Tektronix RF Module

The WCA330 (DC to 3 GHz) and WCA380 (DC to 8 GHz) are based on real-time spectrum analyzers that allow the seamless capture of signal with spans up to 30 MHz. The ability to measure burst signals and infrequently occurring signals, such as those from GSM, IS-136, PDC or IS-95 over a continuous block of time and span of frequencies and RACH signal of mobile station, allows the user to evaluate significantly more information than traditional sweeping spectrum analyzers.

Because of the real-time capture of data, the post-processing capabilities of the WCA enable the user to look at measurements such as Code Domain Power vs. Time, EVM vs. Symbol at each code, CCDF and Transient Spurious. Because the instrument samples these full frames constantly (rather than waiting for each discrete frequency step to be measured), the signal can come or go as it pleases and the real-time spectrum analyzer will detect the change instantly.

The 12.1-inch color TFT display allows easy viewing of spectrum, waterfall displays, spectrograms and digital modulation analysis screens. Constellation and vector diagrams can be displayed, as well as frequency, phase, magnitude, I and Q versus time, for in-depth analysis of digitally modulated signals. Users can move a marker through the time record and analyze the modulation at any point. In particular, signals with symbol rates up to 20.48M symbols/sec may be analyzed during and after capture. In addition, a frequency mask trigger allows capture of randomly occurring or infrequent signals such as intermittent spurious emissions. If the user is not interested in the period between transmission bursts, the frequency mask trigger allows capture of the “burst-on” period, thus maximizing the number of bursts that can be captured in memory for subsequent spectral, time or modulation analysis.

The user can graphically define the frequency trigger mask; this allows the trigger condition to be generated by a particular event in the frequency domain irrespective of other activity within the displayed span. This is a major benefit when the trigger condition is used to capture signals arising from intermittent spurious or spectral re-growth events.


• Second- and Third-generation Cellular/PCS R&D – Including GSM, IS-95, T-53, IS-136, PDC, 3GPP
• Wireless Access Equipment R&D – Bluetooth
• Signature Analysis
• Spectrum Monitoring (Interference and Multi-path Fading)
• Setting Time Measurements for Oscillators and Synthesizers
• Capture and Analyze an Unknown Signal
• Debugging of Hardware and Failure Analysis of BTS and MS


• DC to 8 GHz Coverage – Seamless Capture Up to 30 MHz BW
• 65 dB ACLR Measurement (3GPP)
• Code Domain Power and Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) for IS-95, 3GPP (3GPP Release 99) Signals
• Analyzes in Frequency, Time and Modulation Domains
• Seamless Acquisition for Capture of Short Duration or Intermittent Events
• Frequency Event Trigger for Acquisition of Burst or Infrequently Occurring Signals
• Post Capture 1000:1 Zoom Allows Analysis of Individual Signals After Wideband Capture
• Support Demodulation – GFSK, BPSK, QPSK, DQPSK, 8 PSK, OQPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, GMSK
• CCDF for Multi-carrier and 3GPP Signals