xDevs.com | Tektronix MDO4000C mixed domain oscilloscope (MDO4054C) teardown

Intro

You can find good detailed reviews and teardowns of older version of Tektronix MDO4000 series from EEVBlog here and MDO4000B series from The Signal Path here. I’d expect most of design and hardware is carried over into MDO4000C as well, with minor tweaks and updates only.

Oscilloscope, 4 analog channels, 1 GHz, 500 MHz, 350 MHz, and 200 MHz bandwidth depends on SKU
Up to 5 GS/s sample rate, >20 M record length on all channels, >340000 wfm/s maximum waveform capture rate
Standard passive voltage probes with 3.9 pF capacitive loading and 1 GHz or 500 MHz analog bandwidth
8-bit vertical resolution (11 bit in Hi-Res mode)
Input impedance 1 MΩ ±1% or 50 Ω ±1%, DC or AC coupled
Sensitivity range 1mV/div to 10V/div for 1 MΩ or 1mV/div – 1V/div for 50Ω
Max input voltage 300V_RMS CAT II for 1 MΩ or 5 V_RMS for 50 Ω
Horizontal time-base range 1000ps (400ps for 1GHz) – 1000s, ±5 ppm
Spectrum Analyzer (Optional), Frequency range of 9 kHz-3 GHz or 9 kHz-6 GHz, Ultra-wide capture bandwidth >1 GHz
Time-synchronized capture of spectrum analyzer with analog and digital acquisitions
Frequency vs. time, amplitude vs. time, and phase vs. time waveforms
Arbitrary/Function Generator (Optional)
13 predefined waveform types, 50 MHz waveform generation (sine), 128 k arbitrary generator record length 250 MS/s, ±50 ppm.
Amplitude output range 20 mV_pk-pk to 5 V_pk-pk into Hi-Z; 10 mV_pk-pk to 2.5 V_pk-pk into 50 Ω
Logic Analyzer (Optional) 500MHz 16 digital channels, 20 M record length on all channels, 60.6 ps timing resolution (MagniVu)
Logic analyzer input voltage ±40V, minimum 400mV, Probe loading 100kΩ 3pF, 500 MS/s (2 ns resolution). Record length 20M.
Protocol Analyzer (Optional), Serial bus support for I2C, SPI, RS-232/422/485/UART, USB 2.0, Ethernet, CAN, LIN, FlexRay,MIL-STD-1553, and Audio standards
Digital Voltmeter/Frequency Counter (Free with product registration)
4-digit AC RMS, DC, and AC+DC RMS voltage measurements, 5-digit frequency measurements
XGA 1024×768 10.4” (264 mm) bright LED backlit TFT panel
LXI Core 2011 V1.4 compatibility over 10/100/1000BASE-T LAN port
USB ports to support USB MSD and keyboard (limited support). No mouse support.
VGA output for external monitor or projector
200,350 and 500MHz come with TPP0500B 10x passive 3.9pF probes, 1GHz model comes with TPP1000 passive 10x probe.
10MHz REF IN , AUX OUT and dedicated AFG BNC outputs on the rear
TekVPI™ input connectors. To use older TekProbe™ active probes separate TPA-BNC adapter is required (MSRP ~ $700 USD/pc)
Power measurements (Optional with DPO4PWR) for V_RMS, V_CrestFactor, Frequency, I_RMS, I_CrestFactor, TruePower, ApparentPower, ReactivePower, PowerFactor, PhaseAngle.
Environment and power: Mains 100-240 VAC ±10%, 50-60 and 400Hz, 250W max, 0 °C to +50°C operating
Physical: 229 × 439 × 147mm, 5.5kg (12.2lb) net, 11.2kg shipping, rackmount option space 5U

Exterior

Unit is rather compact, yet still sizable to capture large amount of bench space, as it required to be in proximity of the user. Also it’s not deep, just mere 14cm, meaning that other equipment cannot be stacked on top of it. Small depth is a pro for portable uses or tight lab spots, as unit can be mounted on the shelve using standard VESA arm/fixture, but other times it’s a con, as gear can’t be stacked on top of it, unlike old TDS5000/higher tier series. So MDO4000 fit field workload cases better.

Included passive probes are 500MHz Tek TPP0500B, set of four pieces , one per channel. These are fairly good x10 probes, with loading spec at 3.9pF. Top 1GHz bandwidth MDO4104C comes with passive 1GHz TPP1000 probes instead. If you got MDO4MSO option for digital 16-channel logic analyzer, it comes with P6616 probelet as well (standard scope kit does not have it included).

Rear I/O

As of external ports available on the back, there are BNCs for AFG OUT (signal generator optional output), AUX OUT (can be reference 10MHz out, trigger or AFG output), 10MHz REF IN from frequency standard, LXI-compatible RJ45 LAN port, VGA Video output, USB Device and two USB host ports. Also two more USB host ports are available on the front side of the instrument.

User interface

Does not have full keyboard support, backspace/delete not working
Does not have support for USB Mouse (at all!)
Clunky UI

http://www.tek.com/support/faqs/what-are-primary-differences-between-dpo-mso4000b-mdo4000-mdo4000b-and-mdo4000c

Boots fairly quickly, under a minute. It’s not a problem, as usually scope is turned on when you get to bench space, and turned off after all work is done.

Probe options

Cheaper entry-level scopes usually have just regular BNC input connector for signal interface. This interface provided a standard BNC port at its center, surrounded concentrically with seven landing pads for pogo pins to carry four supply voltages, I2C clock/data and offset signals. The BNC outer shell serves and ground for the signal and these other connections.

This allows to use common passive probes and externally powered active probes. The disadvantage of such interface is that once you have an active probe, circuitry on the probe needs power. And having external power supply for each probe is not that great solution. Also, active probes have more different properties and options, like the adjustable attenuation factor, or provide measurement for current instead of voltage, or have electronically controllable AC/DC coupling or bandwidth configuration. So top tier oscilloscope vendors introduced several different interfaces, that allow easy use and automatic detection and use of active probes capabilities.

TekProbe probe interface

Image : Courtesy of Tektronix FAQ

TekProbe interface was introduced in TDS series scopes in 1998. In addition to providing coupling of the signal from the probe to the oscilloscope the TekProbe interface also provide power and offset to active probes. Digital interface lets oscilloscope to sense the probe’s attenuation factor. The Tektronix oscilloscope models that incorporate this interface are the TDS300, TDS400, TDS500, TDS600, TDS700, TDS3000/B/C, TDS5000/B and TDS7000/B series. Adaptors to this interface are available for the newer DPO7000 (TCA-BNC), DPO70000/B (TCA-BNC), DSA70000/B (TCA-BNC), DPO4000/MSO4000 (TPA-BNC), DPO3000/MSO3000 (TPA-BNC), DPO2000/MSO2000 (TPA-BNC) series scopes.

TekConnect probe interface

The TekConnect probe interface was developed in 2000’s to address the bandwidth limitation of the BNC connector and provide improved reliability and ease of use. The maximum useable bandwidth of a high-quality BNC connector is about 4 GHz. Recognizing that market demand for measurement bandwidth above 4 GHz was increasing, the TekConnect probe interface was designed around a BMA connector. It is a blind mate connector system, similar in size and performance to an RF SMA connector, but without threaded ground connection. The BMA connector provides a 50 Ω fully coaxial interconnect that is suitable for electrical performance over 18 GHz. The probe power and control signals in the TekConnect interface are supported with a spring-contact pin block in the TekConnect “bucket” side of the interface. The gold-plated spring-contact pins mate with gold-plated pads on a small circuit board on the TekConnect “nose” side of the interface.

This connector interface is only DC coupled 50 Ω, so maximum peak rated voltage is 5V. To provide AC coupling or support high impedance connection, separate Tektronix TCA-1MEG active adapter much be used. We had a TCA-1MEG review and teardown here

TPA-BNC Adapter

To connect older TekProbe probes such as Tektronix P6246/P6251 Differential probes, a special adapter is required, called Tektronix TPA-BNC. A pretty common interface to active probes is the “TekProbe-BNC” interface. For the high-end range of scopes (like those which can be as expensive as a small house), they introduced the quite massive “TekConnect” interface. It provides symmetric voltages (+/- 15V, +/- 5V) and a data bus. It’s basically the same as the TekProbe-BNC interface, just that it allows more bandwidth and a better connection. For the mid-range scopes, like my beloved DPO4034, they introduced yet-another low-cost version, which doesn’t use a symmetric supply (instead, 12V “Bulk” are provided), and features a data-interface that looks like I2C… This interface is called “TekVPI”.

Now, if you happen to have a TekProbe-BNC probe, and happen to have a TekVPI scope, you need an adapter. That’s the TPA-BNC. It costs about $400, and plugins into a TekVPI slot, and provides a TekProbe-BNC interface. I’ve bought one of that.

Picasa member tmbinc1337 had one of these TPA-BNC adapters disassembled, but currently photos are removed from the gallery. Lucky for us, Wayback archive has them all. For the history purposes we provide deleted images here aswell.

Options

DPO4BND	Application bundle module that enables all of the functionality of the DPO4AERO, DPO4AUDIO, DPO4AUTO,DPO4COMP, DPO4EMBD, DPO4ENET, DPO4LMT, DPO4PWR, DPO4USB and DPO4VID
DPO4EMBD	Embedded Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4AUTO	Automotive Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4AUTOMAX	Extended Automotive Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4COMP	Computer Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4VID	Extended Video
DPO4AUDIO	Audio Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4USB	USB Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4PWR	Power Analysis
DPO4ENET	Ethernet Serial Triggering and Analysis
DPO4LMT	Limit/Mask Test
DPO4AERO	Aerospace Serial Triggering and Analysis
MDO4TRIG	Advanced RF Triggering
DPO4FLEX	FlexRay Serial Triggering and Analysis
MDO4MSO	Mixed Signal Oscilloscope
MDO4AFG	Arbitrary Function Generator
MDO4DVM	Digital Voltmeter
MDO4SEC	Security lockout

Decode protocols depend on activated options:

Technology		Features	Option
Embedded	I²C/SMBus	Trig,Decode,Search	DPO4EMBD
Embedded	SPI	Trig,Decode,Search	DPO4EMBD
Computer	RS232/422/485, UART	Trig, Decode, Search	DPO4COMP
USB	USB LS, FS, HS	Trigger LS, FS. HS only on 1GHz SKU	DPO4USB
Ethernet	10Base-T, 100Base-TX	Trig,Decode,Search	DPO4ENET
Automotive	CAN	Trig, Decode, Search	DPO4AUTO or DPO4AUTOMAX
Automotive	LIN	Trig, Decode, Search	DPO4AUTO or DPO4AUTOMAX
Automotive	FlexRay	Trig, Decode, Search	DPO4AUTOMAX
Military and Aerospace	MIL-STD-1553	Trig,Decode,Search	DPO4AERO