Agilent MSOX4000 vs R&S RTO - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: hithesh123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 03:31:49 pm
content: I am trying to decide between Agilent MSOX4104 and R&S RTO1014I tried both for a few hours. Both seem good. I can't decide between the two.My application is the usual - debugging embedded systems, some signal integrity analysis, maybe data analysis etc.

author: Lukas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 04:40:12 pm
content: Quote from: hithesh123 on October 09, 2013, 03:31:49 pmDid you try the touchscreen? I've had the change to play with both on a trade show: The MSOX4000 has a nice capacitive touchscreen as we know them from smartphones and tablets. It responds almost immediately. The RTO, on the other hand has a resistive touch screen that is horrible to use without a stylus.

author: hithesh123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 06:30:10 pm
content: The touchscreen is not that great on the R&S.What do you think about the FFT feature on both the scopes.I luv how the R&S has time and voltage listed for each graticule division.

author: hithesh123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 07:26:00 pm
content: Also, sampling rate on the Agilent is 5Gsps on half channel and 2.5Gsps on each channel. No idea what half channel means.On the R&S it is 10Gsps on each channel.The memory depth on Agilent is 4Megapoints.On the R&S it is 20Megaponits per channelIf I have four 1GHz signals running into all the 4 channels on the Agilent, the sampling rate is just 2.5Gsps. Just over the Nyquist rate.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 09:11:42 pm
content: Quote from: hithesh123 on October 09, 2013, 07:26:00 pmIt's Agilent's confusing terminology to describe the sampling limits on each pair of inputs. Each input pair (1&2, 3&4) shares a common acquisition engine capable of 5Gsps. If you have only one input on in the pair, for example 1 on and 2 off, you get 5Gsps. If you have both on you get 2.5Gsps.The 3000X series behaves the same way.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 09:29:01 pm
content: I prefer the MSOX4000 because it has:-built in dual function generator-separate vertical control knobs for each channel. It is a must for me.-probably better screen?-this scope seems to be easy to use. While the Rohde&Schwarz looks confusing to me.(On the other hand, R&S RTO has true 1mV/div and maybe it has a metal case. And it is manufactured in Europe.)

author: lgbeno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 09:38:31 pm
content: I've used the RTO quite a bit. I would say that the touch screen is a little restrictive but found it adequate. You can do most functions with the front panel interface as well. In the end I plugged a mouse into the USB port and it was great. It's just my opinion by touch scopes are still a novelty.The window management system on the RTO is awesome and is all accelerated in the ASIC not windows so it is faster.I think strictly analog from end performance for the RTO is top notch as well and the FFT is very fast.I don't have experience with the Agilent (if that's what you want to call them), just know that you won't be disappointed with the RTO.

author: lgbeno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 09:43:58 pm
content: https://github.com/lgbeno/BLDC-Booster/tree/master/DOC/Scope%20TraceHere are some example scope traces that I took with the RTO.

author: hithesh123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2013, 01:54:37 pm
content: Thanks, lgbeno.A question on the RTO1014 - how to I scroll through the waveform?Here's what I am trying to do -When I try to do, either the grid moves or the trigger point moves.In my waveform I have a 8-bit serial burst occurring every 50mS.I can expand the timescale for the waveform that is triggered at 0sec. But if try to move the burst that occurs at 100ms to the center of the grid and expand the time, I just can’t do it. The grid itself moves.

author: ben_r_
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 08:16:17 pm
content: Wish I could justify spending the money on an MSOX4000! Those things are awesome!

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 08:40:24 pm
content: Quote from: hithesh123 on October 10, 2013, 01:54:37 pmI know that the Tek DPO/MSO have a real nice set of controls called "wave inspector". One knob controls the "zoom" level, then a spring-loaded shuttle-jog type control is used to scroll back and forth through the record. You can also manually/automatically set "marks" in the long record (20M in the 4000 series) at your signals of interest like your bursts, and then quickly jump from one mark to the next. Very easy to navigate long records. Not sure if the RTO has something similar.

author: lgbeno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2013, 08:52:16 pm
content: Quote from: hithesh123 on October 10, 2013, 01:54:37 pmI'll try to answer the question the best I can, RTO has a function very similar to Alan's post where you can capture in an expanded time base and then use the Zoom feature to zero in on what you are looking for. It is a similar setup to what I did in the "adc_sampling-uart.pdf" example, the top Diagram2 is the full timebase of my capture and then zoom 1 is a zoomed in version of the yellow shadded area. This window is created by pressing the Zoom button. You can then use the navigation knob to slide the yellow shade box and press the know again to toggle to expanding and contracting the zoom window. Also if you are using a mouse (which I think is most intuitive) you can drag the yellow box bounds to the area that you want to take a closer look at.Unfortunately I do not have the scope in front of me to recall the exact steps but I think that is how I remember it working.Hope that helps!