Pico Technology has added three 15 GHz models and a further 25 GHz model to its professional, portable and low-cost PicoScope 9300 series of sampling oscilloscopes.
The new 15 GHz models replace the preceding 9200 series 12 GHz models, with significantly upgraded specifications at even lower prices, with the result that all Pico sampling oscilloscopes now operate under the PicoSample 3 software. These instruments combine Pico’s cost-effective sampling technology with the convenience of USB and LAN control ports.
The 9301-15 gives the benefits of two channels at 15 GHz bandwidth and prescaled trigger to 14 GHz. It delivers a 16-bit sampling rate of 1 MSps in support of fast-update eye diagrams, persistent traces, histogramming and statistical analysis. Equivalent sampling rate tops out at 15 TSps – translating to a time resolution of just 64 fs – along with a long maximum trace length of up to 32 kilosamples.
At 15 GHz bandwidth, this entry-level sampling oscilloscope aligns with today’s popular gigabit data rates, as it will support third harmonic characterisation of serial data out to 10 Gbps and fifth harmonic out to 6 Gbps. Full touchscreen control, menus that configure to the application at hand, comprehensive PRBS pattern lock, and eye-line step and scan all serve to enable visualisation, measurement and characterisation of high-speed serial data. By moving up to the 930215 model, users can add clock recovery trigger out to 11,3 Gbps and RMS jitter typically down to 1,0 ps +1% of data interval.
The third of the new 15 GHz models addresses single-ended time domain transmission and time domain reflection measurements. Again, it’s a significant upgrade to the predecessor 9211 in cable, component, backplane and PCB impedance and transmission characterisations and network analysis. In this model, system transition time (65 ps) halves distance resolution and adjustable pulse width extends reflected fault detection range from around 4 mm typically out to 400 m.
At 20 GHz, the 9311-20 continues to support fully differential and deskewable TDR/TDT capability and all 9300 models can be paired with the PG900 standalone fast pulse generators to achieve similar TDR/TDT capability, for example on the four-channel and optical input models, or greater flexibility with any 9300 model. The 9300 family also pairs well with Pico’s low-invasive PicoConnect 900 passive probes, capable of browse probing out to 9 GHz or 18 Gbps, typically without interrupt of downstream function.
At 25 GHz, Pico has created the model 9302-25 to add 11,3 Gbps clock recovery to the higher bandwidth models. This bandwidth will support 5th harmonic assessments at data rates up to 10 Gbps and, assuming a clock or sub-clock is available, 16 Gbps at the 3rd harmonic.
