Hack of Sigllent spectrum analyzer ssa3021X?

[munxx]

Could the folks with an SSA3021X Plus and the missing connectors/wire post their Siglent's certificate of calibration "calibration date" ?

Mine is 2024-10-30.  Trying to see if yours is older or newer than mine, without opening the instrument or installing the VNA firmware. 

I'm pretty sure I'm hosed too, just trying to compare and confirm.

Edit: I ask because I ordered mine directly from Siglent USA now in December and the back has no date of manufacture, made in China.  There is hope that it took a while to get here from China (but delivery was within a week, so it was already here in the USA).

Edit 2: Impatient, so opened and had the same missing connectors. All working now.  Had to use a regular 15 cm extension cable.  At least until I can source something shorter.  Get good results on Smith chart so not in a rush now.

I got my SSA3021X Plus this week. Checked if the sma connectors are missing and they were populated and connected. Siglent's certificate of calibration calibration date is 2024-08-15. I did some tests and it is working fine. Thanks to everybody involved for your work.

[davebb]

Hi , can i just crossflash ADS file with the file in number 6 in the very good how to, without doing the telnet stuff,
i have done the saa3032plus from the saa3021plus
Thanks Dave 2E0DMB

[mandor]

I think you can.
However I didn't try it on anything other than my device.
Steps before 6 are for enabling telnet permanently, backing up files and checking the device static ID. If it's other than 11411, maybe you can't use the SVA firmware? I don't know. I would check and if it's something else, I would try to ask somebody here if it's safe.

[taegge]

Thanks to everyone's contributions I was able to successfully cross-flash my shiny new SSA3021X Plus to a SVA1032X today.  Unfortunately I was missing the internal SMA connectors/wire. I didn't have any paperclips around, but i did have some .045" (1.143mm) music wire.  Music wire is much harder to work with than a paperclip, but after a couple takes I got a very good 'spring' fit.

I cant help myself but to add a proper SMA connection though. Don't do this if you aren't confident in your soldering ability! If you are, this might save you a few minutes of plunking around digikey. My BOM:
[redacted]

(edit: I am dumb. Don't use those parts)

[palm]

Hi! A few months back I upgraded my SSA 3021X Plus to SVA1032X and unlocked all the options. However I just realized that the top frequency is limited to 2.1GHz rather than 3.2 as I expected. I also tried to factory reset the unit to no avail. SMA and cables are all in place. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

[taegge]

Hi! A few months back I upgraded my SSA 3021X Plus to SVA1032X and unlocked all the options. However I just realized that the top frequency is limited to 2.1GHz rather than 3.2 as I expected. I also tried to factory reset the unit to no avail. SMA and cables are all in place. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

Are you sure that you applied the '3032' code that the python script gave you?

[tautech]

Hi! A few months back I upgraded my SSA 3021X Plus to SVA1032X and unlocked all the options. However I just realized that the top frequency is limited to 2.1GHz rather than 3.2 as I expected. I also tried to factory reset the unit to no avail. SMA and cables are all in place. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

Are you sure that you applied the '3032' code that the python script gave you?

Probably not.
Everyone is in such a hurry to hack rather than become properly familiar with their new instrument. 

[palm]

Hi! A few months back I upgraded my SSA 3021X Plus to SVA1032X and unlocked all the options. However I just realized that the top frequency is limited to 2.1GHz rather than 3.2 as I expected. I also tried to factory reset the unit to no avail. SMA and cables are all in place. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

Are you sure that you applied the '3032' code that the python script gave you?

Probably not.
Everyone is in such a hurry to hack rather than become properly familiar with their new instrument. 

It was as easy as that, shame on me. I applied ALL, thinking it would actually include *all* the options... But it actually missed 3032.

Actually I wasn't in a rush. I have the full backup of the instrument and I'm pretty much into embedded Linux for work so everything was carried out with full knowledge of the facts, well except that license!

Thank you! (hope this will help others at least)

[coromonadalix]

hi @all   as per post 1296

i can not telnet the unit, it locks me out, tried to old  enabeld telnet Fw   no avail

This one just needed the sma to sma wire, i was lucky to have  Digikey  ACX1601-ND on hand

full bw and options upgrades to 3.2Ghz  no problems,  all options enabled permanently

Q: is there other ways ?

SW1    1.3.9.10
SW2    20201230-1
SW3    000000FA
HW      00.03.00

EDIT  i have an SSA3021X   non Plus model,  what would be   the non Plus procedures ?
and  im trying to figure out in this thread  when the fw platform changed   from say v7 v8    to the year 2020 and up, read many many pages    ....

but if i read correctly   post #879 says not possible due to hw changes ...    dang
and some posts report downgrading to fw 1.2.8.1 and remove all upgrades ? to get it back to initial state

i know this thread has evolved over the time,  but it is confusing for the X non Plus,  and the X Plus models ....

[R-1125F]

I got confused by this thread too.  I started a new thread today that I hope will only cover the SSA3021X non-plus models.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ssa3021x-upgrade-(no-ssa)/

[coromonadalix]

it is more confusing and dilute threads  if you start others

around page 30  we saw change on platform / hw  and firmwares versions

and unless mistaken,   the non Plus models can't be converted to SVA ??    haven't seen any reports ?

so far still happy with the upgrades to SSA3032X

[tv84]

I got confused by this thread too.  I started a new thread today that I hope will only cover the SSA3021X non-plus models.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ssa3021x-upgrade-(no-ssa)/

It's called a transposition technique...

Instead of reading 1000 msgs in 1 thread, one needs to read the 1 msg in 1000 threads.

Glad few people apply it.

[IDontKnow]

I had a chance today to check my upgraded SSA3021X against a Rhode&Schwarz calibrated power meter.
The Siglent's tracking generator is within 1 dB or better throughout the whole upgraded frequency range.

For example at 50 MHz it is +0.3 dB off, at 3.2 gHz +1 dB

Very nice.

[taegge]

Well I ran into a roadblock trying to solder in missing SMAs.  The through-hole PCB-mount SMA connectors that I ordered have a center diameter pin measuring 0.05" (1.27mm).  This is just barely larger than will fit through the holes in the footprint used by Siglent.  (It was tempting to drill it out, but I resisted!)  Every other through-hole SMA connector that I could find on digikey has this same center pin diameter.  I've pivoted to SMB, which seems to commonly have a 0.04" center pin. Bummed that I have to wait another week on parts!

edit: I randomly had a batch of aliexpress female SMA pcb connectors arrive (had ordered for a different purpose).  Sure enough they have a 0.04" (~1mm) center pin. If I had had these on hand a couple days ago, i probably would have just gone with it. But I'm going going to bet the parts I have on order from digikey are higher quality, so will just wait for them.

[RobRob]

Just upgraded my SSA3021X Plus to SVA1032X with all options. I got it from Saelig through Amazon for $1650.

System Info shows "HW 02.00.00".

I did have to add the SMA jumper wire to enable VNA. I just cut a short piece of high quality, thin coax, and soldered the center conductor directly to the unpopulated SMA center pads, then soldered the cable shield to one of the SMA outer pads to ground it.

I had to use this command to make the .xml file writeable: mount -o remount,rw firmdata0

I edited the /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0/NSP_trends_config_info.xml file and changed product_type_1 to SVA1032X.

It now self-identifies as a SVA1032X and VNA is fully functional.

Thank you to everyone that helped with the hack and documenting it in this thread.

[Explorer]

Also worked for me.
Thank you all, for the time and effort to make this happen.


However section 7 returned “file read only” so I was unable to change the Product name.
Anyone know how to make the file in /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0/“NSP_trends_config_info.xml” writeable ??
Editing was fine, when executing :wq it would just return “file read only”

[RobRob]

I had to use this command to make the file writeable: mount -o remount,rw firmdata0

[Roy D. Mercer]

Thanks so much for posting this. I was able to telnet in and login as root. Is this everything you need to do for backing up and enabling the upgrades or do I need to go back and read more? I nearly tried all the commands you posted but I know little about Linux nor do I have a clue what I am doing so I figured I better play it safe and ask first.

On a unit, brought last week, with rev 8.3 firmware, we used the following script:


plug in FAT32 formatted USB memory stick (to take a backup).
telnet to SSA30xxX
root/ding1234

cd /   
cp -R /usr/bin/siglent/usr/backup /usr/bin/siglent/usr/mass_storage/U-disk0/SA-backup 
cp -R /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0 /usr/bin/siglent/usr/mass_storage/U-disk0/SA-firmdata0 
mount -o remount,rw /dev/ubi2_0 /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0
cd /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0 
mv NSP_sn_bandwidth.xml NSP_sn_bandwidthx.xml 
mv NSP_trends_config_info.xml NSP_trends_config_infox.xml   
mv nsp_data_b nsp_data_bx   
cd /usr/bin/siglent/usr/backup   
mv NSP_sn_bandwidth.xml NSP_sn_bandwidthx.xml 
mv NSP_trends_config_info.xml NSP_trends_config_infox.xml 
mv nsp_data_b nsp_data_bx 
cd /
sync   
logout

reboot



Works fine. All options enabled, including bandwidth extension, permenant licences.
I'm happy!

[tautech]

Thanks so much for posting this. I was able to telnet in and login as root. Is this everything you need to do for backing up and enabling the upgrades or do I need to go back and read more? I nearly tried all the commands you posted but I know little about Linux nor do I have a clue what I am doing so I figured I better play it safe and ask first.

Not required.
Do more study.

[Sunlitcomet1]

 I had plans on getting 21x plus myself and doing the upgrades too. I will likely order mine in the next week. So am I likely to get one that won't be able to be switched to the vna function at all or just those wire modifications will be the only hardware part I have to worry about?  I am happy about the 3.2ghz and other software upgrade things already but I would not mind having a vna to learn from. This would be my first spectrum analyzer of any kind and I want to get back into electronics again. Crash coursing where I can along the way. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[tautech]

I had plans on getting 21x plus myself and doing the upgrades too. I will likely order mine in the next week. So am I likely to get one that won't be able to be switched to the vna function at all or just those wire modifications will be the only hardware part I have to worry about?  I am happy about the 3.2ghz and other software upgrade things already but I would not mind having a vna to learn from. This would be my first spectrum analyzer of any kind and I want to get back into electronics again. Crash coursing where I can along the way. Any help is greatly appreciated.

This and 2 or 3 more threads have the info you seek.
Sharpening your Search skills will find them.

Welcome to the forum.

[Roy D. Mercer]

This is a hobby for me. I would not have purchased a Siglent SA had it not been for this thread. Without a couple of the options, it’s not useful enough for me to justify the cost. At my real job we have SA's that are 12 times the cost and we would never do something like this. Siglent knows what they are doing. It's a win for Siglent and their customers. None of this would be possible if not for some very kind people dedicating a considerable amount their time and I thank you very much for that. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread. 

[Roy D. Mercer]

Thank you! Your reply told me everything I needed ... just read the entire thread. It's a bit confusing at times but all of the answers are there and repeated.

Thanks so much for posting this. I was able to telnet in and login as root. Is this everything you need to do for backing up and enabling the upgrades or do I need to go back and read more? I nearly tried all the commands you posted but I know little about Linux nor do I have a clue what I am doing so I figured I better play it safe and ask first.

Not required.
Do more study.

[ohmelette]

Hello.
I've converted my SSA3021XPlus into SVA1032X.
Thanks tomud, electr_peter, tv84, bicurico, tautech, Attenbach. If I missed anyone it wasn't on purpose.
Let me summarize what I have done as there is a lot of different approaches int his thread added over the years that are not all necessary.
I don't take credit for anyones work. It's all in this thread which other people discovered, made, invented, programmed etc.

...

Hi @mandor, standard SMA connectors with 1.27mm central pin diameter doesn't fit. What connector did you use?

[NYG]

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Just upgraded my SSA3021X Plus to SVA1032X with all options. I got it from Saelig through Amazon for $1650.

System Info shows "HW 02.00.00".

I did have to add the SMA jumper wire to enable VNA. I just cut a short piece of high quality, thin coax, and soldered the center conductor directly to the unpopulated SMA center pads, then soldered the cable shield to one of the SMA outer pads to ground it.

I had to use this command to make the .xml file writeable: mount -o remount,rw firmdata0

I edited the /usr/bin/siglent/firmdata0/NSP_trends_config_info.xml file and changed product_type_1 to SVA1032X.

It now self-identifies as a SVA1032X and VNA is fully functional.

Thank you to everyone that helped with the hack and documenting it in this thread.

I'm considering doing this myself. Just directly soldering a cable and forgoing connectors. It's a simple fix without needing further teardown. (this is done)


Thank you @mandor and others for the information here and a special thanks to Siglent. I'm becoming a fan of their gear. I really like this analyzer.