Lower cost brings 25GHz sampling oscilloscopes into mainstream

27th March 2017

Mick Elliott

0 0

Datasheet

The bandwidth of Pico Technology’s PicoScope 9300 family of Sampling Oscilloscopes has been extended with two new 25GHz models, which will cost less than 23,000 Euros. The USB-controlled Sampling Oscilloscope offers low-cost, high-integrity options for viewing and measuring RF and microwave signals, paths and networks.

Sampling Oscilloscopes are the cost-effective solution to today’s proliferation of gigabit-per-second datastreams and their copper, wireless and optical fiber interconnect.

The new 2 and 4 channel 25GHz models, just added to the existing 20GHz PicoScope 9300 Series, now support fifth harmonic capture for data up to including 10 Gb/s, and third harmonic capture up to 16 Gb/s.

These rates, and others in between, are increasingly found in Ethernet, Thunderbolt, USB 3.1, PCIe 4, Rapid I/O, e-SATA, OC-192 / STM-64 and OC-256.

All have transmission lines, cables, components, transmitters and receivers that need pre-compliance testing and characterization.

For many owning a real-time scope with 25GHz bandwidth is unrealistic, with prices starting from $200,000. Renting is usually the only option but even that can cost over $15,000 per month! According to Pico Technology, low cost means that users can have a 25GHz Sampling Oscilloscope, every day or where and when it is needed for the equivalent of 1 month’s rent of a 25GHz real-time box.

To enable users to probe multiple broadband signals in-system and with minimal invasion of the measurement, all without interrupting system function, Pico Technology has the cost-effective, low-invasive, high-performance PicoConnect 900 probes, a comprehensive family of microwave and gigabit products.

Uniquely configured as interchangeable AC or DC coupled probe heads in three division ratios (÷5, ÷10 and ÷20), these are ideally suited to in-system probing of analog, pulse, impulse and high-speed serial data streams.

What’s more, they will interface to any other instrument type with 50 Ω inputs and likely outperform similar but manufacturer-locked accessories that you may have.

All PicoScope 9300 Sampling Oscilloscopes can now be upgraded, free of charge, to full touchscreen operation with the latest PicoSample 3 software. PicoSample 3.25 also includes new masks for USB 2.0 and USB 3.1 Gen1 and Gen2.

The new PicoScope 9301-25 and 9341-25 Sampling Oscilloscopes are now available for €14,235 / £11,765 and €22,275 / £18,405 respectively.