Which one would you recommend Siglent SSA3032X-R or Rigol RSA3030N?

[Darko8]

Hi,

I'm in a process of buying VNA and since it is my first purchase of proper VNA or spectrum analyzer, I would need some help deciding between these two:
Which one would you recommend Siglent SSA3032X-R or Rigol RSA3030N?

Price of Siglent is slightly lower but with Rigol is currently having some promotion so I could get EMI tool with probes for less.

Anyone has any experience with any of those?

Any advice will be appreciated since I don't have much experience buying VNA & SA. What should I pay attention to?

I almost forgot to add: I need it for EMI precompliance testing and antena/filter/balun tuning/matching.

Thank you, Darko

[tautech]

Unless you specifically need the RTSA consider the much cheaper SVA1032X. Except for the lack of RTSA the functionality/feature set is identical.
The range breaks down like this:
SSA3000X Plus = spectrum analyser
SVA1000X        = SA + VNA
SSA3000X-R     = RTSA + VNA

Options packages are mostly identical as is operation.
There are 2 promo packages running although I'm not aware if you can take advantage of both:
https://int.siglent.com/info/detail-40.html

https://www.siglenteu.com/news-article/equip-the-new-vna-bundle-and-make-antenna-matching-easy/
https://www.siglenteu.com/news-article/a-new-bundle-for-emi-pre-compliance-test/

[Feynman]

Did you consider the Rohde & Schwarz FPC1500? You'll get the "all options" bundle for 4.400€, which is an excellent deal in my opinion.

[Darko8]

Hi,

I did not know about Rohde & Schwarz FPC1500, so I'll consider it too, now that I know it exists. I took a quick look and it seems nice, but I would really like to have realtime spectrum analyzer with option to 'record' data and send it to PC for further analysis. If I'm not mistaken, Rohde & Schwarz FPC1500 is not realtime spectrum analyzer.

I have one specific problem with loosing some packets on wireless unit I developed and I would like to 'debug' what exactly happens on RF path when packet is lost.

Currently I'm leaning slightly more to the Siglent SSA3032X-R than Rigol RSA3030N (simply based on the price) but if someone knows some feature which would change recommendation to Rigol RSA3030N, please let me know.

Best regards, Darko

[Darko8]

Hi,

Siglent SSA3032X-R is in my basket, any last concern?

Regards, Darko

[tautech]

Hi,

Siglent SSA3032X-R is in my basket, any last concern?

Regards, Darko

Be sure to get a VNA cal kit too as per the 5% off all promo. 

[Darko8]

Hi,

I did not order VNA cal KIT, because I mainly connect to SMA devices, so it does not make sense to buy N calibration kit and then use adapters, it is most likely much worse than homemade cal kit.
For start I'll use good load that I bought on auction and goes to 18GHz, and then I'll try my luck with open and short that comes vith nanoVNA, and just for comparison I'll make my own kit to see how it compares.
(I'll probably follow procedure in thred DIY Short, Open and LOAD for VNA calibration).

Regards, Darko

[tautech]

Darko, there is a range of Siglent Cal kits both SMA and N type from 4.5 GHz to 9 GHz however they are only listed completely on the US website:
https://siglentna.com/products/accessories/vna-calibration-kits/

[kladit]

@tautech

The SSA-3000X-R offers VNA S11 and S21 measurements. (with a build in bridge to my understanding)

Why then reflection measurement is an option to which an external bridge is needed ?

Can you tell us where are which differences and why?

[tautech]

@tautech

The SSA-3000X-R offers VNA S11 and S21 measurements. (with a build in bridge to my understanding)

Why then reflection measurement is an option to which an external bridge is needed ?

Can you tell us where are which differences and why?

Not entirely sure however when X-R were first released RM was an option however this functionality is also available in VNA mode with Log Mag measurement.
VNA and DTF were both features that were added later free after X-R release.
Pics of each:

Log Mag Pink trace:


In VNA mode all the same measurements are available as are in RM however RM allows for them at one time yet you can overlay all these measurement types in VNA mode using the 4 traces available.

IME with the external reflection bridge vs the inbuilt SVA/X-R bridge, the inbuilt bridge offers better directivity hence my preference has been for the SVA/X-R platform so to not need an external bridge although it does offer additional isolation from the DUT.

[Darko8]

Hi,

I finally got SSA3032X-R today. Now I'm waiting for EMI probes they forgot to send with SSA3032X-R...
Unit looks good, it is very heavy which implies a lot of RF shielding inside.
I will test it in following days.
I think I need to start by sorting out good/bad cables which I bought over the year from various sources.

Regards, Darko

[Darko8]

Hi,

Just a quick update. I'm very satisfied with Siglent SSA3032X-R unit, it is very capable and responsive device.

Regards, Darko

[tautech]

Glad you like it as I'm pretty fond of this family of devices too. 

There is a recent firmware update for X-R and you can get it here:
https://int.siglent.com/download/firmwares/?ProId=54

Check the release notes. 

[kladit]

Darko8,

can you please publish screenshots of it's noise here
pre-amp on, 0dB attentuation, BW 1Hz and BW 10Hz?

[mhsprang]

What I'd be interested in, is a screen shot of a very clean (read: low phase noise) crystal oscillator or RF generator. I purchased an R&S FPC 1500 and I regret it. It's phase noise is horrible. If I measure a signal of my Siglent 2000 series function generator on the FPC 1500 and compare it with what my R&S (30 year old) CMU 200 shows, I see a world of difference on 10 kHz of the carrier (CMU 200 is 20 dB better). Also when doing an IP3 measurement using a two tone signal, the level of the intermodulation products shown on the FPC 1500 are at least 10 dB higher than on the CMU 200, which means that the FPC 1500 distorts too much by itself.

Best,
Meindert

[tautech]

What I'd be interested in, is a screen shot of a very clean (read: low phase noise) crystal oscillator or RF generator. I purchased an R&S FPC 1500 and I regret it. It's phase noise is horrible. If I measure a signal of my Siglent 2000 series function generator on the FPC 1500 and compare it with what my R&S (30 year old) CMU 200 shows, I see a world of difference on 10 kHz of the carrier (CMU 200 is 20 dB better). Also when doing an IP3 measurement using a two tone signal, the level of the intermodulation products shown on the FPC 1500 are at least 10 dB higher than on the CMU 200, which means that the FPC 1500 distorts too much by itself.

Best,
Meindert

PN is marginally better than specified in datasheets IME although I've yet to have a X-R cross my bench.
Some 2 tone tests here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/two-tone-test-with-scope-and-sa/

[kladit]

I just ordered a SSA-3000X-R and in between I discovered a discrepancy
between datasheet and manual regarding the VNA.

In the datasheet the start frequency  of the VNA is 100 kHz.

In the manual (downloaded from Batronix) the start frequency (page 64) is 10 MHz.

Unfortunately the manual is not a dedicated SSA3000X-R one.

The TG starts at 100 kHz so I hope the VNA will do also.

@tautech
Can you tell/(find out) what is the factual start frequency of the SSA3000X-R VNA?

[tautech]

I just ordered a SSA-3000X-R and in between I discovered a discrepancy
between datasheet and manual regarding the VNA.

In the datasheet the start frequency  of the VNA is 100 kHz.

In the manual (downloaded from Batronix) the start frequency (page 64) is 10 MHz.

Unfortunately the manual is not a dedicated SSA3000X-R one.

The TG starts at 100 kHz so I hope the VNA will do also.

@tautech
Can you tell/(find out) what is the factual start frequency of the SSA3000X-R VNA?

As the User manual covers all SSA3000X Plus, SSA3000X-R and SVA1000X models the 10 MHz VNA Start spec specifically applies to just 1 model; SVA1015X.
See the Note on P64:
[1] - [6] Different models have different values. Please refer to Data Sheet.

SVA1015X is the only model with this limitation as all other models in VNA mode have a Start spec of 100KHz.

Reference docs:
Manual:
https://www.siglenteu.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2019/09/UserManual_UG0703P_E02A.pdf
SSA3000X-R datasheet:
https://www.siglenteu.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/12/SSA3000X-R_DataSheet_DS0703R_E02B.pdf
SVA1000X Datasheet:
https://www.siglenteu.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2020/12/SVA1000X_DataSheet_DS0701X_E04B.pdf

[kladit]

tautech, thank you very much for your answer.
HNY, stay save.

[DL4RAJ]

Hi tautech,

meanwhile I also own a SSA3032X-R.
While I love all the features it is offering there is a major draw  back.
As the minimum RBW in TG mode is only 3kHz (as opposed to models SSA3021/32X, or -Xplus
which have 30Hz!!)) it is impossible to measure narrow crystal or notch filters on HF or high Q diplexers for VHF.
Is there any hope that Siglent will come up with narrower RBWs in TG mode by a firmware update?
After all they did so for the SSA3021/32X.Early models in 2016 had 30kHz RBW but this shortcoming was
addressed by a firmware update,so they offer 30Hz since then.

Greetings
Clemens
DL4RAJ

[tautech]

Hi tautech,

meanwhile I also own a SSA3032X-R.
While I love all the features it is offering there is a major draw  back.
As the minimum RBW in TG mode is only 3kHz (as opposed to models SSA3021/32X, or -Xplus
which have 30Hz!!)) it is impossible to measure narrow crystal or notch filters on HF or high Q diplexers for VHF.
Is there any hope that Siglent will come up with narrower RBWs in TG mode by a firmware update?
After all they did so for the SSA3021/32X.Early models in 2016 had 30kHz RBW but this shortcoming was
addressed by a firmware update,so they offer 30Hz since then.

Greetings
Clemens
DL4RAJ

Yes the latest datasheet from Jan 21 confirms this.
Good question, I'll ask.

Do you have the Jan 21 firmware release installed ?
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Spectrum_analyzer/SSA3000X-R_V3.2.2.4.0_EN.zip

[DL4RAJ]

Hi tautech,

yes,I have have the Jan 21 firmware release installed.
Thanks for asking Siglent!
If narrower than 3kHz TG-mode-RBWs , down to 30Hz RBW could be added like in the
less expensive models this would make this model a perfect allrounder and for sure
attract more prospective buyers.

Greetings
Clemens

[tautech]

Hi tautech,

yes,I have have the Jan 21 firmware release installed.
Thanks for asking Siglent!
If narrower than 3kHz TG-mode-RBWs , down to 30Hz RBW could be added like in the
less expensive models this would make this model a perfect allrounder and for sure
attract more prospective buyers.

Greetings
Clemens

Clemens, normally I would have a reply by now however I believe the SSA Product Manager has gone to Shanghai for the Chinese Electronica Exhibition so it may be a few days before we catch up again.
Bump me if you hear nothing by next week.

[DL4RAJ]

OK,thanks!

[Thilo°]

Hi tautech,

yes,I have have the Jan 21 firmware release installed.
Thanks for asking Siglent!
If narrower than 3kHz TG-mode-RBWs , down to 30Hz RBW could be added like in the
less expensive models this would make this model a perfect allrounder and for sure
attract more prospective buyers.

Clemens, normally I would have a reply by now however I believe the SSA Product Manager has gone to Shanghai for the Chinese Electronica Exhibition so it may be a few days before we catch up again.
Bump me if you hear nothing by next week.

does the 3kHz RBW in TG mode limitation affect all SSA3000X-R models (i.e. 3.2GHz, 5GHz, 7.5GHz) or the 3.2GHz model only?

And is this issue still open or solved by now?

Thanks,
Thilo