The Tektronix TBS2000B digital storage oscilloscope from RS Components
An oscilloscope, also known as an O-scope, is an electronic laboratory instrument used to capture, process, display and analyse the waveform and bandwidth of electronic signals.
RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents, a global omni-channel solutions partner for industrial customers and suppliers, has introduced the Tektronix TBS2000B digital storage oscilloscope, aimed at industrial design and maintenance engineers and the education sector. A higher-specification but low-cost drop-in replacement for the company’s TBS2000, the TBS2000B offers up to 200 MHz bandwidth, a 2 giga sample/sec sample rate and a lower-noise analogue front-end.
The new model provides bandwidth options of 200 MHz, 100 MHz and 70 MHz, with field upgrades possible from lower to higher bandwidths. Models with two or four analogue channels are also available, with sampling rates of 2 giga sample/sec over two channels or 1 giga sample/sec over four channels. A record length of 5 million points is available.
Alongside the default sample mode, a ‘peak detect’ mode is available to identify spikes while an ‘average’ mode helps reduce noise on repetitive signals. Signals, measurement results and menu information are all displayed on a 9-inch-wide video graphics array colour display with 15 horizontal divisions, aimed at allowing designs to be debugged and validated quickly, easily and confidently.
The TBS2000B provides 32 automated measurements, selectable from a single screen. Measurements are colour coded by source and shown on a transparent background so that they do not obscure waveforms.
On-waveform cursor readouts are a new feature, while a zoom function lets the user pan quickly through a record and zoom-in to signal details. A ‘search and mark’ feature allows events in an acquired waveform to be identified and marked throughout the entire acquisition. A dedicated Fast Fourier Transform, or FFT, button on the front panel speeds up waveform analysis.
Tektronix’s TekVPI probe interface supports active voltage and current probes, with automatic scaling and units, as well as passive BNC probes. Data such as error conditions are sent direct to the oscilloscope for processing, eliminating manual offsetting and degaussing. Front and rear USB 2.0 and an ethernet port allow quick, easy data storage, personal computer and network connections, and the TBS2000B is the first oscilloscope in its class to offer WiFi capability.
For educational use, the TSB2000B is fully compatible with the TekSmartLab instrument management software and provides a courseware function that displays exercises and guidance on screen. Tektronix offers 100 sample lab exercises for download. Educators can disable auto-set, cursors and automated measurements to facilitate teaching of basic concepts.
A further new feature on theTBS2000B is HelpEverywhere, which shows instant assistance during navigation through key menus.
The Tektronix TBS2000B digital storage oscilloscope is available from RS South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.