is a pleasant contrast to much youtube content that dribbles along for twice the time with half the information.

[@theburningdescentofficial8538]

thanks a lot for the detailled review !

[@PlasmaHH]

Regarding spurs I have always wondered why the manufacturers do not implement a feature where you can save a list of them and whenever there is a signal at that frequency, you have a message somewhere telling you there was a spur. Working with different devices it is nearly impossible to keep track of where they are, and you are fooled by them often enough that some workflows include a "check if the signal is real" section.

[@whitevamp1051]

nice review and informative, on the usage of it.

[@sethlavinder]

Would love to see a series of tutorials using this instrument to teach how to quantify our RF world. I am pretty much clueless how to operate my SSA-3021x , I have noted theres all the help in the world for an oscilloscope but when you want to measure the RF world and really look at the building blocks of radio and antennas, you find yourself with a beautiful new spectrum analyzer and not a book one to help you understand how to use it! I want to learn proper ways to couple the device to the various stages of a radio, like doing an alignment on a rig, or tuning a filter network to pass a certain frequency. Or even tuning duplexer cavity on a repeater system. I took the very rare opportunity to fund the purchase this last May and the device has less than 2hrs powered on time. Now I spend a lot of time Googling and Youtubing looking for fragments of help. Thank You for this video and any others on this subject! 73 de Seth - W8FG

[@harry4516]

excellent video, thanks for sharing your experience with this analyser !

[@nezbrun872]

Nice video, but a couple of comments. Return loss does not indicate how well an antenna radiates. A fifty ohm resistor will have a great return loss, but it'll radiate almost all the RF power as heat. In 40 years I've never heard of VSWR being pronounced as Vizwar before, it's usually just the four letters, and often just three, S.W.R. pronounced separately as letters. Also take care trying to measure antennas at the end of a length coax, the coax will often have confusing effects that don't reflect the actual case. Finally it's quite common to use attenuators, aka pads, of a few dB on the instrument's ports to minimise the effects of port mismatch on any device under test. Having said that this was the most useful video I've seen on your channel.

[@Afrotechmods]

Good comment highlighting the distinction between radiating and not reflecting. I kinda blitzed through that. Not sure where and when I picked up the vizwar habit but I definitely didn't invent it lol.

[@jasonmilldrum]

Came here to mention that about RL, but you beat me to it. However, I have heard of VSWR pronounced as a word sounding like 'vizwar' when working in RF instrumentation. Nice video, and keep up the good work.

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

Great video and very well explained. Would love some RF tutorials and how to use a spectrum analyser such as this. Keep up the good work :-)

[@fullwaverecked]

I sure miss you posting vids... Hope you come back.

[@videobruceb8879]

You brought out some good suggestions for changes in button layout, specifically moving the BW to that mostly unnecessary 'Auto Tune' position. I use the BW all the time and never had use for that AT. While there may have it uses, it surely doesn't desire a prominent location. Same goes for not showing the start & stop frequencies of the span. I have asked that that unnecessary 2nd page for the TG functions be moved to the 1st page where there is ample room for those four functions. There would still be one 'open' position available. Their Reflection Bridge is a waste. Why have a option that is only (truly) good to 1/2 the bandwidth of the instrument (1.5GHz vs the full 3 GHz) other than cost? At least offer a step-up RB that covers the full capability of the SA. Lastly, no you surely weren't too technical in you description.

[@mdesm2005]

It didn't feel long. It got more and more interesting as it went along. I figured out that a tracking generator outputs a sine wave with a frequency that sweeps across some range. Funny name for a signal generator.

[@Afrotechmods]

The "tracking" part is from how it is a signal generator whose frequency tracks the sweep frequency of the spectrum analyzer at any given moment in time.

[@mdesm2005]

OK thanks

[@ernestb.2377]

I see it is an old review, but well done. And very nice Siglent equipment.

[@yummyzoot]

I am getting delivery of mine tomorrow. ....yipeeeee

[@oetken007]

Great introduction! Thank you.

[@kevinjensen3056]

Thanks for the thorough video, but I didn't see a link to the kit. Small thing but I was interested enough to research the baby brother for work. Siglent kit seems to be great value (liked your review of the Siglent arbitrary signal generator too)

[@MauroSedrani]

Excellent job!

[@M6MDR]

What a beautiful piece of test equipment right there. Would love one of these but even the cheapest analyzer is out of my price range. Maybe in another 10 years when / if the prices come down I'll be able to afford one hehe

[@Spongman]

More technical videos like this, please! ;)

[@BryanByTheSea]

Great review. thank you .

[@SaeligCoInc]

Excellent intro video!

[@keltonbailey]

If you want a cheap spectrum analyzer ($20) then lookup Rtl-Sdr. It is an see radio receiver. There are a few different software options, I use had sdr.

[@awo256]

Nice video. While there've been teardowns of this spectrum analyzer, maybe you could do a teardown of reflection bridge? I'm curious what's inside :)

[@testone6152]

Great video. Good Job!

[@Paul_Fortune]

thank you for share. good video

[@Firecul]

I can't unhear that you have a similar voice/accent to Brent Spiner. Did you both grow up in the same place by chance?

[@Afrotechmods]

That's a great compliment! I think? No I just watched a lot of American TV growing up it might be subconscious.

[@Firecul]

Afrotechmods he is one of my favourite actors so I definitely wouldn't take that badly.

[@davewood4604]

Please note VSWR is nothing to do with how well an antenna radiates at all. It is actually to do with impedance match. A 50 Ohm dummy load will show a prefect VSWR. Also calibration should be done with everything attached except the DUT, calibrated to open, short and load

[@Salah.alkhalifa]

impressive review ..

[@videobruceb8879]

For $170, I don't know why the TG isn't included with both models. That's the same as having a spare tire as an option. It gets me that 90% or more of the used SA's do NOT have TG's. Unbelievable considering all the uses.

[@SirMo]

Yeah, having a TG is really useful. My FSAE-30 doesn't have one, so I usually just use a wide band noise generator instead, which is good enough for basic filter work. These days I've been meaning to actually figure out how to sweep using an external RF generator. My spectrum analyzer has LO out, so I should be able to make it work.

[@subhasarkar8823]

I thought that reflection tests are only possible in expensive VNAs. The reflection bridge is very useful add-on.

[@bobwilson2470]

At the end of the noise checks at various frequencies, you let it choose its maximum frequency, not exactly 3.2GHz, But did you note the actual frequency it displays? Exactly the fundamental constant Pi. 3.14159..., to the number of digits available. Is a software guy at Siglent having some fun with us? (While Pi does come up in surprising places, I don't see any reason for it coming up here!)

[@Afrotechmods]

It goes up to 3.2Ghz, I was just having fun.

[@jordaanelectronics]

So the tracking generator is included ( and paid for! ) but you have to pay extra to enable it! That is a bad thing . Which kind of marketing guru sorted this out ? I know others do it as well. I just like to mention this so people and technicians start thinking about it. If you buy one just mention it to the seller, so they know you disagree. Thanks for a very nice tutorial. Nice filming and good sound. Well done.

[@mikehagen9060]

TG is included now (10/17), They Heard!. I got the 2 GHZ model for $1595 (-15% 3 day Sale) with no tax and no shipping. NEVER buy a SA without a TG! I got a Rigol that I will have to almost give away!

[@RD-ni7qe]

Great video. Seems like it would be soooo much easier to just buy a good VNA for making direct S11 RL/VSWR measurements (rather than dealing with bridges/tracking generators on a spec analyzer).

[@MCsCreations]

Interesting!

[@tkarlmann]

Great review! I am, however, having difficulty in channeling your review results to my application. I am interested in providing Pre-Compliance EMC and EMI services for Clients, and I am wondering if this unit can do the job. My application centers around Automotive Electronics for now. I had specified the SSA3021X unit, with TG, EMI Pre-Compliance Kit, and the Near Field Kit. I also know I need other hardware for the EMC testing not yet identified. Would you recommend the SSA3021X, the SSA3032X or something else? I have determined, from other reviews, that the Siglent units perform better than equivalently-priced Rigol units. Thoughts?

[@taufiqaiman9133]

Hi I'm using the SSA3021X at the moment, what model is the antenna you were using in the video?

[@Psi105]

, why do they keep making new SAs that don't accept a 5.8ghz signal. I mean, ok fair enough, it's expensive to have native 5.8ghz support. So stick a simple down-converter inside and have an option to enable it. It's not going to do a lot to the price and makes the SA so much more useful for todays signals.

[@videobruceb8879]

The 'jog' dial on your sample must be a unit defect. My 'jog' dial works fine, it doesn't react the way yours did.

[@Afrotechmods]

I'm sure that is the case. As the reviewer I have to be transparent with my audience about flaws and this was a flaw I found in my review sample.

[@videobruceb8879]

Understood. No "fake news" from you! I was surprised at that finding, as I had to check mine to see if there was a problem. There is no set screw and I couldn't easily remove the knob either.

[@pratwurschtgulasch6662]

at 23:44 you have a peak at 1.54 GHz, then you switch couplers and the peak is gone, or it shifted by 100 MHz. That's a big difference, so basically you can't trust anything.

[@Afrotechmods]

Right. Hence why I said I would only trust that bridge for lower frequency work.

[@vk5fe943]

Very good.

[@NikArcher]

great video! I just bought a SSA3021X a few days ago with the beehive 101A probe set. I'm a beginner when it comes to spectrum analyzers, but I mainly want to use it for EMI pre-compliance measurements and fixing leaks. as other people already asked: a series about RF measuring/test would be nice! Also, if possible, about hunting and fixing EMI/EMC leaks, using different kind of probes (H field, E field) and how the probes' specs are related to the measurements. it looks like the EMI tests should be made with the EasySpectrum software. Currently I try to find out how to have correct ways to get some usable results. There's dwell time for the QPD and it should measure in frequency steps (for example 50kHz). I've tested some settings on the SSA and the tests would have taken a several thousand seconds ... I guess that's not a good way to measure :D Beside a few app notes I've never found anything else about lowering/preventing radiation levels of buck converters and other DC/DC converters, but that would be really interesting, especially if it would show the influence of filters and correct placement ... :)

[@mehmetbey6331]

is ssa3021x upgradeable to 3.2 ghz ?

[@keltonbailey]

9:50 The process bar shows up then the sweep time is 500Ms...

[@pedrogonzalezgil]

WE WANT MORE, DAMN YOU!... pleeeeease? :D

[@N2Stooges]

Can this spectrum analyzer plot VSWR vs frequency rather than return loss vs frequency? Most hams think in terms of VSWR and don't want to have to convert RL to VSWR on a point by point basis.

[@qwertyuiop10537]

Is this the -R series? Or spectrogram is also an option in the normal ssa30 32x analyzer?

[@Dukers2300]

Hello there, I am currently using an app for audio frequency analysis since I cannot find a standalone spectrum analyzer that goes down to 20Hz. Do you know of any products that exist for audio folks like myself?

[@jasoneyes01]

Sweet!

[@kamalmanzukie]

it cannot use fft for analysis?

[@Starlite4321]

Totally confused ! I just bought an SVA1032X (same SA as this) based partially on this review - thanks ! There is a setting in the "BW" menu called "Average Type" with no useable explanation of what "averaging" operation in the device it controls. The manual says, "When trace average is on, the average type is shown on the left side of the display" however the average type selected here is ALWAYS shown on the left side of the display no matter what is turned on and off - anywhere. And there's no "Average" setting IN the BW menu, just this "Average Type" setting. What is this setting actually DOING ? Which average function does it pertain to ? I've been trying to get the simplest answers from Siglent support here in the US but they are absolutely USELESS !! There doesn't appear to be any other source of support for Siglent questions and problems. I'm almost beginning to wish I'd never heard of Siglent for confusion like this !

[@Afrotechmods]

Sorry my unit is in storage right now so I can't look it up for you, but maybe someone on the EEVBlog forum knows?

[@Starlite4321]

@@Afrotechmods Thanks for the reply. I'll give EEVBLog a try, ya never know.

[@mehmetbey6331]

is ssa3021x upgradeable to 3.2 ghz ? i mean they have same hardware ?

[@Buizie]

You should try probing the DSMX sat signal to the oscilloscope so we can see how DSMX works 😂

[@ivanovpreslav7417]

What is the difference between this and an oscilloscope?

[@miningmanna5967]

Ivanov Preslav this is for wireless radio and such, so not for direct voltage unlike an oscilloscope I am not quite sure if that's right the way I put it, so I would recommend you read up on it on Wikipedia or such

[@aajjeee]

aaaand ive watched every video

[@Neffers_UK]

I'm a poor enthusiast, no scope for a scope, but initial viewing of this design doesn't fill me with the "omg I neeeed this" like some stuff did years ago. £3k in UK pesos, membrane keys - like everything these days (keyboards for PC's have backlit tactiles for not a huge impact on cost) are shit. A wobbly knob that even a cheap audio amp these days wouldn't even suffer with... apart from engineering porn inside the box, I dunno how they get away with it. YES it's fast, and accurate on the floor, but that £3k could go a lot further in my opinion. Thanks for the review Afro - long time "viewer" - the site that shall not be mentioned is still one of my favs.

[@videobruceb8879]

1. The "wobble knob' was only with his. I have read NO reports of anything similar including mine. It's a minor issue anyway. 2. I don't see the problem with membrane keypads. Lack of backlight buttons shouldn't be that big of a deal. 3. "engineering porn"? Do you want to elaborate on that one? 4.Where else would the "3k" take you???

[@johngriffin618]

I really want this... too bad I can't afford it xD

[@ralfbuschner6925]

Maaan, i had to get 59 years old until I decided to buy a spectrum analyzer. Now, after 1 year of using it, I could bite my *ss that I didn't buy one way earlier. Basically all of my home brewed ham radio transceivers...the output low pass filters needed changes or alignment, the RX input bandpass filters as well, and, and, and, and. Go sell one of your kids, it's really worth it.

[@Migueldeservantes]

Pretty dam sad that it doesn't go all the way up to 7 Ghz... ;-(

[@videobruceb8879]

Simple reason: cost! I did ask if they had any plans to offer a 'step up' model. the answer was no, at lest not in the immediate future.

[@robvegart]

These measurements of spurs are more harmonics spurs...

[@willow115]

Great review. thank you .

[@jimmysyar889]

Just noticed you did 3.14159265GHz haha

[@AndriusKamarauskas]

now i know what ill buy when i have 3k $ :D

[@vidasvv]

Labas !

[@AndriusKamarauskas]

@@vidasvv Laba

[@kefler187]

Why test equipment all come with garbage screens is still a wonder to me >.> You would think for the price of all this stuff, they could spend a few more dollars to throw in an IPS screen....

[@carmennavarrete6579]

te amo :'V

[@sirclarencedarrow]

A 50 ohm resistor will have an excellent return loss (or VSWR) and be an absolutely lousy antenna.

[@khaledalenezi4470]

almost π Ghz @8:58 lol

[@danijel124]

You pay a fortune for this but no acessories??? you gotta be kidding me -.-

[@djevans37075]

This is not really a fortune in the world of Spectrum Analyzers. For what you get, it's pretty much a bargain at their price point. A few days ago I ordered both the SA and one of their sig. generators. Just retired and setting up my home elec. lab. After reviewing what I could get, (other than used) this company was 1st on my list, same thought on the TG. I'd of course, would have liked it included too since it's already in there. I wondered if they just increased the price $100.00, they could have recovered the cost of TG from every sale. Nobody would have even blinked. Maybe though, there is a better return on investment doing "it" there way. BUT, it (the TG) wasn't optional for me. I wouldn't have dreamed of buying a Spectrum Analyzer without it.

[@tkarlmann]

Don Evans: VERY similar situation for me as well. Do you have thoughts between the 2GHz and the 3.2 GHz models?

[@donevans7777]

tkarlmann : I bought the 2.1ghz only because of the price. I just didn't have enough need for the extra "1ghz." BUT, I also own another (much older (and far less accurate)) spectrum analyzer that goes to 4.2ghz. I also knew I would be able to buy the additional bandwidth later for the 3021 if I find it necessary. I did purchase and really love the TG option. 'That" is a must have on either model.

[@MaxWattage]

tkarlmann: Hi, I recently bought the 3.2GHz version because I do work in the 2.4GHz ISM band, (so many things use that band these days). I also got the Tracking Generator function for free (a Siglent special-offer). I found it works a treat for pre-compliance radiated-emission testing, but I would need to buy a 3rd party directional coupler if I wanted to do VSWR measurements.