High-end scopes reach new heights
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 4/1/2004
In the never-ending quest for wider scope bandwidth, Tektronix has taken the lead with the 8-GHz TDS6804B Digital Phosphor Oscilloscope. To set the new bandwidth record, Tektronix uses digital signal processing to enhance the scope's 7-GHz analog bandwidth. The DSP compensates for magnitude and phase in signals whose bandwidth falls between 7 GHz and 8 GHz, but you have the option of disabling the DSP.
The company has also announced the TDS6604B, a 6-GHz model that doesn't need the DSP. With this introduction, Tektronix will discontinue the TDS6604, a short-memory DSO.
To help you take advantage of the TDS6804B's wide bandwidth, Tektronix has introduced the P7380SMA, an 8-GHz active differential probe. With the new probe, you can measure differential signals on high-speed serial buses.
In addition to the wide bandwidth, both scopes feature a new trigger called Pinpoint Trigger. It lets you set two levels of triggering so you can differentiate between normal and abnormal conditions. You set two conditions, both of which must be satisfied before the scope will trigger. Both scopes sample at 20 Gsamples/s on all four channels with memory depths to 32 Msamples/channel.
Base prices: TDS6804B—$74,990; TDS6604B—$64,990. Tektronix says that both models will ship this summer. Tektronix , Beaverton, OR. 800-426-2200, request code 2000; www.tektronix.com .
