Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: DRBuck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 03:28:04 pm
content: I'm getting ready to make the leap and buy a new RF signal generator. My 37 year old HP8640B is beginning to show its age. Some of the plastic mechanical parts are beginning to fatigue and break. The fine tune shaft coupling has crumbled and I have no fine frequency adjustment and the one of the band select gears is split and its only a matter of time before it comes apart. Besides that its really large and heavy.My dilemma is which one of the two I've chosen to buy. I am favoring both the Rigol 821 and the Siglent SSG3021X. I've read many of the reviews available for the Rigol and it appears to be a decent RF generator for the price point and will meet my needs for my hobby radio work. I'm a fan of and very satisfied with Siglent stuff I already own. I have the SSA3021X spectrum analyzer, SDS1202X-E o'scope and SDM3045 DMM. I haven't found very many user reviews on the Siglent SSG3021X RF generator though. But, from what I have read it appears to be very suitable for my purpose as well as the Rigol. One of the factors pushing me toward the Siglent is the ability to expand it to 3.2GHz if it is needed in the future. Which, goes to my major question ..... has anyone been able to hack the firmware to expand the frequency of it? If it can be hacked and expanded then my decision is made. If not, I'm still in the undecided mode which I need to resolve and get an order placed.

author: tv84
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 03:40:49 pm
content: Have you readthis?

author: DRBuck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 03:56:59 pm
content: Quote from: tv84 on October 06, 2020, 03:40:49 pmYes I have, several times. It puts a bright light on the Rigol. However, as I indicated RF expansion is a capability I am considering with the Siglent. I have also "tried" to read the other thread with comparisons between the two brands, much of which addresses issues well beyond what I would be using it for.

author: tv84
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 04:19:09 pm
content: Quote from: DRBuck on October 06, 2020, 03:28:04 pmI've heard of a couple...

author: DRBuck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2020, 01:27:31 pm
content: Decision made andrevisedplan executed.I settled for a used Rigol DSG815.Price was way to good to not make the deal. The 1.5GHz top range will meet my needs.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2021, 06:11:28 am
content: Quote from: dEdt on May 01, 2021, 05:13:26 amI was in the same position as you before I got mine and took the gamble I/Q was installed but not functional however we discovered I/Q functionality comes from a factory installed option/module.Otherwise yes you can turn a 2.1 GHz model into SSG3032X although another member generated the codes for me to install via SCPI commands.

author: dEdt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 01, 2021, 06:54:08 am
content: Thanks for the feedback.Sorry, I removed my original posting when I saw this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-ssg3000x-series-rf-signal-generators/which answers my question.So it's clear now for me. Frequency update-> yes, but no I/Q :-(I will try to use an ADALM PLUTO for this purpose, but I have to slightly boost my Digital Signal Processing/AD936x/GNU RADIO/Zynq 7000/Vivado background... and the ADALM PLUTO output has to be decontaminated.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2023, 12:53:43 pm
content: got one of theses non I/Q model for pulse testsyes it is a big size lolland the bandwith hack works fine, now a 3.2 gig model, and the TRAIN time limitted feature worked toothks to eevblog member