15GHz models extend sampling oscilloscope series

20th November 2017

Mick Elliott

0 0

Datasheet

Three 15GHz models and a further 25GHz model have been added to its professional, portable and low-cost PicoScope 9300 Series of Sampling Oscilloscopes by Pico Technology. The 15GHz models replace the preceding 9200 Series 12GHz models, with significantly upgraded specifications at even lower prices, with the result that all Pico Sampling Oscilloscopes now operate under the much-respected PicoSample 3 software.

These instruments combine Pico’s cost-effective sampling technology with the convenience of USB and LAN control ports.

At an entry-level price below $11,000, the 9301-15 gives the benefits of two channels at 15GHz bandwidth and prescaled trigger to 14GHz.

It delivers16-bit sampling rate of 1MS/s in support of fast-update eye diagrams, persisted traces, histogramming and statistical analysis.

Equivalent sampling rate tops out at 15TS/s—that’s a time resolution of just 64 s—along with an unusually long maximum trace length for sampling oscilloscopes of up to 32 kilosamples.

Why 15GHz? At this bandwidth, Pico’s entry-level Sampling Oscilloscope aligns with today’s popular gigabit data rates.

15 GHz bandwidth will support third harmonic characterisation of serial data out to 10 Gb/s and fifth harmonic out to 6 Gb/s.

Full touch screen control, menus that configure to the application at hand, comprehensive PRBS pattern lock, and eye-line step and scan, all add up to a powerful and quite probably the lowest-cost instrument available for visualisation, measurement and characterisation of high-speed serial data.

Move up to the 9302‑15 to add Clock Recovery trigger out to 11.3 Gb/s and RMS jitter typically down to 1ps + 1% of data interval.

The third of the new 15GHz models, priced below $15 k, the 9311-15 addresses single-ended Time Domain Transmission and Time Domain Reflection measurements.

Again it’s a significant upgrade to the predecessor 9211 in cable, component, backplane and PCB impedance and transmission characterisations and network analysis.

In this model, system transition time (65ps) halves distance resolution and adjustable pulse width extends reflected fault detection range from around 4mm typically out to 400m (1350ft). At 20GHz, the 9311-20 continues to support fully differential and deskewable TDR/TDT capability and all 9300 models can be paired with the PG900 standalone fast pulse generators to achieve similar TDR/TDT capability, for example on the four-channel and optical input models, or greater flexibility with any 9300 model.

The 9300 family also pairs well with Pico’s low-invasive PicoConnect 900 passive probes, capable of browse probing out to 9 GHz or 18 Gb/s, typically without interrupt of downstream function.