Pico Technology has increased the bandwidth of its PicoScope 9300 family of Sampling Oscilloscopes with two new 25 GHz models.  The USB-controlled Sampling Oscilloscope, available only from Pico, stands as one of very few low-cost, high-integrity options for viewing and measuring RF and microwave signals, paths and networks. Sampling Oscilloscopes are the cost-effective solution to today’s proliferation of gigabit-per-second datastreams and their copper, wireless and optical fiber interconnect.

The new 2 and 4 channel 25 GHz models, just added to the existing 20 GHz PicoScope 9300 Series, now support fifth harmonic capture for data up to including 10 Gb/s, and third harmonic capture up to 16 Gb/s. These rates, and others in between, are increasingly found in Ethernet, Thunderbolt, USB 3.1, PCIe 4, Rapid I/O, e-SATA, OC-192 / STM-64 and OC-256. All have transmission lines, cables, components, transmitters and receivers that need pre-compliance testing and characterization.

“Low cost”? 

For most of us, owning a real-time scope with 25 GHz bandwidth is unrealistic, with prices starting from $200,000.  Renting is usually the only option but even that can cost over $15,000 per month! “Low cost” means that you can have a 25 GHz Sampling Oscilloscope, on your bench every day or where and when you need it, for the equivalent of 1 month’s rent of a 25 GHz real-time box. 

Having chosen your oscilloscope, you will want to probe your multiple broadband signals in-system and with minimal invasion of the measurement, all without interrupting system function. For this you will need the cost-effective, low-invasive, high-performance PicoConnect 900 probes. This is a comprehensive family of microwave and gigabit products. Uniquely configured as interchangeable AC or DC coupled probe heads in three division ratios (÷5, ÷10 and ÷20), these are ideally suited to in-system probing of analog, pulse, impulse and high-speed serial data streams. What’s more, they will interface to any other instrument type with 50 Ω inputs and likely outperform similar but manufacturer-locked accessories that you may have. 

To add to the good news, all PicoScope 9300 Sampling Oscilloscopes can now be upgraded, free of charge, to full touchscreen operation with the latest PicoSample 3 software. PicoSample 3.25 also includes new masks for USB 2.0 and USB 3.1 Gen1 and Gen2.

The new PicoScope 9301-25 and 9341-25 Sampling Oscilloscopes are now available for only $16 765 / €14 235 / £11 765 and $26 235 / €22 275 / £18 405 respectively.

PicoScope 9300 Series sampling oscilloscopes:
www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/9300/picoscope-9300-sampling-oscilloscopes

PicoConnect 900 Series probes:
www.picotech.com/accessories/sma-rf-test-accessories