TSP #66 - Rigol DSA875-TG 7.5GHz Spectrum Analyzer & Tracking Gen. Review, Teardown & Experiments

In this episode Shahriar takes a close look at the top-of-the-line Rigol DSA875-TG 7.5GHz Spectrum Analyzer. This unit which, offers a built in tracking generator for the full frequency range, has a portable form-factor. I offers the following performance:
9 kHz to 7.5 GHz Frequency Range
Typical -161 dBm Displayed Average Noise Level normalized to 1 Hz
-98 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset Phase Noise
Total Amplitude Uncertainty better than 0.8 dB
10 Hz Minimum Resolution Bandwidth
The unit is tested against linearity specification as well as overload conditions. The phase noise of the unit is also verified with an external Keysight synthesizer. The instrument is used to measure OIP3, P1dB input and output matching of various amplifiers. The tracking generator is also used to measure gain and switching behavior of a WiFi extender module. The built-in functions are used to measure OBW, channel power, ACP and THD. The teardown of the unit is also presented showing excellent build quality and manufacturing.
The Signal Path
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[@ernestb.2377]

I know it's an old review, but nevertheless, I have enjoyed it. 👍

[@charlychimpo820]

Just bought a DSA815-TG today, what a coincidence! Good to have a peek inside

[@WTK444]

Great review Shahriar! Rigol continues to shake up the marketplace with their ever-improving products. Thanks for taking the time to put such quality work together for all of us students and hobbyists to consume. I always look forward to learning from you. I noticed your last three videos are not up on your website - are you planning on phasing it out?

[@markbell9742]

I have been meaning to send a comment; a bit slow. However, I very much like your reviews/teardowns. First your teardowns are cautious and measured as not to damage and your review/evaluation/experiments are focused and fundamental. I specifically like the nature of your experiments/tests in that you apply concepts of physics to evaluate the instrument under test. Your experiments are as interesting, or more so, than the instrument itself. Cheers, Mark ************************************

[@yaghiyahbrenner8902]

We need one of these in our research lab. At this moment in time this spectrum analyser cost $9,598.00 from tequipment, this is not your average Rigol Gear.The PC Software is bad... no match for Benchview. $250 not worth it. Lastly this video was great! very happy with this review very well executed.

[@WestCoastMole]

Well done Shariar. I love my DSA-815 and a great deal of use out of it. It is good to see the increased linearity of the sweep generator for the high-end model. Rigol's equipment represents an amazing value for the money. One thing I noticed it seems the sweep rate for the 875 is substantially higher than that of the 815. I get the impression at either the smallest sweep distance or the widest RBW the update rate appears to be close to Realtime. This would challenge the Tektronix RSA-306. But then again as you point out the 875 doesn't have the Baseband Digital conversion to allow I and Q detection. Still its a very powerful unit.

[@videobruceb8879]

You can't compare a 815 with a 830 or especially this 875. HUGE cost and coverage difference.

[@WestCoastMole]

+videobruce b The Rigol DSA 815, 832 and 875 are in the same family of spectrum analyzers. I am well aware of the price and performance differences between them. The comparison was a loose one.

[@RandyLott]

I would have liked to see the IEC power receptacle recessed, but that's a very small quirk. I love Rigol. They should be proud that they are representing China in a very positive light, which is a lot different than what we usually see. Also, putting pressure on the competition, like you said, is fantastic for the marketplace. This video is as good as usual. Thank you.

[@movax20h]

It is a perfect spot to put an EMI filter. There are tested of the shelves modules that integrate IEC socket and input filtering (caps, common mode chocks, pi filters, sometimes fuses, etc), they are usually sealed or poted, and are additionally shielded, and are of a long form like that. I think it is fine. It adds nothing to the overal dimension of product. However I am actually not sure if they have put any EMI filter there. It is probably little bit cheaper to do that on the PSU board, and adds 10-15$ bucks to the cost to use commerical module for that. Edit: I see what you mean, connecting cable actually makes the unit take a bit more space, and there is no vent holes at the back itself, so it doesn't need to have any gap between back and wall or other flat surface. Tip: Use angled IEC plug, it will save 2-3cm / 1inch.

[@svandal1]

Excellent video, you raise the bar. thank you for doing that.

[@thegoodies2]

Great video as always. However, I wish you would show more detail in the teardown - I would be interested to see some of the more detailed design choices they have made - choice of ICs, distributed structures, etc. they've used and how these impact the performance of the instrument.

[@MauroSedrani]

+The Signal Path Blog Great review Shahriar, as usual! :)

[@ProtoG42]

Good job, keep up the great content!

[@minotauros13]

cool! thanks for the review, I got the 3GHz one (limited budget)

[@mazenl7139]

Another great video. If at all possible, may be incorporate some videos on BT, thank you.

[@henrikvolkmann]

Hello, Great Video as Always. But there is one that drives me crazy. Can you please tell me what the Stick is that you use to point on Things?

[@movax20h]

At 48:40, when you change resolution bandwidth, formally speaking you are invalidating calibration / normalization. The instrument will most likely interpolate calibration curve to make up for missing points, which is fine, especially because the TG was pretty flat to begin with, but it is not perfect.

[@redresistor1330]

The outside design looks like a toy. But the inner engineering is pure geek porn. Thanks for making these videos. It is greatly appreciated.

[@eloyex]

nice review man !

[@JaanusKalde]

Cool teardown. Can we get high res photos?

[@Dyaxxis]

I believe that when Keysight was still part of Agilent, their "bottom-priced" oscilloscopes (and maybe some other lower-priced equipment) were actually rebadged Rigol models (Similar to what Teledyne LeCroy does with Iwatsu). I don't know if Keysight is still has a contract with Rigol to do so. Nevertheless, I tried a few Rigol pieces and I'm quite impressed for the price as well as the support.

[@asdf155]

+Dyaxxis Keysight still offers the DSO1000 series, which are in fact rebadged Rigol models.

[@automatedintegratedsolutio5218]

I really enjoyed your tear down of the DSA876-TG. I would like to see a tear down of remote programming of Rigol's DSA705 or DSA875-TG performing the sames test as you performed in TSP #66. I have found SCPI examples in the industry are hard to come by for most instruments from most vendors, as well as Rigol. Are you up for this challenge?

[@OneBiOzZ]

one of these would have been SOOOOO useful in my recent venture in to rf antenna design and lna design for satellite receiving ... Time to start saving up!

[@OneBiOzZ]

granted I'm just using a $20 rtl-sdr receiver ...

[@AF6LJSue]

Good video thanks for sharing. :)

[@PapasDino]

Thanks for the review, my DSA1030A-TG sits on the bench now with head bowed. It is interesting that the 1030 has a max input of 30dBm, I wonder why the top end 800 series decreased that to 20dBm?

[@videobruceb8879]

Concerns with overload.

[@konikofi]

Fantastic review, thank you! Can you point me to an example of making radar pulse measurements with this SA in zero span?

[@videobruceb8879]

At this price point, 480 horizontal resolution is unacceptable for the display. Thats NTSC from the 50's. You addressed the slow refresh rate of the 815 & the older 1030 series with the 832 & this 874, but the LCD display is holding this back. Get with it, even 600h is out of date.

[@vitormhenrique]

Cool video! One day I wish I understand everything that you are talking about.... But I'm getting there! :)

[@magnuslundmark1281]

34:30 You're twisting the bullet. I died a little inside. :)

[@Thesignalpath]

+Magnus Lundmark Haha... Cheap SMA stuff. ;)

[@movax20h]

You could measure saturation, by putting known and characterized amplifier between TG and AUT.

[@amorim317]

how does SignalHound spectrum analyzers performance compares to Rigol ones?

[@vaualbus]

good video! the keysight Spectrum analyzer is from the "new" x series? which model is it? any way for the price the rigol is a good instrument!

[@Thesignalpath]

+Alberto Vaudagna It is the EXA series, the synthesizer is the EXG.

[@vaualbus]

+The Signal Path Blog ok thanks wish to ha a review of both!

[@asdf155]

+Alberto Vaudagna Yes, we really want to have a look on those!

[@DavidMG99]

👍👍

[@redresistor1330]

What brand is that WIFI booster?

[@TheDigitalAura]

Great video although I wish Rigol would spend more time on their line of PC software, right now as you mentioned it can be very temperamental and unfortunately is currently one of Rigols biggest failings in my opinion.

[@nraynaud]

I have a naive question on the EMI design: why put the switching power supply inside the EMI Barrier, isn't it one of the worst emitter? What about putting it outside, and filter the incoming supply voltage when it comes in?

[@Thesignalpath]

+nraynaud1 Well, the power supply is already in its own cage. And all the RF sections are in their own cage. Then the whole unit is in a cage. Remember that the unit should also not emit anything outside of its own chassis!

[@adamluran4526]

+The Signal Path Blog Shahriar you're my hero and a gift to humanity. I'm a 16 year old aspiring electrical engineer and you've really helped me with your videos in more ways than one. I've learned so much from the electronics projects you've created and you've managed to also boost my moral,helping me to ease off the severe depression I've been through for so long. I just want to thank you Shahriar from the bottom of my heart.

[@Thesignalpath]

+Adam Luran You are welcome Adam. I am happy to hear that my videos have helped you. Keep yourself busy and let your sense of curiosity and wonder determine your mood and happiness. Good luck.

[@Razor2048]

For the price, they really need to give these scopes 2560x1440 resolution LCD displays, and more features. e.g., allow it to double as a web server, or VPN server. Anyway, awesome review.

[@videobruceb8879]

These are overpriced for that reason and the fact these are not from long established scope manufactures.

[@godfreypoon5148]

Do you think this time we will get a comment from the guy who always says that the fancy stuff is just for show, and you really don't need any of it? (You can do 10GHz on FR-2 with BC547s in a plastic jiffy box.)

[@stefantrethan]

+Godfrey Poon You can do some astonishing stuff with minimal parts. I recently bought a chinese LED lamp with motion detector, the whole (GHz) RF section appears to be just a single transistor oscillator. It looks like a PIR IC is used to sense tiny changes in supply current from changing reflections, and handle the delay. It is not quite as reliable as the other one I have, which uses doppler shift, but when I saw how few parts were on the RF section I couldn't believe it would actually work. I'm happy to fund a sample, if Shariar wants to play with it, Ebay 311246474716.

[@xiaoguangliu5451]

+stefantrethan proximity fuse

[@videobruceb8879]

I'm disappointed you didn't dismantle this further. You stopped short.

[@Thesignalpath]

+videobruce b That's because testing its performance is more important to taking it apart given the limited time I have. The video is still more than an hour long.

[@videobruceb8879]

Then it should of been in two parts.

[@danielbjohnson]

Join Patreon already so I can give you the monies... another quality video!

[@Thesignalpath]

+Daniel Johnson Thank you friend.

[@MitchMartinEngineer]

Giveaway? ;)

[@manu2137]

Hai sir how are you