Siglent SVA1015X and SVA1032X 1.5, 3.2GHz Spectrum & Vector Network Analyzers

[Johnny B Good]

Thanks a lot for the information, will try this when coming home:)

After this, is it possible to update the FW in the future, and still keep the options?

Best regards

Robert

 Yes.

[robkar02]

Now i have permanent on all the options that was on trial, but in the keygen there is a lot more options generated. Can i use the other ones on my SVA1015x as well, or is it just AMK,EMI,TG;DMA,AMA,DTF,VNA?

Best regards

Robert

[tautech]

Now i have permanent on all the options that was on trial, but in the keygen there is a lot more options generated. Can i use the other ones on my SVA1015x as well, or is it just AMK,EMI,TG;DMA,AMA,DTF,VNA?

Only official license types are supported.
Scroll down here to see what they are:
https://www.siglenteu.com/spectrum-analyzers/sva1000x-spectrum-vector-analyzer/

TG and VNA are default in the SVA range.

[ErnestB]

Short question for experts on this type instrument Siglent SVA1015X. Is the BW (SA and/or VNA function) hackable from 1.5 to 3.2 to 7.5GHz?
I suppose it is not, but just to make sure.
Excuse for not reading first through the whole thread, as it is got very long in the meantime.. The short answer would be beneficial to the newcomers. TIA

[tv84]

No.

[MathWizard]

So are these models over 5yr's old? Since they've had new scopes lately, are there any plans for updated VNA's ? I wish there were models closer to the sds2000x+ series prices, or 1000x-e prices. Even if they are only 500MHz BW, that's plenty for all kinds of uses. And a lot more people could afford them.

[tautech]

So are these models over 5yr's old?

Roughly 5 with SVA1015X the first of the later HW with touch/mouse capable displays.

Since they've had new scopes lately, are there any plans for updated VNA's ? I wish there were models closer to the sds2000x+ series prices, or 1000x-e prices. Even if they are only 500MHz BW, that's plenty for all kinds of uses. And a lot more people could afford them.

SVA1015X is the cheapest (ready to go) with SA/VNA capability for a little more than SDS2104X Plus cost.

It was my fist VNA before updating to SVA1032X which remains my fav RF instrument.

Development has been towards higher not lower BW with SVA and SSA3000X-R models pushing to 7.5 GHz as is the SHA800A range which then SNA5000A exceeded with first 8.5 GHz capable models that have recently been lifted to 26.5 GHz.

[MathWizard]

I can't really remember how these work, but how much easier is it too make a 5GHz SA/VA than a oscilloscope ?

I don't get why no big brand has slower, and I would assume cheaper SA/VA's. Just another thing wrong with the universe.

[switchabl]

Much easier.* In order to build a faster oscilloscope, you need faster, (much) more expensive ADCs (and RAM and DSP fast enough to handle all the data). With RF instruments, the trade-offs are quite different. A 40 GHz SA doesn't necessarily have a higher real-time bandwidth than a 1.5 GHz one.

Apart from some low-end portable models that manage to repurpose some wireless chipset (usually with some serious limitations), going below 2.5-3 GHz probably isn't going to change your design and your BOM cost in a meaningful way. Those are almost all going to be single-band superheterodyne receivers anyway (with first IF above maximum input frequency) and there are plenty of relatively cheap synthesizer/PLL, mixer, amplifier, switch, attenuator etc ICs available in that frequency range nowadays. If you are going to sell a 1 GHz version of a modern SA that's probably just about market segmentation and it's very likely a software option.

Above that, it's not just more expensive components that increase the price. For one, the architecture (and the frequency planning) tends to get more complicated. You'll start seeing one or more high bands that potentially bypass the first mixer but need additional filter banks (or a YTF) to maintain image rejection. The tuning range on the LOs (and source on the VNA) might be too large to cover with a single VCO, so there will be additional paths with frequency multipliers and more filters. Speaking of filters, at some point discrete (L, C & R) filters stop being viable and distributed filters are needed instead, along with a suitable PCB material (instead of cheap FR4).

* for a basic, lower-end SA; at the high-end, a modern RTSA might basically have a multi-GHz oscilloscope built-in and can also be highly sophisticated on the digital/software side.

[ellisthegas]

Dear all,

Please forgive me for asking this simple question, but having looked through the topic, I am unsure of the answer in my case.

I upgraded my SSA3021X+ to a SVA1032X a couple of years ago with the help of members of this forum and my good friend "weejag". I confess to not having really understood what was happening in terms of the computing side and I simply did what Dave (weejag) told me to.

I have ended up with a good working device with no serial number, but with all options enabled. Firmware is 3.2.2.5.1R1.r7

My question(s):

1) Can I update the firmware to the most recent without losing the options, as I have no serial number?

And, while I am here,
2) I have the issue that I have seen others with, in relation to the odd calibration behaviour. Is there a fix for this yet?

With thanks in anticipation,

Ellis

[Bicurico]

You can upgrade, nothing bad will happen.
You should however complete your hack and get the serial back. This will disable all options, but you just generate the keys to officially activate them for your device. This will fix the calibration issue

[ellisthegas]

Many thanks Bicurico. That is reassuring.

Please can you direct me to a message pointing me to how to complete the hack? This wasn't available when I did the hack (as I remember) and there is a huge amount to look through to get there!

I will be delighted to get the calibration issue sorted!

BW,

Ellis

[Bicurico]

Take a look here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sva1015x-1-5ghz-spectrum-vector-network-analyzer-(coming)/msg5195076/#msg5195076

You need to undo your hack - I can't remember the name of the file you had to delete or rename to get into full mode. It's the file that contains your serial number. Better ask your friend to help you or read through the whole thread on what was done to your device, how to undo it and then how to properly license all options.

[ellisthegas]

Thanks Bicurico.

I know I'm a bit thick about this, but do you mean undo the hack (to revert to SSA3021X+),  then simply convert it to SVA1032X by inserting licence codes from the online python keygen?  If this is what you mean, will the use of the 'all' option give me the 3.2GHZ bandwidth plus the VNA and all of the options?

Please confirm. I'm really grateful for your advice.

E

[Bicurico]

You don't need to convert back to SSA. After the cross flash to SVA you, at some point, renamed or deleted the file containing your serial.
You need to restore this file
All options will be gone, but you just reactivate them with the ALL option.
Sorry for the lack of detail, but I don't own this device and don't remember the steps in detail.

[ellisthegas]

Thanks yet again Bicurico.

During a long facetime call, my friend, Dave (weejag) and I took the bull by the horns and did as you suggested. We un-renamed the two files that we renamed as part of the old cross-flash process and the serial number re-appeared. Most of the options remained as permanent but the couple that had gone were restored by using the 'all' key. The bandwidth also remained at 3.2GHz. I am very pleased to have completed this upgrade!

I am grateful for your support and encouragement.

Best wishes,

Ellis

[DL4JY]

Finally you can restore the serial number via SCPI - and then apply the options via the generated keys of the python script. That would be all to come from a factory mode SVA to a real SVA.

SCPI :SRLN <serial_num> (starting with SSA...)

cheerio

[ellisthegas]

I wish I had known that!

Never mind.

Thanks anyway.

Merry Christmas and Happy new year everyone!

E

[spacehen]

Does anyone with an SVA1015X have input N-type connectors that become quite hot to the touch after about 30-45 minutes?

[Self Bias]

Hello everyone,

I recently received a liberated SSA3021X+, now I'm using it to get into the world of RF.

I seem to have stumbled over a bug though: I connected my SDG6000X to the SVA. It is set to 120 MHz sine @ -20 dBm. This works great.


Then I want to measure harmonics. The automated measurement works great, but only with RBWs >= 30 Hz. If I set it to 10 Hz or lower, the fundamental and all harmonics will be displayed with an amplitude that is above the reference level. If I set the reference level to +30 dBm, the fundamental will be measured at +36 dBm, with harmonics up to 6 dB above that. Changing VBW has no influence.

Now the funny thing is that I tried to reproduce it after playing around with a different bug, and then I got an error message "Invalid RBW" when trying to get below 30 Hz. After a reboot, I could go below 30 Hz again and reproduce the issue.



The other bug is: While Harmonics measurement is active, changing the detector from "Pos Peak" to anything else either
* freezes the measurement. The yellow star will appear is it seems to look for the fundamental again, but after it's finished, the graph is not updated anymore. Or:
* will also create "measurements" with extremely high fundamental and harmonic amplitudes. The amplitude even increases with every change between "Neg Pos", "Sample" etc., saturating at almost 200 dBm.



Can anyone reproduce those issues? I'm on firmware 3.2.2.6.0R7.

Does anyone with an SVA1015X have input N-type connectors that become quite hot to the touch after about 30-45 minutes?

Yes, I have that too. But a lot of measurement devices seem to get warm in order to maintain a stable temperature, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just a weird spot to get warm.

[Martin72]

I recently received a liberated SSA3021X+

Grr...So you snatched it from under my nose.

[2N3055]

Does anyone with an SVA1015X have input N-type connectors that become quite hot to the touch after about 30-45 minutes?

Yes, I have that too. But a lot of measurement devices seem to get warm in order to maintain a stable temperature, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just a weird spot to get warm.

These devices have multilayer boards with large ground planes and massive aluminum shields that together act as heat spreaders. So heat is everywhere including part of the board and chassis where connectors are.. Hence warm connectors ...

[antenna]

I have a genuine SVA1032x and I have not noticed any part of it warm up, not even a little.  I've had mine open to tighten the connector screws (for some reason they got loose) and I can tell you that aluminum is heavy.  With that in mind, I have 20w transmitters with much less mass in the heat sync that barely gets noticeably warm, so I ask, what inside a RECEIVER needs to get that hot???  I would be concerned enough to find out what is generating the heat.

[2N3055]

I have a genuine SVA1032x and I have not noticed any part of it warm up, not even a little.  I've had mine open to tighten the connector screws (for some reason they got loose) and I can tell you that aluminum is heavy.  With that in mind, I have 20w transmitters with much less mass in the heat sync that barely gets noticeably warm, so I ask, what inside a RECEIVER needs to get that hot???  I would be concerned enough to find out what is generating the heat.

I wouldn't.

Both you, Spacehen and  Self Bias discuss this "temperature" without stating any temperature measured by thermometer.

"Measuring" temperature by touching it with a hand is highly subjective and two different people will have wildly different perception what "really warm is".
Not to mention that a room all this is happening in can vary by 10 °C and nobody takes that into account.

To many people pain threshold for touching hot objects is mere 50°C, and some will report 40-45°C as very hot. Some will go into 60°C sauna and say "it is warm but it's OK"...

So before getting all crazy about it, a measurement should be done.  If connectors are at 70°C than something is wrong...

[tautech]

Hello everyone,

I recently received a liberated SSA3021X+, now I'm using it to get into the world of RF.

Not having much luck are you ?
Your screenshots mean nothing as sweeps are not seen as Ref levels and Scale are not applicable to the signals used. Turn the measurement table Off so Sweep and Span settings are visible and just use Markers and their values displayed on the screen.

Press Preset (check is is set to Factory Default) and show us some aweeps with the trace visible.

Then I would like to see the Mode menu if all the SVA options are actually available.
Does the System info display a SN# and model ?

You could also go into the Display menu and change the screenshot format from Inverted to Normal.