SA124B vs BB60D

Hello

I’m in the market for a spectrum analyzer and given it’s potential to work up to 12 GHz the SA124B is a good alternative.

How should one decide if you are torn between the frequency range (SA124B) vs. a better overall performer (BB60D)? What is more important especially if you have need at, say, X-Band.

Also, is it possible to do Phase Noise measurements with either device? I’ve read some things about the PN measurements being part of a license set up (ie annual fee) so I’m not sure where this stands at the moment.

Thanks for any input you can give.

jom

Hi Jom,

The SA124B and BB60D serve different use cases. The SA124B is a narrow band analyzer (250kHz bandwidth) ideal for making measurements on narrowband signals, such as CW, AM, FM. Using the SA124B to measure wideband modulated signals such as the radar or comms signals that might exist at X-band frequencies would be ill-suited/impossible. The BB60 is much better for measuring wideband signals. If you need BB60 like performance to X-band frequencies then you need to look into the SP145 or SM200, which are much closer to the BB60 in capability.

Both the SA124 and BB60D are capable of making phase noise measurements. The BB60 will make those measurements several times faster. The phase noise measurement performance floor is limited by the analyzer itself. If you have specific measurement requirements for phase noise, I can verify you will be able to accomplish them with either device. The phase noise license is tied to a single S/N device, and we have both annual and perpetual license options.

Let me know if you have follow up questions or comments.

Thanks for the reply.

As to other capabilities: Does the BB60D handle EVM tests? If so, how would my DUT get an input signal for the spectrum analyzer to measure the DUT’s output? I’ve actually never run one of these before so I’m curious.

jom

It depends on the type of signal you are trying to measure. In general our software has the ability to measure EVM for certain classes of signals such as single channel digitally modulated signals (PSK/QAM), and some common wireless standards.

You didn’t mention what signal you are measuring from your DUT. Let me know and I can confirm.

Our analyzer has an SMA female port. You can connect to your DUT via standard coax cable, or for some classes of devices that don’t have an RF connector you may need an antenna to receive the signal.

Right now the immediate need is to test an HPA. It has an SMA input port. I believe the system will have some version of QAM but I’m not entirely sure.

So if I read your response correctly the spectrum analyzer has an output that drives an input to a DUT (in our case an HPA) and take the DUT output and find EVM etc. So the spectrum has the ability to be an input device along with it’s normal function of being an output measuring device. Very interesting…I didn’t know that.

BTW, I assume the SP145 has a similar function…???

Thanks

jom

[Andrew]

Hi Jom, can you please email us at support@signalhound.com?

In that email, please provide as much detail in your measurement needs as you can, for instance

– defining what an HPA is.
– What are the inputs and outputs of your system?
– What are you trying to achieve.
– Anything else you think is relevant to your application.

This will allow us to provide the best recommendations.

We look forward to your respnse.

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by Andrew.

Info sent.

Thanks

jom

[Author]

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