Hi zrq,
I tends to believe a newer model would be more future proof.
I'm like you, I'm looking for future proof, without crazy price of course (although this is relative...)
SSA3021X+ => I've got one, but I'm looking for smth "more" etc...
current price = 1.7kEur
interface = the screen, or thru your PC you have a copy of the screen (VNCviewer ; remote etc)
I'm looking for another SA because... when you go down the RBW, the SSA is slow
RSA3015N => I don't know this SA, thus no comment vs quality.
but,
price = 2.5kEur
RBW min = 10Hz (very high, "to me")
2days ago, as I'm looking for a better SA than the SSA3021X+, I googled... and read pages...
and oups ! => I end up to the web site of Aaronia (well-known producer of SA, but their product were too pricey for me in the past)
=> they just launched the "Eco" series !
for info, watch youtube vids / Aaronia SA... waouh !
to make it clearer => watch their brand new SA =>
https://aaronia.com/en/shop/spectrum-analyzer/real-time/compact-usb?serie=182This one is a "basic" SA, with trackGen =>
https://aaronia.com/en/shop/spectrum-analyzer/real-time/compact-usb/spectran-v6-eco-150xa-6price, incl. 20% VAT for hobbyist in EU => 4.2kEur
(apparently, dixit their forum, the preoreders got a nice rebate)
4.2kEur for this hardware... if you look at the specs => it is a bargain (RBW min = 0.062mHz !)
then => as it is a headless device (USB) => the interface is the software... and the "RTSA-Suite Pro" software is included into the price of the SSA (the headless box !)
=> I looked at this soft... => stunning !
To concluded vs Aaronia "Eco" series :
1. there is no topic dedicated to Aaronia SA in this part of the forum... it should exist !
2. the specs of the Eco series hardware are miles away from any other product on the market (500GHz/s sweep time
waouh !)
3. their soft is... an interface... but a bit more, isn't it ?... I let anyone to reply if I missed smth, but these features are miles away from any other SA on the market...
To concluded vs your sentence : "buy new is better".
Aaronia shows that you're right !
Last years, huge improvements were made vs EE hardware (FPGAs etc..). So then, anyone can look at the prices of used SA @ electrorent & Co => there are many old stuff, with no interface to PC (too old), RBW min way above 1Hz, 5-10-20kg the piece, sold at unbelievable prices vs this AAronia Eco series
Apparementy the lead time is quite long @6weeks... but it is future proof and a good asset to put your cash into as a hobyist.
Any comments is welcome to kick my a.. because I've seen the picture the other way around