The real-time spectrum analyzer (RTSA) is an important instrument today. But what is an RTSA? And how is it different from a traditional swept-tuned spectrum analyzer? Here, we’ll discuss some basic differences before talking about a brand-new RTSA now on the market.
So what are the fundamental differences between an RTSA and a traditional swept-tuned spectrum analyzer? Michael Rizzo, general manager at RIGOL Technologies explains: “The differences between a swept-tuned spectrum analyzer and a RTSA are fairly fundamental. A swept-tuned spectrum analyzer basically acquires power measurements across a span—left to right, low to high.
“Since they sweep from left to right, they add a single data point at each measurement step and build an image of what’s happening in the spectrum over time,” he continues. “That’s the way that analyzers have been working for many years, and it’s an essential part of an RF toolkit.”