Saelig offers GW Instek oscilloscopes with multiple built-in instruments

Fairport, NY. Saelig Co. Inc. announced that it is offering the GW Instek MDO-2000E Series oscilloscopes, which combine several test instruments in one enclosure. The design includes an actual spectrum analyzer—not just an FFT calculation to display the frequency domain. The series includes two instrument combinations: MDO-2000EG and MDO-2000EX. MDO-2000EG models have a built-in true spectrum analyzer and a dual-channel 25-MHz arbitrary waveform generator, while the MDO-2000EX models feature a built-in true spectrum analyzer, an arbitrary waveform generator, a 5,000-count DMM, and a 5-V, 1-A power supply. The MDO-2000EX instrument’s space-saving combination of spectrum analyzer, DMM, and power supply make it suitable for educational or space-restricted use. The MDO-2000E Series is available in three bandwidths— 70, 100, and 200 MHz—and in 2- or 4-channel models.

A conventional digital oscilloscope uses FFT calculations over the entire signal bandwidth up to half the sampling rate, Saelig reports, adding that inadequate calculation capability means it is impossible to have a signal’s detailed frequency information due to the insufficient frequency resolution from the calculation. In contrast, the MDO-2000E Series analyzes just a defined signal spectrum of interest to allow engineers to effectively conduct precision signal measurements in the frequency domain. Users can input specific data of interest regarding the signal: center frequency, span, and start/stop frequency, similar to a traditional spectrum analyzer. While observing frequency domain display, engineers can observe waveform characteristics that are not easily seen from time-domain waveforms, such as the harmonic composition of a waveform and the frequency characteristics of a modulation signal. Compared with an oscilloscope’s FFT, the MDO-2000E allows engineers to effectively conduct signal measurements both in the time and frequency domains.

The spectrum function of MDO-2000E can test signals that are below 9 kHz, such as audio and vibration signals. The MDO-2000E can also test signals that have a DC component without damaging the instrument. The MDO-2000E offers the same capabilities as real-time spectrum analyzers, Saelig said, but is faster than frequency-sweeping because the MDO-2000E utilizes advanced digital circuitry and software to render the frequency display. Ordinary spectrum analyzers process narrow frequency bandwidths that are frequency-swept over time. Thousands of frequency sweeps are collected to form a spectrum. The FFT settings of ordinary digital oscilloscopes are dependent on the horizontal scale or sample rate setting, which is different from the frequency range setting of the MDO-2000E Series.

Made by the Taiwanese test and measurement specialists GW Instek, the MDO-2000E oscilloscope series are available now from Saelig Company Inc.