Siglent SSA3000X and SSA3000X-Plus Spectrum Analyzers

[kj7e]

https://www.siglent.eu/product/1150679/siglent-f503me-4-5-ghz-n-male-type-vna-calibration-kit

... do they want 399 euros? Is this some kind of joke?

Seems a good price.
Compare e.g. with this one, which is a good 6 GHz product https://coppermountaintech.com/calibration-kits/n612-calibration-kit/. And compare with Keysight 85032E, that sells online "starting at 1299 U$D".

When it comes to VNA's the calibration is everything.  Its not cheap to make a good OSL with a known and true 42dB return loss into the GHz.  There are books just on the calibration process alone.  This one is in my amazon wish list  https://www.amazon.com/VNA-Applications-Handbook-Gregory-Bonaguide/dp/1630816000

I picked up this OSL, very good quality but not too bad a price for a home lab https://rftestparts.com/

I would really like one with female ends as well.

[ronjovie]

hello, i have a new siglent ssa3021x+. i am interested in unlocking it. i do not want to flash it to a sva. the firmware is 3.2.2.6.0r8. 20230524-1501. is the procedure still good, or is it no longer possible? thanks.

[tomud]

hello, i have a new siglent ssa3021x+. i am interested in unlocking it. i do not want to flash it to a sva. the firmware is 3.2.2.6.0r8. 20230524-1501. is the procedure still good, or is it no longer possible? thanks.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-ssa3000x-spectrum-analyzers/msg4355635/#msg4355635

[davide_us]

Thank you for the link to Keygen, just unlocked all options on my 3021X. You saved me over a thousand dollars. Very much appreciated, Thanks again,
David
 

[davide_us]

I used the keys for 'CAT','Meas',and 'EMI', they worked for- 'Refl','AMK', and'EMI', respectively. Are there any other options that work on this 3021x? It is under warranty until June 2024. What are the 3021 thru 3075 keys for?
David

[tautech]

What are the 3021 thru 3075 keys for?

Plus models.
3000X and 3000X Plus are different HW and feature sets and UI are slightly different.
Best example is the EMI option for each, X+ models have a superior EMI mode.

[kladit]

@Ghislain
Do you remember what the vna without the cable showed for values you described as "way off".

I also have flashed a SSA3021X+  to SVA1032X, all went fine but the SVA shows a very bad
return loss for the analyzer input (or port2). At 100 khz the return loss is ok (-40 dBm) but then
it rises very steep to a max of only -3.37 dBm at  2.04 GHz.

Is this a indication of the "missing cable" like in your case?

There is no failure in my cabling, in analyzer mode all is ok.

Before I void warranty and open the unit to look if the cable is missing I would like to know
what indicates that it is missing.



The analyzer was bought from Batronix this February 2024. So I think it is not an old one of 2020.

[kladit]

To verify that is is not  a wrong impedance of port2 I measured the return loss of
an 10dB attenuator closed with 50 ohm termiator.
The picture does not change much ..

Before I void warranty and open the unit to look if the cable is missing I would like to know
what indicates that it is missing.

[techneut]

This was how my SVA looked without the cable.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-ssa3000x-spectrum-analyzers/msg3087608/#msg3087608

[RoV]

Kladit,
did you calibrate the VNA before taking measurements?
What kit did you use?

[kladit]

Yes, calibrated.
An unimpeachable one of SDR-Kits, Cables H&S Environflex400 with Telegärtner Connectors, all proofed and ok.

To anticipate further questions, the crossflash was carfully done, the calibration files (na_1p, na_2p)
are in place as well as  NSP_trends_config_info.xml.

So it is a real SV1032 now, but may be one cable of unexplained functionality is missing.

73 Klaus

[RoV]

kladit, you say calibrated, but: when you measured the attenuator terminated on a 50 ohm termination, you should have obtained ~the same results as with the LOAD from the calibration kit.
After a successful calibration, you get a large RL with LOAD reference on port 1 (or, the same, a small dot in the center of the Smith chart). Approximately the same with the terminated attenuator.
I assume you made a "1 port" or an "enhanced response" calibration, otherwise 1-port measurements are not correct.

If calibration failed (no expected readout of references after it), you may have an analyzer problem.
If calibration was successful, but you get wrong RL measurements with att+load only, you have a problem in the att+load OR in the reference LOAD.

[bks_mark]

Seeking Help: SSA 3021X Spectrum Analyzer Activation

Hi everyone!

I'm reaching out for assistance regarding an issue I encountered with activating my Siglent SSA 3021X spectrum analyzer.

The Problem:

I successfully ran the script to generate a license key's
However, I couldn't activate with the generated license on my spectrum analyzer.

Additional Information:

I double-checked the generated license key, and everything seems correct.
I attempted the activation multiple times, but each time, I received the same result: activation invalid.

Seeking Your Help With:

If anyone has encountered a similar problem, how did you resolve it?
Are there any known bugs or solutions related to activating licenses on the Siglent SSA 3021X?
Is there an alternative approach or procedure for activation that I should try?
I greatly appreciate any assistance and advice you can provide! Thank you in advance for your help!

[807]

@bks_mark...which license keys did you try? If it was the ALL key, try entering the keys individually (AMK, EMI, DMA, AMA, CAT [for Refl] and 3032).

[Bicurico]

The non-plus models do not accept the ALL option.

[tautech]

New firmware for SSA3000X (not Plus) models.

Version： V 1.3.9.10
7.5 MB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Spectrum_analyzer/SSA3000X_1.3.9.10_EN.zip

Release notes
1. This firmware must be upgraded from V1.2.8.1 or later, V2.X.X.X versions are not supported for upgrading this firmware. If your SSA3000X has an earlier version, please update to V1.2.8.1 first and then proceed to update to the latest version.
2. Fixed the error in setting RBW in EasySpectrum when using emi filter.
3. Optimize the settable range of Ref Level. When the maximum value of Correction data that is turned on is positive, the maximum settable Ref Level is correspondingly increased by an equal value.
4. Fixed TOI measurement marked error.
5. Fixed the issue of possible crash when using the scpi command [:SENSe]:CORRection:CSET#:DATA? to read Correction data.
6. Optimize the use of command :DISPlay:WINDow:TRACe:Y[:SCALe]:RLEVel to set Ref Level. If no unit is specified, the current amplitude unit is used as the unit.
7. Fixed the issue where the command :CALCulate:MARKer#:Y? may read Marker amplitude value incorrectly when using Video Trigger.
8. Add Peak to Center command
   :CALCulate:MARKer#:MAXimum:CENTer

[IM3]

Hello,
I've been following this thread for quite some time. This is my first post.
I was wondering whether the frequency upgrade from, for example, an SSA3032X to 3050X or 3075X is also offered by Siglent as an 'official' option. I don't see this 'upgrade' anywhere in any options list.

[tv84]

Those BW upgrades can only be done on -R units and they are not "official".

[IM3]

@tv84
Well that's great because I just received a brand new SSA3032X-R.

I have already made all options permanent with the Python script. That was a piece of cake.

But I had doubts about the frequency upgrade because it is not officially offered by Siglent. I wonder whether the higher frequencies can function properly after an upgrade because no factory calibration has been able to take place for that part of the spectrum in the device. For example, oscillator levels or linearity tables, if they exist at all.

So the upgrade may work, but are there calibration issues for the extended spectrum?
I know, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the thought of screwing my brand new SSA3032X-R makes me cautious.

[tv84]

Try and if not good, downgrade.

[IM3]

Sorry for asking, but I am not familiar with downgrading from a 3075 to a 3032. I thought I had read this blog well but there are a lot of pages to read.  I only heard about downgrading of firmware. Can you please explaine a little to make it more clear to me ?

[tv84]

Sorry for asking, but I am not familiar with downgrading from a 3075 to a 3032. I thought I had read this blog well but there are a lot of pages to read.  I only heard about downgrading of firmware. Can you please explaine a little to make it more clear to me ?

How did you upgrade the BW? Use the same method.

[Bicurico]

It's actually not that easy.

Activating a function by means of keys will add this option into the file, I don't remember the name, sorry. This is the file where all options are stored, I think with the serial number, etc.

To remove the option, you need to edit this file and remove the option.

Editing the file requires to change the partition mount to r/w.

The best is of course to first do a backup. Then you downgrade by writing back the file from your backup. Again, the partition needs to be set to r/w. This is described somewhere in this thread.

[Martin72]

The first thing everyone seems to do is "expand" the bandwidth.
Question:
Is this really necessary, if I buy a model with say 2.1Ghz now, am I "missing out" on anything if I don't upgrade it to X.XGhz?

[IM3]

Exactly that.

And again, you can't really go wrong with activating the additional options with the keygen. But increasing the bandwidth can mean that the bandwidth increases, but that this is not a calibrated function anymore because of missing calibration by the factory.

Maybe Tautech knows more.