$3,490 priced Tektronix's portable spectrum analyzer

Tektronix has introduced USB spectrum analyzers at an affordable list price of $3,490. The new RSA306 features 9 kHz to 6.2 GHz frequency range, 40 MHz real time bandwidth and weighs light at 1.2 pounds. Engineers can do advanced analysis by using Tektronix SignalVu-PC software for applications involving budget-conscious research and development, mobile radio network installation, interference hunting and university level lab classes. SignalVu-PC software bundled free with this spectrum analyzer. "As with nearly all areas of electronics design and test, requirements for RF and microwave test are changing quickly leading to the need for new instrumentation approaches," said Jim McGillivary, general manager of RF and Component Solutions at Tektronix. "As the introduction of RSA306 demonstrates, we're moving aggressively to address these changing requirements across multiple market segments with innovative, industry leading test and measurement solutions." Tektronix claims the real-time processing capability of RSA306 is atleast 1,000 times faster than spectrum analyzers from other major suppliers. An open API allows customers to use their own custom Windows-based interface such as Matlab or Python to manipulate raw data coming from the instrument. "It looks to me like Tektronix has hit the nail on the head with the RSA306," said Stuart Nicol, CEO of Aprel. "In our hand...