Tektronix Promo - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: sambran
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2015, 09:38:43 pm
content: I am in the market for a new scope and I found the Tektronix end of year promo (http://info.tek.com/www-mdo-oscilloscope-year-end-offer-wc.html). I am considering the MDO3014 which costs about $800 more than comparable 4 channel 100 MHZ MDOs. At this point I have no real need for a Spectrum Analyzer but having one might be handy if I end up doing some RF circuits. I am trying to decide if getting the spectrum analyzer and having the option to upgrade to a higher bandwidth is worth the extra cash.Opinions?

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2015, 10:18:09 pm
content: Quote from: sambran on December 24, 2015, 09:38:43 pmThe SA might be interesting and useful - it seems to be somewhat integral to the "MDO" concept (vs. a regular "MSO"). Speaking of integral (but optional) something to keep in mind is that the Tek promo includes the software bundle - but the MSO accessory for the digital channel is extra ($1500?).

author: sambran
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 04:50:19 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on December 24, 2015, 10:18:09 pmThat is true, I guess I am trying do decide if to invest in a scope that has potential or just buy a scope for my current needs.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 08:06:05 pm
content: Quote from: sambran on December 24, 2015, 09:38:43 pmI would say "yes" if you are willing to consider liberating the scope, see this thread here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/mdo3000-hacking/In short, this allows you to enable all options and increase bandwidth to 500MHz. You will of course still need to get appropriate probes to benefit from the bandwidth increase, and an LA probe (P6316) for the LA.The TPP probes sometimes appear on eBay but you can of course use generic probes. For some reason the TPP1000 (1GHz) seem to go for the same price as the TPP0500 (500MHz): I purchased four apparently unused TPP1000 for $200 each recently, not a bargain but if you compare it to the $1000 retail price it seems reasoanble. The TPP0250 probes that come with the MDO3014 are pretty good probes, only 3.9pF loading: they are spec'd up to 250MHz, but the scope also filters at 250MHz internally when it's detected.Without the option and bandwidth liberation, I wouldn't consider it a good buy: I'd far more likely buy a second hand scope. I hardly ever use the SA, but I have three other "proper" SAs in the lab anyway. If it were integrated with time domain measurement like the MDO4000 I would almost certainly use it more.In use it's a bit of a mixed bag. If you've been used to Agilent/Keysight UIs you'll find the sluggishness frustrating, it's also not very consistent in implementation, but you get used to it fairly rapidly. The UI is also quite modal (certain combinations of setting frequently aren't possible), and the waveform area quickly gets filled up with menus and auxiliary information. On the plus side, all channels are 2.5GSa/s all the time, and all channels are 10Mpts all the time, there is no sharing of these resources between active channels. The only time update rate is a problem is when the LA is on when the update rate drops to an almost glacial pace.I actually don't mind it, I use this scope pretty much as much as a Keysight MSO7104B I also have on the bench.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 08:23:52 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on December 24, 2015, 10:18:09 pmThe SA in the MDO3000 series is implemented separately from the scope, there is no integration between time and frequency domains. You can't even run them at the same time, either it's a scope or an SA.If you liberate the scope, you just need the P6316 probe, not the MDO3MSO option. The P6316 probe is still a ~$600 accessory on its own though.The options on the scope can either be enabled with a software key or with a physical module. The software keys are tied to the scope whereas the modules can allow the options to be swapped between units.

author: sambran
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 08:44:50 pm
content: Thank!Quote from: Howardlong on December 25, 2015, 08:06:05 pmIf I am willing to liberate the scope this promotion isn't really giving me anything, correct?How about warranty, what are the effects of liberating?Quote from: Howardlong on December 25, 2015, 08:06:05 pmRight, I don't have any SAs so I figured having the option might be useful in the future. It seems the price for an SA would stat at $1000 so having the option on my bench seems like a good buy.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 09:59:04 pm
content: Quote from: sambran on December 25, 2015, 08:44:50 pmCorrect, except that for resale value having kosher options may have some value. It is also possible that Tek might change the way software keys work in future firmware releases, but I don't know how that might work without affecting all users.QuoteThe liberated options can be removed at any time, assuming the scope isn't too broken!QuoteIt's OK but it lacks some features such as direct EMC testing measurements like quasi peak.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 11:37:27 pm
content: currently 3 available:http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/111747297521?ul_noapp=true&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1588%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D53601919689_324272%2526itemid%253D111747297521%2526targetid%253D124316387289%2526rpc%253D0.16%2526rpc_upld_id%253D61146%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F111747297521%25253Flpid%25253D82%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9026835%2526poi%253D9026847%2526campaignid%253D239125209%2526adgroupid%253D14978428809%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-124316387289%2526gclid%253DCP34g5qW-MkCFQ8zaQodDZwH7Q%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D956865276717&chn=ps&lpid=82

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 11:45:16 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on December 25, 2015, 11:37:27 pmThat's a good deal for this overpriced accessory! I did a teardown some weeks ago. The only thing that I can see being significant in BOM cost is the lossy coax ribbon cable which they probably have specially fabricated.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 12:19:59 am
content: I have an MDO3014 available, long Tek warranty, 80 hours total use, not a customer return! Hacked to 500MHz and all options, with 4 250MHz probes and 6316 pod if required.

author: sambran
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 11:29:20 pm
content: Quote from: TopLoser on December 26, 2015, 12:19:59 amWhat are you asking for it?

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 11:47:47 pm
content: Quote from: sambran on December 27, 2015, 11:29:20 pm$3000 including digital pod, plus $100 shipping to the US

author: sambran
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2015, 07:18:58 pm
content: PM sent

author: babysitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2015, 07:23:23 pm
content: Tektronix Porno?

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2015, 01:37:21 am
content: Quote from: babysitter on December 28, 2015, 07:23:23 pmThere are plenty of Tektronix test equipment teardowns if that's what you mean.