Pico Technology launch 25GHz sampler extended real-time oscilloscope

This latest addition builds on the existing PicoScope 9400 Series, which features models with 5 GHz and 16 GHz bandwidths, expanding the reach and capabilities of this advanced family of oscilloscopes.

Pico Technology's unique Sampler-Extended Real-Time Oscilloscope (SXRTO) technology combines the advantages of traditional real-time acquisition with sampling oscilloscope capabilities, offering engineers the best of both worlds. This means the scope can trigger directly on the signal and can also record pre-trigger data, while also achieving the extremely high time and amplitude resolution of a sampling scope.

The PicoScope 9404A-25 features a high-speed internal trigger up to 18 GHz, eliminating the need for an external trigger or clock recovery circuit, making it a versatile and convenient choice for engineers tackling challenging high-speed signal analysis.

With a real-time sampling rate of 500 MS/s, the oscilloscope is capable of capturing lower frequency non-repetitive signals or single-shot events. For higher-speed repetitive signals, it employs random equivalent-time sampling to achieve effective sampling rates of up to 5 TS/s. In both modes, the trigger event can be positioned anywhere in memory, enabling detailed observation of events before and after the trigger—a key feature of advanced real-time oscilloscopes.

James Niblock, Business Development Director at Pico Technology, remarked: “The new PicoScope 9404A SXRTO is a hybrid instrument, blending high-bandwidth sampling technology with the usability of modern real-time oscilloscopes. With the launch of the PicoScope 9404A-25, we are bringing critical signal integrity measurements to engineers at a price point previously unattainable. This technology lowers the barrier for access to high-performance measurement tools, making it ideal for those working on next-generation embedded systems and gigabit communication networks.”

The PicoScope 9404A-25 is equipped with PicoSample 4 PC software, allowing for easy instrument setup and waveform visualization. It provides a wide array of signal integrity measurements, including pulse and timing performance, jitter analysis, RZ & NRZ eye diagrams and communications mask tests compliant with industry standards such as PCIe, GB Ethernet, and Serial ATA—delivering a comprehensive validation toolkit.

With 175 ready-made mask tests, pre-compliance testing for buses such as Ethernet, USB or PCI Express is made particularly easy. With the free integrated tool, new tests for any standard can be created within a few minutes.

For OEM and custom integration, the PicoScope 9404A-25 supports ActiveX remote control via the Windows COM interface standard, allowing seamless incorporation into user-designed systems. Since the measurement process used in the lab can be implemented identically in automation, the transfer from the lab to the production line is particular easy. Programming examples are provided in VB.NET, MATLAB and LabVIEW, ensuring compatibility with various development environments, including JavaScript and C.