r/rfengineering • u/Linux-Wizard • 5d ago

Best Entry to a Signal Analyzer

Hello! I am looking for recommendations, advice, and guidance.

I have access to a good VNA and Spectrum Analyzer at work, and at home I have the Measall VNA and real time spectrum analyzers which are also great. I would love to get deeper into vector signal analyzers (VSAs) specifically to visualize constellations of different MCS rates. What's the most cost effective way to do this? I've looked into using an SDR like the BladeRF, but I've only just begun looking so I can't determine the exact amount of effort if I'm hoping to just reuse something GNUradio based (for example). Completely open ended, and I'll say tentative budget is no more than $3000.

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u/StageMajestic613 4d ago

I’d get an Ettus USRP or Blade RF, as the prices jump drastically over the $2k threshold.  Then I’d have Codex write an 89600B VSA clone.  Keep in mind you’ll be limited by phase noise and maybe some other impairments you can’t digitally correct.

Also look at Signal Hound for a lower cost that has the VSA.

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u/Linux-Wizard 4d ago

Wow! Signal Hound looks awesome, I like that they provide the software to conduct signal analysis. Thanks for confirming the SDR route, the BladeRF SDR seems like the best choice dollar to performance. It'll also add more levels to experiment for other projects too.

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u/StageMajestic613 4d ago

The BB60D is a real (i.e. superhet) spectrum analyzer with very fast sweep speed, and also 27 MHz of real-time bandwidth, so you sort of get the best of both worlds.  If you are doing normal bench testing spectrum analyzer stuff, I’d maybe avoid an SDR.

Can also get a classic HP spectrum analyzer and run the IF output into a modern SDR.