PXI continues to grow with an 18-slot chassis, system controllers, multifunction DAQ, and an oscilloscope. NI’s line of PXI-based test instrumentation has received a significant boost. Nearing 30 years old, PXI has become the standard for modular instrumentation in automated test for it boasts a thriving multi-vendor ecosystem. PXI originator NI has added an 18-slot […]
PC-based Oscilloscopes - PCO
Make the most of oscilloscope triggering: part 1
Learning the basics of oscilloscope triggers can help you leverage advanced features. In an earlier series, we discussed how the oscilloscope has evolved over the past three-quarters of a century. We noted that the basic horizontal and vertical controls remain functionally similar, but today’s digital oscilloscopes offer many features, including waveform math functions, that go […]
Getting the most from your oscilloscope: part 3
Built-in math operations enable your scope to calculate and display measurement results. In part 1 of this series, we looked at the features oscilloscopes have offered for the past three-quarters of a century. In part 2, we looked at some of the unique features of modern digital scopes. In this part, we’ll take a closer […]
Get the most from your oscilloscope: part 2
Modern scopes add a variety of new measurement and math features to the vertical, horizontal, and trigger controls used over a span of decades. In part 1 of this series, we looked at the features, such as the vertical, horizontal, and trigger controls that have appeared on oscilloscopes since the mid-20th century and that remain […]
Get the most from your oscilloscope: part 1
Oscilloscope technology has evolved from electromechanical assistance for hand-plotting to the development of full-featured automated digital instruments. The oscilloscope is an invaluable instrument that provides engineers with a picture of how signals inside their circuits behave. Today, they have evolved from analog versions, where the only option for long-term storage was to take a Polaroid […]
Picoscope 7.1.39 enhances USB-based oscilloscope line
Pico Technology has released PicoScope 7.1.39 – the latest stable version of the software. The software adds features previously deployed in Early Access versions of the software, plus UX improvements, bug fixes and operating system compatibility updates. Additions in this version of the software include: Annotations for placing in-graph notes, along with arrows to highlight […]
USB oscilloscopes add automotive 10Base-T1S protocol analysis
Pico Technology, a manufacturer of USB oscilloscopes, has added 10Base-T1S protocol analysis to software that operates the company’s line of USB oscilloscopes. That brings to 40 the number of serial protocols that the company supports. PicoScope 7 software is a free download. 10Base-T1S is a two-wire Ethernet standard that specifies a physical layer for automotive […]
Screenless oscilloscope fits 2U rack space
The MXO 5C screenless oscilloscope from Rohde & Schwarz comes in four or eight channels with 2 GHz bandwidth.
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 […]
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 […]
