Of course I am also interested in this instrument, so I’ve investigated a bit. Looks like this is a whole new design, but it will certainly take advantage of the experience gained with the SSA series. The base version is most likely to come as a spectrum analyzer with tracking generator as standard, hence can be used as a SNA (Scalar Network Analyzer) for gain measurements right out of the box.
More advanced measurements like VNA (Vector Network Analysis), DTF (Distance To Fault) and DMA (Digital Modulation Analysis) will be just software licenses, no additional hardware required.
There will also be the Advanced Measurements and EMI Pre-Compliance Test options just like with the SSA3kX.
1.5Ghz seems rather low for a VNA these days.
Is there a 3.2 and or 6Ghz version as well?
Not for now.
I guess market for lower end VNAs is not very big? If something like this would be priced so that its attractive to "average" Amateur Radio hobbyist, Siglent probably would sell orders of magnitude more....
We don’t know the price yet, so why starting to complain already?
There are still lots of folks buying the Rigol DSA815-TG, aren’t there? The new Siglent SVA1015X will cover the same frequency range, but with supposedly better specs, e.g. lower resolution bandwidth and lower phase noise. I don’t think the fact that this machine can be easily upgraded to a VNA, Fault locator and Digital Modulation Analyzer makes it less attractive for potential users.
Looking at the port labels I am guessing that it will need an external coupler for S11 measurements...?
So the explicit answer is no – and maybe that’s also one reason why the frequency range is limited to 1.5GHz. It’s pure speculation on my side, but I recon it would be difficult to cover an even wider frequency range with just one coupler or even bridge and for now Siglent sure didn’t want to have to switch between several of them – not to mention the increase in cost.