Spectrum View (optional)

Intuitive spectrum analyzer controls like center frequency, span and resolution bandwidth (RBW), independent from time domain controls, provide easy setup for frequency domain

analysis. A spectrum view is available for each FlexChannel analog input, enabling multi-channel mixed domain analysis.

It is often easier to debug an issue by viewing one or more signals in the

frequency domain. Oscilloscopes have included math-based FFTs for

decades in an attempt to address this need. However, FFTs are notoriously

difficult to use for two primary reasons.

First, when performing frequency-domain analysis, you think about controls

like Center Frequency, Span, and Resolution Bandwidth (RBW), as you

would typically find on a spectrum analyzer. But then you use an FFT,

where you are stuck with traditional scope controls like sample rate, record

length and time/div and have to perform all the mental translations to try to

get the view you’re looking for in the frequency-domain.

Second, FFTs are driven by the same acquisition system that’s delivering

the analog time-domain view. When you optimize acquisition settings for

the analog view, your frequency-domain view isn’t what you want. When

you get the frequency-domain view you want, your analog view is not what

you want. With math-based FFTs, it is virtually impossible to get optimized

views in both domains.

Spectrum View changes all of this. Tektronix’ patented technology provides

both a decimator for the time-domain and a digital downconverter for the

frequency-domain behind each FlexChannel. The two different acquisition

paths let you simultaneously observe both time- and frequency-domain

views of the input signal with independent acquisition settings for each

domain. Other manufacturers offer various ‘spectral analysis’ packages that

claim ease-of-use, but they all exhibit the limitations described above. Only

Spectrum View provides both exceptional ease-of-use and the ability to

achieve optimal views in both domains simultaneously.

4 Series MSO

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