Oscilloscope and Hand Held Test Equipment Primer and Comparisons

June 8, 2009

Oscilloscopes:

An oscilloscope (AKA scope or o-scope) is a piece of general-purpose electronic test equipment that allows signal voltages to be viewed, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences (vertical axis) plotted as a function of time or of some other voltage (horizontal axis). The oscilloscope is one of the most versatile and widely used electronic test instruments. Oscilloscopes are used when it is desired to observe the exact wave shape of an electrical signal.

Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes:

A mixed signal oscilloscope (MSO) has two kinds of inputs, a small number of analog channels, and a larger number of digital channels. These measurements are acquired with a single time base, they are viewed on a single display, and any combination of these signals can be used to trigger the oscilloscope. An MSO combines all the measurement capabilities and the usability of a Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) with some of the measurement capabilities of a logic analyzer.

Digital Storage Oscilloscopes:

The digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) is now preferred for most industrial applications, although simple analog oscilloscopes are still being used by hobbyists. The digital storage oscilloscope replaces the storage method used in analog storage scopes with a digital memory, which can store data without degradation. It also allows complex processing of the signal by high-speed digital signal processing circuits. The vertical input, instead of driving the vertical amplifier, is digitized by an analog to digital converter to create a data set that is stored in the memory of a microprocessor. The data set is processed and then sent to the display, which in early DSOs was a cathode ray tube (CRT), but is now more likely to be an LCD display.

(Digital) Sampling Oscilloscopes:

A digital sampling oscilloscope is accurate at capturing signals whose frequency components are much higher than the oscilloscope’s sample rate. This type of oscilloscope is capable of measuring signals exponentially faster than any other oscilloscope. It can achieve bandwidth and high-speed timing 10x higher than other oscilloscopes for repetitive signals. The digital sampling oscilloscope reverses the position of the attenuator | amplifier and the sampling bridge. The dynamic range of most sampling oscilloscopes are limited.

Digital Phosphor Oscilloscopes

A digital phosphor oscilloscope (DPO) offers a new approach to oscilloscope structure that enables a DPO to deliver unique acquisition and display capabilities to accurately reconstruct a signal. A DSO uses a serial-processing architecture to capture, display and analyze signals, while a DPO has a parallel-processing architecture to perform these functions. The DPO architecture dedicates unique ASIC hardware to acquire waveform images, delivering high waveform capture rates that result in a higher level of signal visualization. This increases the probability of witnessing transient events that occur in digital systems, such as glitches or transition errors.

Hand Held Test Equipment:

Years ago hand held test equipment usually meant having an analog VOM meter. The newest hand-held test instruments currently available actually produce better results than most of the older heavy tabletop, and laboratory-grade equipment available just a few years ago and are available for a much wider range of testing applications. A lot of diagnostic and setup work involves portable, handheld test equipment in the plant as well as in the field. Test equipment associated with the terms- small, portable and handheld no longer indicates limitations on test and measurement performance. Multifunctional handheld test and measurement tools offer real productivity advantages. A meter that can take several measurements makes it easier for a technician to cover the plant floor quickly. Users are finding that recent advances in the technology and sophistication of handheld devices for specific applications provide many performance benefits. Testing performed by handheld devices currently include: Spectral Analysis, Communications Monitoring, Insulation Testing, Network Trouble-Shooting, Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry, Electrical and Optical Ethernet Testing, Advanced IP Test, T1 Testing, PCM TIMS Test, PCM Signaling Test, DS1 Testing, Various Calibrations and many, many more test, maintenance and support applications.

A comparison of technical specifications from some popular oscilloscope models:

100 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

Tektronix

Agilent

LeCroy

DPO2012/2014

TDS3012C/3014C

DSO5012A/5014A

WaveJet 312A/314A

Bandwidth

100 MHz

100 MHz

100 MHz

100 MHz

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

10 kpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

X

1 Mpts/ch

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

4 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

X

1 Mpts/ch

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

8 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Equivalent Time Sample Rate

X

NA

X

NA

ü

400 GS/s

X

100 GS/s

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

X

1 GS/s

X

1.25 GS/s

ü

2 GS/s

X

1 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max)

X

1 GS/s

X

1.25 GS/s

ü

2 GS/s

X

1 GS/s

Display Size

X

7″

X

6.3″

ü

6.3″

ü

7.5″

History (Replay) Mode

X

No

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

# of Measurements

ü

29

X

26

X

21

X

26

Math Functions

X

+, -, x

X

+, -, x, /, FFT

ü

+, -, x, FFT, Derivative, Integral, Square Root

X

+, -, x, FFT

USB Connectivity

ü

Host, Device, Printing

X

Host

X

Host, Device

ü

Host, Device, Printing

Local Language User-Interface

X

No

ü

Yes

X

No

ü

Yes

Acquisition Modes

X

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

X

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging, Envelope

ü

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging, Hi-Res

X

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

Waveform Search

ü

Yes

X

No

X

No

X

No

MSO Available

ü

Yes

X

No

ü

Yes

X

No

200 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

LeCroy

DPO2024

WaveJet 322A/324A

Bandwidth

200 MHz

200 MHz

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

ü

1 Mpts/ch

X

500 kpts/ch

Equivalent Time Sample Rate

X

NA

ü

100 GS/s

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

1 GS/s

ü

1 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max)

X

1 GS/s

ü

2 GS/s

Display Size

X

7″

ü

7.5″

History (Replay) Mode

X

No

ü

Yes

# of Measurements

ü

29

X

26

Math Functions

X

+, -, x

ü

+, -, x, FFT

USB Connectivity

ü

Host, Device, Printing

ü

Host, Device, Printing

Local Language User-Interface

X

No

ü

Yes

Acquisition Modes

ü

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

ü

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

Waveform Search

ü

Yes

X

No

MSO Available

ü

Yes

X

No

300-350 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

LeCroy

TDS3032C/3034C

WaveJet 332A/334A

Bandwidth

350 MHz

350 MHz

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Equivalent Time Sample Rate

X

NA

ü

100 GS/s

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

1 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max)

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

Display Size

X

6.3″

ü

7.5″

History (Replay) Mode

No

# of Measurements

ü

26

ü

26

Math Functions

ü

+, -, x, /, FFT

X

+, -, x, FFT

USB Connectivity

X

Host

ü

Host, Device, Printing

Local Language User-Interface

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

Acquisition Modes

ü

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging, Envelope

X

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

Waveform Search

X

No

X

No

MSO Available

X

No

X

No

500 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

LeCroy

TDS3052C/3054C

WaveJet 352A/354A

Bandwidth

500 MHz

500 MHz

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

X

10 kpts/ch

ü

500 kpts/ch

Equivalent Time Sample Rate

X

NA

ü

100 GS/s

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

5 GS/s

X

1 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max)

ü

5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

Display Size

X

6.3″

ü

7.5″

History (Replay) Mode

X

No

ü

Yes

# of Measurements

ü

26

ü

26

Math Functions

ü

+, -, x, /, FFT

X

+, -, x, FFT

USB Connectivity

X

Host

ü

Host, Device, Printing

Local Language User-Interface

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

Acquisition Modes

ü

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging, Envelope

X

Real Time, Peak Detect, Averaging

Waveform Search

X

No

X

No

MSO Available

X

No

X

No

300-400 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

LeCroy

Tektronix

Agilent

LeCroy

DPO3032/DPO3034

WaveSurfer 42Xs-A/44Xs-A

DPO4034

DSO7032A/DSO7034A

WaveSurfer 44MXs-A

Bandwidth

300 MHz

400 MHz

350 MHz

350 MHz

400 MHz

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max)

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

X

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

X

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Display Size

X

9″

ü

10.4″

X

10.4″

ü

12.1″

X

10.4″

Touch Screen

X

No

ü

Yes

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

Waveform Search

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

X

No

ü

Yes

Report Generator

X

No

X

No

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

MSO Available

X

No

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

500-600 MHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

LeCroy

Tektronix

Agilent

LeCroy

DPO3052/DPO3054

WaveSurfer 62Xs-A/64Xs-A

DPO4054

DSO7052A/DSO7054A

WaveSurfer 64MXs-A

Bandwidth

500 MHz

600 MHz

500 MHz

500 MHz

600 MHz

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max

ü

2.5 GS/s

ü

2.5 GS/s

X

2.5 GS/s

X

4 GS/s

ü

5 GS/s

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

X

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

X

5 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Display Size

X

9″

ü

10.4″

X

10.4″

ü

12.1″

X

10.4″

Touch Screen

X

No

ü

Yes

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

Waveform Search

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

X

No

ü

Yes

Report Generator

X

No

X

No

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

MSO Available

X

No

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

1 GHz Oscilloscopes

Tektronix

Agilent

LeCroy

DPO4104

DSO7104A

WaveSurfer 104MXs-A

Bandwidth

1 GHz

1 GHz

1 GHz

Sample Rate (Per Ch)

ü

5 GS/s

X

2 GS/s

ü

5 GS/s

Sample Rate (Max

ü

5 GS/s

X

4 GS/s

ü

5 GS/s

Standard Memory (Per Ch)

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Standard Memory (Max)

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Per Ch)

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

4 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Memory with Option (Max)

ü

10 Mpts/ch

X

8 Mpts/ch

ü

10 Mpts/ch

Display Size

X

10.4″

ü

12.1″

ü

10.4″

Touch Screen

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

Waveform Search

ü

Yes

X

No

ü

Yes

Report Generator

X

No

X

No

ü

Yes

MSO Available

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

ü

Yes

(Courtesy of Phil Vogel)

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