MDO4000B RF channel Does anyone find it useful for test and trouble shooting? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ringtails
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 12:18:23 am
content: So I am looking at purchasing 2 new MDO4000B scopes and would like to know if anyone finds the 6GHz RF channel of any use or is it a dead paper weight?I know it set up as a FFT more than a real spectrum analyzer but is it of any use at all?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 01:12:36 am
content: FYI, see the other thread, Tek are releasing a new MDO3000

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 02:20:15 am
content: Quote from: ringtails on February 06, 2014, 12:18:23 amI support many, many customers that are finding it extremely useful every day, doing things like this:And like this:Yes, the RF channel is an FFT (actually a chirp-Z transform to be precise). This is how you get time correlation between the analog, digital and RF acquisitions. Compare the specs, and you'll find that the spectrum analyzer is as good as, or better than, many of the entry level stand alone analyzers on the market in terms of things like Dynamic range, noise floor, etc.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 02:40:22 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on February 06, 2014, 02:20:15 amWhat about the new MDO3000?The question is probably pointless though because you won't be allowed to talk about it I guess...

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 02:54:55 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 06, 2014, 02:40:22 amYeah, I'm not allowed to talk about it (regardless of the company confidential info that was found in a google cache).

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 11:36:53 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on February 06, 2014, 02:54:55 amOn a completely random, unrelated side note, do you think there is a point where having too many pieces of equipment integrated into a single piece, with a single user interface may become somewhat cumbersome?

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 12:58:24 pm
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on February 06, 2014, 11:36:53 amSpecialized equipment with specialized measurements requires specialized interfaces, which yes, does increase difficulty of use some, but is required.Also, if you havent used a Vector Network Analyzer with a 3 piece physical cal kit (instead of a nice electronic cal unit) then you dont know cumbersome yetNeed to look at the SWR of 3 ports of a splitter/combiner and look at the loss between each port, and the phase between the sum and the inputs?Youre going to need to cal each port (1, 2, 3) with a short, open and load. then do a though cal between each port. All before you even think about hooking it up to the combinerAll while being careful to only rotate the nut on the two mating connectors so you dont risk damaging your nice test cables, and using a torque wrench each timeOh and you want to change your frequency range a big wider? Do it all again.I no longer call any piece of equipment that I dont have to calibrate before each measurement cumbersome to use