The DPO70000SX Series Performance Oscilloscopes have expanded to include new 13 GHz and 16 GHz models. The new offerings allow engineers to take advantage of the high sample rate and low noise floor of Tektronix’ highest performance family of oscilloscopes at lower bandwidth levels and more affordable price points. The DPO70000SX Series oscilloscopes were initially […]
First 10-GbE line-rate data recorder for flight test instrumentation apps
The new nREC-7000-1 data recorder can store data at unprecedented sustained speeds, with support for 1,000 Megabytes per second (MBps) data rates over each of its four 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports. Flight-test engineers who confront the daunting challenge of capturing a veritable firehose of data from today’s high-speed data acquisition units (DAUs) and modern […]
Academic discount program supports lab upgrades in educational institutions
A special program is designed to encourage academic institutions to upgrade their laboratory instrumentation. The Vitrek Academic Discount Program is designed to ease the burden of providing researchers and students with the latest in high-performance test equipment by offering reduced prices on Vitrek equipment to qualified university, college and research laboratories. “Our premier instruments are […]
How to measure current and energy use accurately
General-purpose test equipment can have trouble measuring small currents, particularly if they only happen briefly. New specialized instruments go a long way toward solving this problem. Matt Liberty | Jetperch LLC The direct measurement of current is difficult. It’s usually impractical to count individual electrons, so the two primary techniques for measuring current actually measure […]
Remote Communication with USBTMC
Simple connections employing USB can replace more expensive GPIB setups in test instrumentation. Aaron Fernando, B&K Precision Corp. Engineers from a variety of industries use USB and USBTMC (USB Test & Measurement Class) to remotely control test and measurement instruments from a host computer. It is useful to compare USBTMC to the widely used GPIB […]
Testing LVDS devices at the margins with an AWG
Advanced arbitrary waveform generators have simplified the testing associated with communications over low-voltage differential signaling lines. Chris Loberg | Tektronix First introduced in 1994, low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) has gone on to become widely used in products such as LCD panels, automotive infotainment systems, industrial cameras and machine vision, notebook and tablet computers, communications systems, […]
What’s new in USB Power Delivery 3.0
A new version of the USB spec puts additional demands on testing regimes that wring out power-handling options. David Maliniak | Teledyne LeCroy Since its official debut in 1996, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol has seen numerous revisions spanning three generations of the standard, with USB 4.0 waiting in the wings for later in […]
Test instruments that aid PCB repair tasks
Basic tools such as DMMs and oscilloscopes may be the only test gear needed for small printed circuit board repairs, but it pays to know when automated systems would be a better choice. Alan Lowne | Saelig Co. Inc. PCBs are more complicated to repair today than even a few years ago. Manufacturing mistakes and […]
What you should know about Wi-Fi 6 and the 6-GHz band
While there are still interference issues to be resolved, new specifications for Wi-Fi in the 6-GHz band will bring instantly better wireless performance. Eve Danel | LitePoint Wi-Fi technology turns 20 this year, and it has proven to be successful beyond the wildest expectations. The recent announcement by the FCC to consider allowing 1,200 MHz […]
How standards and conformance tests shape the future of 5G New Radio
Specs for 5G NR release-15 have been finalized and plans call for product introductions this year. Sheri DeTomasi | Keysight Technologies, Inc. The development of 5G standards and their commercial rollout appears to be on a fast track. Mobile operators and network equipment makers are conducting field trials and the first smartphones are expected out […]