Pico TA384 rigid tips

sku Product SKU:  PIC-TA384

Passive oscilloscope probes

Our ergonomically designed passive oscilloscope probes are suitable for use with all major brands of oscilloscopes as well as the PicoScope range of USB Oscilloscopes. Passive probes don't require a power supply or batteries so are lightweight and easily portable.

Read our free guide: How to Tune x10 Oscilloscope Probes.

Replacement rigid probe tips, 5 pack

TA384 is a pack of 5 replacement rigid probe tips exclusively for TA375 and TA386 probes. Simply unscrew the probe tip fitted to the probe, and screw in a new tip. 

If replacement sprung probe tips are required for these probes, the TA385 pack of 5 sprung probe tips is also available.

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PicoScope 2000 Series

sku Product SKU:  PIC-2000-S

USB oscilloscopes & mixed signal oscilloscopes

• 2 channel, 4 channel and MSO models
• 6 instruments in one
• Ultra-compact design
• Up to 100 MHz bandwidth
• Up to 128 MS buffer memory
• Decode 16 serial protocols as standard
• USB connected and powered
• Windows, Linux and Mac software

Your complete test & measurement laboratory

You can use your PicoScope 2000 Series as an advanced oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, function generator, arbitrary waveform generator and protocol decoder out of the box. Mixed signal models also add a 16 channel logic analyzer. A complete electronics lab in one compact, low-cost, USB-powered unit.

The PicoScope 2000A models deliver unbeatable value for money and are ideal for education, hobby and field service use. In the lab the low cost allows one scope per person rather than having to share.

The PicoScope 2000B models have the added benefits of deep memory (up to 128 MS), higher bandwidth (up to 100 MHz) and faster waveform update rates. PicoScope 2000B models give you the performance to carry out advanced analysis of your waveforms. They are ideal for design, debug and serial decoding.

The Configure Your Scope panel on the left gives a quick guide to the models, specifications and prices.

Oscilloscope display showing zoom, rulers and measurements

High-end oscilloscope

At the heart of every PicoScope 2000 is an advanced oscilloscope which offers everything you would expect and much more besides:

• 10,000 waveform circular buffer
• Up to 80,000 waveforms per second update rate
• Mask limit testing
• Advanced math & filtering
• Measurements with statistics
• Advanced digital triggering 
• Resolution enhancement to 12 bits

Logic analyzer / mixed signal ability

The PicoScope 2000 Series includes mixed signal models that include 16 digital inputs so that you can view digital and analog signals simultaneously.

The digital inputs can be displayed individually or in named groups with binary, decimal or hexadecimal values shown in a bus-style display. A separate logic threshold from –5 V to +5 V can be defined for each 8-bit input port. The digital trigger can be activated by any bit pattern combined with an optional transition on any input. Advanced logic triggers can be set on either the analog or digital input channels, or both to enable complex mixed-signal triggering.

The digital inputs bring extra power to the serial decoding options.  You can decode serial data on all analog and digital channels simultaneously, giving you up to 18 channels of data.  You can for example decode multiple SPI, I²C, CAN bus, LIN bus and FlexRay signals all at the same time!

Mixed Signal Oscilloscope / Logic Analyzer (roll over red circles for description)

Serial bus decoding and protocol analysis

PicoScope can decodev 1-Wire, ARINC 429, CAN, DCC, DMX512, Ethernet,  FlexRay, I²C, I²S, LIN, PS/2, SENT, SPI, UART (RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485), and USB 1.1 protocol data as standard, with more protocols in development and available in the future with free-of-charge software upgrades.

Multiple protocols can be captured and decoded, the only limit being the number of available channels (18 for MSO models). The ability to observe data flow across a bridge (such as CAN bus in, LIN bus out) is incredibly powerful.

The deep memory buffers make the PicoScope 2000B models ideal for serial decoding as it is possible to capture and decode many thousands of frames of data.

Increasing the number of points in a FFT to 1 million increases frequency resolution and reduces the noise floor.

FFT spectrum analyzer

The spectrum view plots amplitude against frequency, revealing details that would otherwise be hidden in an oscilloscope view. It is ideal for finding noise, crosstalk or distortion in signals.

You can display multiple spectrum views alongside oscilloscope views of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements can be added to the display, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD. A mask limit test can be applied to a spectrum and you can even use the AWG and spectrum mode together to perform swept scalar network analysis.

With PicoScope 2000B models FFTs of up to 1 million points can be computed in milliseconds giving superb frequency resolution. Increasing the number of points in a FFT also lowers the noise floor revealing otherwise hidden signals.

Arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) and function generator

All PicoScope 2000 Series oscilloscopes have a built-in function generator and arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) which output signals on a front panel BNC.

The function generator can produce sine, square, triangle and DC level waveforms, and many more besides, while the AWG allows you to import custom waveforms from data files or create and modify them using the built-in graphical AWG editor.

As well as level, offset and frequency controls, advanced options allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies. Combined with the advanced spectrum mode, with options including peak hold, averaging and linear/log axes, this creates a powerful tool for testing amplifier and filter responses.

PicoScope 2000B models have trigger options that allow one or more cycles of a waveform to be output when various conditions are met, such as the scope triggering or a mask limit test failing.

Frequency response analyzer / Bode plot

Download new features or write your own

The software development kit (SDK) allows you to write your own software and includes drivers for Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac (OS X) and Linux (including Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone).

Example code shows how to interface to third-party software packages such as Microsoft Excel, National Instruments LabVIEW and MathWorks MATLAB. 

There is also an active community of PicoScope users who share code and applications on the Pico forum and PicoApps section of the picotech.com web site. The Frequency Response Analyzer shown opposite is one of the most popular 3rd party applications.

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PicoScope 3000 Series

sku Product SKU:  PIC-3000-S

PC Oscilloscopes & Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes

Power, portability and performance

PicoScope 3000 Series USB-powered PC oscilloscopes are small, light, and portable and can easily slip into a laptop bag while offering a range of high-performance specifications.

These oscilloscopes offer 2 or 4 analog channels and a built-in function / arbitrary waveform generator. MSO models add 16 digital channels. Key performance specifications:

• 200 MHz analog bandwidth
• 1 GS/s real-time sampling
• 512 MS buffer memory
• 100,000 waveforms per second
• 16 channel logic analyzer (MSO models)
• Arbitrary waveform generator
• USB 3.0 connected and powered
• Serial decoding and mask testing as standard
• Windows, Linux and Mac software

Supported by the advanced PicoScope 6 software, these devices offer an ideal, cost-effective package for many applications, including embedded systems design, research, test, education, service, and repair.

High bandwidth and sampling rate

Despite a compact size and low cost, there is no compromise on performance with bandwidths up to 200 MHz.  This bandwidth is matched by a real-time sampling rate of up to 1 GS/s, allowing detailed display of high frequencies. For repetitive signals, the maximum effective sampling rate can be boosted to 10 GS/s by using Equivalent Time Sampling (ETS) mode.

Other oscilloscopes have high maximum sampling rates, but without deep memory they cannot sustain these rates on long timebases. The PicoScope 3000 Series offers memory depths up to 512 million samples, more than any other oscilloscope in this price range, which enables the PicoScope 3406D MSO to sample at 1 GS/s all the way down to 50 ms/ div (500 ms total capture time).

Managing all this data calls for some powerful tools. There’s a set of zoom buttons, plus an overview window that lets you zoom and reposition the display by simply dragging with the mouse or touchscreen. Zoom factors of several million are possible.  Other tools such as the waveform buffer, mask limit test, serial decode and hardware acceleration work with the deep memory making the PicoScope 3000 series some of the most powerful oscilloscopes on the market.

Mixed-signal capability / logic analyzer

The PicoScope 3000D Series Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes include 16 digital inputs so that you can view digital and analog signals simultaneously.

The digital inputs can be displayed individually or in named groups with binary, decimal or hexadecimal values shown in a bus-style display. A separate logic threshold from –5 V to +5 V can be defined for each 8-bit input port. The digital trigger can be activated by any bit pattern combined with an optional transition on any input. Advanced logic triggers can be set on either the analog or digital input channels, or both to enable complex mixed-signal triggering.

The digital inputs bring extra power to the serial decoding options.  You can decode serial data on all analog and digital channels simultaneously, giving you up to 20 channels of data.  You can for example decode multiple SPI, I²C, CAN bus, LIN bus and FlexRay signals all at the same time!

Application note: Debugging an I²C Bus with a PicoScope Mixed–Signal Oscilloscope

Mixed Signal Oscilloscope / Logic Analyzer (roll over red circles for description)

Serial bus decoding and protocol analysis

PicoScope can decode 1-Wire, ARINC 429, CAN & CAN-FD, DCC, DMX512, Ethernet 10Base-T and 100Base-TX,  FlexRay, I²C, I²S, LIN, PS/2, MODBUS, SENT, SPI, UART (RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485), and USB 1.1 protocol data as standard, with more protocols in development and available in the future with free-of-charge software upgrades.

Graph format shows the decoded data (in hex, binary, decimal or ASCII) in a data bus timing format, beneath the waveform on a common time axis, with error frames marked in red. These frames can be zoomed to investigate noise or signal integrity issues.

Table format shows a list of the decoded frames, including the data and all flags and identifiers. You can set up filtering conditions to display only the frames you are interested in or search for frames with specified properties. The statistics option reveals more detail about the physical layer such as frame times and voltage levels. PicoScope can also import a spreadsheet to decode the data into user-defined text strings.

More information on Serial bus decoding and protocol analysis - overview >>

Arbitrary waveform and function generator

All PicoScope 3000D units have a built-in function generator (sine, square, triangle, DC level, white noise, PRBS etc.) on the front panel. PicoScope 3000D MSO models have the connector on the rear panel.

As well as basic controls to set level, offset and frequency, more advanced controls allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies. Combined with the spectrum peak hold option this makes a powerful tool for testing amplifier and filter responses.

Trigger tools allow one or more cycles of a waveform to be output when various conditions are met such as the scope triggering or a mask limit test failing.

A 14 bit 80 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) is also included. AWG waveforms can be created or edited using the built-in AWG editor, imported from oscilloscope traces, or loaded from a spreadsheet.

More information on Arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) >>

FFT spectrum analyzer

The spectrum view plots amplitude against frequency and is ideal for finding noise, crosstalk or distortion in signals. The spectrum analyzer in PicoScope is of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) type which, unlike a traditional swept spectrum analyzer, can display the spectrum of a single, non-repeating waveform.

A full range of settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bands (FFT bins), window types, scaling (including log/log) and display modes (instantaneous, average, or peak-hold).

You can display multiple spectrum views alongside oscilloscope views of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements can be added to the display, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD. A mask limit test can be applied to a spectrum and you can even use the AWG and spectrum mode together to perform swept scalar network analysis.

More information on Spectrum analyzer >>

Signal integrity

Most oscilloscopes are built down to a price. PicoScopes are built up to a specification.

Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk and harmonic distortion. Years of oscilloscope design experience can be seen in improved bandwidth flatness and low distortion.

We are proud of the dynamic performance of our products, and unlike most oscilloscope manufacturers publish our specifications in detail. The result is simple: when you probe a circuit, you can trust in the waveform you see on the screen.

USB connectivity

The USB connection not only allows high-speed data acquisition and transfer, but also makes printing, copying, saving, and emailing your data from the field quick and easy. USB powering removes the need to carry around a bulky external power supply, making the kit even more portable for the engineer on the move.

PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes feature a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection, making the already-optimized process of data transfer and waveform update rates even faster. Further benefits of a USB 3.0 connection include faster saving of waveforms and faster gap-free continuous streaming of up to 125 MS/s when using the SDK, while the scope is still backward-compatible with older USB systems.

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PicoScope 4000A Series

sku Product SKU:  PIC-4x24A-Series

Crystal-clear waveform analysis

The PicoScope 4000A Series of PC oscilloscopes is a second-generation upgrade and expansion of our high-resolution, deep-memory product portfolio.

With 2-, 4- and 8-channel models available, the PicoScope 4000A Series boasts 12-bit hardware resolution (to 16 bits with Resolution Enhancement), 256 MS deep capture memory, 20 MHz bandwidth with 80 MS/s sampling speed, up to 70 dB SFDR and a built-in 14-bit triggerable signal generator and 80 MS/s AWG. A SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface powers the instrument and delivers up to 160 MS/s communications to the host PC. All models run with the popular PicoScope 6 user interface and benefit from the free PicoSDK software development kit, which gives users direct programming control of the hardware for custom applications. The scopes also work with PicoLog 6 data logging software for lower-speed long-duration captures.

The following features come as standard on all 4000A oscilloscopes:

Up to 8 channels of high resolution

With the PicoScope 4000A Series providing a choice of either 2, 4 or 8 high-resolution analog channels you can easily view audio, ultrasonic, vibration and power waveforms, analyze timing of complex systems, and perform a wide range of precision measurement tasks on multiple inputs at the same time. The scopes have a small, compact footprint, yet the BNC connectors with a minimum 20 mm spacing still accept all common probes and accessories. Despite their compact size, there is no compromise on performance. With a high vertical resolution of 12 bits, 20 MHz bandwidth, 256 MS buffer memory, and a fast sampling rate of 80 MS/s, the PicoScope 4000A Series has the power and functionality to deliver accurate results. With up to 8 channels, these oscilloscopes can analyze multiple serial buses such as UART, I2C, SPI, CAN and LIN plus control and driver signals.

Why choose the PicoScope 4000A Series oscilloscopes?

The PicoScope 4000A Series provides 20 MHz bandwidth, low noise, 12-bit resolution, deep capture memory and an integrated function and arbitrary waveform generator in a compact USB 3 connected PC-based package, together with a proven user interface. This series of oscilloscopes is especially suited to engineers, scientists and technicians working on a wide range of electrical, mechanical, audio, lidar, radar, ultrasonic, NDT and predictive maintenance systems who need to make precise measurements and analysis of repetitive or single-shot long-duration waveforms.

The PicoScope 4000A Series is unlike conventional oscilloscopes with 8-bit resolution and limited capture memory or card-based digitizers that require an expensive mainframe and offers the following benefits:

• PicoScope 6 user interface with time- and frequency-domain waveform views
• Automatic measurements of important waveform parameters on up to a million waveform cycles with each triggered acquisition using DeepMeasure™
• Decoding of 18 popular industry serial bus standards
• An application programming interface that provides direct control of the hardware
• Five-year warranty included as standard

Suitable for a broad range of applications, including:

• Power supply start sequencing
• 7-channel audio systems
• Multi-sensor systems
• Multi-phase drives and controls
• Predictive/preventive maintenance
• Complex embedded system development
• Power harmonics analysis
• Vibration analysis and diagnostics
• Long-duration waveform capture
• Lubricant analysis
• Acoustic emission analysis
• Oil condition sensors
• Machine monitoring
• Motor condition monitoring overview and motor current signature analysis (MCSA)
• Model-based voltage and current systems
• Infrared thermography

Complex embedded systems

When debugging an embedded system with a scope, you can quickly run out of channels. You may need to look at an I2C or SPI bus at the same time as multiple power rails, DAC outputs and logic signals. With up to eight channels, the PicoScope 4000A Series can cope with all of this. Choose whether to decode up to eight serial buses, with analog waveforms and decoded data both visible, or a combination of serial buses and other analog or digital signals. PicoScope provides advanced triggering on all channels, so you can search for runt pulses, dropouts and noise as well as looking for data patterns using the 4-input Boolean logic trigger.

Pack contents

• PicoScope 4000A Series 2-, 4- or 8-channel oscilloscope
• Oscilloscope probes (if purchased)
• USB 3.0 cable 1.8 m
• Quick Start Guide

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PicoScope 4x24

sku Product SKU:  PIC-4x24

12 bit oscilloscopes with optional IEPE interface

• 2 or 4 channels
• Optional IEPE interface (for accelerometers, microphones etc)
• 12 bit resolution
• 20 MHz bandwidth
• 32 MS buffer memory
• Serial decoding and mask testing as standard
• USB connected and powered
• Windows, Mac and Linux software

The Picoscope 4424 and 4224 offer both a high resolution (12 bits) and a high DC accuracy (1%) making them an excellent choice for noise, vibration, precision electronics and mechanical analysis.

The optional IEPE interface (see below) allows for the direct connection and powering of industry standard accelerometers and microphones.

 

High resolution offers 16x more detail

The PicoScope 4224 and 4424 are 12-bit oscilloscopes that offer 16 times more vertical resolution than traditional 8-bit oscilloscopes (4096 vertical levels vs 256). The example shows how with a 12-bit oscilloscope (blue trace) you can zoom in to reveal details of the signal that are not visible on an 8-bit oscilloscope (black trace).

As well as the high vertical resolution, the 32 million sample buffer memory ensures a high horizontal resolution as well. You can collect long detailed captures without the sampling rate dropping.

Once you have seen high-resolution waveforms on a high-resolution PC monitor you will never want to use a traditional benchtop oscilloscope with its small display again.

As well as improved oscilloscope traces, high resolution offers big benefits when performing spectrum analysis offering an additional 20 dB dynamic range on the spectrum over 8-bit oscilloscopes. Signals that were previously hidden in the noise floor are now clearly visible and the spectrum becomes a powerful tool to track down the causes of noise.

IEPE Interface

The PicoScope 4224 is available with an optional internal IEPE (integrated circuit piezoelectric) interface allowing for the direct connection and powering of industry standard accelerometers and microphones.  

When disabled the channels can be used as normal oscilloscope inputs. When IEPE is enabled (each channel has independent control via software) the input is AC coupled and a 24 V, 4 mA signal is output to power external sensors.

The high resolution and dynamic range of the 4224 makes it ideal for use with accelerometers and microphones. Having the IEPE interface built in makes for a compact, portable solution.

Advanced display

PicoScope software dedicates almost all of the display area to the waveform. This ensures that the maximum amount of data is seen at once. The viewing area is much bigger and of a higher resolution than with a traditional benchtop scope.

With a large display area available, you can also create a customizable split-screen display, and view multiple channels or different views of the same signal at the same time. As the example shows, the software can even show multiple oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer traces at once. Additionally, each waveform shown works with individual zoom, pan, and filter settings for ultimate flexibility.

The PicoScope software can be controlled by mouse, touchscreen or keyboard shortcuts.

FFT spectrum analyzer

The spectrum view plots amplitude vs frequency and is ideal for finding noise, crosstalk or distortion in signals. The spectrum analyzer in PicoScope is of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) type which, unlike a traditional swept spectrum analyzer, can display the spectrum of a single, non-repeating waveform.

A full range of settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bands (FFT bins), window types, scaling (including log/log) and display modes (instantaneous, average, or peak-hold).

You can display multiple spectrum views alongside oscilloscope views of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements can be added to the display, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD. A mask limit test can be applied to a spectrum for automated testing.

More information on Spectrum analyzer >>

Signal integrity

Most oscilloscopes are built down to a price. PicoScopes are built up to a specification.

Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk and harmonic distortion. Years of oscilloscope design experience can be seen in improved bandwidth flatness and low distortion.

We are proud of the dynamic performance of our products and, unlike most oscilloscope manufacturers, we publish our specifications in detail. The result is simple: when you probe a circuit, you can trust in the waveform you see on the screen.

Portability

Pico Technology oscilloscopes are small, light and portable. In the lab they take up the minimum of bench space while for the engineer on the move they are small enough to fit in a bag with your laptop.

The USB connection makes printing, copying, saving, and emailing your data from the field quick and easy. The high-speed USB interface allows fast data transfer, while USB powering removes the need to carry around a bulky external power supply, making the scope even more portable for the engineer on the move.

The PicoScope 4424, 4224 and 4224 IEPE are supplied with software, documentation and USB cable. For the 4224 and 4424 a kit also containing oscilloscope probes and a carry case is available.

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PicoScope 5000 Series

sku Product SKU:  PIC-5000-S

• FlexRes 8 to 16-bit hardware resolution
• Up to 200 MHz analog bandwidth
• 1 GS/s sampling at 8-bit resolution
• 62.5 MS/s sampling at 16-bit resolution
• Up to 512 MS capture memory
• 16 digital channels on MSO models
• 130 000 waveforms per second
• Built-in arbitrary waveform generator
• 18 serial decoding protocols as standard
• Up to 200 MHz spectrum analyzer

Today’s electronic designs employ a wide range of signal types: analog, digital, serial (both high- and low-speed), parallel, audio, video, power distribution and so on. All need to be debugged, measured and validated to ensure that the device under test is functioning correctly and within specification.

To handle this variety of signal types, PicoScope 5000D FlexRes hardware employs multiple high-resolution ADCs at the input channels in different time-interleaved and parallel combinations to optimize either the sampling rate to 1 GS/s at 8 bits, the resolution to 16 bits at 62.5 MS/s, or other combinations in between – you select the most appropriate hardware resolution for the requirements of each measurement.

2 and 4 channel models are available, all featuring a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection, providing lightning-fast saving of waveforms while retaining compatibility with older USB standards. The PicoSDK® software development kit supports continuous streaming to the host computer at rates up to 125 MS/s. The product is small and light, and operates silently thanks to its low-power fanless design.

Supported by the free-of-charge and regularly updated PicoScope 6 software, the PicoScope 5000D Series offers an ideal, cost-effective package for many applications, including design, research, test, education, service and repair. 

What is FlexRes?

Pico FlexRes flexible resolution oscilloscopes allow you to reconfigure the scope hardware to increase either the sampling rate or the resolution. This means you can reconfigure the hardware to be either a fast (1 GS/s) 8-bit oscilloscope for looking at digital signals, or a high-resolution 16-bit oscilloscope for audio work and other analog applications. Whether you’re capturing and decoding fast digital signals or looking for distortion in sensitive analog signals, FlexRes oscilloscopes are the answer.

Deep capture memory

PicoScope 5000D Series oscilloscopes have waveform capture memories ranging from 128 to 512 million samples – many times larger than traditional benchtop scopes. Deep memory enables the capture of long-duration waveforms at maximum sampling speed. In fact, the PicoScope 5000D Series can capture waveforms over 500 ms long with 1 ns resolution. In contrast, the same 500 ms waveform captured by an oscilloscope with a 10 megasample memory would have just 50 ns resolution.

Deep memory can be useful in other ways too: PicoScope lets you divide the capture memory into a number of segments, up to a maximum of 10 000. You can set up a trigger condition to store a separate capture in each segment, with as little as 1 µs dead time between captures. Once you have acquired the data, you can step through the memory one segment at a time until you find the event you are looking for. Powerful tools are included to allow you to manage and examine all of this data. As well as functions such as mask limit testing and color persistence mode, PicoScope 6 software enables you to zoom into your waveform by a factor of several million. The Zoom Overview window allows you to easily control the size and location of the zoom area.

Other tools, such as DeepMeasureTM, serial decoding and hardware acceleration work with the deep memory, making the PicoScope 5000D Series among the most powerful oscilloscopes on the market.

Mixed-signal models

The PicoScope 5000D MSO models add 16 digital channels to the 2 or 4 analog channels, enabling you to accurately time-correlate analog and digital channels. Digital channels may be grouped and displayed as a bus, with each bus value displayed in hex, binary or decimal or as a level (for DAC testing). You can set advanced triggers across both the analog and digital channels. The digital channels can also be used as sources for the serial decoders, giving up to 20 channels of data – for example decoding multiple SPI, I²C, CAN bus, LIN bus and FlexRay signals all at the same time.

Advanced digital triggering

The PicoScope 5000D Series offers an industry-leading set of advanced triggers including pulse width, runt pulse, windowed and dropout. 

The digital trigger available on MSO models allows you to trigger the scope when any or all of the 16 digital inputs match a user-defined pattern. You can specify a condition for each channel individually, or set up a pattern for all channels at once using a hexadecimal or binary value. You can also use the logic trigger to combine the digital trigger with an edge or window trigger on any of the analog inputs, for example to trigger on data values in a clocked parallel bus.

Arbitrary waveform and function generator

All PicoScope 5000D units have a built in 14-bit 200 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). You can create and adapt arbitrary waveforms using the built-in editor, import them from existing oscilloscope traces, or load a waveform from a spreadsheet.

The AWG can also act as a function generator with a range of standard output signals, including sine, square, triangle, DC level, white noise and PRBS. As well as the basic controls to set level, offset and frequency, more advanced controls allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies.

Combined with the spectrum peak hold option, this makes a powerful tool for testing amplifier and filter responses. Trigger tools allow you to output one or more cycles of a waveform when various conditions are met, such as the scope triggering or a mask limit test failing.

Software Development Kit - write your own apps

The software development kit (SDK) allows you to write your own software and includes drivers for Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac (macOS) and Linux (including Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone).

Example code shows how to interface to third-party software packages such as Microsoft Excel, National Instruments LabVIEW and MathWorks MATLAB. 

There is also an active community of PicoScope users who share code and applications on the Pico forum and PicoApps section of the picotech.com web site. The Frequency Response Analyzer shown opposite is one of the most popular third-party applications.

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PicoScope 4824A

sku Product SKU:  PIC-4824

High resolution, deep memory, 8 channel oscilloscope

• 8 channels
• 12 bit resolution
• 20 MHz bandwidth
• 256 MS buffer memory
• High-performance arbitrary waveform generator
• Advanced digital triggers
• Serial bus decoding
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface
• Windows, Mac and Linux software

The PicoScope 4824 is a low-cost, portable solution for multi-input applications. With 8 high-resolution analog channels you can easily analyze audio, ultrasound, vibration, power, and timing of complex systems. 

Despite its compact size, there is no compromise on performance. With a high 12-bit vertical resolution, bandwidth of 20 MHz, 256 MS buffer memory, and a fast sampling rate of 80 MS/s, the PicoScope 4824 has the power and functionality to deliver accurate results. It also features deep memory to analyze multiple serial buses such as UART, I2C, SPI, CAN and LIN plus control and driver signals.

Advanced display

PicoScope software dedicates almost all of the display area to the waveform. Using the display of your laptop or desktop the area is much bigger and of a higher resolution than with a traditional benchtop scope. This is a huge advantage when displaying 8 high-resolution channels.

With a large display area available, you can also create a customizable split-screen display, and view multiple channels or different views of the same signal at the same time. As the example opposite shows, the software can even show both oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer traces at once. Additionally, each waveform shown works with individual zoom, pan, and filter settings for ultimate flexibility.

The PicoScope software can be controlled by mouse, touchscreen or keyboard shortcuts.

High resolution offers 16x more detail

The PicoScope 4824 is a 12-bit oscilloscope that offers 16 times more vertical resolution than traditional 8-bit oscilloscopes (4096 vertical levels vs 256). The example shows how with a 12-bit oscilloscope (blue trace) you can zoom in to reveal details of the signal that are not visible on an 8-bit oscilloscope (black trace).

As well as the high vertical resolution, the 256 million sample buffer memory ensures a high horizontal resolution as well. You can collect long detailed captures without the sampling rate dropping.

Once you have seen high-resolution waveforms on a high-resolution PC monitor you will never want to use a traditional benchtop oscilloscope with its small display again.

As well as improved oscilloscope traces, high resolution offers big benefits when performing spectrum analysis offering an additional 20 dB dynamic range on the spectrum over 8-bit oscilloscopes. Signals that were previously hidden in the noise floor are now clearly visible and the spectrum becomes a powerful tool to track down the causes of noise.

Typical applications

The PicoScope 4824 mix of 8 channels, high resolution and deep memory makes it suitable for a wide range of applications that cannot be met by traditional benchtop oscilloscopes.

8 channels allows multiple power supply rails to be monitored at the same time, ideal for looking at power supply sequencing, balancing or quality. The high channel count allows the decoding of multiple different serial bus standards at the same time (CAN, LIN, FlexRay, I2C, SPI etc.)

12 bit resolution both for the oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer helps track down noise, analyze harmonics and measure distortion.

The 256 MS deep memory allows several seconds of capture at the full sampling rate (ideal for long captures of serial data or looking for glitches in power supplies). Managing all this data calls for some powerful tools, so zoom factors of several million are possible. Other tools such as the waveform buffer, mask limit test, serial decode and hardware acceleration work with the deep memory making the PicoScope 4824 one of the most powerful oscilloscopes on the market.

The compact size takes up little space on the bench and USB power makes the PicoScope 4824 ideal for those on the move.  For the first time you can carry an 8 channel oscilloscope in your laptop bag!

Arbitrary waveform and function generator

The PicoScope 4824 has a built-in function generator (sine, square, triangle, DC level, white noise, PRBS and others) and arbitrary waveform generator.

As well as basic controls to set level, offset and frequency, more advanced controls allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies. Combined with the spectrum peak hold option this makes a powerful tool for testing amplifier and filter responses.

Trigger tools allow one or more cycles of a waveform to be output when various conditions are met such as the scope triggering or a mask limit test failing.

The 14-bit 80 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) can be used to emulate sensor signals during product development, or to stress-test a design over a wide frequency range. AWG waveforms can be created or edited using the built-in AWG editor, imported from oscilloscope traces, or loaded from a spreadsheet.

More information on Arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) >>

FFT spectrum analyzer

The spectrum view plots amplitude against frequency and is ideal for finding noise, crosstalk or distortion in signals. The spectrum analyzer in PicoScope is of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) type which, unlike a traditional swept spectrum analyzer, can display the spectrum of a single, non-repeating waveform.

A full range of settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bands (FFT bins), window types, scaling (including log/log) and display modes (instantaneous, average, or peak-hold).

You can display multiple spectrum views alongside oscilloscope views of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements can be added to the display, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD. A mask limit test can be applied to a spectrum and you can even use the AWG and spectrum mode together to perform swept scalar network analysis.

More information on Spectrum analyzer >>

Signal integrity

Most oscilloscopes are built down to a price. PicoScopes are built up to a specification.

Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk and harmonic distortion. Years of oscilloscope design experience can be seen in improved bandwidth flatness and low distortion.

We are proud of the dynamic performance of our products and, unlike most oscilloscope manufacturers, we publish our specifications in detail. The result is simple: when you probe a circuit, you can trust in the waveform you see on the screen.

High-end features as standard

Buying a PicoScope is not like making a purchase from other oscilloscope companies, where optional extras considerably increase the price. With our scopes, high-end features such as serial decoding, mask limit testing, advanced math channels, segmented memory, and a signal generator are all included in the price.

To protect your investment, both the PC software and firmware inside the scope can be updated. Pico Technology have a long history of providing new features for free through software downloads. We deliver on our promises of future enhancements year after year, unlike many other companies in the field. Users of our products reward us by becoming lifelong customers and frequently recommending us to their colleagues.

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PicoScope 6000E Series 8-channel ultra-deep-memory oscilloscopes

sku Product SKU:  PIC-6000E-s

Performance and functionality for debugging next-generation embedded systems

The PicoScope 6000E Series fixed-resolution and FlexRes oscilloscopes provide 8 to 12 bits of vertical resolution, with 500 MHz bandwidth and 5 GS/s sampling rate. Eight analog channels have the timing and amplitude resolution you need to reveal signal integrity issues such as glitches, runts, dropouts, noise, distortion and ringing. 16 digital MSO channels enable the debug and verification of complex ECUs and FPGA-based designs.

8-bit to 12-bit FlexRes® ADCs 8 x 500 MHz analog channels Up to 16 x 1 Gb/s digital channels Dual 5 GS/s ADCs 4 GS capture memory (up to 2 GS per trace) 50 MHz 200 MS/s 14-bit AWG 300 000 waveforms per second update rate

Free PicoScope 6 and PicoSDK software Serial decoding and mask limit testing High-resolution timestamping of waveforms Over ten million DeepMeasure™ results per acquisition Advanced triggers: pulse width, runt pulse, windowed, logic and dropout

Typical applications

These oscilloscopes, with PicoScope 6 application software, are ideal for design engineers working with high-performance embedded systems, signal processing, power electronics, mechatronics and automotive designs, and for researchers and scientists working on multichannel high-performance experiments in physics labs, particle accelerators and similar facilities.

The PicoScope 6000E Application Programming Interface (API) provides programming access to the full set of advanced hardware features and can be used to develop diverse custom and OEM applications. 

Best-in-class bandwidth, sampling rate and memory depth

With 500 MHz analog bandwidth complemented by a real-time sampling rate of 5 GS/s, the PicoScope 6000E Series scopes can display single-shot pulses with 200 ps time resolution.

The PicoScope 6000E Series gives you the deepest capture memory—up to 4 GS in total—available as standard on any oscilloscope at any price. This ultra-deep memory allows the oscilloscope to capture 200 ms waveforms at its maximum sampling rate of 5 GS/s.

The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface and hardware acceleration ensure that the display is smooth and responsive even with long captures.

The PicoScope 6000E Series gives you the waveform memory, resolution and analysis tools that you need to perform stringent testing of high-performance electronics devices and next-generation embedded system designs.

Power, portability and performance

Conventional eight-channel benchtop mixed-signal oscilloscopes occupy too much space on the bench and are too costly for most engineers working on next-generation designs. PicoScope 6000E Series oscilloscopes are small and portable, while offering the high-performance specifications required by engineers in the lab or on the move.

These oscilloscopes offer 8 analog channels, plus an optional 8 or 16 digital channels with the plug-in 8-channel TA369 MSO pods. The flexible high‑resolution display options enable you to view and analyze each signal in detail.

Supported by the PicoScope 6 software, these devices offer an ideal, cost-effective package for many applications, including design, research, test, education, service, and repair. PicoScope 6 is included in the cost of your scope, available for free download, with free updates, and can be installed on as many PCs as you want, including to view/analyze data off-line without the scope

High-end features as standard

Buying a PicoScope is not like making a purchase from other oscilloscope companies, where optional extras considerably increase the price. With our scopes, high-end features such as serial decoding, mask limit testing, advanced math channels, segmented memory, hardware-based timestamping and a signal generator are all included in the price.

To protect your investment, both the PC software and firmware inside the scope can be updated. Pico Technology has a long history of providing new features for free through software downloads. We deliver on our promises of future enhancements year after year. Users of our products reward us by becoming lifelong customers and frequently recommending us to their colleagues.

Powerful tools provide endless options

Your PicoScope is provided with many powerful tools to help you acquire and analyze waveforms. While these tools can be used on their own, the real power of PicoScope lies in the way they have been designed to work together.

As an example, the rapid trigger mode allows you to collect 10 000 waveforms in a few milliseconds with minimal dead time between them. Manually searching through these waveforms would be time-consuming, so just pick a waveform you are happy with and let the mask tools scan through for you. When done, the measurements will tell you how many have failed and the buffer navigator allows you to hide the good waveforms and just display the problem ones.

The screenshot here shows changing frequency versus time as a graph. Perhaps instead you want to plot changing duty cycle as a graph? How about outputting a waveform from the AWG and also automatically saving the waveform to disk when a trigger condition is met? With the power of PicoScope the possibilities are endless. To find out more about the capabilities of PicoScope software, visit our A to Z of PC Oscilloscopes.

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PicoScope 9404 Series

sku Product SKU:  PIC-9404s

5 & 16 GHz Sampler Extended Real-Time Oscilloscopes

The PicoScope 9400 Series is a new class of SXRTO oscilloscopes that combine the benefits of real-time sampling, equivalent-time sampling, and high analog bandwidth.

• SXRTO (sampler-extended real-time oscilloscope)
• 9404-16: 16 GHz bandwidth, 22 ps transition time and 2.5 TS/s (0.4 ps resolution) equivalent-time sampling
• 9404-05: 5 GHz bandwidth, 70 ps transition time and 1 TS/s (1 ps resolution) equivalent-time sampling
• Pulse, eye and mask testing down to 100 ps and up to 8 Gb/s
• Four 12-bit 500 MS/s ADCs
• Intuitive and configurable touch-compatible Windows user interface
• Comprehensive built-in measurements, zooms, data masks, and histograms
• ±800 mV full-scale input range into 50 Ω
• 10 mV/div to 0.25 V/div ranges provided by digital gain
• Up to 250 kS trace length, shared between channels
• Optional clock and data recovery (8 Gb/s on 9404-16, 5 Gb/s on 9404-05)

The PicoScope 9400 Series SXRTOs has four input channels up to 16 GHz with market-leading ADC, timing, and display resolutions for accurately measuring and visualizing high-speed analog and data signals. They are ideal for capturing pulse and step transitions down to 22 ps, impulses down to 45 ps, and clocks and data eyes to 8 Gb/s. Most high-bandwidth applications involve repetitive signals or clock-related data streams that can be readily analyzed by equivalent-time sampling (ETS). The SXRTO quickly builds ETS, persistence displays, and statistics. It has a built-in full-bandwidth trigger on every channel, with pretrigger ETS capture too well above the Nyquist sampling rate. There are three acquisition modes—real-time, ETS, and roll—all capturing at 12-bit resolution into a shared memory of 250 kS.

The PicoSample 4 software is derived from our existing PicoSample 3 and PicoScope 9000 products, which together represent over ten years of development, customer feedback, and optimization.

The high-resolution display can be resized to fit any window, filling 4k and even larger monitors or arrays of monitors. Four independent zoom channels can show you different views of your data down to a resolution of 0.4 ps. Most of the controls and status panels can be shown or hidden according to your application, allowing you to make optimal use of the display area.

The oscilloscope has a 2.5 GHz direct trigger that can be driven from any input channel, and a built-in prescaler can extend the trigger bandwidth to 5 GHz. The external prescaler on 9404-16 extends this further to 16 GHz.

These compact units are small enough to place on your workbench close to the device under test. Now, instead of using remote probe heads attached to a large benchtop unit, all you need is a short, low-loss coaxial cable. Everything else you need is built into the oscilloscope, with no expensive hardware or software add-ons to worry about, and we don’t charge you for new software features and updates.

Typical applications

• Telecom and radar test, service and manufacturing
• Optical fiber, transceiver, and laser testing (optical to electrical conversion not included)
• RF, microwave, and gigabit digital system measurements
• Signal, eye, pulse, and impulse characterization
• Precision timing and phase analysis
• Digital system design and characterization
• Eye diagram, mask, and limits test up to 8 Gb/s
• Clock and data recovery at up to 8 Gb/s
• Ethernet, HDMI 1, PCI, SATA, USB 2.0
• Semiconductor characterization
• Signal, data, and pulse/impulse integrity and pre-compliance testing

High-bandwidth probes

The PicoConnect 900 Series low-impedance, high-bandwidth probes are ideal companions for the PicoScope 9400 Series, allowing cost-effective fingertip browsing of fast signals. Two series are available:

• RF, microwave, and pulse probes for broadband signals up to 5 GHz (10 Gb/s)
• Gigabit probes for data streams such as USB 2, HDMI 1, Ethernet, PCIe, and SATA

Other features

Bandwidth limit filters

A selectable analog bandwidth limiter (100 or 450 MHz) on each input channel can be used to reject high frequencies and associated noise. The narrow setting can be used as an anti-alias filter.

Frequency counter

A dedicated frequency counter shows signal frequency (or period) at all times, regardless of measurement and timebase settings, with a resolution of 1 ppm.

Optional clock and data recovery

Clock and data recovery (CDR) is now available as a factory-fitted optional trigger feature for the PicoScope 9404-16 and 9404-05 SXRTOs.

Associated with high-speed serial data applications, clock, and data recovery will already be familiar to PicoScope 9300 users. While low-speed serial data can often be accompanied by a separate clock signal, at high speed this approach would create timing skew and jitter between the clock and the data that could prevent accurate data decoding. Thus high-speed data receivers will generate a new clock, and using a phase-locked loop technique they will lock and align that new clock to the incoming data stream. This is the recovered clock, which can then be used to decode and thus recover data accurately. They have also saved the cost of an entire clock signal path by now needing only the serial data signal.

In many applications requiring our oscilloscopes to view the data, the data generator and its clock will be close at hand and we can trigger off that clock. However, if only the data is available (at the far end of an optical fiber, for instance), we will need the CDR option to recover the clock and then trigger off that instead. We may also need to use the CDR option in demanding eye and jitter measurements. This is because we want our instrument to measure as exactly as possible the signal quality that a recovered clock and data receiver will "see".

When fitted, the PicoScope 9400 CDR option can be selected as the trigger source from any input channel. Additionally, for use by other instruments or by downstream system elements, two SMA(f) outputs present recovered clock and recovered data from the rear panel.

Contact Comtest to order this option.

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