PicoScope Pico6402A 6404D teardown

[wldshy]

Photo First:

AFE top:


AFE Bottom:


BB Top with Memory:


BB Top without Memory:


BB Bottom with Memory:


BB Bottom without Memory:

[Hydron]

Thanks, interesting to see what's inside these.

[fcb]

Thanks for posting this.  The PicoTech scopes do offer a lot of bang-for-buck.

That ADC comes from a local company with serious UK herritage: https://www.e2v.com/products/semiconductors/adc/ev8aq160/

The product range appears to use the same 5G/S ADC, so would be interesting to see if they are at the same BW limiting game as the other manufacturers (there is 2x price differential) between the 250MHz and 500MHz BW units: https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/6000/picoscope-6000-overview

Also, interesting lack of flux removal after the through-hole soldering.  What are peoples opinions of this?

[rhb]

Also, interesting lack of flux removal after the through-hole soldering.  What are peoples opinions of this?

*Very* disappointing!

I've "repaired" a number of pieces of consumer gear simply by cleaning the flux off.  It's hygroscopic so in humid environments it's a guaranteed recipe for trouble.  This is especially true with low voltage logic. 

My Walmart brand microwave gets all stressed out when the humidity is high for an extended period.  I've not opened it up.  The air dried out and it calmed down and behaved properly.  I'll have to take it apart and clean it eventually.

[_Wim_]

Thanks for posting this.

What was the exact model, is het the 6402A or the 6404D? I am also wondering if picoscope are just software limited or have different hardware 

[fcb]

Thanks for posting this.

What was the exact model, is het the 6402A or the 6404D? I am also wondering if picoscope are just software limited or have different hardware 

I suspect that the different bandwidths have different front ends - hence part of the reason for the pluggable two board build.  Even if the different BW boards are the same layout, it is likely they have different BW limiting parts rather than a switched varicap etc..

[wldshy]

seems have different front-end, same more time and I'll take a pic to 500MHz version 6404D

[wldshy]

Here comes 6404D front end photo

[_Wim_]

Here comes 6404D front end photo

Thanks for posting this. That is indeed quite a difference. Are these the same age? It almost looks like another generation and not only a bandwidth upgrade.

[4CX35000]

Also, interesting lack of flux removal after the through-hole soldering.  What are peoples opinions of this?

Looks to be part of the tin shielding and relays. Probably not worth cleaning manually once the shielding has been soldered into place.

[MrW0lf]

6404D can theoretically stuff 2GB full at 5GSa/s - quite a beast if need that sort of thing. How you use these if not secret?

[wldshy]

only theoretically, Unless you write your own software using provided SDK.

[MrW0lf]

only theoretically, Unless you write your own software using provided SDK.

Found this in description:
"The 2-gigasample buffer on the PicoScope 6404D can hold two 200 ms captures at the maximum sampling rate of 5 GS/s."
Suppose max 1G single capture then with PS6 software.

[wldshy]

yes