Pico Technology

Here is your March 2010 Test and Measurement update from Pico Technology.

1. New! PicoScope 9211A TDR/TDT Sampling Scope

The PicoScope 9211A TDR/TDT Sampling Oscilloscope is a new instrument specially designed for time-domain reflectometry (TDR) and time-domain transmissometry (TDT). It provides a low- cost method of testing cables, connectors, circuit boards and IC packages for unwanted reflections and losses.

The PicoScope 9211A works by launching pulses into the device under test using one of its two independently programmable, 100 ps rise-time step generators. It then uses its 12 GHz sampling inputs to build up a picture from a sequence of reflected or transmitted pulses. The results can be displayed as volts, ohms or reflection coefficient against time or distance.

Unlike traditional, bulky bench-top instruments that contain a PC and a display, the PicoScope 9211A takes very little space on your workbench. If you're working at a customer's premises, the only extra equipment you need to carry is a laptop and a mains adapter. The analyser connects to any Windows XP or Vista computer with a USB 2.0 port, and an Ethernet port is provided for remote operation over a network. There are no extra software modules to buy, as all the software you need is included in the initial cost.

The PicoScope 9211A is on sale now, priced at only £7,495. The price includes all necessary calibrated cables, filters, power splitters and adaptors.

Read more about the PicoScope 9211A TDR/TDT oscilloscope

2.  Serial Decoding: Which Format Would You Like to See Next?

Since release 6.3.4, PicoScope 6 has had a serial decoding facility built in. We decided to start with the CAN Bus format, as that had been requested by our automotive customers. Now we are planning to add more formats, but we would like your opinion on which one to provide next. Here are some of the possibilities:

• I²C
• SPI
• 1-Wire
• RS-232
• USB
• Ethernet
• Profibus
• LIN
• FlexRay

We have set up an online survey so that you can vote for a serial format. The most popular format(s) will go into a future software release, which as usual will be free of charge.

3.  Tech Tip: Drag and Drop into PicoScope

Did you know that you can open any PicoScope 6 waveform file by dragging and dropping it onto the PicoScope window? This works with PicoScope 5 (.psd) and PicoScope 6 (.psdata) files. If the file contains more than one waveform, you can navigate to one of them and then do “File > Save Current Waveform> to save a smaller file containing just the currently visible waveform. You can also use this method to open a PicoScope 5 file and re- save it in the new PicoScope 6 format, which allows you to preview the waveform in Windows Explorer.

Make sure that you have the latest version of PicoScope by visiting our download page.

4.  Software Updates

• PicoLog 5.21.0 - bug fixes for PCI parallel port cards, USB TC-08 and using multiple PicoLog 1000 Series data loggers, memory leak during recording
• EnviroMon 5.21.5 - Italian language support added

Download the latest software

5.  Questions and Answers

Here is a selection of the questions that have cropped up recently on our support forum and elsewhere:

Q. I am using the PicoScope 2205 to measure voltage but I would like display current against time instead of volts against time. Using Ohm's law I can calculate the current from the voltage but I was wondering if there is a way of changing the y-axis in the PicoScope 6 software to show current instead of volts.

A. Yes, there is, by using the “custom probe” feature in PicoScope. Click the Channel Options button for the relevant channel, then click the button with three dots to the right of the word “Probe”. This opens the Custom Probes dialog. Click “New Probe” and fill in the series of dialogs that appears. Ignore all the advanced options, choose “amperes” as the display unit and “linear equation” as the scaling method, and enter the desired conversion factor in the “gradient” box. Back in the Channel Options dialog, select the new probe that you have just created, and you will then see the vertical axis correctly scaled in milliamps.

Q. I have recently purchased a current probe which is calibrated to work with a spectrum analyzer having a 50 ohm input impedance. Now I have the PicoScope 2205. If I am not mistaken the input impedance of the 2205 is 1 megohm. Does this mean that I can't use my current probe with this device?

A. You can use your current probe with your PicoScope 2205. You will need to obtain an inexpensive 50 ohm feedthrough terminator like the Pico Technology TA051. Plug the terminator onto the BNC connector on the scope, then plug your current probe onto the terminator.

6.  Events

For the latest information about upcoming exhibitions, please see our “Training and Exhibitions” page.

7.  Employment Opportunities

Due to our continuing growth, we have vacancies for the following positions:

• Development Engineer - Windows Desktop Application Software
• Development Engineer - Analogue Hardware
• Development Engineer - Hardware

Find more details of these positions and complete an online application form

We look forward to hearing from you if you want to be part of a growing company at the leading edge of test equipment design.

8.  Software Releases

As soon as we release new software, it is made available for FREE download from our website. To check which version you are using, start the software (PicoScope, PicoLog or EnviroMon) and select HELP | ABOUT.

The current releases are:

To download the latest software please visit the software downloads page

See Software Releases - New Features for a list of recent changes and additions to the software.

9.  About this Newsletter

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10.  Contact Details

Stop Press: Enclosure Survey Prize Draw Winner Announced!

Last month we asked you for your opinions and suggestions on designing new enclosures (cases) for our scopes. Every respondent was entered in a prize draw to win a PicoScope 4424 4-channel high-resolution oscilloscope. The lucky winner was Dave Samuels of Texas, USA. Our thanks to Dave and to everyone else who replied.

Stop Press 2: PicoScope 6000 Series Wins its First Award!

It didn’t take long for the new high-performance PicoScope 6000 Series scopes to get noticed. On their first outing, at the MessTec & Sensor Masters 2010 show in Stuttgart, Germany, earlier this month, our new scopes picked up one of only three awards for best new product.

More on the PicoScope 6000 Series

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