Like its USB-connected cousins, the Tektronix RSA7100A real-time spectrum analyzer operates with the help of a PC, but this one comes with its own dedicated PC, requiring higher-speed connections than the company's USB models.

Targeted at military, spectrum surveillance, wireless transmitter, and other high-end applications, the RSA7100A has optional RAID storage for the host PC (monitor not included) that lets you record up to two hours of data in real time. The base model is available with 14 GHz bandwidth, with 26.5 GHz optional and has real-time capture bandwidth of 320 MHz (800 MHz optional). The 320 MHz capture bandwidth is sufficient for analyzing LTE-Advanced and IEEE 802.11ac signals.

To process the data captured by the acquisition unit, the supplied host PC has a GPU card that connects to the acquisition unit through two PCIe cables.