Tektronix's 4 Series MSO oscilloscope for mixed signals.

4 series MSO completes Tektronix’ family of flexible mixed input oscilloscopes

  • The Tektronix 5 Series MSO, launched on the market in June 2017, is the first member of Tektronix’ family of new generation Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes (MSO). This launch was followed in July 2018 by the launch of the 6 Series MSO.
  • Tektronix’s MSO offer is now enhanced by the oscilloscopes of the 4 Series MSO, which share the same upgradeable platform in terms of functions and bandwidth with their elders.
  • The 4 Series MSO oscilloscopes also have the same specificity that allows each of the analog inputs to be transformed into digital inputs via a suitable probe compatible with the instruments of the 5 and 6 Series.

 
Depending on the model, the 4 Series MSO oscilloscopes offer a scalable bandwidth of 200 MHz, 350 MHz, 500 MHz, 1 GHz, or 1.5 GHz.

Depending on the version, these instruments are equipped with 4 or 6 analog inputs. These analog inputs, known as FlexChannels, can each accommodate a probe with 8 digital channels. This offers the possibility of combining on the same platform 4 analog channels up to 32 digital inputs, and on a platform of 6 analog channels up to 48 digital inputs. This gives the user great freedom. With a 6-channel oscilloscope, for example, it can acquire 6 analog signals or 48 digital signals. But it can also combine 4 analog channels and 16 digital inputs, 2 analog channels and 32 digital channels.

The signals are sampled, via a 12-bit analog-to-digital resolution conversion system, at a frequency of 6.25 GS/s on all analog and digital channels, and recorded on a 31.25 Mpts depth memory as standard and up to 62.5 Mpts as an option.

These oscilloscopes, equipped with a 13.3-inch capacitive HD touch screen (1920 x 1080), are distinguished by their relative compactness (280 mm x 450 mm x 155 mm for 7.3kg – 9.8 in x 17.7 in x 6.1 for 16 lbs).

These instruments also include a digital voltmeter and an 50 MHz arbitrary function generator. They are equipped with numerous communication interfaces: 1 HDMI port, 1 Ethernet port, 5 USB 2.0 Host ports, and 1 USB 2.0 Device port.

The new Spectrum View feature enables time-correlated frequency domain analysis with independent spectrum monitoring. “With this option, it is possible to display on the screen the waveforms as a function of time of six analogue signals as well as simultaneously the spectrum of each of them,” asserts Bruno Morin, Sales Director France, Iberia and MEA. “This functionality is achieved by combining software and hardware technologies, including an embedded down converter circuit,” said Brian Ice, general manager of Tektronix’ mainstream oscilloscopes.

Serial bus decoding and analysis options are also available as well as a set of equipment power analysis functions such as voltage switching systems or inverters.

The 4 Series MSO oscilloscopes integrate the TekVPI probe interface, which offers the ability to use the full range of Tektronix differential voltage probes, active voltage and current probes, as well as optically isolated power rail probes and differential probes.

The 4 Series MSOs are available from €7,190 with a standard three-year warranty and passive probes. To preserve customer investment, bandwidths and some options are nevertheless upgradeable after the instrument is acquired.