Can’t decide on whether to choose a modern PC Oscilloscope or an expensive, traditional benchtop oscilloscope?
With class-leading bandwidth, sampling rate and memory depth, a PicoScope 5000 series PC Oscilloscope makes your choice a lot easier
250 MHz bandwidth
1 GS/s real-time sample rate
128 Megasample record length
PicoScope
5200 Series PC Based Oscilloscopes
The no compromise oscilloscopes
All other oscilloscopes at this price range force you to compromise on one of three key specifications: bandwidth, sampling rate or record length. With the PicoScope 5000 series you no longer have to compromise.
High bandwidth and sampling rate
At the heart of the PicoScope 5000 is its ability to
digitize signals accurately and with minimal distortion. The 250 MHz analog bandwidth is complimented by a real-time sample rate of 1 GS/s. For repetitive signals, an equivalent time sampling (ETS) mode increases the sampling to 20 GS/s.
Massive buffer memory
These days most digital oscilloscopes have high sampling rates,
but many of them let you down with a tiny memory buffer which means
that you can only use the maximum sampling rate on a few timebases.
The massive 128 megasample (128,000,000) record length of the 5204
ensures complex waveforms can be captured at the full sampling rate.
What do I get?
PicoScope 5000 PCO
2 x 250 MHz switchable probes
USB cable
Universal AC adaptor
Tough carry case
PicoScope oscilloscope software
Good things come in small packages
PicoScope 5000 PC Oscilloscopes have been designed to take up
very little of your valuable desk space. The innovative anti-slip
case design means that the PicoScope 5000 PCOs can be used either
horizontally or vertically — ideal when desk space is at a premium.
Unlike traditional benchtop oscilloscopes, PicoScope 5000 PC
Oscilloscopes are lightweight and small enough to be carried in the
same bag as your laptop, but for added protection you can use the
supplied tough carry case. Despite the compact design, the case can
safely store and protect your oscilloscope, leads, probes and power
supply — there’s even enough room for the user manual and software.
A PicoScope 5000 PC Oscilloscope comes with everything you need
to start taking measurements with the minimum of fuss and effort.
The PicoScope 5000 PCO is supplied in a tough carry case that
includes a USB cable, two 250 MHz x1/x10 oscilloscope probes,
PicoScope oscilloscope software and a universal power adaptor that
allows you to use your oscilloscope almost anywhere in the world.
All you need in an oscilloscope
With class-leading bandwidth, sampling rate and memory depth, and
an array of advanced high end features, PicoScope 5000 PC
Oscilloscopes give you the features and performance you need without
compromise. An ideal direct replacement to benchtop oscilloscopes,
PicoScope 5000 oscilloscopes are easy-to-use and cost-effective. The
PicoScope 5204 is the vanguard of PC Oscilloscope design, whilst for
those on a budget, the PicoScope 5203 has all the performance of the
5204 but with a smaller, though still impressive, 32 megasamples of
memory.
As a company we have spent the last 15 years listening to what our
customers want. The result of this feedback, and our unrivalled
experience, is the PicoScope 5204 dual-channel oscilloscope. Its
class-leading bandwidth, sampling rate and memory depth are
complemented by an array of advanced high end features.
PicoScope oscilloscope software
PicoScope 5000 oscilloscopes are supplied with PicoScope 6 oscilloscope software which allows you to use your PicoScope PCO as an oscilloscope, spectrum
analyzer and meter. PicoScope 6 is just as easy to use as its predecessor and makes the same efficient use of screen space, but is now even more responsive and has a more modern user interface. New features in the software include draggable axis, improved zoom tools and a waveform replay tool which automatically records the last 32 waveforms.
Advanced triggers
As well as the standard range of triggers found on most
oscilloscopes, the PicoScope 5000 series has a full complement of
advanced triggers as standard to help you capture the data you need.
Advanced triggers include:
Pulse width
Pulses less than/greater than a specified time width can be
triggered on.
Window
If a signal moves into or out of a specified window —
defined by 2 thresholds — a trigger event can be generated.
Optionally, the event can be qualified by pulse width, and other
trigger sources.
Dropout
Triggers after a signal stops toggling for a user defined
amount of time, can be qualified by other trigger sources
Delay
Once a trigger event has been identified, the unit can be
configured to trigger on the nth event and can additionally be
delayed by a user defined amount of time.
Logic Level
A range of triggers to identify a user defined logic state
or pattern. There are up to 4 logic trigger sources: CHA, CHB,
EXT and AUX I/O.
Arbitrary Waveform Generator
PicoScope 5000 series PCOs feature a built in signal generator output. This can generate standard waveforms from a library of stored waveforms including sine, square, triangle, ramp up, ramp down, sin(x)/x, Gaussian, half sine, white noise and DC level. You can also define your own waveforms using the power of the built in 12 bit, 125 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG).
Spectrum Analyzer
With the click of a button, a waveform capture window can be opened to display the spectrum plot of the selected channel. The spectrum
analyzer allows signals up to 250 MHz to be viewed in the frequency domain. A full range of settings give you control over the number of spectrum bands, window types and display modes.
High speed data acquisition
If the 128 M sample record length isn’t enough, the supplied drivers and Software Development Kit allows users to write their own software or interface to popular third party software packages. The drivers support data streaming functionality, where gap-free continuous data can be streamed via the USB 2.0 port directly to the PC's RAM or hard disk drive at up to 6 MS/s.
Oscilloscope controls
The display area is kept uncluttered to maximize the data views, commonly used controls such as voltage range selection, timebase, memory depth, channel selection are found on the front panels for quick access. More advanced controls and functions are located within the option menu.
Automatic measurements
The capability to display calculated measurements and parameters
for troubleshooting, analyzing or visualization is a powerful
feature. Each capture window view can display as many automatic
measurements as required.
Powerful visual capture and analysis
Viewing captured data in PicoScope software could not be simpler,
but it is also extremely powerful when presenting data in multiple
views. The PicoScope software displays waveform data in up to 5
capture windows.
Fully adjustable in size and shape designed to make use of the full
size of the computer display. Each capture window can be split into
a number of views which allow the data to be presented in a
multitude of formats.
Display tools
Rulers: A pair of rulers for each axis can be
dragged onto the screen in order to make simple measurements of
time, amplitude and frequency.
Axis dragging: The vertical axis of each channel in
each view can be adjusted simply by clicking on the axis values and
dragging the axis up or down, this feature is particularly useful
when data from one channel is obscuring data from another channel.
Advanced zoom and panning tools: You can now enjoy
greater freedom and simplicity when manipulating data views by using
the suite of browsing and zooming tools. These include the marquee
zoom tools where you can simply draw a box around the area you wish
to magnify.
Waveform replay tool: PicoScope software now
features a circular waveform buffer that automatically records the
last 32 waveforms, enabling scrolling and replaying of data,
especially useful when trying to find an intermittent event.
Variable up
to ±20 V
12 mV
typical
BNC, 1 MΩ
150 MHz
±100 V
Arbitrary Waveform
Generator
Arbitrary
waveform
buffer
10 to 8192
samples
Standard
waveforms
Sine,
square,
triangle,
ramp
(up/down),
sin (x)/x,
Gaussian,
half sine,
noise, DC
Special
modes
Triggering,
gating
Sample rate
125 MS/s
Output
characteristics
BNC, 50 Ω
Resolution
12 bits
Amplitude
±250 mV to
±2 V (±2.5 V
with DC
offset)
DC offset
±1 V
Auxiliary
Input/Output (AUX
IO)
Input
impedance
100 kΩ
Output
impedance
600 Ω
Maximum
input
voltage
5 V
Input
threshold
1.65 V
(nominal)
PC
Requirements
Minimum
Processor:
Pentium II
processor,
or
equivalent
Memory:
64 MB
minimum Disk
space:
300 MB
minimum
Operating
system:
Microsoft
Windows
98SE, ME,
2000 or XP
Ports:
USB 1.1
compliant
port
Recommended
Processor:
2 GHz
Pentium IV
processer,
or
equivalent
Memory:
256 MB Disk
space:
1 GB
Operating
system:
Microsoft
Windows XP
Ports:
USB 2.0
compliant
port
Environmental
Operating
environment
Temperature
range
Humidity
0 °C to 40
°C for
normal
operation
20 °C to 30
°C for
quoted
accuracy
5% to 80%
RH,
non-condensing
Storage
environment
Temperature
range
Humidity
-20 °C to
+60 °C
5% to 95%
RH,
non-condensing
Physical Dimensions
Dimensions
170 x 255 x
40 mm
(6.7 x 10.0
x 1.6 in)
Weight
0.9 kg
(31.7 oz)
Compliance
European EMC
and LVD
standards
FCC Rules
Part 15
Class A
General
Supplied
software/hardware
PicoScope 6
software,
drivers,
SDK
Tough carry
case
2 x 250 MHz
x1/x10
oscilloscope
probes
USB 2.0
cable
AC adaptor
Power supply
AC adaptor
6 V ±5% @
2.5 A
External
adaptor
supplied
(suitable
for USA, UK,
Europe and
Australasia
Variable up
to ±20 V
12 mV
typical
BNC, 1 MΩ
150 MHz
±100 V
Arbitrary Waveform
Generator
Arbitrary
waveform
buffer
10 to 8192
samples
Standard
waveforms
Sine,
square,
triangle,
ramp
(up/down),
sin (x)/x,
Gaussian,
half sine,
noise, DC
Special
modes
Triggering,
gating
Sample rate
125 MS/s
Output
characteristics
BNC, 50 Ω
Resolution
12 bits
Amplitude
±250 mV to
±2 V (±2.5 V
with DC
offset)
DC offset
±1 V
Auxiliary
Input/Output (AUX
IO)
Input
impedance
100 kΩ
Output
impedance
600 Ω
Maximum
input
voltage
5 V
Input
threshold
1.65 V
(nominal)
PC
Requirements
Minimum
Processor:
Pentium II
processor,
or
equivalent
Memory:
64 MB
minimum Disk
space:
300 MB
minimum
Operating
system:
Microsoft
Windows
98SE, ME,
2000 or XP
Ports:
USB 1.1
compliant
port
Recommended
Processor:
2 GHz
Pentium IV
processer,
or
equivalent
Memory:
256 MB Disk
space:
1 GB
Operating
system:
Microsoft
Windows XP
Ports:
USB 2.0
compliant
port
Environmental
Operating
environment
Temperature
range
Humidity
0 °C to 40
°C for
normal
operation
20 °C to 30
°C for
quoted
accuracy
5% to 80%
RH,
non-condensing
Storage
environment
Temperature
range
Humidity
-20 °C to
+60 °C
5% to 95%
RH,
non-condensing
Physical Dimensions
Dimensions
170 x 255 x
40 mm
(6.7 x 10.0
x 1.6 in)
Weight
0.9 kg
(31.7 oz)
Compliance
European EMC
and LVD
standards
FCC Rules
Part 15
Class A
General
Supplied
software/hardware
PicoScope 6
software,
drivers,
SDK
Tough carry
case
2 x 250 MHz
x1/x10
oscilloscope
probes
USB 2.0
cable
AC adaptor
Power supply
AC adaptor
6 V ±5% @
2.5 A
External
adaptor
supplied
(suitable
for USA, UK,
Europe and
Australasia
Fully adjustable in size and shape designed to make use of the full
size of the computer display. Each capture window can be split into
a number of views which allow the data to be presented in a
multitude of formats.
Axis dragging: The vertical axis of each channel in
each view can be adjusted simply by clicking on the axis values and
dragging the axis up or down, this feature is particularly useful
when data from one channel is obscuring data from another channel.
Advanced zoom and panning tools: You can now enjoy
greater freedom and simplicity when manipulating data views by using
the suite of browsing and zooming tools. These include the marquee
zoom tools where you can simply draw a box around the area you wish
to magnify.
Waveform replay tool: PicoScope software now
features a circular waveform buffer that automatically records the
last 32 waveforms, enabling scrolling and replaying of data,
especially useful when trying to find an intermittent event.
