Instruments Bring the Value to Precision Measurements (.PDF Download)

Test-and-measurement instruments are essential, but often expensive, tools that aid in the design and development of electronic products. For most electronic device, component, and system manufacturers, acquisition of building-block instruments such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and power supplies can represent major investments—and thus put sizable dents—in a company’s operating expenses.

Addressing those concerns, Rohde & Schwarz, a leading supplier of high-end electronic test instruments, introduced a line of “value” instruments, including three digital oscilloscopes, an RF/microwave spectrum analyzer, and a precision power supply, that provide top performance levels without charging top dollar. They are designed and built with cost-effective quality in mind, yet manufactured in the same European facilities as the firm’s top-of-the-line electronic instruments, bringing even more electronic measurement power for the dollar than ever before.

The oscilloscope models are more like three different series of instruments, with many different options and upgrades. It’s possible to start with a basic set of measurement functions and capabilities, and then via license keys, unlock much more extended performance later.

For example, the “entry-level” oscilloscope, the R&SRTB2000 is available with two or four channels and 3-dB measurement bandwidths of 70, 100, 200, and 300 MHz (Fig. 1). Real-time sampling extends to 1.25 Gsamples/s in normal measurement mode and to 2.5 Gsamples/s when channels are interleaved. The memory per channel is 10 Msamples in normal mode and 20 Msamples for interleaved measurements. As much as 160-Msample segmented memory enables more than 13,000 recordings when long-term measurements are required.