Tektronix SignalVu-PC Online Help

SignalVu-PC Quick Start

This document describes how to install the SignalVu-PC base software, connect to
an instrument with SignalVu-PC, activate SignalVu-PC optional applications, and
provides a br
SignalVu-PC, access the SignalVu-PC Help in the application software fromthe
Main menu from Help > User Manual.

SignalVu-PC can be used as a stand alone software application on a PC and also
with the Tektronix spectrum analyzers listed below.

ief introduction to the application. For full operating information on

PC requirements for

SignalVu-PC

The PC on w
requirements:

One of th

20 GB free space on the C: drive

4GBRAM

hich SignalVu-PC is installed must meet the following minimum

e following Windows operating systems:

Windows

Windows 8/8.1 (64-bit)

Windows 7 (64-bit) with Service Pack 1

10 (64-bit) (See page 3, Windows 10 activation.)

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SignalVu-PC Quick Start

PC requirements for

SignalVu-PC when

connecting to a Tektronix

Spectrum Analyzer

Supported anal

a PC with the listed minimum requirements to obtain full performance.

RSA306

RSA306B

RSA306B-SMA

RSA503A, RSA507A

RSA513A, RSA518A

RSA603A, RSA607A

NOTE. The RSA7100 comes with the CTRL7100 P C preconfigured and has

different requirements than those noted below.

Minimum requirements. The following minimum PC requirements must be met to
obtain full performance with SignalVu-PC with the above listed USB analyzers.

USB 3.0 port

Windows 7 or 8/8.1 operating system or Windows 10 (64-bit) operating system

yzers. The following Tektronix USB Spectrum Analyzers require

Connect feature

Core i7 4th generation processor or greater

Intel

Processors of lower performance can be used, with reduced real time

ormance. This means that the minimum signal duration for 100%

perf
probability of intercept will increase and the performance of AM/FM
demodulation and listening will be degraded.

8GBRAM

ive capable of sustained write rates of 300 MB/sec to support streaming data

Dr

If streaming data is not needed, drives with slower write rates will work.

20 GB free space on the C: drive

SignalVU-PC automatically connects to a Tektronix spectrum analyzer if one is
detected via the USB port (or the PCIe port for the RSA7100) and if no other
devices are currently connected to SignalVu-PC). No user action is required. The
Connect feature also allows connection to an MDO4000B/C series oscilloscope
when Option CON is installed.

Refer to the Connectivity section about connecting to an MDO4000B/C series
oscilloscope. The Connectivity section also provides instructions to manually
connect to a Tektronix spectrum analyzer.

The SignalVu-PC application Help file (Help > User Manual) also contains this
information.

2 SignalVu-PC Quick Start

SignalVu-PC Quick Start

TekVISA

Windows 10 activation

Tektronix Virt
VISA solution. It is a collection of software and documentation that allows
for remote control of instruments regardless of instrument brand and physical
connection. TekVISA includes a VISA driver, VISA libraries, documentation,
USB Device Driver, VXI-11 server, and connection management/debug software.

When you install the SignalVu-PC software, you will have the option to install
TekVISA. You should only use the version of TekVISA supplied with the
SignalVu-PC software.

If you have an older version of TekVISA already installed, you need to uninstall
that version before installing the most recent version.

NOTE. If y

programmatic interface, you must use TekVISA. TekVISA is also required for a
LAN connection to a supported instrument.

TekVISA is not required for a USB connection to a Tektronix USB spectrum
analyzer with SignalVu-PC.

The version of Microsoft Windows 10 that ships with the CTRL7100/RSA7100 is
shipped in Deferred Activation mode. Microsoft has a default activation method
that requires a connection to the Internet. If you do not have a connection, you
can activate Windows 10 by phone or you can continue to operate in Deferred
Activation mode.

ual Instrument Software Architecture (TekVISA) is a Tektronix

ou want to control SignalVu-PC from another PC by using a

First time activation. You can activate Windows 10 two ways.

1. Co

2.C

Activation with removable drives. If an SSD/HD is removed from one controller
and inserted into another controller, then the activation process will need to run
again. If controller 2 is not connected to the Internet, the activation willfailand
an Activate Windows watermark will display on the screen. To activate Windows
and remove the watermark, you must connect to the Internet or call Microsoft.

nnect to the Internet. Windows will automatically activate. You can also

go to System Properties to connect and activate.

all Microsoft and speak with a representative to activate Windows 10.
Contact information and a unique activation code (installation ID) will appear
in a pop up window.

SignalVu-PC Quick Start 3

Installing SignalVu-PC

Installing Si

gnalVu-PC

SignalVu-PC
Tektronix USB spectrum analyzer (on a USB memory device that ships with each
instrument) and preinstalled on the CTRL7100 for the RSA7100.

1. If you downloaded SignalVu-PC from the web:

a. Unzip the a

b. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder you extracted from the

archive.

c. Double-click Setup.exe to start the software installation.

2. If you are installing from the USB Flash drive provided with an instrument:

a. Insert the Flash drive on the PC where SignalVu-PC will be installed.

b. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the SignalVu-PC folder and open

the Win64 folder on the flash drive.

c. Double-click Setup.exe to start the software installation.

3. Follow the software installation steps.

a. Inst

can be downloaded from the web. It is also provided with each

rchive on the PC where SignalVu-PC will be installed.

allation start up. Click Next to continue.

4 SignalVu-PC Quick Start

Installing SignalVu-PC

b. Software insta

c. Depending on your PC’s security settings, you may see this Windows

Security dialog box. Click Install to continue with the USB device
software installation. If you click Don’t Install, the entire SignalVu-PC

ation will abort and SignalVu-PC will be un-installed from the PC.

install

llation is ready to begin. Click Install to begin.

SignalVu-PC Quick Start 5

Installing SignalVu-PC

d. Install the Tek

to complete the installation.

NOTE. If you want to control SignalVu-PC from another PC b y using a

programmatic interface, you must use TekVISA. TekVISA is also required for a
LAN connection to a supported instrument.

TekVISA is optimized for SignalVu-PC, especially for instrument searching,
and is the recommended VISA application. If you want to use another
VISA application, such as NIVISA, uncheck the TekVISA box to bypass the
installat

TekVISA is not required for a USB connection to a Tektronix USB spectrum
analyzer

ion.

with SignalVu-PC.

VISA software. Ensure the box is checked and click Finish

6 SignalVu-PC Quick Start

SignalVu-PC optional application licenses

e. If TekVISA was i

the software.

4. If you’ve purchased optional applications for SignalVu-PC, you’ll need to
activate them by installing a purchased license. Read SignalVu-PC optional
application licenses for more information. (See page 7.).

nstalled, a restart of the PC is required before using

SignalVu-PC optional application licenses

The SignalVu-PC product software is made up of the base software and any

ionally purchased applications software (licensed optional software).

addit
The base software provides access to the standard SignalVu-PC applications.
It is available for download, free of charge, from the Tektronix Web site at
www.Tek.com\downloads. Once you have the base version, you can purchase
licenses for optional SignalVu-PC applications or choose to activate 30-day free
trials of those applications.

ense types

Lic

Tektronix is working to make it easier for you to manage the options you purchase
for SignalVu-PC by implementing a licensing scheme to host your purchased
licenses and allow you to manage your licenses yourself. As a result, there are

wo types of licenses: License Keys (legacy) and License Files (new).

t

License Keys: Prior to December 4, 2015, optional applications were

ctivated with license keys. This is referred to as the legacy licensing method.

a
Any license keys already purchased are still valid. To install a license key,
read SignalVu-PC license keys (legacy).(Seepage13.).

License Files: Beginning December 4, 2015, optional applications are
activated with license files. To install a license file, read SignalVu-PC license
files (See page 8.).

SignalVu-PC Quick Start 7

SignalVu-PC license files

SignalVu-PC l

icense files

SignalVu-PC
controlled via license files, rather than the previous method of installing license
keys.

SignalVu-PC licenses can be associated with and stored on either your PC or any
RSA300 series, RSA500 series, RSA600 series, and RSA7100 series spectrum
analyzers. Two types of licenses (Node-locked and Floating) are available, and
there are three methods to purchase them, (1) as an option to your hardware, or
separately as a (2) Node-locked or (3) Floating license. Licenses are managed
using the
licenses are purchased as an option to your instrument, use of the TektronixAMS
is not required for you to use them. Just connect the instrument to your PC with
SignalVu-PC, and the licenses will be recognized automatically.

A licensing scheme is used to host your license files. If they are
not already installed on your instrument or PC, you can access and
manage your licenses from the Tektronix Product License Web page:
http://www.tek.com/products/product-license. The Product License page provides

llowing:

the fo

Inventory of all the licenses in your company account

optional applications (purchased after December 4, 2015) are

Tektronix Asset Management System (AMS) on Tek.com. If your

How to purchase

application licenses

Ability to check out a license

Ability to check in a license

Ability to move a floating licenses

NOTE. If you purchased licenses as options to the RSA7100, these licenses are

pre-installed on the instrument. No activation or installation is required.

A variety of optional, licensed applications are available for purchase for
SignalVu-PC. These licenses can be associated with and stored on either your
PC or any RSA300 series, RSA500 series, RSA600 series, and RSA7100 series
spectrum analyzers. Licenses can be purchased as an option to your hardware,
or separately as a Node-locked or a Floating license.

Contact your local Tektronix Account Manager to purchase a license. If your
purchased license is not ordered as an option to your instrument, you will receive
an email with a list of the applications purchased and the URL to the Tektronix
Product License Web page, where you will create an account and can then
manage your licenses using the Tektronix Asset Management System (AMS):
http://www.tek.com/products/product-license.

AMS provides an inventory of the license(s) in your account. It enables you to
check out or check in a license and view the history of licenses.

8 SignalVu-PC Quick Start

SignalVu-PC license files

Optional appli

License type Description

Node locked li
purchased as an option to your
instrument

Node locked license (NL)
purchase

Floating license (FL) purchased

tely

separa

cations are enabled by one of the following license types.

cense (NL)

d separately

This license i
which can be either a PC or an instrument. It can be
reassociated to either a PC or another spectrum analyzer
two times usi

When associated with an instrument, this license is
factory-installed on that instrument at the time of
manufactur
with SignalVu-PC when the instrument is connected.
However, the licensed application is deactivated from the
PC if the lic

This is the most common form of licensing, as it simplifies
management of your applications.

This license is initially assigned to a specific host id,
which can
reassociated to either a PC or instrument two times using
Tek A MS .

This lice
either your PC or with an instrument when you install
the license.

This lic
license to stay on your PC, or if you have an existing USB
instrument on which you would like to install a license.

This license can be moved between different host ids,
which c
reassociated to different PCs or instruments an unlimited
number of times using Tek AMS.

This l
either your PC or with an instrument when you install
the license.

This i
in applications where the license needs to be moved
frequently.

nse is delivered via email and is associated with

ense should be purchased when you want your

an be either PCs or instruments. It can be

icense is delivered via email and is associated with

sthemostflexible license and is recommended

s initially assigned to a specific host id,

ng Tek AMS.

e. It will be recognized by any PC operating

ensed instrument is disconnected.

be either a PC or an instrument. It can be

To view a list of currently installed application licenses (options) in your

nalVu-PC product, select Tool s > Licenses > Manage from the SignalVu-PC

Sig
main toolbar.

er to the following sections for information about How to install a license (See

Ref
page 10.) and Howtoreturnalicense(See page 12.).

Available application options. A list of currently available application options is
in the SignalVu-PC ordering information section. (See page 25.)

SignalVu-PC Quick Start 9