Test Equipment: Oscillocopes

[pomodoro]

As a side note, I've had to go back to using an analog oscilloscope to analyses some noisy pulses. My $350 100mhz digital could not trigger or even see capacitively coupled spark plug coil discharges of my car. The old analog did it with ease. A friend of mine at a TV station told me the same story regarding  a strangely modulated carrier and an expensive digital oscilloscope that was useless, whereas the old analog saved the day.

[MarkE]

As a side note, I've had to go back to using an analog oscilloscope to analyses some noisy pulses. My $350 100mhz digital could not trigger or even see capacitively coupled spark plug coil discharges of my car. The old analog did it with ease. A friend of mine at a TV station told me the same story regarding  a strangely modulated carrier and an expensive digital oscilloscope that was useless, whereas the old analog saved the day.

TK has regularly commented on the limitations of digital oscilloscopes.  Digital scopes do some great things, but they are very limited by the dynamic range of their ADCs and the capture rate of their triggering systems.  Keysight makes a big deal about their custom ASICs that enable much higher capture rates of their oscilloscopes compared to competitors.

[Pirate88179]

Keysight makes a big deal about their custom ASICs that enable much higher capture rates of their oscilloscopes compared to competitors.

I am just guessing that this comes at a much higher price?

Bill

[Brian516]

I am just guessing that this comes at a much higher price?

Bill

Oh, nothing too extravagant, only a few thousand dollars minimum....... up into the tens of thousands.

[Pirate88179]

Oh, nothing too extravagant, only a few thousand dollars minimum....... up into the tens of thousands.

Ahh...I thought as much.  Good to know it is available if needed but...I am happy with my 80's Tek scope for the time being.  It will probably take me the rest of my life to outgrow this scope...maybe longer, ha ha.

Bill