Tektronix, Inc. has lowered the price range of its MDO4000B Series of Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes to around the same price range as MSO4000B Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes. The company advises its Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes (MDO) include a built-in spectrum analyser along with four analogue channels and 16 digital signal inputs — with the MDO4000B Series enabling the capture of synchronised analogue, digital and RF signals for a complete, time-correlated system view, saving on debug time.
The vast majority of system designs in production or in development today include at least one form of wireless capability. Now, for the same price as an MSO without spectrum analyser capability, engineers can purchase a single instrument that meets the vast majority of their test and measurement requirements, including RF test and debug.
There’s a fundamental shift with regard to wireless in embedded systems. With RF technologies so established and affordable, they are becoming as accepted and widely used as serial data was a few years ago,” said Dave Farrell, General Manager, Mainstream Oscilloscopes at Tektronix.
“In addition, with digital signals increasing in speed, the effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI) has become a common problem requiring looking at the RF spectrum of even non-wireless systems. Just as MSOs have replaced analog-only oscilloscopes, it follows that MDOs are the next logical evolution and are becoming the accepted mainstream industry standard.”
Under the new pricing structure, Tektronix is offering MDO4000B-3 models with a built-in 3GHz spectrum analyser at the same prices as current MSO4000B oscilloscopes with equivalent analogue bandwidth across the entire lineup. Given identical pricing, there is no reason for designers to purchase MSO models,
Tektronix advises it will be discontinuing its MSO4000B oscilloscopes. For customers who require 6GHz frequency coverage, the company claims it has lowered prices on its MDO4000B-6 Series by ~15 percent making performance even more affordable.
The company also points out that it has expanded its range of offerings with the MDO3000 series. The company claims this instrument offers the ability to capture analogue, digital and RF signals at a lower price point, making it an ideal entry level general purpose instrument. For more advanced debug and troubleshooting, the company offers its MDO4000B bringing more scope performance and functionality such as synchronised acquisition of all signals including RF.
Tektronix
