Multi-instrument 200-MHz-to-1-GHz scopes offer higher performance

Continuing the charge into integrated, multi-instrument oscilloscopes that began with the MDO3000 series, the MDO4000C Series models are the highest-performance oscilloscopes among the company’s “6-in-1” offerings. With prices starting at $7,300, the instruments let engineers upgrade them over time — including scope bandwidth — so purchasers can add functionality as their needs demand or budgets allow.

The four new scopes, which have bandwidths of 1 GHz or 500, 350, or 200 MHz, are all four-channel instruments with bandwidth-dependent sampling rates of 2.5 to 5 Gsample/s on all channels. Optionally, users can add a DMM/frequency counter (free with product registration), a full spectrum analyzer with frequency range of 9 kHz to 3 or 6 GHz, a 16-channel logic analyzer with 60.6-ps resolution, a protocol analyzer, and a 50-MHz arbitrary/function generator.

As oscilloscopes, the MDO4000C models offer a longer, 20-Mpoint record length and faster, >340,000-waveforms/s capture rate, as well as a 50% larger display. In addition to the higher 6-GHz bandwidth, the spectrum analyzer has better performance, the ability to synchronize views across time and frequency domains, and the ability to perform vector signal analysis. The logic analyzer has independent logic thresholds per channel, enabling capture of multiple logic families at once. The protocol analyzer can examine up to three buses simultaneously with triggering up to 500 Mb/s.