The fractional derivative of the Dirichlet eta function is computed in order to investigate the behavior of the fractional derivative of the Riemann zeta function on the critical strip. Its convergence is studied. In particular, its half-plane of convergence gives the possibility to better understand the fractional derivative of the Riemann zeta function and its critical strip. As an application, two signal processing networks, corresponding to the fractional derivative of the eta function and to its Fourier transform, respectively, are shortly described.