Tektronix RSA306 Reference guide

Tektronix RSA306
USB Spectrum Analyzer
Self-Guided Demo
*P071333000*
071-3330-00

Tektronix RSA306
USB Spectrum Analyzer
Self-Guided Demo
www.tektronix.com
071-3330-00
Revision A

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Contacting Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc.
14150 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR 97077
USA
For product information, sales, service, and technical support:
■In North America, call 1-800-833-9200.
■Worldwide, visit www.tektronix.com to find contacts in your area.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Demo guide overview ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Fundamental operations of spectrum analyzers ...................................................................................... 5
Real-time DPX .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Modulation ................................................................................................................................................ 6
EMI spurious search ................................................................................................................................. 7
Over-the-air demo .................................................................................................................................... 7
Setup .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Demo instructions
Demo 1: Basic spectrum measurements with markers ................................................................................ 11
Demo 2: Power measurements with markers .............................................................................................. 26
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo i

Demo 3: Traces and detectors ..................................................................................................................... 29
Demo 4: Save and recall .............................................................................................................................. 37
Demo 5: DPX and transient capture ............................................................................................................ 41
Demo 6: Transient capture - Mask test and act on violation ........................................................................ 51
Demo 7: Analog modulation analysis ........................................................................................................... 59
Demo 8: Digital modulation analysis ............................................................................................................ 67
Demo 9: EMI spurious .................................................................................................................................. 76
Demo 10: FM listening (Demo board not needed) ....................................................................................... 83
Demo 11: ISM band DPX (Demo board not needed) ................................................................................... 89
Table of Contents
ii RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

Introduction
With this guide, you will explore what you can do with the RSA306 USB spectrum analyzer. Applications range from
simple frequency / amplitude measurements of RF signals to real-time and modulation analysis that provide you with
a complete system view of your device under test.
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 1

Check list for the demo
Before beginning the demo, please be sure you have the following items:
Item Illustration
RSA306 USB spectrum analyzer
RTSA demo board
Introduction
2 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

Item Illustration
USB Y-cable (to power the board)
N-BNC adapter
Whip antenna
Introduction
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 3

Item Illustration
BNC cable
USB 3.0 cable
Introduction
4 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

Demo guide overview
Fundamental operations of spectrum analyzers
The Tektronix RSA306 USB Signal Analyzers have the ability to perform basic spectrum measurements that most
Spectrum Analyzer users are already accustomed to. The goal of this part is to demonstrate that the instrument has
these basic spectrum analyzer capabilities.
■Demo 1: Basic spectrum measurements with markers
■Demo 2: Power measurements with markers
■Demo 3: Traces and detectors
■Demo 4: Save and recall
Introduction
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 5

Real-time DPX
Two of the most challenging types of signals to identify and capture are low-level signals close to your signal
frequency and rarely-occurring transients. Sometimes the interference is so infrequent that you can’t detect it at all.
You suspect it is there because of seemingly-random errors. DPX Spectrum instantly demystifies these situations by
displaying a clear image of the offending signals. Its capture probability is 100% for transients as short as 100 μsec.
■Demo 5: DPX and transient capture
■Demo 6: Transient capture: Mask test and act on violation
Modulation
Digital modulation is used in virtually all modern communication systems. These systems have penetrated every
aspect of our lives at a rapid pace. The growth has put increased stress on the ability to quickly and efficiently
analyze a wide variety of digital modulation schemes. In some cases, general modulation schemes have been
included in complex standards with rigorous specifications involving manual test procedures according to these
standards that require lengthy test setups with skilled engineers. Analog modulation is the most fundamental
modulation method, and is frequently used to demonstrate principles in education labs.
■Demo 7: Analog modulation analysis
■Demo 8: Digital modulation analysis
Introduction
6 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

EMI spurious search
From the first wireless transmissions, electromagnetic interference (EMI) has been a concern for design engineers.
General-purpose spectrum analyzers that contain appropriate filters and detectors are often employed in diagnostics
and pre-compliance, as they are fast measurement tools that often are already used in the design process and do not
require additional capital expense.
■Demo 9: EMI spurious
Over-the-air demo
This part shows how to use the RSA306 in off-air applications. Using the whip antenna provided with the RSA306
demonstration kit, you can demodulate and listen to the signals from the local FM broadcasting station, see the
realtime spectrum of the signals in the ISM band created by your smart phone, and use the RSA306 in interference-
hunting.
■Demo 10: FM listening
■Demo 11: ISM band DPX
Introduction
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 7

Setup
As with any test, one of the first steps is to connect the instrument to the device under test. For the initial exploration,
a demo board has been provided to output signals needed for the demo. After you’ve completed the demo and have
gained an understanding of how the RSA306 operates, connect to your own system and see how the RSA306 can
help in your day-to-day work.
1. Install SignalVu-PC
■Install the SignalVu-PC software onto your PC. You can download the software from www.tektronix.com/
downloads, or it is available on the flash drive that is provided with the RSA306.
2. Set up the RSA306
■Power the RSA306 by connecting the USB 3.0 cable to the USB 3.0 port of your PC.
■Install the N-BNC adaptor on RSA306.
3. Setup the demo board
■Connect one end of the USB Y-Cable to the demo board.
■Connect the other end of the USB Y-Cable to 2 USB ports either on your PC or a separate USB power
supply.
Introduction
8 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

4. Connect the RSA306 to the demo board
■Connect one end of the BNC cable to the RF port of the RSA306.
■Connect the other end of the BNC cable to the RF port of the board.
Introduction
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 9

SetUpDiagram
2
3
4
Introduction
10 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

Demo instructions
Demo 1: Basic spectrum measurements with markers
When using a spectrum analyzer, one of the first settings is that of the frequency. In this demonstration, we will use
markers to locate the CW signal generated from the demo board, and set the appropriate frequency for the
measurement.
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 11

Instructions for the demo board
1. Press the On button to turn on the
demo board.
2. Set the reference to INT (internal
reference).
3. Set the run mode to FREE RUN.
4. Click the ROW and COLUMN buttons
to select CW as the signal to
generate.
demoboard1
1
234
Demo instructions
12 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo

Instructions for the RSA306
1. Double click the SignalVu-PC icon on
the PC desktop to start the
application.
screenicon
1
2. Click Live Link on the menu bar to
view the drop down menu. Click
Search for Instrument.
A notification will briefly appear
stating that the instrument was
found.
3. Click Connect To Instrument. Select
RSA306@USB USB::0. First-time
connection to the analyzer may take
up to 10 seconds.
rsaconnect
2 3
Demo instructions
RSA306 Self-Guided Demo 13

4. A Connect Status dialog box will
appear to confirm the instrument is
connected. Click OK.
TIP. You can quickly verify
connection status by looking at the
connection indicator square on the
menu bar. It is green ( ) when an
instrument is connected. It is red ( )
when it is not. You can also view the
name of the instrument that is
connected by hovering the mouse
indicator over the .
rsaok
4
Demo instructions
14 RSA306 Self-Guided Demo