EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: Dragony on March 20, 2017, 10:14:10 am
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Hi,
For RF experiments I want to purchase a new scope with 1 GHz BW.
Whats the most recent one, which doesnt cost like $20000?
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Hi,
For RF experiments I want to purchase a new scope with 1 GHz BW.
Whats the most recent one, which doesnt cost like $20000?
What do you want to measure with the scope? For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
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I have an MSO-X3104A, which wasn't $20,000, but nor is it as capable in some ways as other 1GHz+ scopes I've used. I like it a lot, and it suits my needs well, but since you're after a relatively specialist instrument, it's definitely worth exploring how you plan to use it first.
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
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Just ordered a Lecroy 1GHz 6100A second hand. Make sure you can try it first, see if it actually meets your needs.
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
If you need to ask that question you probably need to do more work before buying instruments. For almost all RF work the first priority is a good spectrum analyser. The second is tools which can help with modulation analysis. Somewhere down the list comes a good scope. A cheap scope is fine for most RF people.
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
If you have to ask that, you are probably not ready to make a 4+figure purchase
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
If you have to ask that, you are probably not ready to make a 4+figure purchase
...except possibly from me ;)
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
You will benefit from:
- reading T&M catalogues to see what is available, understanding why there are different instruments
- reading T&M manufacturer's application notes, e.g. HP/Agilent/Keysight
- joining a local radio amateur society
- reading the ARRL handbook; they are produced annually, but any within the past couple of decades will be useful to you
- putting numbers to your thoughts, and making sure the numbers are within the test instrument's capabilities
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For RF work, a scope is usually the wrong tool.
Why???????
What is the right tool for RF analysis like field strength, FFT, etc?
Up to 1GHz, a decent comms test set which includes RF signal generator, power meter, SNR measurements and spectrum analyser in one box is a very useful bit of kit for RF. Some will also allow swept measurements for filter alignment.
For RF, time spent with the scope is surprisingly low.