Product Update

The WavePro series of scopes, with 1-GHz and 3-GHz bandwidth models, bring fast data throughput, data-analysis capabilities, and Windows connectivity to mainstream test applications. LeCroy previously offered these features on its high-end Wavemaster scopes only. Essentially, the WavePro 7100 and 7300 scopes are Wavemaster scopes with lower bandwidths.

Both scopes can sample at 20 Gsamples/s on one or two channels, or at 10 Gsamples/s on three or four channels. The base models come with 1 Msample of memory per channel (three or four channels in use) or 2 Msamples/channel (one or two channels). Optional memory goes up to 48 Msamples/channel (two channels) or 24 Msamples (four channels).

Prices: WavePro 7100 (1 GHz)—$22,500; WavePro 7300 (3 GHz)— $39,500. Additional memory options range in price from $4990 to $19,990. LeCroy, Chestnut Ridge, NY. 800-453-2769; www.lecroy.com.

Agilent's 33220A function/arbitrary waveform generator lets you see the waveforms you create right on the instrument's display. Running at 20 Msamples/s with 14-bit resolution, the 33220A can generate basic waveforms such as sine, square, and triangle. Plus, the 33220A adds pulse-width modulation to any signal, which makes it useful for simulating signals in automotive ignitions and brushless motors.

You can operate the instrument from its front panel or through its USB, IEEE 488, or Ethernet port. Because the instrument contains a Web server, you can use the Ethernet port to control it from a browser. With Agilent's Intuilink software, you can create waveforms and download them to the instrument over any of the communications ports.

Price: $1850. Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA. 800-452-4844, ext. 7784; www.agilent.com/find/33220A.

The PT3000 crimp-pull tester verifies the quality of wire-termination crimps. This automatic, electrical-motor-driven tester offers a constant, motorized pull speed to ensure a consistent pull-off force measurement. A 12-position terminal holder accommodates a variety of sizes to suit many applications.

The instrument can measure pull-off force from 0 to 110 lbs and can display force in pounds, kilopounds, or Newtons. An operator spins the unit's terminal holder to the correct position for the size of the terminal under test, inserts the terminal into the holder, places the wire in the self-gripping wire holder, and presses a switch. The unit can display pull-off force in real time or retain peak pull-off force levels. The PT3000 can test wire sizes from AWG 12 to AWG 32 or smaller, depending on terminal size.

Price: $2995. Cirris Systems, Salt Lake City, UT. 800-441-9910; www.cirris.com/crimppull.html.

The SPPDS-01 Development Suite helps users shorten the development time for signal-processing applications in the 10-Hz to 20-Hz frequency range. The suite includes the SPPDB-01 development board (large board in photo) that helps you develop signal-processing routines for the SPP-01 DSP module (small board in photo); you can then install the module into a piece of test equipment. The development board lets you download algorithms into an SPP-01 and test them, and it gives you access to the DSP module's two analog inputs and two analog outputs, providing a test point so you can view signals with an oscilloscope. The development board also uses a JTAG digital-input port that lets you select which of up to 256 DSP algorithms to run on the SPP-01. You can also operate the JTAG port manually through a bank of DIP switches.

The SPPDS-01 development suite also includes one SPP-01 DSP module, development software, finite-impulse-response filter development software, and a Matlab graphical interface that lets you develop DSP algorithms in the popular computing package and download filter coefficients to the DSP module.

Price: $1580. Frequency Devices, Haverhill, MA. 978-374-0761; www.freqdev.com.

If a test rack contains one box instrument, it's usually an oscilloscope. Scopes not only measure UUT waveforms, but also help troubleshoot a test system. ATEscope software from Analogic lets you use any of the company's VXI digitizer cards as a two-channel stand-alone scope.

With ATEscope software, you get the full functionality of a scope—more than you get with a VXIplug&play soft-front panel. ATEscope works with your ATE code and can take the digitizer offline for system troubleshooting without having to exit the ATE software.

ATEscope software comes with a full suite of signal-analysis tools, including fast-Fourier transforms and peak-to-peak, rms, rise time, fall time, and duty-cycle measurements. For triggers, you can use a standard level trigger or a data-dependent trigger.

Base price: $7250 (includes the software and an 80-Msample/s, 14-bit digitizer card). Digitizers are available with speeds up to 2 Gsamples/s.

Analogic, Peabody, MA. 978-977-3000; www.analogic.com.

The Tektronix Wireless Communications Analyzer 200A Series WCA200A instruments aim to help engineers design and test 2.5G and 3G wireless communications products. The instruments support multi-domain analysis, simultaneously displaying time-domain, frequency-domain, and code-domain information.

A frequency-mask triggering function lets you specify different triggering amplitudes for different frequencies: You can set one amplitude for a masked frequency range and another amplitude for frequencies falling outside the masked range, making it easy to track down spurious signals. Up to 256 Mbytes of acquisition memory can store a 10-s segment of a 5-MHz-wide W-CDMA signal. The instruments support high-speed adjacent-channel leakage-ratio measurements and can generate codogram displays, which are useful in evaluating W-CDMA compressed-mode hand-over operation.

Available in 3-GHz and 8-GHz models, the instruments combine standards-oriented vector signal analysis and demodulation capabilities with general-purpose, flexible spectrum analysis.

Base price: $27,990. Tektronix, Beaverton, OR. 800-426-2200 (code 1284); www.tektronix.com.

The OmegaSays HHM2-IR digital multimeter/thermometer/IR pyrometer features noncontact infrared temperature measurement and voice annunciation of measured values. It measures true rms AC voltage, current, resistance and temperature, and it accepts two type-K thermocouples terminated with miniature SMP connectors. The HHM2-IR announces and displays measurements in a choice of five languages. An optional pistol grip type-K thermocouple handle includes a pushbutton that activates the voice function. Base price: $349 (includes one English voice chip). Omega Engineering, Stamford, CT. 203-359-1660; www.omega.com.

A built-in 50-MHz frequency counter complements the Model 2121 30-MHz oscilloscope. The instrument offers dual- or single-trace operation at 5-mV/div sensitivity, normal and automatic triggering, and a calibrated 23-step time base with a 10X magnifier. The counter function shares the trigger-level setting of the scope itself, allowing frequency measurements of complex waveforms that would stymie stand-alone counters. Base price: $599. B&K Precision, Yorba Linda, CA. 714-921-9095; www.bkprecision.com.