Tektronix Introduces New Oscilloscope Platform

By DE Editors

Tektronix,  Inc. has announced an expansion of its oscilloscope offerings with the introduction of a new mixed signal oscilloscope platform, the MSO/DPO5000 Series.  The company also unveiled new TPP1000 and TPP0500 high-bandwidth and low capacitance passive voltage probes.

“With ongoing economic challenges, our customers have even less time to design products than before and they must work with a growing range of applications, requiring ever more capable testing solutions,” says Roy Siegel, general manager, Mid-range Oscilloscopes, Tektronix. “With our new oscilloscope platform we are giving engineers the analysis functionality and performance they need for many applications in one instrument, available at a low breakthrough price point. Our goal is to help our customers save time by simplifying test. And no competitor comes close to matching the performance of our new high-bandwidth and low-capacitance passive probes.”

The new MSO/DPO5000 Series incorporates many of the most popular features from other Tektronix oscilloscopes and makes them available at a starting price of $11,400. Features include FastAcq with a >250,000 wfm/s maximum waveform capture rate,  FastFrame segmented memory acquisition and long record length to capture long time periods at high resolution, extensive built-in tools for in-depth analysis of complex designs, and a Windows-based user interface.    

The series features eight models ranging from 350 MHz of analog bandwidth and 5 GS/s sample rates to 2GHz and 10 GS/s for higher-end applications. Record length ranges from 12.5M up to 250M. Each model has four analog channels. The MSO models also offer 16 digital channels and built-in parallel bus trigger and decode functionality. In addition, the DPO models are field upgradeable to MSO models should customers need that capability in the future.

The TPP1000 and TPP0500 passive voltage probes deliver the benefits of passive probes — high input dynamic range, robust mechanical design and lower cost — with performance similar to an active probe, according to the company. These high-impedance (10 MΩ input resistance) passive voltage probes limit the effect on circuits with capacitive loading of 3.9 pF at the probe tip. The TPP1000 passive probes also deliver 1GHz of bandwidth.  The TPP probes are included standard with every MSO/DPO5000 and MSO/DPO4000B Series model.

Tektronix is also announcing enhancements to the MSO/DPO4000 Series with the new “B” Series providing more performance at the same price point. The MSO/DPO4000B Series now offers twice the standard record length to capture more time with more resolution and improved digital acquisition specifications to address higher voltage applications, faster signals, and low-power circuits. The series includes six models ranging from 350MHz and 2.5GS/s to 1GHz and 5GS/s, along with standard 20M record lengths.

The MSO/DPO4000B Series now adds support for Ethernet (10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX) and MIL-STD-1553 buses along with the added analysis capability of Limit and Mask Testing.

Pricing ranges from $11,400 to $27,400 for the MSO/DPO5000 Series oscilloscopes and from $10,400 to $20,300 for the MSO/DPO4000B Series oscilloscopes. They ship with four of the new TPP Series probes. Additional TPP1000 and TPP0500 probes are available for $885 and $585.

For more information, visit Tektronix.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.