Rigol RSA5000N vector network analyser

[Sighound36]

Rigol have just released a new version of the RSA 5000 real time analyser now with a vector network functionality with distance to fault I believe starting prices are from 2200 for the basic model upto 9700 euros for the 5065N


https://int.rigol.com/products/spectrum-analyzers/rsa5000.html

[OwO]

Specs are quite meh considering the price. Port VSWR is 1.6 up to 3GHz, which is only 12.7dB return loss. Dynamic range is only 80dB (frequency range unspecified, could be worse at 3GHz). That's nanovna level performance. At least they had the sense to include the VNA feature for free (competition from the nanovna probably influenced this).

And of course, only calibrated directivity specs. I'm sure they use the same kind of reflectometer as siglent which relies on a balun for common mode rejection. The raw directivity is going to be zero below a few tens of MHz, and less than 10dB at the upper frequencies. The raw directivity is hidden by the factory cal and the user cal.

[tv84]

Rigol RSA3030N - 3.0 GHz Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer with Vector Network Analysis is also on sale for $5,799 USD.



Rigol RSA3045N - 4.5 GHz Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer with Vector Network Analysis costs $6,999 USD.



Rigol RSA5032N - 3.2 GHz Real Time Spectrum Analyzer with Vector Network Analysis costs $8,999 USD.



Rigol RSA5065N - 6.5 GHz Real Time Spectrum Analyzer with Vector Network Analysis costs $10,999 USD.

[noreply]

Nice 

[tv84]

New firmware v00.03.00.00.29.

See RSA5000 thread.

[tv84]

Little brother upgrade. 

[justanothername]

@tv84 please explain!

[tszaboo]

Specs are quite meh considering the price. Port VSWR is 1.6 up to 3GHz, which is only 12.7dB return loss. Dynamic range is only 80dB (frequency range unspecified, could be worse at 3GHz). That's nanovna level performance. At least they had the sense to include the VNA feature for free (competition from the nanovna probably influenced this).

And of course, only calibrated directivity specs. I'm sure they use the same kind of reflectometer as siglent which relies on a balun for common mode rejection. The raw directivity is going to be zero below a few tens of MHz, and less than 10dB at the upper frequencies. The raw directivity is hidden by the factory cal and the user cal.

I tried the VNA function of this spectrum analyzer last week. It's indeed meh.
I was trying to do some non standard measurements, like measure a capacitance. There was no way to add that measurement to the screen. The readout is strange, it's difficult to add multiple markers to a graph.
The whole software of it feels very bare-bone. Some free project like the NanoVNA Saver will do a lot more than this VNA.
I usually prefer standalone instruments but by the looks of it, VNAs might be too complicated to be able to use it effectively without a PC.