Choosing a budget class spectrum analyzer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: NovaMN
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 11:29:23 am
content: Hi, all!I have the following problem: I am standing before buying a spectrum analyzer in a budget class and for now I have two: Anritsu MS2661C (version without additional amenities) and HP 8594A version with tracking generator. I'm from EU (Poland) btw.A short comparison:For Anritsu, it is in his favor that it is a younger device, with an LCD display and interesting measuring and acquisition facilities (EMC). It is also after a complete renovation of the internal section of the power supply, calibration was also performed + its input is AC coupled, so it tolerates an offset of up to 50V (sometimes , without the external coupling capacitor can even measure noise on the power lines, it is also more resistant to user carefree use). However, the problem may be the lack of a reasonable amount of documentation available if it need some repairs, lack of TG and smaller popularity of the brand on the market (in case of the need to purchase substitutes). The analyzer is also (though not much) cheaper.When it comes to HP, the obvious advantage is TG, the wide availability of service documentation and spare parts, probably a bit better performance (at least with such opinions I met), an exteral calibration connector. The disadvantages can be: lack of recent renewals or calibration services, lack (for me, as a younger person it is a disadvantage) LCD, input is DC-coupled (does not tolerate offset - less resistant to carefree use), a bit more cluttered interface and no additional functions or measuring facilities.When it comes to comfort of work and dynamic parameters, I personally do not have possibility to compare them. Until now, I used R&S which is a bit higher class equipment.I will use device for:a) EMC precompliance engineering testingb) testing antennas prototypes in the spectrum of 500 kHz - several MHz and several hundred MHz - several GHzc) testing the active (resonant) materials in the spectrum of several hundred MHz - several GHz (field absorbers, waveguides)d) And what else will come to my mindI would be very grateful for any opinions on the presented devices, including arguments for and against some as well as for the help in choosing one of them. I reject price arguments. I also reject the possibility of buying new budget-class devices (Rigol, Siglent, GW Instek etc.) and I am aware of the consequences of this decisions (no warranty, need for individual servicing, no new software facilities).Best regards and thank you in advance for your help,MN

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 12:26:29 pm
content: For some reason I always end up buying a used Advantest spectrum analyser. My current one is the third. They can be found on Ebay for reasonable prices regulary but beware that these usually are older devices which may need some fixing.There is a thread on this subject already:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/used-spectrum-analyzer-buyer_s-guide/msg1137770/#msg1137770For your use case it might be better to look for a network analyser. This will also show what kind of impedance matching network you need on your antenna designs. IMHO one of the reasons that very few spectrum analyser have a tracking generator is because it is pretty much useless for any serious design work. If you are designing an antenna (for example) you want to know what the impedance mismatch is and not only that there is an impedance mismatch.

author: NovaMN
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 01:43:00 pm
content: Thanks for your reply. My problem is, that i'm limited to EU ebay (to buy sth beyond the borders of EU i need to add half of the price for shipping and second half of taxes) and the budget of about 1000 USD shipped. Im looking for the SA for several months and i cannot find anything better for that price than this two mentioned before.Im aware what kind of devices i need to fully perform antenna measurements, but another equipment is TODO for second half of the year. Now I need spectrum analyzer. Priority is EMC and filter design.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 02:35:06 pm
content: Did you try to make offers on Ebay? The asking price usually is way too high and with some haggling you can often get a lower price. Remember it is a buyer's market. Besides that buying abroad doesn't have to be very expensive if the equipment is cheap. If you pay $300 for the device and $400 for shipping you are still within your budget.

author: NovaMN
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 04:08:04 pm
content: Yeah, I tried to negotiate and I managed to achieve some discount. Seriously, I would buy something from US if it was worth it, but in a few weeks I found nothing like that (I suspect that the revival of the market for used equipment is largely due to EEVblog). Usually, the items that are worth attention, even after price reduction, are out of price range due to shipment and taxes (20 kg delivery cost about 400 USD, and add about 30% tax), or bringing them to EU is too risky (significant damage along the way). I would like to buy one of the two mentioned earlier, or find another interesting offer to buy it within 2-3 days, to finally move the projects further.Greetings,MN

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 04:47:03 pm
content: Don't worry too much about damage when an item is send by an experienced seller. After all they still have to make sure a piece of equipment arrives the way they shipped it otherwise they get a Paypal claim and negative feedback because the item is damaged. Also remember that the sender of a parcel is responsible for it until you touch it yourself.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 04:57:52 pm
content: I know nothing about the two SA mentioned, but in my limited experience what makes or breaks them is the minimum resolution bandwidth. One with 10kHz is useless, 1kHz is nearly useless, 100Hz or better and you can measure signals.I have had two Anritsu's, don't bother, no service information available.Buy an old HP 140 series, no fancy features but solid performance and easily available.

author: NovaMN
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 05:59:13 pm
content: Ok, thanks woodchips, that's a good point. Anritsu has a built-in option with 30 Hz RBW, HP 8594A has only 1 kHzAnritsu built-in options: "narrow resolution bandwidth" (RBW 30 Hz), "high-speed time domain sweep", "Trigger/gate circuit", "Pre-amplifier".HP options: "0 Hz span", "fast time-domain sweep", "TG", "external 10 MHz reference", "Time-Gated Spectrum Analysis".Due to my plans for the next two years, I will definitely buy one swcond-hand network analyzer and maybe some other equipment.Moreover, in wy workplace I've got one R&S FSU8 20Hz - 8GHz and one HP 8566B. So, for more sophisticated testing I can perform it outside of my own lab. I just need my own piece of equipment now and I don't want to regret it later

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 07:57:06 pm
content: I'd go for the Anritsu. Stay clear from decade old boat anchors if you want to get work done. The equipment itself should not become the project. Also newer equipment has LCD/TFT screens and often ways to dump a picture onto a medium a computer can read.

author: SWR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 01:27:13 pm
content: Quote from: NovaMN on April 29, 2018, 11:29:23 amWell, that would have been my advise (I bought the SSA3021X and hacked it to 3,2GHz with all the options enabled).All I can offer then is some advice on the Pre-Compliance probes:- I bought a set of near field probes for $69:http://www.deepace.net/1291-2/- I built this HF current probe:http://www.interferencetechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Wyatt_NA_DDG12.pdf- I'm building the PCB based 5uH LISN mentioned elsewhere on this forum.Best regardsSoren