Siglent SSA3000X and SSA3000X-Plus Spectrum Analyzers

[tautech]

@charliex
From the Ohio team:
I suggest you write to info@siglent.com or they can fill out a form here:
https://www.siglentamerica.com/contact-us/

This allows us to track and maintain customer relationships more effectively.

We've had a little chat about your problem and now it's in Ohio's and your hands to find the solution.
Pop them mail, they'll do what they can to help.

[charliex]

cool thx. i'll drop them a note.

[charliex]

couldn't for the life of me remember where i bought the darn thing, spent a week looking for the receipts and what not for the ohio peeps, and then when i turned it back on it was back to normal, it's been good for a few weeks now. so i guess we shall see how it goes.

[tautech]

couldn't for the life of me remember where i bought the darn thing, spent a week looking for the receipts and what not for the ohio peeps, and then when i turned it back on it was back to normal, it's been good for a few weeks now. so i guess we shall see how it goes.

Great ! 
I'll ask some questions to the factory as to why it might have done this, maybe it's collected some condensation laying idle and just needed to be running for a while.
You could try some different OFF storage conditions to see if it gives problems again.
With your winter around the corner it will be interesting to see if it gives any further issues..

Thanks for coming back with better news. 

[charliex]

yeah maybe our 100F weather isn't keeping it dry enough

[tautech]

Updated models are released, SSA3000X PLUS now featuring touch display and webserver to allow for remote control and monitoring with a PC or mobile device. Mouse and keyboard support has been added to to align functionality with the SVA1000X range.
There has also been a small increase in price for this additional functionality.

Further details:
https://siglentna.com/spectrum-analyzers/ssa3000x-plus/

Edit to add
Further demodulation options are also added.
Digital Modulation Analysis Function,including ASK, FSK, MSK, xPSK, xQAM
Analog Modulation Analysis Function,including AM，FM

[dazz1]

Hi
Are the Plus software options available for the "old" model?

Dazz

[tautech]

Hi
Are the Plus software options available for the "old" model?

Dazz

I was just wondering that, I'll find out.....I hope so.

[simone.pignatti]

Hi
Are the Plus software options available for the "old" model?

Dazz

I was just wondering that, I'll find out.....I hope so.

From the price list the options have different name:
SSA3000XP-EMI
SSA3000XP-AMK
SSA3000XP-DMA
SSA3000XP-AMA

[tautech]

Hi
Are the Plus software options available for the "old" model?

Dazz

First reply is NO as the HW is different. 
Next we investigate if these demod options can be added after a new SSA3kX FW.............this reply is taking longer.....maybe we don't get that reply tonight......just came in, sorry no, cannot be done.
Sorry Dazz. 

[simone.pignatti]

Analog and Digital Modulation Analysis Functions are only for SSA3000X Plus, please take a look to our comparison table which we also posted on SVA1000X tread (sorry for double content)

[tv84]

Next we investigate if these demod options can be added after a new SSA3kX FW.............

SVA FW still has signs of unreleased options...

SSA X FW doesn't.

[dazz1]

Hi
Are the Plus software options available for the "old" model?

Dazz

First reply is NO as the HW is different. 
Next we investigate if these demod options can be added after a new SSA3kX FW.............this reply is taking longer.....maybe we don't get that reply tonight......just came in, sorry no, cannot be done.
Sorry Dazz. 

The reality is that I would probably never use or need the new Plus features, but you can never have too many features.

Dazz

[borjam]

I guess the SVA series uses a more powerful, more modern SoC than the SSA ones, and the "plus" series includes the newer SoC.

[tautech]

Spanking new SSA3021X Plus in stock.

Of note is option trial times increased to 128 hrs from 40 hrs in SSA3000X models.
Also TG option permanent just as before. 

[hendorog]

Cmon, open the other box. Chop chop...

[tautech]

Cmon, open the other box. Chop chop...

Done first of course. 

[TurboTom]

Anybody planning a teardown of an SSA3000X-Plus? the HW specs look pretty much the same as those of the SVA1000X, so maybe just a single RF interconnection cable makes all the difference hardware-wise?   

I feel evil ideas growing inside me... 

[tautech]

New firmware for SSA3000X PLUS models

Version 2.2.1.2.5
14.7 MB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Spectrum_analyzer/SSA3000XPlus_2.2.1.2.5_EN.zip

Release notes
Improvements:
 Optimize trace, marker, signal track, TG normalization，Reflection measurement in SA Mode
 Optimize web server UI
Solved Issues:
 Fixed video trigger fail, errors in Harmonic measurement in SA Mode
 Fixed spectrum amplitude error, meas error, waveform discontinue in MA Mode
 Fixed English help, system message

[tv84]

SSA3000X_Plus

Product_ID: 11405

[fugazi]

Hello all,

I have a SSA3021x Plus which has firmware 2.2.1.2.5. My Ecomb seems to be replaced by an Ecomb_p version. Further i cannot remount the OS to be writeable.
Perhaps i am missing something, but it looks like Siglent closed some doors again.
(EDIT) I understood the hack is possible with older firmwares than the 2.2.1.2.5, who has the older version for me?

Fugaz

[mio83]

Hello everybody,

this is my first post in this amazing Forum.

I have finally decided to buy my first SA and I am thinking about the SSA3021. It's a big investment (for me) but it seems a good device to learn and experiment.

I have a question: Is it possible to get out the IF signal (or data about it, e.g., I/Q stream?).

Concretely I would like to know if I could use the SSA3021 as a (very expensive) SDR frontend: set a center frequency C and get out the portion of the input signal within a certain bandwidth [C-b, C+b].  Is this possible? Perhaps using ZERO SPAN? Not sure...

I have looked at the back of the unit in the manual but there is not connector IF OUT. In contrast, the new RIGOL RSA3000 has an IF OUT connector (bandwidth of ± 20 MHz centered at 430Mhz). This could be fed to an external SDR, in order to use the better SA frontend and sensitivity. The problem is that the RIGOL RSA3000 is more expensive.

Any info (keeping in mind I am a total beginner) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 

[tautech]

Hello everybody,

this is my first post in this amazing Forum.

I have finally decided to buy my first SA and I am thinking about the SSA3021. It's a big investment (for me) but it seems a good device to learn and experiment.

Welcome to the forum.

I have a question: Is it possible to get out the IF signal (or data about it, e.g., I/Q stream?).

The recently updated SSA3021X Plus now incorporates Modulation Analysis as the SVA range had from release.
It also has been upgraded to a touch and mouse capable instrument and is little more expensive than the more basic SSA3021X.
Other than missing the VNA capability of the SVA models, SSA3021X Plus works the same as earlier models except for the new features I've mentioned and you can see them demonstrated in this The Signal Path video stopped at the start of IQ demodulation:
https://youtu.be/ToVJTKCyIU8?t=2660

[mio83]

Thanks a lot for the informative answer!

The recently updated SSA3021X Plus now incorporates Modulation Analysis as the SVA range had from release.
It also has been upgraded to a touch and mouse capable instrument and is little more expensive than the more basic SSA3021X.
Other than missing the VNA capability of the SVA models, SSA3021X Plus works the same as earlier models except for the new features I've mentioned and you can see them demonstrated in this The Signal Path video stopped at the start of IQ demodulation:
https://youtu.be/ToVJTKCyIU8?t=2660

Unfortunately my budget is very limited so I'd like to focus mostly on the features of the basic SSA3021X, especially because it is offered wit the TG option for free until the end of March. Or I will be forced to look for 2nd-hand instruments.

So, please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems the only way to get a signal out (either in an analogue or digital, i.e., I/Q samples) of the SSA3021X is via the headphone/speaker jack (audio).

Question 1: Is this correct?


The SSA3021X can perform analog AM and FM demodulation using the speakers. But

Question 2: Is it possible to perform SSB (USB or LSB) demodulation, somehow? I coudn't find infos about it in the manual. More generally, has anybody managed to use the SSA3021X to listen/receive Ham Radio bands?

Lastly, in my mind (but I stress that I am learning and don't have a SA yet), when in SPAN ZERO mode and using linear scale on the vertical axis, the SA acts as a simple Oscilloscope around the center frequency and the bandwidth of this "scope" is the RBW.

QUESTION 3: Isn't it possible to get out this "scope" signal, at least when the RBW = 16Khz or something, using the headphone?


Thanks again!

[tautech]

Thanks a lot for the informative answer!

The recently updated SSA3021X Plus now incorporates Modulation Analysis as the SVA range had from release.
It also has been upgraded to a touch and mouse capable instrument and is little more expensive than the more basic SSA3021X.
Other than missing the VNA capability of the SVA models, SSA3021X Plus works the same as earlier models except for the new features I've mentioned and you can see them demonstrated in this The Signal Path video stopped at the start of IQ demodulation:
https://youtu.be/ToVJTKCyIU8?t=2660

Unfortunately my budget is very limited so I'd like to focus mostly on the features of the basic SSA3021X, especially because it is offered wit the TG option for free until the end of March. Or I will be forced to look for 2nd-hand instruments.

TG is still free for SSA3kX, SSA3kX Plus and SVA1kX models and I expect it to remain so.

So, please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems the only way to get a signal out (either in an analogue or digital, i.e., I/Q samples) of the SSA3021X is via the headphone/speaker jack (audio).

Question 1: Is this correct?

Yes, but SSA3kX models cannot demodulate IQ signals, only SSA3kX Plus and SVA1kX models.

The SSA3021X can perform analog AM and FM demodulation using the speakers. But

Question 2: Is it possible to perform SSB (USB or LSB) demodulation, somehow? I coudn't find infos about it in the manual. More generally, has anybody managed to use the SSA3021X to listen/receive Ham Radio bands?

Unknown to me sorry as I've only done AM and FM.

Lastly, in my mind (but I stress that I am learning and don't have a SA yet), when in SPAN ZERO mode and using linear scale on the vertical axis, the SA acts as a simple Oscilloscope around the center frequency and the bandwidth of this "scope" is the RBW.

QUESTION 3: Isn't it possible to get out this "scope" signal, at least when the RBW = 16Khz or something, using the headphone?

Well sort of but a SA is a frequency domain instrument while a DSO's strength is the time domain. In this case CF and Span will be more use to cover the width of the signal of interest.

Have a look at Shahrair's video of the SSA3032X for more on their capabilities:



Still, having used SSA3032X (my first SA) and the later Plus as well as the SVA that I like the best, of the 3 for your use I still recommend the SSA3021X Plus if you can stretch to the few $ more. The Modulation Analysis, touch display and keyboard and mouse support are each worth the higher price IMHO to the point where I've chosen to no longer stock the plain SSA3kX series.
Happy homework !