Traditionally, only the spectrum analyzer was capable of displaying electrical and electromagnetic signals in the frequency domain and the oscilloscope took control of the time domain. More recently, each instrument has become competent in the other’s territory. But this overlapping tendency is far from absolute. Oscilloscopes, working in the Math>FFT mode, have always had a […]
Analog and digital modulation and modulation measurements
In amplitude modulation (AM), the amplitude of a carrier wave whose frequency remains constant changes in response to the modulating signal. In frequency modulation (FM), it is the frequency of the carrier that varies with the amplitude of the modulating signal. The carrier frequency deviates more when the modulating signal amplitude is higher. There are […]
Three-phase testing basics – Mitigating harmonic current
An electrical conductor warms up when it conveys current. If the heat is high enough the conductor can be damaged, so it is beneficial to limit current flow. Three-phase electrical distribution systems are highly effective in limiting current flow without reducing the amount of power delivered to the load. They do this by separating phases […]
Testing Cat 5e unshielded twisted pair cable and Ethernet connections
Cat 5e (enhanced) cable is widely used in local area networks (LANs), telephone and video. It works well in applications that call for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and telephone zone wiring in a star configuration. Two telephone lines can be run and two extra pairs are available for future use. Using modular RJ-45 connectors, a […]
RF menus in the Tektronix MDO3000 oscilloscope
Many oscilloscope users become adept at acquiring signals in the time domain and using Math>FFT in mixed domain oscilloscopes to display signals simultaneously in time and frequency domains. This is excellent for demonstrating the fundamental relationship between these different display modes, and the whole thing is user-friendly and intuitive. In a Tektronix MDO3000 oscilloscope, at […]
User review: the new Tektronix AFG31000 Series arbitrary function generators
In the consumer electronics boom following World War Two, a rapidly-growing number of homes contained analog CRT-based TVs, and repair shops soon appeared on every street. Technicians found these complex devices could best be serviced by injecting a synthesized signal at various points and accessing it downstream by means of an oscilloscope, thus isolating the […]
Oscilloscope technology – What lies ahead?
Oscilloscope technology advanced rapidly from its early 19th Century roots through the triggered sweep and digital/flat-screen transformation in the 1980s. The trend has accelerated. Bandwidth and sampling rates have expanded exponentially. Additionally, new features and measuring and display capabilities have emerged. In this context, one wonders what lies ahead. The major oscilloscope manufacturers maintain robust […]
Understanding and testing asynchronous logic
Traditionally, computer and instrumentation engineers work with synchronous logic, where a global clock circuit imposes a timing structure to which all circuits down to the components level adhere. In synchronous logic, an autonomous oscillator outputs a square wave that never varies in frequency or amplitude. At the rising edge (sometimes falling edge) a potentially vast […]
The difference between MDO and MSO displays with time domain and Fast Fourier Transforms
Mixed-domain oscilloscopes and mixed-signal oscilloscopes differ significantly in how they display waveforms. Both are useful because they permit users to simultaneously view different electrical aspects of equipment under investigation. The MDO displays a single signal simultaneously in the time and frequency domains, demonstrating how they change together. The MSO displays two different signals in the […]
Working with optical fiber
Optical fiber is actually a waveguide for light and operates in accordance with a principle known as total internal reflection. In contrast to electrical conduction, there is low loss and signals can be conveyed over considerable distances without amplification. Total internal reflection happens when a propagated wave strikes the boundary between two dissimilar materials, provided […]
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