Here's Something to CRO About!
I've taken delivery of a brand new Tektronix TBS1052-EDU and it is markedly different to its forebear the TBS1062.
They're pretty much the same overall size but with some subtle and not so subtle differences.
Both have 300V CAT II rated inputs. The back panels are the same apart from self adhesive model and serial number stickers. Even the moulded parameters are identical. Each with an IEC power connector on the right hand side, B A-type connector in the centre and a security lock point on the left hand side.
The top views are almost identical except that the TBS1052-EDU has a flat chamfered edge.
Underneath is identical each with swing out legs.
The most noticeable differences the TBS1052B-EDU are on the Front panel. It has are the larger 7" wide aspect screen and the different control layout.
A nice friendly "Enabling Teaching" label underneath the LCD. The USB Flash Drive connector caption has been replaced with a USB symbol.
The larger screen has compressed the button and know layout to look similar to the MSO2000 series DSOs.
The top left rotary knob has been upgraded to a multipurpose knob with inbuilt push select button.
On the right, the trigger options have changed. The Set to 50% button and Trig View buttons are absent (but not necessarily missed).
The Set to Zero Horizontal Position button has been removed.
The Probe Comp terminals have been shifted to the bottom right hand corner.
The pink Math button and white Ref buttons have been moved, had their annotations slightly changed and is now accompanied with a yellow FFT.
The Print button has been replaced with a Save (floppy disk icon - go figure?) button.
The Probe Check button has been replaced with a Menu On/Off button.
The buttons across the top rows have been increased in size.
The Autorange and AutoSet buttons have been combined into a single Autoset/Autorange button.
The Acquire button have been replaced with Zoom, Course and Function buttons.
Both operate from different firmware.
To make it more obvious to the students each channel and its controls are colour coded for easier correlation. Just like what they did with IBM PC connectors to make life slightly easier.
For those who want to purchase an oscilloscope please be aware that the selection of bandwidth is determined by the slew/transition rate (dv/dt) to be observed and not a square wave clock frequency.
An oscilloscope's bandwidth is usually determined by its analog input performance and not its sampling rate alone.
This explains why you get families of oscilloscopes with differing input bandwidths with identical sampling rates. The expense is with the input circuitry.
For the TBS1000B family the 50MHz and 70MHz models have 1GS/s rate and 100MHz, 150MHz and 200MHz have a 2GS/s rate.
The 20MHz difference between 50MHz and 70MHz increases the list price by $340. The price differences between the 70MHz, 100MHz, 150MHz and 200MHz models is $300.
Modern microcontrollers and logic families slew/transition rates are very fast and require high bandwidth equipment for accurate signal observation. Five times the bandwidth of the slew/transition rate has been used as a general guide. (Rule of Thumb? - Tom Thumb?)
Notice that I did not use the term digital signals because there's no such thing. All signals are analog signals some just happen to be used to convey digital information by interpretation.
When dealing with fast signals ensure that signal loop area is kept to a minimum.
This can be done by using probe ground springs if a suitable grounding point is close. This will give you a much better signal display and stop unwanted artefacts and distortions from being displayed.