Tektronix MSO68B 6-BW-10000

The Tektronix MSO68B6BW10000 10 GHz, 8-FlexChannel, Up to 50 GS/s Mixed Signal Oscilloscope, 62.5 Mpoints Record Length provides the best signal fidelity for analyzing and debugging today's embedded systems with GHz clock and bus speeds. The remarkably innovative pinch-swipe-zoom touchscreen user interface coupled with the industry's largest high definition display and MSO68B 6-BW-10000 FlexChannel inputs that let users measure one analog or eight digital signals per channel, the MSO68B 6-BW-10000 is ready for today's toughest challenges and tomorrow's too.

Never let a lack of channels slow down verification and debug processes again

The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 offers better visibility into complex systems by offering four, six and eight-channel models with a large 15.6-inch high-definition (1,920 x 1,080) display. Many applications, such as embedded systems, three-phase power electronics, automotive electronics, power supply design, and Power Integrity require the observation of more than four analog signals to verify and characterize device performance and to debug challenging system issues.

Most engineers can recall situations in which they were debugging a particularly difficult problem and wanted greater system visibility and context, but the oscilloscope they were using was limited to two or four analog channels. Using a second oscilloscope involves significant effort to align the trigger points, difficulty in determining the timing relationships across the two displays, and documentation challenges.

Users might assume that a six and eight-channel oscilloscope would cost 50% or 100% more than a four-channel oscilloscope, and will be pleasantly surprised to find that six-channel models are only ~25% more than four channel models and eight-channel models are only ~67% (or less) more than four channel models. The additional analog channels can pay for themselves quickly by enabling users to keep current and future projects on schedule.

FlexChannel technology enables maximum flexibility and broader system visibility

The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 redefines what a Mixed Signal Oscilloscope (MSO) should be. FlexChannel technology enables each channel input to be used as a single analog channel, eight digital logic inputs (with the TLP058 logic probe), or simultaneous analog and spectrum views with independent acquisition controls for each domain. Imagine the flexibility and configurability this provides.

Users can change the configuration at any time by simply adding or removing TLP058 logic probes, so that they always have the right number of digital channels.

Previous-generation MSOs required tradeoffs, with digital channels having lower sample rates or shorter record lengths than analog channels. The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 offers a new level of integration of digital channels. Digital channels share the same high sample rate (up to 50 GS/s), and long record length (up to 1 Gpoints) as analog channels.

Unprecedented signal viewing capability

The stunning 15.6" (396 mm) display in the MSO68B 6-BW-10000 is the largest display in the industry. It is also the highest resolution display, with full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080), enabling users to see many signals at once with ample room for critical readouts and analysis.

The viewing area is optimized to ensure that the maximum vertical space is available for waveforms. The Results Bar on the right can be hidden, enabling the waveform view to use the full width of the display.

The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 offers a revolutionary new Stacked display mode. Historically, scopes have overlaid all waveforms in the same graticule, forcing difficult tradeoffs:

The new Stacked display eliminates this tradeoff. It automatically adds and removes additional horizontal waveform 'slices' (additional graticules) as waveforms are created and removed. Each slice represents the full ADC range for the waveform. All waveforms are visually separated from each other while still using the full ADC range, enabling maximum visibility and accuracy. And it's all done automatically as waveforms are added or removed. Channels can easily be reordered in stacked display mode by dragging and dropping the channel and waveform badges in the Settings bar at the bottom of the display. Groups of channels can also be overlaid within a slice to simplify visual comparison of signals.

The massive display in the MSO68B 6-BW-10000 also provides plenty of viewing area not only for signals, but also for plots, measurement results tables, bus decode tables and more. Users can easily resize and relocate the various views to suit the application.

Exceptionally easy-to-use user interface lets users focus on the task at hand

The Settings Bar - key parameters and waveform management

Waveform and scope operating parameters are displayed in a series of "badges" in the Settings Bar that runs along the bottom of the display. The Settings Bar provides Immediate access for the most common waveform management tasks. With a single tap, users can:

The Results Bar - analysis and measurements

The Results Bar on the right side of the display includes immediate, onetap access to the most common analytical tools such as cursors, measurements, searches, measurement and bus decode results tables, plots, and callouts.

DVM, measurement and search results badges are displayed in the Results Bar without sacrificing any waveform viewing area. For additional waveform viewing area, the Results Bar can be dismissed and brought back at any time.

Touch interaction finally done right

Scopes have included touch screens for years, but the touch interface has been an afterthought. The MSO68B 6-BW-10000's 15.6" display includes a capacitive touchscreen and provides the industry's first oscilloscope user interface truly designed for touch.

The touch interactions that people use with phones and tablets, and expect in a touch enabled device, are supported in the MSO68B 6-BW-10000.

Smooth, responsive front panel controls allow users to make adjustments with familiar knobs and buttons, and they can add a mouse or keyboard as a third interaction method.

Variable font size

Historically, oscilloscope user interfaces have been designed with fixed font sizes to optimize viewing of waveforms and readouts. This implementation is fine if all users have the same viewing preferences, but they don't. Users spend a significant amount of time staring at screens, and Tektronix recognizes this. The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 offers a user preference for variable font sizes; scaling down to 12 points or up to 20 points. As users adjust the font size, the user interface dynamically scales so that they can easily choose the best size for the application.

Attention to detail in the front-panel controls

Traditionally, the front face of a scope has been roughly 50% display and 50% controls. The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 display fills about 85% of the face of the instrument. To achieve this, it has a streamlined front panel that retains critical controls for simple intuitive operation, but with a reduced number of menu buttons for functions directly accessed via objects on the display.

Color-coded LED light rings indicate trigger source and vertical scale/ position knob assignments. Large, dedicated Run/ Stop and Single Sequence buttons are placed prominently in the upper right, and other functions like Force Trigger, Trigger Slope, Trigger Mode, Default Setup, Auto-set and Quick-save functions are all available using dedicated front panel buttons.

Windows or not - you choose

The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 offers users the choice of whether to include a Microsoft Windows operating system.

The MSO68B 6-BW-10000 comes with a standard removable SSD that contains a closed embedded operating system that will boot as a dedicated scope with no ability to run or install other programs. An optional SSD with Windows 10 operating system is available that will boot to an open Windows 10 configuration, so users can minimize the oscilloscope application and access a Windows desktop where they can install and run additional applications on the oscilloscope, or they can connect additional monitors and extend the desktop. Simply swap the drives as needed through an access panel on the bottom of the instrument.

Whether users run Windows or not, the oscilloscope operates in exactly the same way with the same look and feel and UI interaction.

Need higher channel density?

The 6 Series is also available as a low-profile digitizer - the LPD64. With four SMA input channels plus an auxiliary trigger input, in a 2U high package and 12-bit ADC's, the 6 Series Low Profile Digitizer sets a new standard for performance in applications where extreme channel density is required.

Experience the performance difference

With up to 10 GHz analog bandwidth, 50 GS/s sample rates, standard 62.5 Mpts record length and a 12-bit analog to digital converter (ADC), the MSO68B 6-BW-10000 has the performance users need to capture waveforms with the best possible signal fidelity and resolution for seeing small waveform details.