Hi John,

I spent a lot of time building integrated testing gear for various projects.

The power of doing end to end testing on the bench makes life a whole lot better in finding and eliminating "bugs".

The ability to control the signal environment and then measure time correlated outputs based upon the inputs is invaluable.

One thing I have been suggesting to manufacturers is the ability to have the device "speak" to the user so that you can walk through a system and trace data, both analog and digital without having to pause and look up at the measurement device.

This capability would be great for everyone and especially useful to disabled engineers like myself.

DAB

Hi DAB,

I really like this idea, it has great global appeal and I think it ties in with the ever changing ways we interact with technology. W're all aware of how we are moving from "click and type" interfaces to "swipe and pinch". Visual, Audio and Oral interfacing is probably another natural progression here. However I think it will be an evolutionary change, rather than revolutionary.

We actually did this product before (about 10years ago) and called it VocalLink. It was before my time but from speaking to some engineers in Tek it was a popular tool with those who used it. Unfortunately we have not carried support for this feature into our newer generations of scopes. I'm trying to dig out a copy of it from the bowels of Tektronix to if it was coded to be model specific or if it will work on newer models. I'm curious to see this tool in action.

If I can get it working I'll let you know how I get on!

Either way I captured your feedback into our own internal tracking tools for future upgrades.

John

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As well as improvements in the box itself we also being making some head way with the probes. For years now most scopes on the market are supplied with high impedance, x10, passive probes with bandwidths up to 500MHz. These probes would typically have tip capacitance specifications of around 9-12pF. Customers have always felt a little cheated with they order their nice new 1GHz scope only to discover that it is effetely only 500MHz because of the limitation of the probes shipped with them. If you wanted higher bandwidth to match scope, or if you where using logic such as ECL which could be sensitive to capacitive loading, you'd have to fork our more money for an active probe. and to be honest active probes aren't cheap. They're in around $1000 each for a 1GHz probe. Along with introducing a new class of oscilloscope with the MDO series Tektronix also make a breakthrough the performance of passive probes with the introduction of the TPP series probes. These probes offer up to 1GHz bandwidth, <4pF tip capacitance and come as standard with all MDO3000, MDO4000 and MSO5000 scopes from Tektronix. Other features include automatic probe recognition and AC calibration with a custom ASIC.

All of these features add up to ensure that the probe has a minimal effect on the signal under test, showing you what's truly going on in your circuit.

For more information on how probing effects your device check out this short blog I have written.

Regards

J

Hi John

You are right.  There is no sense owning a good testing device if you are using less then stellar probes.

Especially with oscilloscopes.  If there is a probe issue, then everything you can learn about a signal is skewed and probably in error.

It goes with the theme where good tools yields good results.

DAB

Hi John,

I totally love DAB's idea about the speaking instruments, that would be a winner if it was properly implemented. Chances are, it's possible to add that feature in software alone.

One thing that was probably on everyone's mind at one point or another, but is not that popular with manufacturers, is instrument extensibility through custom plugins. Offering the user a way to tap into the firmware via hardware plugins that define their own constraints and can add or modify signals, change the UI, redefine functionality, etc., would make for an epic line of scopes. If this feature would be well designed and flexible enough, it would encourage the development of tons of third party and DIY plugins and with that, increase the desirability of those scopes.

Sure, the only incentive that manufacturers could offer for an upgrade, would be a new device with better specs, which means a different business model, but one where customers wouldn't feel like they're getting ripped off just to get that extra feature they need + some eye candy that was added in the new model. In the long run people might even chose to stick with the same manufacturer just because they already have lots of plugins for that specific line of scopes.

About bench in a box... I think the MDO3000 series is a great MSO and I couldn't come up with anything else it needs. When it comes to scopes, the majority of people care only about the timing relationship between things and the various measurements they can make on the signals they're watching, so that's pretty much covered and the only thing that can be done to improve it is to make it a MDO4000

Razvan

Right now if I could use one word to describe the oscilloscope side of the current breed of Tek scopes it would be "polished".   Tek has been in the scope business for a long time and has really got it down to a science by now.  However, in the Spectrum analyzer business, they have a lot of catching up to do.

I can understand how everyone wants the MDO3000 to be as good as an MDO4000, I am probably near the top of that list.  But with such a diversified product line, I also understand the need to have differentiating features.  If they put all the MDO4000 functionality into the MDO3000, would anyone honestly be willing to pay double the price for a 1.5" larger screen and a little better DANL?

I think as far as the RF side of the Spectrum Analyzer goes, the biggest not so hard to add features that would make it better on the MDO3000:

1. True Quasi-Peak detector

2. Multiple switchable amplitude units (ie dBuV as well as dBm) - From what I can see the menu is already there for this, but the only choice is dBm

3. Better integration of frequency specific correction factors for nonlinear cable/adapter losses

4. Ability to enter a PreAmp gain factor so the analyzer will display the correct value and lower the DANL appropriately when an external (non tekvpi) preamp is connected

On the MDO4000 the biggest missing feature besides the above that keep it from being taken very seriously as a spectrum analyzer at its price point is the lack of a Tracking Generator.

Another nice feature would be an integrated broadband preamp option (I see they have a little 9db unit that plugs into the TekVPI which I have never used, I primarily use a HP 8447F H64 which is about 25db from 9khz to 1.3Ghz to improve the sensitivity/DANL on the MDO3000.

I did kind of like the older blue UI, still not sure how I feel about the black theme on the MDO3000.

The MDO3000 DVM option was really poorly done in my opinion.  If it wasn't free with registration, I probably would have complained more.  This is probably because I am spoiled and know what it is and to have used a *REAL* integrated DMM in a Tektronix oscilloscope.  lt's old enough, that most people don't even remember it.  It was in the old THS700 series.  It was a true dmm that had banana jack FLOATING ISOLATED inputs, and did ohms, diode check, audible continuity, ACV, DCV, datalogging, etc.  It was a really cool feature that was lost after this series.  The main problem with the MDO3000's DMM is it has all the same limitations of the oscilloscope probe with regard to common mode voltage input, grounding, etc.  It really doesn't do anything I can't do with the "add measurement" button other than maybe a larger font.  It can not replace a DVM, unless you put a P5200 high voltage differential probe on the input, and then it only does voltage.  No resistance or other measurements are supported.  An integrated true DMM with isolated differential inputs would definitely be a good addition to this mid range MDO3000.  Should it replace a 12 digit benchtop meter, no... But considering Tek's relationship with Fluke now, this feature should be easier and better than ever to add to this product line.