In this second in-depth blog posting, I’ll be looking at the boxes that have arrived. Peeling away the packaging, I’ll reveal what’s included inside this RoadTest bundle and comment on some of the key design features and key differences from what was promised and what you might expect if you were to buy the 2-series MSO on the market.
Box 1: The 2-PC
Let’s start with the smaller box. It is clearly printed with Tektronix’s branding on the outside in blue.
According to the label on the side, this is the “2-PC” accessory. This is short for “protective case” and is their soft option with a “2-HC” option that has a hard case for more ruggedised transport.
Opening up the top, we are greeted by a sheet of foam.
Under which, a grey laptop-style satchel bag is nestled with quite a bit of spacing from the edges by foam corners.
The underside is also protected by a sheet of foam, with its own part-number, no less. With this much foam and clearance, it is definitely well-packaged and unlikely to be damaged in transit. It is, also, a case that is being shipped, so I would expect the item itself to have some resilience.
Opening up the bag, we can see that the remainder of the included parts are placed inside the bag for shipment. The bag itself, while mostly grey outside, does have a teal-green lining with a subtle Tektronix patterning which is a nice touch. The design is also quite thoughtful, as there are two zippered pouches attached to the bag which provide ample space for a power adapter, cable and probes.
There is even a pocket in the rear for some flat items (e.g. paper) and it really does resemble a laptop bag in many ways. The Tektronix logo tags on the YKK zippers are an added touch.
The shoulder strap securely attaches to anchors either side with a metal clasp.
The underside has two feet for added grip, although it’s best to place this bag only on clean surfaces as it is a soft bag.
The inclusions inside the bag are a packing list, instructions, a kick-stand package and a rubber bumper surround.
The rubber bumper fits around the 2-series MSO to provide some shock resistance and protection against impact. It is designed in such a way to be quite a tight fit, but also not to obscure any ports. It has an integrated handle as part of the design, although I wonder about its long-term durability.
It seems the bumper is made from TPU plastic.
The kickstand is a grey plastic assembly and is provided with two screws. The screws are used to attach the kickstand to the top two VESA mounting holes of the MSO.
This part appears to be made of PC/ABS.
As a kickstand, the stand opens up to a fixed angle and is intended for use when mobile.
Box 2: The MSO24
The second box is similarly branded, but much larger. It is the “main event”.
According to the original RoadTest, I was expecting to receive an MSO22 2-BW-70, which would have been the two-channel, 70MHz version of the 2-series MSO. However, this box clearly indicates it’s a MSO24 2-BW-70, meaning that it is the four-channel model instead. This is a big positive, as I think most users will be more comfortable with four channels rather than two (e.g. for SPI decoding). Another deviation that you won’t find in retail is the inclusion of the 2-DDU option and the 2-P6139B option (which I will explain later).
Opening it up, we are greeted with a box on the top, as is customary.
This box contains the power supply, power cable, probes and documentation.
Underneath that, the 2-series MSO main unit is packaged inside its own plastic bag, suspended by foam ends.
Not knowing what to expect, I was impressed that the 2-series MSO arrives with a desk stand that makes it look and behave more like a bench-top unit, rather than just a tablet that is “floating around”. From the front, the 10.1” capacitive touch LCD takes up the majority of the front panel. Underneath are the BNC connections for the four channels – noting that they are just plain BNC connections and not the TekVPI or FlexChannel found in higher-end models. There is an Aux In input for external trigger, a probe compensation lug, pattern generator output and a multiplexed BNC with AFG/Aux Out functionality. Membrane buttons are on the right side with knobs neatly arranged and the power button is in the bottom right.
As the unit is physically limited in size, most of the I/O occurs on the right side of the unit. This includes the digital 16-channel probe interface, USB-device port (for remote control), Gigabit Ethernet port (for network features and remote control) and two USB-host ports (for keyboard, mouse and storage).
The opposite side deals only with power, having a Kycon KPJX-4S style socket for 24V/2.5A DC power input and a screw grounding point.
The design of the stand from the rear shows just how it is bent in such a way that it can be used at either vertical, or angled up, depending on which pair of VESA mount screws are used to install the oscilloscope. Apparently, the oscilloscope can also be installed upside down with the stand lying on its back for a total of three different angles.
Perhaps, most impressive is the material they’ve lined the bottom of the stand with. This is a sort of slightly sticky soft silicone rubber, similar to some mobile phone pads. This actually results in the stand sticking to the desk rather well, minimising its footprint while also ensuring it doesn’t slide about as one interacts with the oscilloscope. It’s a very smart design!
As this unit came from the USA, it comes with a US power cord for which I have substituted my own local cord instead. The power supply is rectangular and is similar to many laptop power supplies. It has a green LED indicator on the top.
It is OEMed by Delta Electronics and is a medical grade power supply.
It is terminated in a Kycon KPPX-4P style plug which has a captive feature that causes the plug to “click” into place, resisting inadvertent disconnection.
Paper documentation includes a number of packing lists, a factory installed license audit, an installation and safety manual, probe manual and an envelope containing calibration documents. Remember the 2-DDU option I mentioned earlier? Well, that appears to be a special time-limited license for distributor demonstration use. This license unlocks all of the options (as far as I know) but only for a limited time (in my case, just under a year), after which it expires and we are reverted back to just the 2-70BW license. In order for that to be well used, another option, the 2-P6139B option has been added as the unit ships by default with 200MHz probes and 500MHz probes are necessary to receive the full bandwidth available under the 2-DDU license.
According to the calibration report, the unit was calibrated 29th March 2023 and passed a traceable calibration at manufacturing.
It feels a little odd, receiving a total of eight probes for an oscilloscope with only four channels, but this is because the default TPP0200 are included with the MSO2x regardless of configuration.
There was a separate bag of probe accessories that appeared to be hand-packed.
The two probes look remarkably similar in terms of the probe-end. The main difference is the BNC-end where the 500MHz probe has a much chunkier connector that is quite weighty.
The 500MHz probe appears to have an extra ground contact pin on the circumference, but I’m not sure it actually engages with any grounding ring on the 2-series MSO. The 200MHz probe does not have this feature.
Unless you have purchased the 350MHz or 500MHz bandwidth, it seems the 200MHz probes that are supplied are likely to be sufficient.
Aside from the insulator colour, the probe ends are physically identical which is a benefit in case you have probe-holder accessories.
The tip is gold-plated and of moderate thickness.
The grabber tip also has a gold-plated end.
There is a ground clip wire for convenience, but spring ground connections are also provided.
Compared to other probes I have used, perhaps the biggest difference is the feel of the coaxial cable. These probes have a relatively thin coax, but one which is exceedingly flexible to the point that it almost wants to get tangled while on the bench. Other probes I’ve used tend to have coaxial cable that has a lot more memory and like to “spring” back to their old coiled form, making probe positioning quite a delicate task. Having not used Tektronix products for a while, this was a welcome finding!
Box 3: The 2-BP
The third box for this RoadTest would have contained a “2-BP” which is the battery pack option for the Tektronix 2-series MSO. This would consist of a plastic two-slot battery adapter that would secure onto the back of the MSO unit using four screws and would include a single battery pack. Additionally, a grounding cable is provided for safety when operating on battery, especially where any voltages above low-voltage are present.
Unfortunately, as this package contained a lithium-ion battery shipped separate from the equipment it was intending to power, this created a hazardous goods complication that meant that element14 were unable to ship the unit to me despite their best efforts. An alternate plan was hatched to have Tektronix provide me the 2-BP directly, but this plan was shelved after I was informed that they required me to have a billing account for shipping.
I was definitely looking forward to the battery pack, as this is one of the key differentiating features for the 2-series MSO in being able to operate off battery in the field. I was the one who initially requested that the RoadTest include this, so it is extremely regrettable that I was not able to have one in the end.
Conclusion
For this RoadTest, two well-packaged boxes with excellent internal clearance arrived safely after travelling half-way across the globe from USA to Australia. The boxes had blue Tektronix branding on the outside. The first box contained “2-PC”, short for “protective case” and comprises a custom grey satchel bag designed for use with the 2-series MSO, a protective rubber bumper and a plastic kickstand.
The satchel bag, while very grey on the outside, has a lovely teal green insert. The interior design shows good thought with two zipped pockets large enough to contain the power adapter, power cable and probes. A separate flat pocket is provided on the outside for flat items (e.g. paper). The Tektronix branding features heavily throughout, including on tags attached to the YKK zippers. The strap is sturdy and attaches to the bag using metal clasps.
The rubber bumper is a tight fit, made of TPU and designed such that it will not obstruct any ports while fitted. It has an integrated handle. The kickstand is made of PC/ABS and attaches using screws to two of the VESA mount holes. It opens up to a single fixed angle, intended for use while mobile.
The second box contained the Tektronix 2-series MSO itself. Contrary to expectation, instead of a MSO22 (two-channel) unit with 2-BW-70 (70MHz bandwidth), I received an MSO24 (four-channel) unit with 2-BW-70, 2-DDU (time-limited distributor demo license) and 2-P6139B (500MHz Probe x 4). This was a welcome addition that added more features to the RoadTest review.
The unit definitely surprised, as it is rather cute-looking and a little on the small side. I did not expect it to come with a desk stand made of metal with Tektronix blue on the handle, one which allows for the use of the oscilloscope in up to three angles.
The 10.1” LCD takes up most of the front, with connections for the channels, aux in, probe compensation, pattern generator, AFG/aux out occupying the bottom. Buttons and knobs are on the right of the screen, with all buttons being of a membrane type. The soft power button is on the bottom right.
Connectivity is handled on the right side, with connections for a 16-digital channel probe, USB-device port, gigabit Ethernet port and two USB-host ports.
The left-side handles power input and grounding, while the rear features a VESA standard mount. The power is supplied from a laptop-style medical grade power supply OEMed by Delta Electronics, providing 24V 2.5A DC into a Kycon KPPX-4P style plug that has a captive feature, preventing unintentional disconnection.
Despite its small size, the desk stand actually does an excellent job, using a patch of sticky silicone rubber as a secret weapon to maintain good grip on the desk so as not to slide around while in use. A very clever design indeed. Some paperwork was provided, including packing lists, license audit, safety manual, probe manual and calibration certificate.
By default, the TPP0200 200MHz probes are provided. If ordering 350MHz or 500MHz options, then ordering the P6139B probes are necessary in order to achieve full bandwidth performance. The working end of both probes is virtually identical.
But the BNC end differs, with the P6139B being rather chunky and weighty. Other probe accessories including coloured rings, adjustment tool and spring ground was supplied in a separate bag.
The coax used by the probes is a delight, being relatively thin and super-flexible to the point of wanting to tangle on the bench. Other probes I have used tend to have coax that has shape memory, making them spring back into the coil shape they once were which complicates probe positioning.
Unfortunately despite best efforts by all parties involved, due to shipping difficulties with lithium-ion batteries, the “2-BP” package was not able to be shipped to me for this RoadTest and as a result, I am unable to evaluate the 2-series MSO on battery.
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This blog is a part of the Tektronix 2-series MSO RoadTest Review.