Author Topic: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator  (Read 3516 times)

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Offline DRBuckTopic starter

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Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« on: October 06, 2020, 03:28:04 pm »
I'm getting ready to make the leap and buy a new RF signal generator.    My 37 year old HP8640B is beginning to show its age.   Some of the plastic mechanical parts are beginning to fatigue and break.   The fine tune shaft coupling has crumbled and I have no fine frequency adjustment and the one of the band select gears is split and its only a matter of time before it comes apart.   Besides that its really large and heavy.   ::)

My dilemma is which one of the two I've chosen to buy.      I am favoring both the Rigol 821 and the Siglent SSG3021X.    I've read many of the reviews available for the Rigol and it appears to be a decent RF generator for the price point and will meet my needs for my hobby radio work.     I'm a fan of and very satisfied with Siglent stuff I already own.  I have the SSA3021X spectrum analyzer, SDS1202X-E o'scope and SDM3045 DMM.  I haven't found very many user reviews on the Siglent SSG3021X RF generator though. But, from what I have read it appears to be very suitable for my purpose as well as the Rigol.    One of the factors pushing me toward the Siglent is the ability to expand it to 3.2GHz if it is needed in the future.     Which, goes to my major question  ..... has anyone been able to hack the firmware to expand the frequency of it?     If it can be hacked and expanded then my decision is made.   If not, I'm still in the undecided mode which I need to resolve and get an order placed.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2020, 05:48:21 pm by DRBuck »
 

Offline tv84

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2020, 03:40:49 pm »
Have you read this?
 

Offline DRBuckTopic starter

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2020, 03:56:59 pm »
Have you read this?

Yes I have, several times.     It puts a bright light on the Rigol.  However, as I indicated RF expansion is a capability I am considering with the Siglent.    I have also "tried" to read the other thread with comparisons between the two brands, much of which addresses issues well beyond what I would be using it for.       
 

Offline tv84

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2020, 04:19:09 pm »
expand the frequency of it?

I've heard of a couple...
 
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Offline DRBuckTopic starter

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2020, 01:27:31 pm »


Decision made and revised plan executed.    :-//

I settled for a used Rigol DSG815.   8)     Price was way to good to not make the deal.    The 1.5GHz top range will meet my needs.
 

Online tautech

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2021, 06:11:28 am »
Is there more than a software difference (apart from the backside BNC connectors of course ;-) between the SSG3021X and the SSG3032X or even the SSG3032X-IQE? Would be quite interesting if you may need more than 2.1 GHz or I/Q and are currently restricted in budget...
I was in the same position as you before I got mine and took the gamble I/Q was installed but not functional however we discovered I/Q functionality comes from a factory installed option/module.
Otherwise yes you can turn a 2.1 GHz model into SSG3032X although another member generated the codes for me to install via SCPI commands.
Avid Rabid Hobbyist.
Some stuff seen @ Siglent HQ cannot be shared.
 

Offline dEdt

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2021, 06:54:08 am »
Thanks for the feedback.
Sorry, I removed my original posting when I saw this thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-ssg3000x-series-rf-signal-generators/
which answers my question.
So it's clear now for me. Frequency update-> yes, but no I/Q :-(
I will try to use an ADALM PLUTO for this purpose, but I have to slightly boost my Digital Signal Processing/AD936x/GNU RADIO/Zynq 7000/Vivado background... and the ADALM PLUTO output has to be decontaminated.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2021, 07:10:36 am by dEdt »
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
Saadi Shirazi (1210-1291)
 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: Hack of Siglent SSG3021X 2.1GHz Signal Generator
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2023, 12:53:43 pm »
got one of theses  non I/Q model for pulse tests

yes it is a big size  loll

and the bandwith hack works fine, now a 3.2 gig model,   and the TRAIN   time limitted feature worked too

thks to eevblog member 

« Last Edit: March 18, 2023, 07:15:23 pm by coromonadalix »
 


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