Author Topic: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown  (Read 28340 times)

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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« on: June 22, 2016, 11:19:41 am »
A very detailed look inside the new Siglent SSA3021X 3.2GHz Spectrum Analyser.
The entire RF section is broken down and analysed in depth with a block diagram overlay.

 
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Offline jancumps

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2016, 11:25:18 am »
You may also have broken down youtube. There are playback errors.

The error is very representative for a teardown video error thoug.

« Last Edit: June 22, 2016, 11:29:37 am by jancumps »
 

Offline Pinkus

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2016, 01:41:06 pm »
Very nice. Thank you.
May I ask for some high-res photos also from TG and main processor board?
Interesting to see on the upper right sight: an SD card connector and an unpopulated FPC connector with a missing TSSPO chip. My guess: the latter could be for a planned and/or optional (though resistive) touch panel cable with touch screen controller?
Thx
« Last Edit: June 22, 2016, 02:00:58 pm by Pinkus »
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2016, 01:47:23 pm »
May I ask for some high-res photos also from TG and main processor board?

Yes, will upload tomorrow.
 
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Offline System Error Message

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2016, 04:02:26 pm »
Would really like to see this in action, do you think you could do a video of it?

edit: nevermind just found it in a comparison video. Its just unboxing and teardown videos without any action have become too common.
 
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Offline retrolefty

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2016, 04:12:56 pm »
The teardown was great. Sure seems like a whole lot of SA for the price point. I don't need a SA but I've always dreamed of owning one.  :-+

 

Offline Laertes

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2016, 05:10:35 pm »
I gotta say, the format you chose for this teardown is great! It seems you took a bit of a page from Shahriars/The Signal Paths book there, with the block diagrams and the photos with overlay, each individual block explained in depth etc.
Excellent work :-+ :-+

Though I do imagine it's a lot more work than just dicking around with your pointer straight on the actual board...
 

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Offline G0HZU

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2016, 08:49:41 pm »
At 23:32 in the video the function of the first RF switch U1 is to switch in the overload dummy load R1 (via C9) if there is an overload.

i.e. if there is a large overload the analyser can simply divert the RF input to the big 49.9R resistor R1.

The input blocking cap C10 is likely to be a big value possibly as big as 1uF. This can obviously store a lot of energy (for a given charge voltage) compared to a regular RF cap down in the nF range so I would expect to see something to protect the front end from transients from this cap if DC is ever applied/removed at the analyser input. Maybe those clamping diodes help here but it's hard to see how they are configured.
« Last Edit: June 22, 2016, 08:57:20 pm by G0HZU »
 

Offline G0HZU

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2016, 08:56:12 pm »
The second SOT23-6 RF switch U2 at 24:06 looks like it allows an internal test signal to be switched in to the front end of the analyser. Possibly for self testing/calibration purposes. The opamp IC to the right of it is probably something to do with the RF overload detection. Possibly a crude diode detector/comparator/trip to control that first RF switch U1 that switches in the (overload) dummy load resistor R1.

The input switches U1 and U2 look quite feeble in the SOT23-6 package but they are probably rated to about 1W and probably a bit more before they actually get damaged. So U1 can probably dump something in the ballpark of 1W into R1 if there is a bad overload. But much more than this and something is going to release some magic smoke somewhere...
« Last Edit: June 22, 2016, 09:09:31 pm by G0HZU »
 

Offline altaic

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2016, 09:09:07 pm »
Dave, I really liked the front-end breakdown and explanation of the block diagram! :-+

As people mentioned in the thread for the previous video, it'd be great to have a fundamentals friday explaining how SAs work and what each stage of the front-end does to the input signal to do the business. Actually, a video series on analog front-ends in general would be awesome-- you've already done one on multimeters; 'scopes and SAs to come? ;)
 

Offline AF6LJ

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2016, 09:17:49 pm »
By the way Dave;
The common way to pick off signals for sampling is to use a directional coupler.
Their PCB implimentation of a directional coupler is tried and true. They look like 10DB couplers. IF I had to put a number on it.
Good job on the teardown.
One of your very best RF teardowns yet...


 :-+ :-+ :-+
 
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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2016, 11:38:11 pm »
Daylight = 500THz

Terahertz
 

Offline AF6LJ

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #13 on: June 23, 2016, 12:21:55 am »
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline tszaboo

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #14 on: June 23, 2016, 03:29:52 pm »
I really liked the added effort for this RF equipment. It was too often: "Look RF voodoo and strange looking antennas!". OK, not really, but almost. This was very good.
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #15 on: June 23, 2016, 07:00:39 pm »
Best teardown, Dave. The extra time investment clearly shows and the level of detail is appreciated. :-+
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Offline richnormand

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2016, 07:15:32 pm »
Really appreciated this tear-down and analysis with the diagrams and the board walkthrough of the various stages.
Cheers and thanks Dave. :-+

PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?

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Online tautech

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2016, 08:17:10 pm »
Really appreciated this tear-down and analysis with the diagrams and the board walkthrough of the various stages.
Cheers and thanks Dave. :-+

PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?
Dave has a reputation for teardowns so any manufacturer shouldn't be at all surprised that he did.

Don't want a teardown and exposure of your design to the world ..... then don't send it to Dave, simple.
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Offline nctnico

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #18 on: June 23, 2016, 09:39:32 pm »
From what I have seen from the teardown there is nothing Siglent should be ashamed off. However the hardware engineers at Siglent should go after their co-workers in the software department with pitch forks more often to make them do a good job as well  >:D
There are small lies, big lies and then there is what is on the screen of your oscilloscope.
 

Offline richnormand

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #19 on: June 24, 2016, 12:10:13 am »
From what I have seen from the teardown there is nothing Siglent should be ashamed off.

Fully agree. At this price point this is excellent work.
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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #20 on: June 24, 2016, 12:28:40 am »
PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?

I just got an email from Siglent, they loved the teardown.
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #21 on: June 24, 2016, 12:30:52 am »
That excellent, Dave. Now, how can we use that knowledge to work for us?
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Offline AF6LJ

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #22 on: June 24, 2016, 12:36:56 am »
PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?

I just got an email from Siglent, they loved the teardown.
Good Deal  :-+ :-+
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline coppice

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #23 on: June 24, 2016, 02:37:27 am »
PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?

I just got an email from Siglent, they loved the teardown.
They might have liked it less if you'd done a parallel teardown of the 3.2GHz model, and found the hardware was identical. :)
 

Online tautech

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Re: EEVblog #892 - Siglent SSA3021X Spectrum Analyser Teardown
« Reply #24 on: June 24, 2016, 03:25:23 am »
PS: considering the comments on the last video comparing the two SP and the fact you did not have it for long I wonder what are the reactions from Siglent on the level of design detail given as well as just opening it?

I just got an email from Siglent, they loved the teardown.
They might have liked it less if you'd done a parallel teardown of the 3.2GHz model, and found the hardware was identical. :)
:-//
We already know it is.
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