The Infiniimax 4 active probe from Keysight reaches 52 GHz, enough to see signals on PCIe 6/7, 800 Gb/sec Ethernet, DDR 5/6, and other high-speed serial buses. Oscilloscopes with 100 GHz and higher bandwidths can display signals on 224 Gb/sec PAM4 serial buses and they’ve been available for several years. Without probes of high enough […]
Oscilloscopes
Product tryout: Tektronix 4 Series B oscilloscope
EE World gets its hands dirty on the latest Tektronix 4 Series B oscilloscope. So many features, so little time. When Tektronix gave the press a preview of the 4 Series B 12-bit mixed-signal oscilloscope and TekScope software, I asked to try the software. Days later, the real thing arrived in a transit case. Fortunately […]
How to test the automotive SENT protocol
Oscilloscopes and dedicated software can help analyze SENT data. In “What is the automotive SENT protocol?” we looked at the Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) protocol, as defined in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2716 standard. We reviewed the SENT message frame, which includes a synchronization/calibration pulse followed by a status nibble, […]
What’s the difference between a USB oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, and digitizer?
USB oscilloscopes are highly versatile instruments. With the right software, they can perform functions usually reserved for spectrum analyzers and digitizers. In some cases, however, special instruments are needed for optimal results. This FAQ compares the functions of oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and digitizers with USB interfaces. They are called USB devices because they connect to […]
How do I choose an electric motor, and how do I test it? part 4
You indeed can measure three-phase power in a motor with just two wattmeters. Part 3 of this FAQ concluded with a simplified diagram showing a test setup that included a programmable power supply, a motor under test, a mechanical load, a power analyzer, and host computer. The programmable power supply could simulate the AC line […]
R&S enters eight-channel oscilloscope game
The Rohde & Schwarz MXO 5 series of eight-channel and four-channel oscilloscopes feature fast capture and low-level triggering so you can see signal details.
What hardware accessories can you attach to a USB oscilloscope?
A wide range of hardware accessories are available for USB oscilloscopes. This FAQ reviews a few of the more popular options including a variety of probes plus wireless synchronization of multiple USB oscilloscopes and chassis that can combine and synchronize USB oscilloscopes with other instruments like arbitrary waveform generators and multimeters. Probes and more probes […]
What are the important specifications of USB oscilloscopes? part 1
USB oscilloscopes are compact and low-cost. If properly specified, they can be highly capable instruments. This FAQ reviews some important USB oscilloscope specifications including the number of channels, sample rate, bandwidth, refresh rate, and memory depth. Part 2 of this series considers specifications (available Sept. 8) for triggering, input ranges and probes, zooming, and control […]
12-bit oscilloscope reaches 65 GHz, tests high-speed links
The WaveMaster 8000HD series from Teledyne LeCroy goes where no 12-bit oscilloscope has gone before. Serial digital data streams never stop reaching for higher data rates. Buses such as PCIe Gen 6 (64 Gtransfers/sec) and USB4 V2 (80 Gb/sec) have gone to PAM4 and PAM3 modulation, respectively, to reach their current data rates. Two-level modulation […]
What specialist software is available for USB oscilloscopes? part 2
This FAQ looks at software that can synchronize multiple oscilloscopes, perform mathematical functions, and transform a basic USB oscilloscope into multiple instruments. A USB oscilloscope consists of signal capture and conditioning electronics, a personal computer (PC) that can be a laptop, tablet, or desktop, plus PC software. The availability of application specialist software is a […]