Efforts to improve upon the reported dynamic range of newly developed integrated optical RF spectrum analyzers center about two separate components. One of these is an efficiently coupled, high power, single mode, narrow-beam-spread GaAlAs laser diode and the other is the photodiode array with its associated read-out circuitry. Recent attempts to realize improvements in both of these components are described, as are the design changes in the spectrum analyzer necessitated by the characteristics of available laser diodes.