Overview
The Tektronix RSA3408A Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer is used by customers of The EMC Shop who need to observe and analyze RF signals that change quickly or appear intermittently during testing. In many EMC and RF development environments, engineers rely on the RSA3408A to capture transient events that traditional swept spectrum analyzers may miss. Its real-time signal capture and triggering capabilities allow users to monitor dynamic RF activity and quickly identify unexpected emissions or signal behavior.
The EMC Shop customers use the RSA3408A when troubleshooting wireless systems, evaluating radar or pulsed RF signals, and monitoring spectrum activity in communication devices. The analyzer enables engineers to capture continuous time records of RF events and correlate measurements across frequency, time, and modulation domains, making it easier to understand how signals behave under real operating conditions.
In laboratory and development settings, the RSA3408A is often applied to tasks such as identifying intermittent interference, characterizing RF components, and verifying signal performance during system integration. By combining real-time triggering, signal capture, and advanced analysis tools in one instrument, the RSA3408A provides EMC Shop customers with a practical solution for investigating complex RF environments and diagnosing challenging signal problems.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | DC to 8 GHz |
| Real-Time Event Detection Bandwidth | Up to 36 MHz |
| Mask Trigger Bandwidth | Up to 36 MHz start frequency > 40 MHz; up to 40 MHz start frequency < 40 MHz |
| Trigger Modes | Free Run (triggered by acquisition), Triggered (by event), Single or Continuous |
| Power Trigger Level Range | 0 dBfs to -40 dBfs |
| Frequency Mask Resolution | 1 bin |
| Minimum Event Duration | 1 frame time |
| Trigger Output | High: > 2.0 V, Low: < 0.4 V |
| External Trigger Threshold Voltage | -1.5 V to +1.5 V |
| Threshold Voltage Setting Resolution | 0.1 V |
| Input Impedance | > 2 kΩ |
| Capture Time | 36 MHz RF, 40 MHz baseband, 40 MHz using Opt. 03 I/Q outputs |
| A/D Converter | 102.4 MS/s, 14 bits |
| Minimum Acquisition Length in RTSA/Time/Time Domain Modes | 1024 samples |
| Maximum Acquisition Length in RTSA/Time/Demod Modes | 16,384,000 samples; 65,636,000 samples with Opt. 02 |
| Acquisition Length Setting Resolution | Acq. Duration Memory Size |
| Memory Size | 16.4 Msamples; 65.6 Msamples with Opt. 02 |
| Block Size (Number of Frames) | 1 to 16,000; 1 to 64,000 with Opt. 02 |
| TekConnect Probe Adapter | RTPA2A Real-Time Probe Adapter supported |
