Tektronix, long synonymous with oscilloscopes, has introduced two new oscilloscopes to its portfolio: the 3 Series MDO mixed domain oscilloscopes and 4 Series MSO mixed signal oscilloscopes. Built on the user experience introduced with the 5 and 6 Series MSOs, the new 3 Series MDO and 4 Series MSO feature intuitive touchscreen user interfaces, the largest and highest resolution displays in their classes and sleek designs for cramped lab benches.

The 3 and 4 Series interface design with touchscreens and front panels keep key controls easily accessible. Instead of multiple menus to find settings, users simply double-tap the appropriate readout or measurement on the display.

“We made usability and versatility a top priority, so engineers can spend time on innovation and solving difficult problems and not try to figure out how to use their scopes.” — Chris Witt, vice president and general manager of the Time Domain business at Tektronix

4 Series MSO: A large display and 6 Flex Channel inputs

The 4 Series MSO features a 13.3 in. display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, the largest size and highest resolution in its class. It offers bandwidths from 200 MHz to 1.5 GHz and uses 12-bit ADCs for the highest vertical resolution in its class. All models have a 6.25 GSPS sample rate on all analog and digital channels, and the standard record length is 31.25 million points, with the option to increase that to 62.5 million points.

This is the first scope in this class to offer six input channels; using FlexChannel™ technology, any input channel can be converted from an analog to eight digital channels simply by connecting a logic probe.

To meet a diverse range of application requirements, options with the 4 Series MSO include

• Serial decode and analysis.
• Arbitrary function generator.
• DVM and frequency counter.
• Spectrum View, enabling a time-correlated frequency domain analysis with independent spectrum controls.
• Power analysis package to automate AC line, switching device, ripple and sequencing measurements.

The 4 Series MSO bandwidth and all options are field upgradeable. Pricing begins at $7,550, including passive probes and a three-year warranty.

3 Series MDO: Versatility

The 3 Series MDO was designed to be the compact, versatile test instrument sitting on every engineer’s desk. It features a sleek design and the largest display in its class: 11.6 in. with high resolution. It uses the same intuitive user interface as the rest of the portfolio, with a similar set of knobs and buttons, yet it is less than 6 in. deep, making it a compact instrument for the bench.

The 3 Series MDO’s bandwidth ranges from 100 MHz to 1 GHz, defined by the option. Models are available with 2.5 or 5 GSPS sample rates on all analog channels and up to 8.25 GSPS on digital channels, with 121.2 ps timing resolution. The standard record length is 10 million points.

For debugging and validation tasks, the 3 Series MDO is more than an oscilloscope: It has a built-in spectrum analyzer with frequency coverage to 3 GHz, with specifications comparable to a standalone analyzer. Sixteen digital input channels are available for mixed signal analysis. Comprehensive serial protocol debugging and triggering options, optional power measurement and an optional arbitrary function generator are available, with a DVM and frequency counter free after product registration.

As with the 4 Series MSO, the bandwidth and all options are fully upgradeable. Pricing begins at $3,850, including passive probes and a three-year warranty.

Probes

Both the 3 Series MDO and 4 Series MSO use the TekVPI probe interface, so they are compatible with the full range of Tektronix differential voltage probes, active voltage probes, current probes and the recently introduced power rail probes and optically-isolated differential probes.