Agilent DSOX soon with integrated multimeter and 1GHz option - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: termi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 03:41:48 am
content: I was just browsing the Agilent website and saw the the data sheet of the InfiniiVision 2000 series mentions an Integrated Digital Voltmeter option (DSOXDVM) and a 1 GHz option for the 3000 series.http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-6618EN.pdfHas anyone more information about this? Not that I could afford a 1 GHz scope...Edit: Note also the typos in the data sheet. I guess the marketing person was asleep when he/she uploaded this.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 03:46:10 am
content: So much for NDA's...Dave.

author: benemorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:35:15 am
content: Fascinating. Does anyone (that is, anyone who isn't legally bound to secrecy) know whether either of these licence keys is present in the current firmware? From my recollection the answer is no on both counts, but I should very much like to be proven wrong.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:41:06 am
content: Here is link to free awg and dvm option on both the 2000 and 3000 models on new purchase thru aug and good for all countries.http://www.home.agilent.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/5866PFS.pdfI think you saw the 7000 blurb in the 2000 specs that goes to 1Ghz. As far as I can tell the 3000 still stops at 500Mhz.

author: termi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:51:52 am
content: @robrenz: I don't think the 1 GHz was referring the 7000 series. It's pretty clearly in the 3000 column, they even mention that the 1 GHz model has an increased sample rate of 5 GSa/s.Edit: Thanks!

author: benemorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:55:58 am
content: The 1GHz analog bandwidth with 5GSa/s is clearly meant for the 3000x series:

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 05:56:35 am
content: "Three digit voltmeter"I'll just look at the graticule, thanks

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 08:09:07 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on February 25, 2012, 04:41:06 amThat's a good deal with the AWG for free.Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 08:57:26 am
content: Three digits for the DMM sounds what one can reasonable expect from the ADC in the oscilloscope. The DMM isn't very "multi", AC voltage, DC voltage and frequency, but this is also what one can expect from the input stage of an oscilloscope, which likely wasn't designed with multimeter features in mind. The claim "An industry first" is of course exaggerated. There have been oscilloscopes with multimeters before. Of course it all depends on how narrow one defines "industry".

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 09:40:53 am
content: 7-seg display for the DVM is pretty lame - you have a high-res display so why make it look like a crappy LCD?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 10:17:06 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 25, 2012, 09:40:53 amI rather like itDave.

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 11:00:47 am
content: Me too, I like the feel of it which match the look of an actual DVM display.Oh man that deal on the free AWG is tempting me badly, but I just bleed out 200k TWD (That's about 6.6K USD) for my grandparent's home nursing costs. Getting a 3000X would eat up all my remaining savings since working my first job out of uni last year.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:19:10 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 25, 2012, 09:40:53 amI agree, but, it matches how lame a 256 (or maybe 512 if you dither and are lucky) count meter is. I can barely see anyone using it if it were free so I don't see anyone is likely to pay for it. The scope hardware already has a frequency counter, maybe the DVM option makes it accessible on the 2000s.The 1GHz/5GSa/s option is more interesting. Is it new hardware? Was the 350/500MHz front end designed for 1GHz? Is the ASIC/RAM currently underclocked?

author: Baliszoft
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:21:57 pm
content: Bah! Just got an msox 2k!

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 04:42:23 pm
content: My experience with scopes is, admittedly, non-existent, but I thought scopes already showed the voltage of the incoming signal.

author: WBB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 05:01:52 pm
content: An even better deal... If anyone is going to drop $20k on their 9000 series, I'll gladly take the complimentary 3000 series off your hands! Hell, I'll even pay the postage!Seriously though, tossing in the over priced wavegen does make the pricing a little easier to swallow. Not that the scope was a bad deal before, but it is even better now.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 05:05:29 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 25, 2012, 09:40:53 amTotally agree.1. Pretty messy implementation too, in my opinion. Everything's cramped into one tiny box, and things are touching the borders. There are plenty of space to the left you know ...2. Wasted the right-hand section with the huge-ass 7-segment display. Save the space for something more important, say more measurements, or display other settings.As for the functionality, perhaps the decoupling of measurements from the triggering system is something worth to have, but I'm not that experienced enough to understand the usage.Anyway, it's nice to see they are continuing to innovate.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 06:17:19 pm
content: Of course even a mediocre DSO has some 20 or more build-in measurement functions, and often two frequency counters (one via the trigger circuit, typically reasonable accurate, and one in software, by analyzing the sample data, just like the other measurement functions).Agilent is targeting the educational market with this multimeter. And probably those who would like a simpler way to access measurement data or can't handle an oscilloscope. It could also be because some (handheld) oscilloscopes come with bolted-on multimeters. And someone at Agilent added "multimeter" to the "should have" feature list.If that is a clever idea by Agilent marketing? It depends how many suckers they find for the feature. I think, like with the wave gen license, they are missing the mark. And the whole idea of selling features piecemeal is archaic.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 08:10:16 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on February 25, 2012, 06:17:19 pmAt least the wavegen is useful. It provides a genuinely useful feature, they double up on their hardware use since the same DDS does the training signals, and the triggering gives a slight advantage to having it integrated into the scope. The only problem with the wavegen is that it is expensive compared to a Chinese unit and lacking features compared to an Agilent stand alone wavegen. For most of the time since release the wavegen license has been free to educational customers (at least). Now I think they should cut the price in half or more for everybody, but I understand why they don't want to do that.The DVM on the other hand seems like it has only has the most theoretical advantage over just reading the value off the normal measurement screen. As near as I can tell the DVM uses the same AFE and ADC as the scope, but it doesn't use the same triggering circuit. This means that you should get a true DC or RMS even if your capture buffer isn't an integer number of cycles. If the scale and offset are set wrong you will still have meaningless results due to clipping and resolution limits. Even if it used an independent 20,000 count autoranging DVM I can't really see the motivation for a DVM that shares its input jack with a scope, but at least there it has a shot of being useful to someone.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 08:52:04 pm
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on February 25, 2012, 08:10:16 pmIf I understand the leaflet correctly it is auto-ranging.QuoteI also don't see it, but if they target education "one less instrument on the bench", they might find some suckers. However, maybe they plan to give it away for education

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 25, 2012, 09:07:37 pm
content: My guess is that they will give it to education customers for free. I can't imagine someone paying Agilent prices for a DMM inferior to those $50 cheapies, with even less resolution and accuracy, without current or resistance ranges, and with one side grounded.Scopes with integrated DMMs were common back when field service techs often carried scopes and DMMs were bench-size instruments (eg. Fluke 8000A). These DMMs usually used separate inputs and had more features.

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 01:39:06 am
content: Quote from: alm on February 25, 2012, 09:07:37 pmThe Tek 2236, now THAT is how to integrate a DMM/counter into your oscilloscope!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 01:46:49 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on February 25, 2012, 06:17:19 pmThe DVM feature is so primitive it does seem silly to actually charge for as an option, rather than simply include in the next firmware release as a nice bonus.Butthat'swhere marketing steps in, as it's another feature they can advertise (because it is still quite novel, the "always live" part). And even if they don't ever suck anyone into actually paying for it, it's a good marketing tool as people like the idea of seemingly getting something for nothing "Oh, look, I get the DVM option for FREE! This month ONLY too, I'd better buy this month..."Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 01:48:51 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on February 25, 2012, 06:17:19 pmAnd the more modern and better option for a business like them is...?Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 10:00:08 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 26, 2012, 01:48:51 amAll-inclusive.To develop a feature like the DMM of course costs money, and I am all for getting paid for the work put in. But then marketing goes out and gives (education) licenses away for free, because they think it makes sense. Typically in a company marketing can't do that for free, but has to pay internally for each license given away. The money for such free licenses typically comes out of the marketing budget. So a company starts to internally shift "funny money" around, from the marketing budget to the license-sold account. "Funny money", because in the end all the money really comes from are the customers. I.e. other customers of the same and other products have to pay for this "free" licenses.Shifting "funny money" around typically incurs administrative overhead, the cost of which is typically not explicitly specified. It complicates the internal structure of a company, makes things slower and keeps accountants busy.Administering and providing the licenses (free or otherwise) requires an infrastructure that doesn't come for free, too. This eats into the profit, too.All-inclusive also streamlines the order process, stock keeping, etc. It reduces the number of annoyed customers who's orders got screwed up. It reduces the load on support, who don't have to deal with broken licenses, or customers failing to activate them.Not selling piecemeal also means less annoyed customers. Selling piecemeal is kind of a vicious cycle, you annoy customers, so you need to spend more on marketing, which in turn happens to give licenses away for free, to make customers happy again.And now, it you have such a low-volume product, does it make sense to have all this overhead? Wouldn't it make more sense to just budget such a feature as part of the overall cost of the instrument, at a fraction of what the company has to ask for a separate license? While in the end not making much money from the licenses?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 10:33:15 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on February 26, 2012, 10:00:08 amSo you think Agilent should just sell three scopes.A 200MHz 2000X with the works, and a 200MHz and 1GHz 3000X with the works?Or heck, screw the extra 200MHz model and just have the 200MHz 2000X and 1GHz 3000X? (the two essentially different hardware platforms)What would they price those at?How much market share would they lose at the low end if they priced it high, or mid range?How much high end market share and profit would they lose if they slaughtered the scope market and sold a 200MHz 2000X with function gen, logic analyser, serial analyser etc and all the options for $1200 base price?The reason companies like Agilent don't do the all-inclusive, all you can eat model is because it would be cutting their own throat.As a consumer I'm all for getting more scope for less money, but I don't think it's practical for a company like Agilent to do this.The options give increased profit margin (and marketability) on high end products, and potentially allow a company to sell base model products at lower margins and still stay afloat.If they sold everything at low margin they'll likely go out of business. And you can argue it's the profit they have made on the high optioned high margin products that has allowed them the R&D funding to develop the technology that we are enjoying by getting more bang-per-buck in our scopes these days.If you want a race to the bottom, you'll ultimately end up with lesser quality products designed and built down to a price. They market would ultimately lose.Dave.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 11:13:04 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 26, 2012, 10:33:15 amYou can not only argue it, but it is essentially fact. Without the ability to segment the market through licensing options, Agilent would be left contracting out to Rigol for their lowest model scopes and selling them with a $400 markup. Options are a way to push high end features into the low end product range. If anyone is getting screwed it is the high end customers who are paying a huge margin on features like 10 different serial decode licenses that cost very little to develop. Of course except for the small cost of developing the licensing structure they would still have to pay the same margin to cover the development costs of the base unit, so they aren't really getting screwed.Now I would be super happy if we could come up with some sort of socialist system whereby the R&D costs were subsidized in some way, and then everyone could buy the model with all the bells and whistles for the base price. Let me know when you figure out a good way to do that.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2012, 11:53:23 am
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on February 26, 2012, 11:13:04 amYes, and I think it's ultimately the only way to keep the most number and widest range of customers happy, whilst remaining a profitable business.The low end customers probably get the best deal because they are getting some of the new advanced technology at affordable prices, sometimes at almost unsustainable (on their own) although not loss-leading prices. The medium end customers pay a bit more for some extra features they want, so are generally fairly happy. And as you say, the higher end customers get screwed the most, but Agilent know they don't care too much about price at that point anyway, and they get the fat margins on those to pay for all the new R&D. It's a nice balance all-round, but the trick is getting the balance right.Take the example of Eagle for getting the mix wrong, so wrong that it makes the middle options fairly pointless.And take a look at Altium for what happens when the "all you can eat" system goes wrong. They got so carried away at one point trying to maximise profit margin, that the only usable package was $12K or so, just to lay out a 555 PCB to flash a LED.They had to settle into the middle ground of pricing (now $5K) just to stay in the market. But the price is still too high for hobbyists and most one-man-bands, and many small companies, so they lose all those customers they once had when customers enjoyed their system of paying for just what you wanted.And it's one of the main reasons why the company is going down the toilet and the policy is much loathed by the loyal users. Most are getting screwed because they know they are being forced to pay for all of the features that they don't use, and they are having a hard time attracting the low end any more, so there they sit on this tight-rope of a single priced product, struggling to get enough R&D income for all the new features they have promised, marketing have no options to sell to entice new people in, and many people simply go elsewhere because they don't get the sense that they can buy just what they want.As a customer, you either sit in that one sweet spot they are covering, or you leave.I think it's much harder to run a company like that than it is to offer the traditional tiered pricing options.The one problem with options is that it does show up what parts are selling and what's not.For example, if it was really hard to develop the FlexRay serial decode function, and very few people bought it, then it's hard to justify keeping it and refining in the future. Although for a scope, that essentially a write-once and done type thing.In the case of software like Altium, the stuff needs continual upgrading and resources and support. If you spend all this money developing something and only a few percent buy it as a option, then it is really obvious to everyone where the R&D money is best spent. That's great for the product and company of course, but not so great if your company vision relies on it pushing that stuff. You have to be the type of company that is willing to say "that's stuff isn't selling, so we'll drop it."Dave.

author: chscholz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 04:01:59 pm
content: How about the accuracy of the "DMM", will this be the same as for the scope?The DC accuracy of the Agilent scope is spec'ed at"±DC vertical gain accuracy + DC vertical offset accuracy + 0.25% full scale"where the "DC vertical gain accuracy" is ±3% full scale (? 10 mV/div); ±4% full scale (< 10 mV/div)In the fine-print we also learn that the" 1 mV/div and 2 mV/div is a magnification of 4 mV/div setting. For vertical accuracy calculations, use full scale of 32 mV for 1 mV/div and 2 mV/div sensitivity setting."How useful would a "DMM" be with worse than ±3% accuracy at best?If this is targeted to educational users, like some suggested, are the folks at Universities really so naive to not pick up on that?Quote from: bongiovi on February 25, 2012, 05:05:29 pm

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 04:44:46 pm
content: I don't see it as any different than buying an automobile. You get the base model, and you can pay for extra options. You might argue that it's different because the scope options are simply software switches, but these days it's the same on autos. I know that many of the extra options on my truck were merely software... traction control options, satellite radio, etc.I'm with Dave. The option system brings much higher quality scopes to the low end customers like myself. If the 3000 were an all in or nothing, I'd never be able to afford it.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2012, 04:51:11 pm
content: QuotePerfectly fine for education, which is where they are clearly targetting it

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 03:48:58 pm
content: 1Ghz model pricing herehttp://www.agilent.aspen-electronics.com/oscilloscopes

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 04:06:10 pm
content: DVM option info:http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/product.jspx?nid=-35491.1006791&cc=US&lc=eng

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 04:36:34 pm
content: I can't believe they're expecting anyone to pay $75 for the DVM option :http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70228414

author: tekfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 05:25:08 pm
content: Quote from: grenert on February 26, 2012, 01:39:06 amYes. That's IMO one of the best field service scopes you can buy. It is actually a hardware 4 3/4 digit multimeter with DC volts AC tRMS volts, resistance (goes up to 2 Gohm), diode test, continuity beeper, temperature mode, all fully floating. Beat that Agilent!And of course with a push of a button it can be coupled to the CH1 input. With a push of another button it can read frequency of CH1, CH2, line or external trigger source. The counter is a reciprocal type so you get full 8 digit resolution even at very low frequency. Then it can measure period, delay time, pulse width (on or off time), totalize function for capturing number of events, delta time and much more. There is also an option for a high stability TCXO for even greater frequency accuracy.All this in the mid 80's!

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 05:39:00 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 29, 2012, 04:36:34 pmI can't believe anyone will buy it, however, the more expensive it is the larger the notional perk when it is given away.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 10:21:57 pm
content: Quote from: chscholz on February 27, 2012, 04:01:59 pmIt's handy to anyone who checks voltages while probing around their circuit with the scope, and I bet every one of us has done that at some stage, surely?Saves having to switch over to the multimeter leads to check a rail for example. Given that it's "always on" you don't have to dick around with ground levels, triggers, sampling etc, it "just works".I wouldn't pay $75 for it, but I can see it being a useful feature.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 10:35:03 pm
content: Now that the embargo date is over I can say the basic 2CH 1GHz 3000X scope is priced at $9950, (4CH at $13,000)The DVM is $75 as you know.I still do not know for sure if existing units in the field actually have this analog bandwidth and can be software upgraded, but I think this is the case, as the DSOX3BW12 option takes you from 500MHz to 1GHz for $2340There is also a free version of the Waveform Builder software for the sig genhttp://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/product.jspx?cc=AU&lc=eng&ckey=1962285&nid=-536902257.977229.00&id=1962285&cmpid=zzfind33503New firmware will also have USB keyboard support, a customised splash screen, and network printing.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 29, 2012, 10:57:11 pm
content: I just realised the 3000X has a service manual:http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/75019-97039.pdf(no schematics though)Dave.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 12:26:03 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 29, 2012, 10:35:03 pmIn the 2012 data sheet DSOX3BW12 and DSOX3BW14 (which ignoring a mistake in the data sheet is for 4 channels I assume) are listed as Service Center upgrades.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 12:39:36 am
content: Quote from: robrenz on February 25, 2012, 04:41:06 amThanks!!! I was just about to order a 3000X and am glad I didn't yet as that promo starts tomorrow.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 12:55:28 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on March 01, 2012, 12:26:03 amAh, so it does.http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-6619EN.pdfI'll have to find out exactly what that entails, whether it's a whole board swap, or just some tweak...Mine is going to be booked in for an upgradeDave.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 03:01:44 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 01, 2012, 12:55:28 amI assume as a freebie because it is a high price for what seems to be a dubious 1GHz. It doesn't do RIS does it so 2.5 samples per division at the fastest timebase (single shot on 2 channels at most)? You don't get better probes either.The 1GHz LeCroy WaveSurfer at around the same price has faster rise time, more memory, twice the sample rate and RIS.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 03:23:09 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on March 01, 2012, 03:01:44 amYes, freebie. They are supposed to be sending me a 1GHz active probe too.It's 5GS/s for 1GHz bandwidth, that's enough for one channel because it does sinx/x interpolation. Not sure if that drops in half for two channels, presumably does. But with 4 channel units you can use channels 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 to keep the sample rate up.QuoteYou sure the 1GHz Wavesurfer is the same base price or $10K?Dave.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 06:05:32 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 01, 2012, 03:23:09 amI was going on the prices Mike linked herehttp://www.agilent.aspen-electronics.com/oscilloscopeswhere I thought earlier today I saw over £10000 for the 4 channel MSO. Now the 2 and 4 channel MSOs both show £8400 which is less than the 4 channel DSO. Assuming that £8400 is for the 2 channel MSO the MSO additional is £1688 and adding that to the 4 channel DSO price of £8771 gives £10459.I have seen the Lecroy 104MXs-B for £10675, maybe I am confused and the M in that doesn't indicate MSO, however, it has a 10" SVGA screen, 300ps rise time, 5Gsa/s and 12.5Mpts on 4 channels or 10 and 25 interleaved on 2 channels and 50Gsa/s RIS.Agilent want about £1700 to kinda nearly double the front end bandwidth (and overclock the the ADC and ASIC a bit) of the 500MHz scope (which already seems expensive) how much would they want double the acquisition system rate and triple the memory?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 07:21:14 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on March 01, 2012, 06:05:32 amThey may not be "overclocking", the new ASIC and ADC's could have been designed from the start to work at 5GS/sThey recoup their R&D and profit through these high priced high end options.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 08:24:27 am
content: *groan*Dave.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 09:35:36 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 01, 2012, 07:21:14 amProbably just being cautious and waiting til they had enough silicon through the fab to be confident that it could reliably do 1GHz with enough yield.Maybe also waiting to clear stock of older 1GHz models...?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 10:18:50 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 01, 2012, 09:35:36 amI know they held back on some features because there simply was no competition at the time, they knew they were already going to blitz the market, so decided to keep a few things in reserve. Like the unused serial button on the 2000X series is still there. They can at any time decide to include that as an option if driven to by market forces.Holding back on some things also helps get the initial product to market faster I guess, and the 1GHz at low cost could very well be a yield confidence thing as you say. But it will be interesting to find out exactly why the unit has to go back for the 500MHz to 1GHz upgrade.From the marketing it seems clear that this 1GHz upgrade is aimed at beating Tek in the low cost 1GHz space (4000 series), and the DVM is pure marketing to give them a "5 instruments in 1" boast.All up, it's been a very clever and well thought out engineering and marketing exercise, maybe with more surprises to come?Dave.

author: wsmith
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 01, 2012, 10:24:17 am
content: For those who have played with the DVM option, I would be curious to know what sort of readings you get with no probe connected to the scope?