Portable scopes keep up with designs

Agilent's new 6000 series of portable oscilloscopes includes 12 models with bandwidths of 300 MHz, 500 MHz, or 1 GHz. The base model is a two-channel 300-MHz unit ($5595); at the top of the line is a 1-GHz scope with four analog channels and 16 logic inputs ($16,995). For each of the three bandwidths, customers can choose either two or four channels with or without logic inputs.

The 6000 series is designed for engineers who test embedded systems, and the 1-GHz model is capable of displaying an embedded device's output, which often is a LAN or other serial data stream. Because the high-definition color screen (1000x720 waveform display) lets you see signals with 256 color levels, you can use the scope to find intermittent signals. An update rate of 100,000 waveforms/s lets you see fast changes in signals. All models come with LAN, IEEE 488, and USB ports, including a front USB port for inserting a USB flash drive. All models also come with 1 Msamples of waveform memory with 8 Msamples optional.

Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA. www.agilent.com/find/scope_new.