MDO3000 Series Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes User Manual

x
MDO3000 Series
Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes
ZZZ
User Manual
*P077096800*
077-0968-00
xx MDO3000 Series
Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes
ZZZ
User Manual
www.tektronix.com
077-0968-00
Copyright © Tektronix. All rights reserved. Licensed software products are owned by Tektronix or its subsidiaries or suppliers, and are
protected by national copyright laws and international treaty provisions.
Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this publication supersedes that in all
previously published material. Specifications and price change privileges reserved.
TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.
e*Scope, iView, OpenChoice, and TekSecure, and TekVPI are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.
MagniVu and Wave Inspector are trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.
PictBridge is a registered trademark of the Standard of Camera & Imaging Products Association CIPA DC-001-2003 Digital Photo
Solutions for Imaging Devices.
Contacting Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc.
14150 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR 97077
USA
For product information, sales, service, and technical support:

In North America, call 1-800-833-9200.
Worldwide, visit www.tektronix.com to find contacts in your area.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes
Warranty
Tektronix warrants that the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from the date
of original purchase from an authorized Tektronix distributor. If the product proves defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its
option, either will repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the
defective product. Batteries are excluded from this warranty. Parts, modules and replacement products used by Tektronix for warranty
work may be new or reconditioned to like new performance. All replaced parts, modules and products become the property of Tektronix.
In order to obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of the defect before the expiration of the warranty
period and make suitable arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for packaging and shipping
the defective product to the service center designated by Tektronix, shipping charges prepaid, and with a copy of customer proof of
purchase. Tektronix shall pay for the return of the product to Customer if the shipment is to a location within the country in which
the Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying all shipping charges, duties, taxes, and any other
charges for products returned to any other locations.
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate maintenance and
care. Tektronix shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting from attempts by personnel
other than Tektronix representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair damage resulting from improper use or
connection to incompatible equipment; c) to repair any damage or malfunction caused by the use of non-Tektronix supplies; or
d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with other products when the effect of such modification or integration
increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. TEKTRONIX' RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS
IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER FOR BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX
AND ITS VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER TEKTRONIX OR THE VENDOR HAS ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
[W16 – 15AUG04]
P6316, TPP0250, TPP0500B, and TPP1000 Probes
Warranty
Tektronix warrants that the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of
original purchase from an authorized Tektronix distributor. If the product proves defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its
option, either will repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the
defective product. Batteries are excluded from this warranty. Parts, modules and replacement products used by Tektronix for warranty
work may be new or reconditioned to like new performance. All replaced parts, modules and products become the property of Tektronix.
In order to obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of the defect before the expiration of the warranty
period and make suitable arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for packaging and shipping
the defective product to the service center designated by Tektronix, shipping charges prepaid, and with a copy of customer proof of
purchase. Tektronix shall pay for the return of the product to Customer if the shipment is to a location within the country in which
the Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying all shipping charges, duties, taxes, and any other
charges for products returned to any other locations.
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate maintenance and
care. Tektronix shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting from attempts by personnel
other than Tektronix representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair damage resulting from improper use or
connection to incompatible equipment; c) to repair any damage or malfunction caused by the use of non-Tektronix supplies; or
d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with other products when the effect of such modification or integration
increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. TEKTRONIX' RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS
IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER FOR BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX
AND ITS VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER TEKTRONIX OR THE VENDOR HAS ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
[W15 – 15AUG04]
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Important safety information . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . v
General safety summary.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . v
Service safety summary .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . viii
Terms in this manual . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ix
Symbols and terms on the product . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ix
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . x
EMC compliance . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . x
Safety compliance. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ... xi
Environmental considerations .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . xiv
Preface .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ... . .. . .. xv
Key Features .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . xvi
Conventions Used in This Manual. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . xvi
Installation.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . .. . .. . 1
Before Installation . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ... . 1
Operating Considerations. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 5
Connecting Probes.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 7
Securing the Oscilloscope . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 8
Powering on the Oscilloscope .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 9
Powering off the Oscilloscope .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 10
Functional Check. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 10
Compensating a TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 11
Compensating a non-TPP0250, non-TPP0500B or non-TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 13
Application Module Free Trial. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 14
Installing an Application Module . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 14
Upgrading Bandwidth .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 15
Changing the Language of the User Interface or Keyboard. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 18
Changing the Date and Time . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 20
Signal Path Compensation .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 21
Upgrading Firmware . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 23
Connecting Your Oscilloscope to a Computer . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 26
Connecting a USB Keyboard to Your Oscilloscope. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 35
Get Acquainted with the Instrument . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 36
Front-Panel Menus, Controls, and Connectors .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 36
Front Panel Menus and Controls .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 37
Front Panel Connectors. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 52
Side-Panel Connector.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 52
Rear-Panel Connectors . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 53
Acquire the Signal .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ... . .. 54
Setting Up Analog Channels. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 54
Using the Default Setup. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 57
Using Autoset . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 58
Acquisition Concepts. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 59
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual i

Table of Contents
Using FastAcq. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 60
How the Analog Acquisition Modes Work .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 62
Changing the Acquisition Mode, Record Length, and Delay Time. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 62
Using Roll Mode.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 64
Act on Event. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 65
Setting Up a Serial or Parallel Bus . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 67
Setting Up Digital Channels . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 79
When and Why to Turn On MagniVu . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 81
Using MagniVu . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 81
Setting Up the RF Inputs.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 82
Trigger Setup . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ... .. . .. 87
Triggering Concepts. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 87
Choosing a Trigger Type.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 90
Selecting Triggers . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 91
Triggering on Buses. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 93
Checking Trigger Settings . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 97
Using Sequence Trigger (A (Main) and B (Delayed)).. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. 98
Starting and Stopping an Acquisition. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 100
Display Waveform or Trace Data . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 101
Adding and Removing a Waveform .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 101
Setting the Display Style and Persistence . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 101
Setting Waveform Intensity .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 105
Scaling and Positioning a Waveform . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 106
Setting Input Parameters . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 107
Positioning and Labeling Bus Signals . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 111
Positioning, Scaling, and Grouping Digital Channels.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 111
Viewing Digital Channels . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 113
Annotating the Screen . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 113
Viewing the Trigger Frequency . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 114
Displaying the Frequency Domain Menu. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 115
Analyze Waveform or Trace Data. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 119
Using Markers in the Frequency Domain .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 119
Taking Automatic Measurements in the Time Domain . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 122
Selecting Automatic Measurements in the Time Domain . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 123
Customizing an Automatic Measurement in the Time Domain. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 126
Taking Automatic Measurements in the Frequency Domain . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 130
Taking Digital Voltmeter Measurements. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 131
Taking Manual Measurements with Cursors .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 132
Setting Up a Histogram . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 136
Using Math Waveforms . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 139
Using FFT .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 140
Using Advanced Math.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 143
Using Spectrum Math .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 144
Using Reference Waveforms and Traces .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 145
Using Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 147
ii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Table of Contents
Auto-magnify .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 153
Limit and Mask Testing. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 154
Making Video Tests . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 158
Making Automated Power Measurements . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 159
Save and Recall Information . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 160
Saving a Screen Image . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 162
Saving and Recalling Waveform and Trace Data. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 163
Saving and Recalling Setups . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 166
Saving with One Button Push .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 168
Managing Drives, Directories, and Files . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 169
Mounting a Network Drive . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 169
Printing a Hard Copy. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 170
Using Oscilloscope Security Features .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 178
Use the Arbitrary Function Generator .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 183
Use the Application Modules . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 189
Appendix A: Warranted Specifications.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 191
Appendix B: TPP0250, TPP0500B and TPP1000: 250 MHz, 500 MHz and 1 GHz 10X Passive Probes Information . . .. . .. . 196
Operating Information .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 196
Connecting the Probe to the Oscilloscope . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 196
Compensating the Probe with MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 196
Standard Accessories.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 196
Optional Accessories .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 198
Replacing the Probe Tip .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 199
Specifications.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 199
Performance Graphs. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 199
Safety Summary . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 201
Appendix C: P6316 General-Purpose Logic Probe Information .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 203
Product Description . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 203
Connecting the Probe to the Oscilloscope . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 203
Connecting the Probe to Your Circuit . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 204
Functional Check. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 204
Typical Application .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 205
Accessories . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 206
Specifications.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207
Safety Summary . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207
Safety Terms and Symbols in This Manual.. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 208
Appendix D: OpenSSL License . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 209
Index
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual iii

Table of Contents
iv MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Important safety information

This manual contains information and warnings that must be followed by the user for safe operation and to keep the
product in a safe condition.
To safely perform service on this product, additional information is provided at the end of this section.(See page viii,
Service safety summary.)
General safety summary

Use the product only as specified. Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product
or any products connected to it. Carefully read all instructions. Retain these instructions for future reference.
Comply with local and national safety codes.
For correct and safe operation of the product, it is essential that you follow generally accepted safety procedures in addition
to the safety precautions specified in this manual.
The product is designed to be used by trained personnel only.
Only qualified personnel who are aware of the hazards involved should remove the cover for repair, maintenance, or
adjustment.
Before use, always check the product with a known source to be sure it is operating correctly.
This product is not intended for detection of hazardous voltages.
Use personal protective equipment to prevent shock and arc blast injury where hazardous live conductors are exposed.
While using this product, you may need to access other parts of a larger system. Read the safety sections of the other
component manuals for warnings and cautions related to operating the system.
When incorporating this equipment into a system, the safety of that system is the responsibility of the assembler of the system.
To avoid fire or personal injury

Use proper power cord. Use only the power cord specified for this product and certified for the country of use.
Do not use the provided power cord for other products.
Ground the product. This product is grounded through the grounding conductor of the power cord. To avoid electric
shock, the grounding conductor must be connected to earth ground. Before making connections to the input or output
terminals of the product, make sure that the product is properly grounded.
Do not disable the power cord grounding connection.
Power disconnect. The power cord disconnects the product from the power source. See instructions for the location.
Do not position the equipment so that it is difficult to operate the power cord; it must remain accessible to the user at all
times to allow for quick disconnection if needed.
Connect and disconnect properly. Do not connect or disconnect probes or test leads while they are connected
to a voltage source.
Use only insulated voltage probes, test leads, and adapters supplied with the product, or indicated by Tektronix to be
suitable for the product.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual v

Observe all terminal ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the product. Consult
the product manual for further ratings information before making connections to the product. Do not exceed the Measurement
Category (CAT) rating and voltage or current rating of the lowest rated individual component of a product, probe, or
accessory. Use caution when using 1:1 test leads because the probe tip voltage is directly transmitted to the product.
Do not apply a potential to any terminal, including the common terminal, that exceeds the maximum rating of that terminal.
Do not float the common terminal above the rated voltage for that terminal.
Do not operate without covers. Do not operate this product with covers or panels removed, or with the case open.
Hazardous voltage exposure is possible.
Avoid exposed circuitry. Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.
Do not operate with suspected failures. If you suspect that there is damage to this product, have it inspected by
qualified service personnel.
Disable the product if it is damaged. Do not use the product if it is damaged or operates incorrectly. If in doubt about safety of
the product, turn it off and disconnect the power cord. Clearly mark the product to prevent its further operation.
Before use, inspect voltage probes, test leads, and accessories for mechanical damage and replace when damaged. Do not
use probes or test leads if they are damaged, if there is exposed metal, or if a wear indicator shows.
Examine the exterior of the product before you use it. Look for cracks or missing pieces.
Use only specified replacement parts.
Use proper fuse. Use only the fuse type and rating specified for this product.
Do not operate in wet/damp conditions. Be aware that condensation may occur if a unit is moved from a cold to a
warm environment.
Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.

Keep product surfaces clean and dry. Remove the input signals before you clean the product.
Provide proper ventilation. Refer to the installation instructions in the manual for details on installing the product
so it has proper ventilation.
Slots and openings are provided for ventilation and should never be covered or otherwise obstructed. Do not push objects
into any of the openings.
Provide a safe working environment. Always place the product in a location convenient for viewing the display
and indicators.
Avoid improper or prolonged use of keyboards, pointers, and button pads. Improper or prolonged keyboard or pointer use
may result in serious injury.
Be sure your work area meets applicable ergonomic standards. Consult with an ergonomics professional to avoid stress
injuries.
Use only the Tektronix rackmount hardware specified for this product.
Probes and test leads

Before connecting probes or test leads, connect the power cord from the power connector to a properly grounded power
outlet.
vi MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Keep fingers behind the finger guards on the probes.

Remove all probes, test leads and accessories that are not in use.
Use only correct Measurement Category (CAT), voltage, temperature, altitude, and amperage rated probes, test leads,
and adapters for any measurement.
Beware of high voltages. Understand the voltage ratings for the probe you are using and do not exceed those ratings.
Two ratings are important to know and understand:
The maximum measurement voltage from the probe tip to the probe reference lead.
The maximum floating voltage from the probe reference lead to earth ground
These two voltage ratings depend on the probe and your application. Refer to the Specifications section of the manual
for more information.
WARNING. To prevent electrical shock, do not exceed the maximum measurement or maximum floating voltage for the
oscilloscope input BNC connector, probe tip, or probe reference lead.
Connect and disconnect properly. Connect the probe output to the measurement product before connecting the
probe to the circuit under test. Connect the probe reference lead to the circuit under test before connecting the probe input.
Disconnect the probe input and the probe reference lead from the circuit under test before disconnecting the probe from
the measurement product.
Connect and disconnect properly. De-energize the circuit under test before connecting or disconnecting the current
probe.
Connect the probe reference lead to earth ground only.
Do not connect a current probe to any wire that carries voltages above the current probe voltage rating.
Inspect the probe and accessories. Before each use, inspect probe and accessories for damage (cuts, tears, or
defects in the probe body, accessories, or cable jacket). Do not use if damaged.
Ground-referenced oscilloscope use. Do not float the reference lead of this probe when using with ground-referenced
oscilloscopes. The reference lead must be connected to earth potential (0 V).
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual vii

Service safety summary

The Service safety summary section contains additional information required to safely perform service on the product. Only
qualified personnel should perform service procedures. Read this Service safety summary and the General safety summary
before performing any service procedures.
To avoid electric shock. Do not touch exposed connections.
Do not service alone. Do not perform internal service or adjustments of this product unless another person capable of
rendering first aid and resuscitation is present.
Disconnect power. To avoid electric shock, switch off the product power and disconnect the power cord from the mains
power before removing any covers or panels, or opening the case for servicing.
Use care when servicing with power on. Dangerous voltages or currents may exist in this product. Disconnect
power, remove battery (if applicable), and disconnect test leads before removing protective panels, soldering, or replacing
components.
Verify safety after repair. Always recheck ground continuity and mains dielectric strength after performing a repair.
viii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Terms in this manual

These terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING. Warning statements identify conditions or practices that could result in injury or loss of life.
CAUTION. Caution statements identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to this product or other property.
Symbols and terms on the product

These terms may appear on the product:
DANGER indicates an injury hazard immediately accessible as you read the marking.
WARNING indicates an injury hazard not immediately accessible as you read the marking.
CAUTION indicates a hazard to property including the product.
When this symbol is marked on the product, be sure to consult the manual to find out the nature of the
potential hazards and any actions which have to be taken to avoid them. (This symbol may also be used to
refer the user to ratings in the manual.)
The following symbol(s) may appear on the product:
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual ix

Compliance information
This section lists the EMC (electromagnetic compliance), safety, and environmental standards with which the instrument
complies.
EMC compliance
EC Declaration of Conformity – EMC
Meets intent of Directive 2004/108/EC for Electromagnetic Compatibility. Compliance was demonstrated to the following
specifications as listed in the Official Journal of the European Communities:
EN 61326-1:2006, EN 61326-2-1:2006. EMC requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use. 1 2 3
CISPR 11:2003. Radiated and conducted emissions, Group 1, Class A

IEC 61000-4-2:2001. Electrostatic discharge immunity
IEC 61000-4-3:2002. RF electromagnetic field immunity 4
IEC 61000-4-4:2004. Electrical fast transient/burst immunity
IEC 61000-4-5:2001. Power line surge immunity
IEC 61000-4-6:2003. Conducted RF immunity 5
IEC 61000-4-11:2004. Voltage dips and interruptions immunity 6
EN 61000-3-2:2006. AC power line harmonic emissions
EN 61000-3-3:1995. Voltage changes, fluctuations, and flicker
European contact.
Tektronix UK, Ltd.
Western Peninsula
Western Road
Bracknell, RG12 1RF
United Kingdom
1 This product is intended for use in nonresidential areas only. Use in residential areas may cause electromagnetic interference.
2 Emissions which exceed the levels required by this standard may occur when this equipment is connected to a test object.
3 For compliance with the EMC standards listed here, high quality shielded interface cables should be used.
4 Oscilloscope: ≤ 3.0 division waveform displacement and ≤ 6.0 division increase in peak-to-peak noise. RF: Residual spurious
signals in the RF section can typically increase to –50 dBm when the instrument is subjected to electromagnetic interference per the
IEC 61000-4-3 test for frequencies up to 1 GHz, and to –35 dBm for frequencies above 1 GHz.
5 Oscilloscope: ≤ 1.0 division waveform displacement and ≤ 2.0 division increase in peak-to-peak noise. RF: Residual spurious
signals in the RF section can typically increase to –85 dBm when the instrument is subjected to electromagnetic interference
per the IEC 61000-4-6 test.
6 Performance Criterion C applied at the 70%/25 cycle Voltage-Dip and the 0%/250 cycle Voltage-Interruption test levels (IEC
61000-4-11).
x MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Australia / New Zealand Declaration of Conformity – EMC
Complies with the EMC provision of the Radiocommunications Act per the following standard, in accordance with ACMA:
CISPR 11:2003. Radiated and Conducted Emissions, Group 1, Class A, in accordance with EN 61326-1:2006 and
EN 61326-2-1:2006.
Australia / New Zealand contact.

Baker & McKenzie
Level 27, AMP Centre
50 Bridge Street
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Russian Federation
This product is approved by the Russian government to carry the GOST mark.
Safety compliance
This section lists the safety standards with which the product complies and other safety compliance information.
EU declaration of conformity – low voltage

Compliance was demonstrated to the following specification as listed in the Official Journal of the European Union:
Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC.
EN 61010-1. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
1: General Requirements.
EN 61010-2-030. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
2-030: Particular requirements for testing and measuring circuits.
U.S. nationally recognized testing laboratory listing

UL 61010-1. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
UL 61010-2-030. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
Canadian certification
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory
Use – Part 1: General Requirements.
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-2-030. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and
Laboratory Use – Part 2-030: Particular requirements for testing and measuring circuits.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xi

Additional compliances
IEC 61010-1. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
IEC 61010-2-030. Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part
Equipment type
Test and measuring equipment.
Safety class
Class 1 – grounded product.
Pollution degree descriptions

A measure of the contaminants that could occur in the environment around and within a product. Typically the internal
environment inside a product is considered to be the same as the external. Products should be used only in the environment
for which they are rated.
Pollution degree 1. No pollution or only dry, nonconductive pollution occurs. Products in this category are generally
encapsulated, hermetically sealed, or located in clean rooms.
Pollution degree 2. Normally only dry, nonconductive pollution occurs. Occasionally a temporary conductivity that is
caused by condensation must be expected. This location is a typical office/home environment. Temporary condensation
occurs only when the product is out of service.
Pollution degree 3. Conductive pollution, or dry, nonconductive pollution that becomes conductive due to condensation.
These are sheltered locations where neither temperature nor humidity is controlled. The area is protected from direct
sunshine, rain, or direct wind.
Pollution degree 4. Pollution that generates persistent conductivity through conductive dust, rain, or snow. Typical
outdoor locations.
Pollution degree rating

Pollution degree 2 (as defined in IEC 61010-1). Rated for indoor, dry location use only.
IP rating
IP20 (as defined in IEC 60529).
xii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Measurement and overvoltage category descriptions
Measurement terminals on this product may be rated for measuring mains voltages from one or more of the following
categories (see specific ratings marked on the product and in the manual).
Category II. Circuits directly connected to the building wiring at utilization points (socket outlets and similar points).
Category III. In the building wiring and distribution system.
Category IV. At the source of the electrical supply to the building.
NOTE. Only mains power supply circuits have an overvoltage category rating. Only measurement circuits have a
measurement category rating. Other circuits within the product do not have either rating.
Mains overvoltage category rating

Overvoltage category II (as defined in IEC 61010-1).
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xiii

Environmental considerations
This section provides information about the environmental impact of the product.
Product end-of-life handling

Observe the following guidelines when recycling an instrument or component:
Equipment recycling. Production of this equipment required the extraction and use of natural resources. The equipment
may contain substances that could be harmful to the environment or human health if improperly handled at the product’s
end of life. To avoid release of such substances into the environment and to reduce the use of natural resources, we
encourage you to recycle this product in an appropriate system that will ensure that most of the materials are reused
or recycled appropriately.
This symbol indicates that this product complies with the applicable European Union requirements according
to Directives 2002/96/EC and 2006/66/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and
batteries. For information about recycling options, check the Support/Service section of the Tektronix Web
site (www.tektronix.com).
Perchlorate materials. This product contains one or more type CR lithium batteries. According to the state
of California, CR lithium batteries are classified as perchlorate materials and require special handling. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate for additional information.
Restriction of hazardous substances

This product is classified as an industrial monitoring and control instrument, and is not required to comply with the substance
restrictions of the recast RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU until July 22, 2017.
xiv MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Preface
Preface
This manual describes the installation and operation of the following oscilloscopes:
Model MDO3104 MDO3102 MDO3054 MDO3052 MDO3034

Bandwidth 1 GHz 1 GHz 500 MHz 500 MHz 350 MHz
Analog Channels 4 2 4 2 4
Digital Channels 16 16 16 16 16
RF Channels 1 1 1 1 1
Sample Rate 5 GS/s 5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s
(1 ch)
Sample Rate 5 GS/s 5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s
(2 ch)
Sample Rate 2.5 GS/s N/A 2.5 GS/s N/A 2.5 GS/s
(4 ch)
Record Length 10 M 10 M 10 M 10 M 10 M
(1 ch)
(2 ch)
Record Length 10 M N/A 10 M N/A 10 M
(4 ch)
RF Frequency Range 9 kHz - 1 GHz 9 kHz - 1 GHz 9 kHz - 500 MHz 9 kHz - 500 MHz 9 kHz - 350 MHz
AFG Outputs 1 1 1 1 1

Bandwidth 350 MHz 200 MHz 200 MHz 100 MHz 100 MHz
Analog Channels 2 4 2 4 2
Digital Channels 16 16 16 16 16
RF Channels 1 1 1 1 1
Sample Rate 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2,5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s
(1 ch)
Sample Rate 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 2.5 GS/s
(2 ch)
Sample Rate N/A 2.5 GS/s N/A 2.5 GS/s N/A
(4 ch)
(1 ch)
(2 ch)
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xv

Preface

Record Length N/A 10 M N/A 10 M N/A
(4 ch)
RF Frequency Range 9 kHz - 350 MHz 9 kHz - 200 MHz 9 kHz - 200 MHz 9 kHz - 100 MHz 9 kHz - 100 MHz
AFG Outputs 1 1 1 1 1
Key Features
MDO3000 Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes are 6-in-1 integrated oscilloscopes, offering a built-in spectrum analyzer, arbitrary
function generator, logic analyzer, protocol analyzer, digital voltmeter and frequency counter. Key features include:
A dedicated RF input channel for frequency domain measurements
Four or two analog channels for time domain measurements
Models are available with bandwidths from 100 MHz to 1 GHz
Sample rates of 2.5 GS/s on all analog channels (5 GS/s on 1 or 2 channels for the MDO3104 or MDO3102)
10 M points record length on all channels
Maximum waveform capture rate: >280,000 waveforms/second with FastAcq. >50,000 waveforms/second with
normal operation.
Advanced triggering and analysis: I2C, SPI, USB 2.0, CAN, LIN, FlexRay, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, UART, I2S, Left
Justified (LJ), Right Justified (RJ), TDM, MIL-STD-1553 (with the appropriate application module), and Parallel
Power analysis, and limit and mask testing application modules (optional)
Arbitrary function generator and 16 digital channels (optional)
Digital voltmeter free with product registration
Conventions Used in This Manual

The following icons are used throughout this manual.
Sequence Step Front panel power Connect power Network USB
xvi MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Installation
Installation
Before Installation
Unpack the oscilloscope and check that you received all items listed as standard accessories. The following pages list
recommended accessories and probes, instrument options, and upgrades. Check the Tektronix Web site (www.tektronix.com)
for the most current information.
Standard accessories
Tektronix part
Accessory Description number
MDO3000 Installation and Safety Manual General installation and safety information 071-3249-XX
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Electronic versions of or links to documents, 063-4526-XX
Documentation Browser CD including the User Manual, Programmer
Manual and the Technical Reference.
Tektronix OpenChoice Desktop CD Productivity, analysis, and documentation
software
Calibration certificate documenting ––
traceability to national metrology institute(s),
and ISO9001 quality system registration.
Front Panel Overlay French (Option L1) 335-3264-XX
Italian (Option L2) 335-3265-XX
German (Option L3) 335-3266-XX
Spanish (Option L4) 335-3267-XX
Japanese (Option L5) 335-3268-XX
Portuguese (Option L6) 335-3269-XX
Simplified Chinese (Option L7) 335-3270-XX
Traditional Chinese (Option L8) 335-3271-XX
Korean (Option L9) 335-3272-XX
Russian (Option L10) 335-3273-XX
Probes For 100 and 200 MHz models, one 250 MHz, TPP0250
10X passive probe per channel
Two TPP0250 for the MDO3012/22 and
four TPP0250 for the MDO3014/24
For 350 and 500 MHz models, one 500 MHz, TPP0500B
10X passive probe per channel
Two TPP0500B for the MDO3032/52 and
four TPP0500B for the MDO3034/54
For 1 GHz models, one 1 GHz, 10X passive TPP1000
probe per channel
Two TPP1000 for the MDO3102 and four
TPP1000 for the MDO3104
Adapter N Male to BNC Female 103-0473-XX
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual 1

Installation
Standard accessories (cont.)

Tektronix part
Power Cord North America (Option A0) 161-0348-XX
Universal Euro (Option A1) 161-0343-XX
United Kingdom (Option A2) 161-0344-XX
Australia (Option A3) 161-0346-XX
Switzerland (Option A5) 161-0347-XX
Japan (Option A6) 161-0342-XX
China (Option A10) 161-0341-00
India (Option A11) 161-0349-XX
Brazil (Option A12) 161-0356-XX
No power cord or AC adapter (Option A99) ––
Logic probe (with MDO3MSO option) One, 16-channel logic probe, with accessories P6316
Probe and accessory pouch Bag to hold probes and related accessories 016-2008-XX
2 MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Installation
Optional application modules

Tektronix part number Description
MDO3AERO MIL-STD-1553 Serial Triggering and Analysis
MDO3AUDIO Audio Serial Triggering and Analysis (I2S, LJ, RJ, TDM)
MDO3AUTO Automotive Serial Triggering and Analysis (CAN and LIN)
MDO3COMP Computer Serial Triggering and Analysis (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485
and UART)
MDO3EMBD Embedded Serial Triggering and Analysis (I2C and SPI)
MDO3FLEX FlexRay Serial Triggering and Analysis
MDO3USB Universal Serial Bus Triggering and Analysis (LS, FS, HS).
High speed is decode only; available on 1 GHz models only.
MDO3LMT Limit/Mask Test Analysis
MDO3PWR Power Measurement Analysis
Optional instrument upgrades

Tektronix part number Description
MDO3AFG Arbitrary function generator
MDO3MSO 16 digital channels; includes P6316 digital probe
MDO3SA Increase spectrum analyzer input frequency range to 9 kHz - 3 GHz
MDO3SEC Add password protected security to enable or disable all communication
ports and firmware upgrades to any MDO3000 Series oscilloscope.
Bandwidth upgrades Upgrade the analog bandwidth on MDO3000 Series products
post-purchase. Visit www.tektronix.com for information on available
upgrade products.
Optional accessories
Tektronix part
TPA-BNC adapter TekVPI to TekProbe II BNC Adapter TPA-BNC
TPA-N-VPI adapter Adapter from N connection (RF input) to TPA-N-BNC
TekVPI probe.
TekVPI probes that work with MDO3000 Visit the Oscilloscope Probe and Accessory —
Series oscilloscopes Selector Tool on the Tektronix website at
www.tektronix.com/probes
NEX-HD2HEADER Adapter that routes the channels from a Mictor NEX-HD2HEADER
connector to 0.1 inch header pins
TEK-USB-488 Adapter GPIB to USB Adapter TEK-USB-488
Rackmount kit Adds rackmount brackets RMD3000
Soft transit case Case for carrying instrument. ACD3000
Protective front cover Also included with this case is a hard
plastic protective instrument front cover
(200-5052-00).

Installation
Optional accessories (cont.)

Tektronix part
Hard transit case Traveling case, which requires use of the soft HCTEK4321
transit case (ACD3000)
Front cover Hard plastic cover to help protect the 200-5052-00
instrument
Demonstration Board Electronic circuit board used for demonstration 020-3087-XX
and training on the MDO3000 Series.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User English 071-0968-XX
Manual French 071-0969-XX
Italian 071-0970-XX
German 071-0971-XX
Spanish 071-0972-XX
Japanese 071-0973-XX
Portuguese 071-0974-XX
Simplified Chinese 071-0975-XX
Traditional Chinese 071-0976-XX
Korean 071-0977-XX
Russian 071-0978-XX
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Programmer Describes commands for remote control of the 077-0510-XX
Manual oscilloscope. Available electronically on the
Documentation Browser CD or for download
from www.tektronix.com/manuals.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Technical Describes the oscilloscope specifications 077-0979-XX
Reference Manual and performance verification procedure.
Available electronically on the Documentation
Browser CD or for download from
www.tektronix.com/manuals.
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Service Service information on MDO3000 Series 077-0981-XX
Manual oscilloscopes

Installation
Optional accessories (cont.)

Tektronix part
MDO3000 Series Application Module Describes how to install application modules 071-3250-XX
Installation Instructions on your oscilloscope
MDO3PWR, DPO3PWR and DPO4PWR English (Option L0) 071-2631-XX
Power Measurement Module User Manual French (Option L1) 077-0235-XX
Italian (Option L2) 077-0236-XX
German (Option L3) 077-0237-XX
Spanish (Option L4) 077-0238-XX
Japanese (Option L5) 077-0239-XX
Portuguese (Option L6) 077-0240-XX
Simplified Chinese (Option L7) 077-0241-XX
Traditional Chinese (Option L8) 077-0242-XX
Korean (Option L9) 077-0243-XX
Russian (Option L10) 077-0244-XX
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Describes how to sanitize or remove memory 077-0980-XX
Declassification and Security Instructions devices from the Tektronix MDO3000 Series
oscilloscopes
The MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes support a multitude of optional probes. (See page 7, Connecting Probes.) Visit the
Oscilloscope Probe and Accessory Selector Tool on the Tektronix Web site (www.tektronix.com/probes) for the most up
to date information.
Operating Considerations
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes
Mains Input Voltage: 100 V to 240 V ±10%
Mains Input Power Frequency:
50/60 Hz at 100 V to 240 V
400 Hz ± 10% at 100 to 132 V
Weight: 4.2 kg (9.2 lbs), standalone instrument
Height, including feet but not handle:
203.2 mm (8 in)
Width, 416.6 mm (16.4 in)
Depth, 147.4 mm (5.8 in)
Clearance: 51 mm (2 in)
MDO3000 Series
Temperature:
Operating: –10 °C to +55 °C (+14 °F to +131 °F)
Nonoperating: –40 °C to +71 °C (–40 °F to +159 °F)

Installation
Humidity:
Operating:
5% to 90% relative humidity (% RH) at up to +40°C,
5% to 60% RH above +40 C up to +55°C,
non-condensing
Non-Operating:
5% to 90% RH (Relative Humidity) at up to +40 C,
5% to 60% RH above +40°C up to +55°C,
5% to 40% RH above +55 °C up to +71 °C
non-condensing
Altitude:
Operating: 3,000 m (about 9,843 ft)
Non-operating: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
Acquisition System: 1 MΩ
The maximum input voltage: At the BNC, 300 VRMS, Installation Category II. De-rate at 20 dB/decade between 4.5 MHz and
45 MHz, De-rate 14 db between 45 MHz and 450 MHz. Above 450 MHz, 5 VRMS.
Acquisition System: 50 Ω and 75 Ω

The maximum input voltage: 5 VRMS with a peak at ±20 V. (DF ≤ 6.25%).
Dedicated RF Input:
The maximum operating input level:
Average Continuous Power: +20 dBm (0.1 W)
DC maximum before damage: ±40 VDC
Max “No damage” +33 dBm (2 W) CW
Peak Pulse Power: +45 dBm (32 W)
Peak Pulse Power defined as <10 μs pulse width, <1% duty cycle, and reference level of ≥ +10 dBm
CAUTION. To ensure proper cooling, keep the sides and rear of the instrument clear of obstructions. Ventilation clearance
should be at least 51 mm (2 in) on the left side, when looking at the front of the instrument, and on the rear of the instrument
MDO3000 Series Oscilloscope with a P6316 Digital Probe
Threshold Accuracy: ±(100 mV + 3% of threshold setting after calibration)
Threshold Range: +25 V to –15 V.
Maximum nondestructive input signal to probe: +30 V to -20 V
Minimum signal swing: 500 mVpeak-to-peak
Input resistance: 101 KΩ
Input capacitance: 8.0 pF typical
Pollution Degree: 2, Indoor use only

Installation
Humidity: 5% to 95% relative humidity
Cleaning
Inspect the oscilloscope and probes as often as operating conditions require. To clean the exterior surface, perform the
following steps:
1. Remove loose dust on the outside of the oscilloscope and probes with a lint-free cloth. Use care to avoid scratching
the display.
2. Use a soft cloth dampened with water to clean the oscilloscope. Use an aqueous solution of 75% isopropyl alcohol
for more efficient cleaning.
CAUTION. Avoid getting moisture inside the unit during external cleaning. Use only enough cleaning solution to dampen
the cloth or swab.
CAUTION. To avoid damage to the surface of the oscilloscope or probes, do not use any abrasive or chemical cleaning
agents.
Connecting Probes
The oscilloscope supports probes with the following:
1. Tektronix Versatile Probe Interface

(TekVPI)
These probes support two-way
communication with the oscilloscope
through on-screen menus and remotely
through programmable support. The
remote control is useful in applications
like ATE where you want the system to
preset probe parameters.
2. Tektronix Versatile Probe Interface

(TekVPI) for Passive Probes
These probes build upon the functionality
of the TekVPI interface. Each probe
is matched with its corresponding
oscilloscope channel, allowing the
oscilloscope to optimize the signal input
path. This provides AC compensation
across the frequency band.

Installation
3. TPA-BNC Adapter
The TPA-BNC Adapter allows you to
use TEKPROBE II probe capabilities,
such as providing probe power, and
passing scaling and unit information to
the oscilloscope.
4. BNC Interfaces
Some of these use TEKPROBE
capabilities to pass the waveform signal
and scaling to the oscilloscope. Some
only pass the signal and there is no other
communication.
5. Logic Probe Interface
The P6316 probe provides 16 channels
of digital (on or off state) information.
6. The TPA-N-VPI Adapter allows you to

use TekVPI probes in the RF input.
For more information on the many probes available for use with MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes, visit the Oscilloscope Probe
and Accessory Selector Tool on the Tektronix website at www.tektronix.com.
Securing the Oscilloscope

1. Use a standard laptop computer style
security lock to secure your oscilloscope
to your location.

Installation
Powering on the Oscilloscope

Ground the Oscilloscope and Yourself
To power on the instrument, connect the power cord that was provided with the instrument to the power connector on the
rear panel. Connect the power cord to a properly grounded electrical outlet. To power off the instrument, remove the
power cord from the instrument.
Grounding the oscilloscope is necessary for safety and to take accurate measurements. The oscilloscope needs to share the
same ground as any circuits that you are testing.
If you are working with static sensitive

components, ground yourself. Static
electricity that builds up on your body
can damage static-sensitive components.
Wearing a grounding strap safely sends
static charges on your body to earth ground.
To connect the power cord and power on the oscilloscope:

1. Connect the supplied power cord to the rear-panel power connector.
2. Push the power button on the instrument front-panel and the instrument will turn on.
NOTE. The Standby button on the front-panel does not disconnect mains power. Only the power cord at the rear of the
product can disconnect mains power.

Installation
Powering off the Oscilloscope

To power off the oscilloscope and remove the power cord:
1. Push the power button on the instrument front-panel to turn the instrument off.
2. If you want to remove power completely, disconnect the power cord from the rear-panel of the instrument.
Functional Check
Perform this quick functional check to verify that your oscilloscope is operating correctly.
1. Connect the oscilloscope power cable

as described in Powering On the
Oscilloscope. (See page 9.)
2. Power on the oscilloscope.

Installation
3. Connect the probe connector to

oscilloscope channel 1 and the probe tip
and reference lead to the PROBE COMP
terminals on the oscilloscope front panel.
4. Push Default Setup.
5. Push Autoset. The screen should now

display a square wave, approximately
2.5 V at 1 kHz.
If the signal appears but is misshapen,
perform the procedures for compensating
the probe.
If no signal appears, rerun the procedure.
If this does not remedy the situation,
have the instrument serviced by qualified
service personnel.
Compensating a TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe

The MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes can automatically compensate TPP0250, TPP0500B and TPP1000 probes. This
eliminates the need for manual probe compensation, as is typically performed with other probes.
Each compensation generates values for a specific probe and channel combination. If you want to use the probe on another
channel and desire to compensate the new probe-channel pair, you must run a new set of compensation steps for that new
combination.
1. Connect the oscilloscope power cable. (See

page 9, Powering on the Oscilloscope.)

Installation
3. Connect the probe connector to the

oscilloscope channel, and the probe tip
and reference lead to the PROBE COMP
terminals on the oscilloscope front panel.
NOTE. Connect only one probe at a time to the
probe comp terminals.
4. Push a front panel button for an input

channel connected to the probe you wish to
compensate. (1, 2, 3, or 4)
5. Notice on the lower menu that the Coupling Termina- Invert Bandwidth Label
tion set by Full
oscilloscope has automatically set the probe DC| AC TPP1000 On |Off More
termination value
6. Push More repeatedly to select Probe

Setup from the resulting pop-up menu.

Installation
TPP1000
Probe
Setup
SN:
000001
Atten: 10X
7. Notice that the compensation status starts Compen-

sation
as Default.
Status
Default
8. Push Compensate probe and follow the Compen-

sate probe
instructions that appear on the display. for 1
Measure
Current
Yes |No
When compensating TPP0250/TPP0500B/TPP1000 probes on the MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes:

Each compensation generates values for a specific probe and channel combination. If you want to use the probe on
another channel and desire to compensate the new probe-channel pair, you must run a new set of compensation steps.
Each channel can store compensation values for 10 individual probes. If you try to compensate an 11th probe on a
channel, the oscilloscope will delete the values for the least recently used probe and add the values for the new probe.
The oscilloscope will assign default compensation values to a TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 probe connected to
the Aux In channel.
NOTE. A factory calibration will delete all stored compensation values
NOTE. A probe compensation failure is most likely due to intermittent connection of the probe tip or ground connection
during the probe compensation operation. If a failure occurs, the oscilloscope will re-use the old probe compensation values,
if they existed prior to the failed probe compensation operation.
Compensating a non-TPP0250, non-TPP0500B or non-TPP1000 Passive

Voltage Probe
Whenever you attach a passive voltage probe for the first time to any input channel, compensate the probe to match it to
the corresponding oscilloscope input channel.
If you are interested in using the automatic probe compensation procedure described above for the TPP0250, TPP0500
and TPP1000 probes (See page 11, Compensating a TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe.). On a
non-TPP0250/TPP0500B/TPP1000 Tektronix passive probe, check the instruction manual for your probe to see if it qualifies.
Otherwise, to properly compensate your passive probe:
1. Follow the steps for the functional

check. (See page 10, Functional
Check.)

Installation
2. Check the shape of the displayed

waveform to determine if your
probe is properly compensated. Properly compensated Under compensated Over compensated
3. If necessary, adjust your probe.

Repeat as needed.
Quick Tips
Use the shortest possible ground lead
and signal path to minimize probe-induced
ringing and distortion on the measured
signal.
Signal with a short ground lead

Signal with a long ground lead
Application Module Free Trial

A 30-day free trial is available for all application module licenses not installed in your oscilloscope. The trial period begins
when you power on the oscilloscope for the first time.
After 30 days, you must purchase the module if you want to continue using the application. To see the date when your
free trial period expires, push Utility on the front panel, push Utility Page on the lower menu, turn the Multipurpose a
knob to select Config, and push About on the lower menu.
Installing an Application Module

CAUTION. To avoid damage to the oscilloscope or application module, observe ESD (electrostatic discharge) precautions.
(See page 9, Powering on the Oscilloscope.)
Turn off the oscilloscope power while removing or adding an application module.
(See page 10, Powering off the Oscilloscope.)

Installation
Optional application module packages extend the capability of your oscilloscope.

You can physically install up to two application modules at one time. Application modules can go into the slots with a window
in the upper right corner of the front panel. One additional slot is directly behind the one that you can see. To use the hidden
slot, install the module with the label facing away from you.
Some of the modules have licenses that allow you to transfer the license between your application modules and the
oscilloscope. You can keep each license in the module, which will allow you to move the module from one instrument to
another. Alternatively, you can move the license from the module to the oscilloscope. This approach will allow you to store
the module separately from the oscilloscope for safe keeping. This approach will also allow you to use more than two
applications on your oscilloscope simultaneously. To transfer a license from a module to your oscilloscope or from your
oscilloscope to a module:
1. Turn off the power to the oscilloscope. Insert the application modules into the oscilloscope. Turn on the power.
2. Push Utility on the front panel. If needed, push Utility Page on the lower menu and turn the Multipurpose a knob to
select Config. Push Manage Modules and Options on the lower menu, and then push License Type on the side menu
until “Modules” is selected. The licenses contained in the oscilloscope will be listed in the side menu. Push the button
next to the appropriate license to transfer. You may transfer up to two licenses at one time.
3. After you turn off the power to the oscilloscope, you can remove the physical application module from the oscilloscope.
Refer to the MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes Application Module Installation Manual that came with your application module
for instructions on installing and testing an application module.
NOTE. If you transfer a license from a module to an oscilloscope, the module will not work on another oscilloscope until
you transfer the license back from the oscilloscope to the module. Consider putting the physical module in an envelope
or other storage with a label recording the date, module name, model and serial number of the oscilloscope which holds
the license. This will help prevent confusion later if someone finds the module, installs it in some other oscilloscope,
and wonders why it does not work.
Upgrading Bandwidth
You may increase the bandwidth of an instrument when your project requirements demand higher performance. Do this
by purchasing an upgrade.
1 GHz upgrades require Tek Service installation and option IFC (calibration).
Model to be upgraded Bandwidth before Bandwidth after Order this product

upgrade upgrade
MDO3012 100 MHz 200 MHz MDO3BW1T22
100 MHz 350 MHz MDO3BW1T32
100 MHz 1 GHz MDO3BW1T102

Installation

Installation
MDO3052 500 MHz 1 GHz MDO3BW5T102
MDO3054 500 MHz 1 GHz MDO3BW5T104
To enable the upgrade, you will need to order a bandwidth upgrade product. 1 GHz upgrades require you to send your
instrument to a Tektronix Service Center. All others can be performed in the field by the customer.
You will need to supply the model number and serial number when placing your order. To determine the serial number of
your instrument, push Utility, and then push About. The serial number is located on the resulting screen.
To upgrade bandwidth by installing an option key on your instrument,
1. Once you have placed an order for the

appropriate bandwidth upgrade product, you
should receive an Option Key Certificate.
with the option key number.
2. Push Utility.
3. On the lower menu, push Utility Page and Utility Page

select Config. Config
4. Push Manage Modules & Options. Manage

Modules &
Options

Installation
5. On the side menu, push License Type until License

Type
Options is highlighted.
Modules
Options
6. Push Install Option. Install

Option
7. Enter the Option Key number by turning Enter

Character
Multipurpose a and pushing Enter
Character on the lower menu. Alternatively,
you may use a USB keyboard.
8. Push OK Accept on the side menu. OK

Following a successful installation of the Accept
option key, a message will be displayed
indicating that you must power cycle the
oscilloscope to enable the new features.
9. Power cycle the oscilloscope.
10. To verify that the bandwidth has been About

upgraded, push Utility, and then push
About on the lower menu. The bandwidth
information should be towards the top of this
screen.
Changing the Language of the User Interface or Keyboard

To change the language of the oscilloscope user interface or keyboard, and to change the front panel button labels through
the use of an overlay:
1. Push Utility.

Installation
2. Push Utility Page. Utility

Page
3. Turn Multipurpose a and select Config. Config
4. Push Language from the resulting lower Utility Language Set Date & About Manage
Page Time Modules &
menu. Options
Config
Language
5. Push Menus from the resulting side menu Menus

and turn Multipurpose a to select the (a) English
desired language for the user interface.
6. Push USB Keyboard from the resulting side USB
Keyboard
menu and turn Multipurpose a to select the
English
desired language version of keyboard to use.
7. If you choose to use an English user

interface, be sure that the plastic front panel
overlay is removed.
If you choose a language other than English,
place the plastic overlay for the language
that you desire over the front panel to display
labels in that language.

Installation
Changing the Date and Time

To set the internal clock with the current date and time:
1. Push Utility.

Page
4. Push Set Date & Time. Utility Language Set Date & About Manage
Page Time Modules &
Config Options
5. Push the side menu buttons and turn both Display

Date &
the (Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b) Time
knobs to set the time and date values.
On| Off
Hour
4
Minute
44
Month
May
Day
3
Year
2011
6. Push OK Set Date & Time. OK Set

Date &
Time

Installation
Signal Path Compensation

Signal Path Compensation (SPC) corrects for DC inaccuracies caused by temperature variations and/or long-term drift.
Run the compensation whenever the ambient temperature has changed by more than 10 °C (18 °F) or once a week
if you use vertical settings of 5 mV/division or less. Failure to do so may result in the instrument not meeting warranted
performance levels at those volts/div settings.
Signal Path Compensation for Time and Frequency Domains

To compensate the signal path:
1. Warm up the oscilloscope for at least

20 minutes. Remove all input signals
(probes and cables) from channel inputs.
Input signals with AC components adversely
affect SPC.
2. Push Utility.

Page
4. Turn Multipurpose a and select Calibration

Calibration.
5. Push Signal Path on the lower menu. Utility Signal Factory

Page Path Pass
Calibration Pass

Installation
6. Push OK Compensate Signal Paths on OK Com-

pensate
the resulting side menu. Signal
Paths
The calibration will take approximately

10 minutes to complete.
7. After calibration, verify that the status Utility Signal Factory

Page Path Pass
indicator on the lower menu displays Pass.
Calibration Pass
If it does not, then recalibrate the instrument

or have the instrument serviced by qualified
service personnel.
Service personnel use the factory calibration
functions to calibrate the internal voltage
references of the oscilloscope using
external sources. Contact your Tektronix
field office or representative for assistance
with factory calibration.
NOTE. Signal Path Compensation does not include calibration to the probe tip. (See page 13, Compensating a
non-TPP0250, non-TPP0500B or non-TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe.)
Signal Path Compensation for Frequency Domain Only

The signal path compensation (SPC) described above runs on both the time and the frequency domain inputs. If you only
want to compensate the RF input, you can save time by running SPC only on the RF input and skipping the time domain
part. You can do this as follows:
1. As with the time and frequency calibration,

warm up the oscilloscope for at least
20 minutes. Remove all input signals
(probes and cables) from the RF input.
2. Push RF to bring up the Frequency Domain
menu.
3. Push More to select Compensate Signal Spectrum Spectro- Spectrum Detection Edit Labels
Traces gram Triggered Method
Path. More
On Auto
4. On the resulting side menu, push OK.

Compensate RF Signal Path.

Installation
Upgrading Firmware
To upgrade the firmware of the oscilloscope:
1. Open up a Web browser and go to

www.tektronix.com/software/downloads.
Proceed to the software finder. Download
the latest firmware for your oscilloscope on
your PC.
Unzip the files and copy the firmware.img

file into the root folder of a USB flash drive
or USB hard drive.
2. Power off your oscilloscope.
3. Insert the USB flash or hard drive into

the USB port on the front panel of your
oscilloscope.

Installation
4. Power on the oscilloscope. The instrument

automatically recognizes the replacement
firmware and installs it.
If the instrument does not install the
firmware, rerun the procedure. If the
problem continues, try a different model of
USB flash or hard drive. Finally, if needed,
contact qualified service personnel.
NOTE. Do not power off the oscilloscope or
remove the USB drive until the oscilloscope
finishes installing the firmware.
5. Power off the oscilloscope and remove the

USB flash or hard drive.
7. Push Utility.

Installation

Page
10. Push About. The oscilloscope displays the Utility Language Set Date & About Manage
Page Time Modules &
firmware version number. Options
Config
11. Confirm that the version number matches

that of the new firmware.

Installation
Connecting Your Oscilloscope to a Computer

Connect your oscilloscope directly to a computer to let the PC analyze your data, collect screen images, or to control your
oscilloscope. (See page 162, Saving a Screen Image.) (See page 163, Saving and Recalling Waveform and Trace Data.)
Three ways to connect your oscilloscope to a computer are through the VISA drivers, the e*Scope Web-enabled tools, and a
socket server. Use VISA to communicate with your oscilloscope from your computer through a software application, such as
Tektronix OpenChoice Desktop®. Use e*Scope to communicate with your oscilloscope through a Web browser, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer. For best results, use a browser that supports html 5.
Using VISA
VISA lets you use your MS-Windows computer to acquire data from your oscilloscope for use in an analysis package that
runs on your PC, such as Microsoft Excel, National Instruments LabVIEW, Tektronix OpenChoice Desktop software, or a
program of your own creation. You can use a common communications connection, such as USB, Ethernet, or GPIB,
to connect the computer to the oscilloscope.
For VISA, load the VISA drivers on your computer. Also, load your application, such as OpenChoice Desktop. You will find
the drivers and OpenChoice Desktop software on the appropriate CD that comes with your oscilloscope or at the Tektronix
software finder Web page (www.tektronix.com).
Using e*Scope
With e*Scope, you can access and control any Internet-connected MDO3000 Series oscilloscope from a web browser
on your computer.
Connect the oscilloscope to your network using the LAN port. The built-in LXI web interface (Core 2011, Version 1.4)
provides network configuration information, which you can edit and customize. It also provides remote instrument control
through the e*Scope user interface. There you can control instrument settings, save screen images, save instrument data or
setups, and much more. Do all this through a password-protectable web-interface.
To set up VISA communications between your oscilloscope and a computer:
1. Load the VISA drivers on your computer.

Also, load your application, such as
OpenChoice Desktop.
You will find the drivers and OpenChoice
Desktop software on the appropriate CD
that comes with your oscilloscope or at
the Tektronix software finder Web page
(www.tektronix.com).

Installation
2. Connect the oscilloscope to your computer

with the appropriate USB or Ethernet cable.
To communicate between the oscilloscope

and a GPIB system, connect the oscilloscope
to the TEK-USB-488 GPIB-to-USB Adapter
with a USB cable. Then connect the adapter
to your GPIB system with a GPIB cable.
Cycle the power on the oscilloscope.
3. Push Utility.

Page
5. Turn Multipurpose a and select I/O. I/O
6. If you are using USB, the system sets itself Utility USB Ethernet & Network Socket GPIB
Page Computer LXI Configura- Server 1
up automatically for you, if USB is enabled. tion
I/O
Automatic
Check USB on the lower menu to be sure

that USB is enabled. If it is not enabled, push
USB. Then push Connect to Computer on
the side menu.

Installation
7. To use Ethernet, push Ethernet & LXI on

the lower menu.
Use the side menu buttons to adjust
your network settings, as needed. For
more information, see the e*Scope setup
information below.
8. If you want to change socket server

parameters, push Socket Server and enter
new values through the resulting side menu.
9. If you are using GPIB, push GPIB. Enter the Talk/Listen

Address
GPIB address on the side menu, by turning
(a) 1
the Multipurpose a knob.
This will set the GPIB address on an
attached TEK-USB-488 Adapter.

Installation
10. Run your application software on your

computer.
Quick Tips
Your oscilloscope shipped with a CD that contains a variety of Windows-based software tools for efficient connectivity
between your oscilloscope and your computer. These include tool bars that speed connectivity with Microsoft Excel and
Word. There is also a standalone acquisition program called Tektronix OpenChoice Desktop.
The rear-panel USB 2.0 device port is the correct USB port for computer connectivity. Use the rear and front panel USB
2.0 host port to connect your oscilloscope to USB flash drives. Use the USB Device port to connect your oscilloscope
to a PC or a PictBridge printer.
USB Host port
USB Device port
Using the LXI Web Page and e*Scope

With e*Scope, you can access any Internet-connected MDO3000 Series oscilloscope from a web browser on your computer
or tablet.
To set up e*Scope communications between your oscilloscope and a Web browser running on a remote computer:

network with an appropriate Ethernet cable.
2. Push Utility.

Installation

Page
5. Push Ethernet & LXI. Utility USB Ethernet & Network Socket GPIB
I/O tion
Automatic
6. View the top item on the side menu to Ethernet &

LXI LAN
determine the condition of the LAN. An Status
indicator turns green for good status and red
if the device detects a fault.
7. Push LAN Settings to display the network LAN
Settings
parameters configured on your oscilloscope.
8. Push LAN Reset to restore the LAN defaults LAN Reset
to your oscilloscope.
9. Push Test Connection to check if your Test Con-
nection
oscilloscope can find an attached network.
10. Push more to see another page of side more 1 of 2
menu items.

Installation
Ethernet &
LXI
11. Push Change Names to change the name Change

Names
of the oscilloscope, the network domain, or
the service name.
12. Push Change Ethernet & LXI Password to Change
Ethernet
change the name of the password. & LXI
Password
13. Push Change e*Scope Password to use Change

e*Scope
the LXI password to also protect your Password
oscilloscope from changes made to LAN a Enabled
settings from a Web browser.
more
2 of 2
14. Start your browser on your remote computer.

In the browser address line, enter the host
name, a dot, and the domain name together.
Alternatively, just enter the IP address of
the instrument. Either way, you should then
see the LXI Welcome page on your Web
browser on your computer screen.
15. Click “Network Configuration” to view and
edit the network configuration settings. If
you are using a password and changing
your settings, you need to know that the
default user name is “lxiuser”.

Installation
16. For e*Scope, click the Instrument Control

(e*Scope) link on the left side of the LXI
Welcome page. You should then see a new
tab (or window) open in your browser with
e*Scope running.
Using a Socket Server

A socket server provides two-way communication over an Internet Protocol-based computer network. You can use your
oscilloscope’s socket server feature to let your oscilloscope communicate with a remote-terminal device or computer.
To set up and use a socket server between your oscilloscope and a remote terminal or computer:

network using an appropriate Ethernet
cable.

Installation
2. Push Utility.

Page
5. Push Socket Server. Utility USB Ethernet & Network Socket GPIB
I/O tion
Manual
Socket
Server
6. On the resulting Socket Server side menu, Enabled

push the top entry to highlight Enabled. Disabled
7. Choose whether the protocol should be Protocol

None or Terminal. None
Terminal
A communication session run by a human
at a keyboard typically uses a terminal
protocol. An automated session might
handle its own communications without such
protocol from the oscilloscope.
Current
Port 4000
8. If required, change the port number by Select Port

turning Multipurpose a. (a) 4000
9. If required, press OK to set the new port OK

number. Set Port

Installation
10. After you have set up the socket server

parameters, the computer is now ready to
communicate with the oscilloscope. If you
are running an MS Windows PC, you could
run its default client Telnet, which has a
command interface. One way to do this is
by typing “ Telnet ” in the Run window.
The Telnet window will open on the PC.
NOTE. On MS Windows 7, you must first
enable Telnet in order for Telnet to work.
11. Start a terminal session between your
computer and your oscilloscope by typing in
an open command with the oscilloscope's
LAN address and port #.
You can obtain the LAN address by pushing
the Ethernet & LXI lower menu button
and the resulting LAN Settings side menu
button to view the resulting Ethernet and
LXI Settings screen. You can obtain the port
# by pushing Socket Server on the lower
menu and viewing Current Port on the side
menu.
For example, if the oscilloscope IP address
was 123.45.67.89 and the post #
was the default of 4000, you could open
a session by writing into the MS Windows
Telnet screen: o 123.45.67.89 4000.
The oscilloscope will send a help screen to the
computer when it has finished connecting.

Installation
12. You can now type in a standard query, such

as, *idn?.
The Telnet session window will respond by
displaying a character string describing your
instrument.
You can type in more queries and view
more results using this Telnet session
window. You can find the syntax for relevant
commands, queries and related status
codes in the MDO3000 Series Programmer
Manual.
NOTE. Do not use the computer’s backspace
key during an MS Windows Telnet session with
the oscilloscope.
Connecting a USB Keyboard to Your Oscilloscope

You can connect a USB keyboard to a USB Host port on the rear or front panel of the oscilloscope. The oscilloscope will
detect the keyboard, even if it is plugged in while the oscilloscope is powered on.
You can use the keyboard to quickly create names or labels. You can bring up the Label button on the lower menu by
pushing a Channel or Bus button. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the insertion point, and then type in a name
or label. Labeling channels and buses makes the information on the screen easier to identify.
To choose whether to use a keyboard with a United States (US) key layout or one with an alternative layout:
1. Push Utility.
2. Push Utility Page. Utility Language Set Date & About Manage
Page Time Modules &
Config Options
3. Turn Multipurpose a and select Config.
4. Push Language on the lower menu.

5. Push USB Keyboard on the side menu.
6. Turn Multipurpose a and select the desired
keyboard layout style from the resulting
menu.

Get Acquainted with the Instrument
Front-Panel Menus, Controls, and Connectors

Overview
The front panel has buttons and controls for the functions that you use most often. Use the menu buttons to access
more specialized functions.
1. Traditional oscilloscope front panel controls

2. 10-digit keypad
3. Application module slots
4. Ground strap connector
5. Ground
6. PROBE COMP
7. Dedicated spectral analysis controls
8. Dedicated RF input with N-connector
9. Analog channel (1, 2, (3, 4)) inputs with TekVPI versatile probe interface
10. Digital channel input
11. Display: shows frequency or time domain
12. Arbitrary function generator (AFG) enable button

Front Panel Menus and Controls

The front panel has buttons and controls for the functions that you use most often. Use the menu buttons to access
more specialized functions.
Using the Menu System

To use the menu system:
1. Push a front panel menu button to
display the menu that you want to use.
NOTE. The B1 and B2 buttons support up
to two different serial or parallel buses.
2. Push a lower menu button. If a pop-out

menu appears, turn Multipurpose a to
select the desired choice. If a pop-up
menu appears, push the button again to
select the desired choice.
3. Push a side menu button.

If the menu item contains more than one
choice, push the side button repeatedly
to cycle through the choices.
If a pop-out menu appears, turn
Multipurpose a to select the desired
choice.

4. To remove a side menu, push the lower

button again or push Menu Off.
5. Certain menu choices require you to

set a numeric value to complete the
setup. You can use the upper and lower
multipurpose knobs a and b to adjust
values. You can also set many numerical
values with the 10-digit keypad on the
front panel.
6. Push Fine to turn off or on the ability to
make smaller adjustments.
Using the Menu Buttons

Use the menu buttons to perform many functions in the oscilloscope.
1. Measure. Push to perform automated measurements on waveforms and to access the digital voltmeter (DVM) and
waveform histogram functions.
2. Search. Push to perform an automated search through an acquisition for user-defined events/criteria.
3. Autoset. Push to perform an automatic setup of oscilloscope settings.
4. Test. Push to activate advanced or application-specific testing features.

5. Acquire. Push to set the acquisition mode and adjust the record length.
6. Trigger Menu. Push to specify trigger settings.
7. M. Push to manage the math waveform, including the display or removal of the math waveform from the display.
8. R. Push to manage reference waveforms, including the display or removal of each reference waveform from the display.
9. B1 or B2. Push to define and display a serial bus if you have the appropriate application modules. Parallel bus support
is available on MDO3000 products with the MDO3MSO option installed. Also, push the B1 or B2 button to display or
remove the corresponding bus from the display.
10. AFG. Push to enable the arbitrary function generator output and access the AFG menu.
11. Vertical Position. Turn to adjust the vertical position of the corresponding waveform. Push to center the waveform
baseline indicator.
12. Channel 1, 2, 3, or 4 Menu. Push to set vertical parameters for input waveforms and to display or remove the
corresponding waveform from the display.
13. Vertical Scale. Turn to adjust the vertical scale factor of the corresponding waveform (volts/division). Push the
front-panel Fine button to make smaller adjustments.
Below the display buttons

Use the buttons below the display to perform many functions in the oscilloscope.
1. Save / Recall Menu. Push to define the

Save button to save and recall setups,
waveforms, or screen images to internal
memory, a USB flash drive, or a mounted
network drive.
2. Default Setup. Push to perform an

immediate restore of the oscilloscope to
the default settings.
3. Utility. Push to activate the system utility

functions, such as selecting a language
or setting the date/time.

4. B1 or B2. Push to define and display a

bus if you have the appropriate module
application keys.
MDO3AERO supports MIL-STD-1553
buses.
MDO3AUDIO supports I2S, Left
Justified (LJ), Right Justified (RJ),
and TDM buses.
MDO3AUTO supports CAN and LIN
buses.
MDO3EMBD supports I2C and SPI
buses.
MDO3COMP supports RS-232,
RS-422, RS-485, and UART buses.
MDO3FLEX supports FlexRay buses.
MDO3USB supports USB 2.0 buses.
Also, push the B1 or B2 button to display

or remove the corresponding bus from
the display.
5. R. Push to manage reference waveforms

and traces, including the display or
removal of each reference waveform or
trace from the display.
6. M. Push to manage the math waveform

or trace, including the display or removal
of the math waveform or trace from the
display.

Using Spectral Analysis Controls

These buttons configure the acquisition and display of the RF input.
1. RF. Push to bring up the frequency

domain display and menu. The RF menu
provides access to the Spectrogram
display.
2. Freq/Span. Push to specify the portion

of the spectrum to view on the display.
Set the center frequency and the span –
or set the start and stop frequency.
3. Ampl. Push to set the reference level.
4. BW. Push to define the resolution

bandwidth.
5. Markers. Push to set automatic or

manual markers.
Using Other Controls
1. Cursors. Push once to activate the two vertical cursors. Push again to turn off all cursors. Push and hold to bring up the
cursor menu. Use the menu to select the cursor features, such as type, source, orientation, linked status, and units.
When the cursors are on, you can turn the multipurpose knobs to control their position.
2. Turn the upper multipurpose knob a, when activated, to move a cursor, to set a numerical parameter value for a menu
item, or to select from a pop-out list of choices. Push the Fine button to toggle between coarse and fine adjustment.
Screen icons tell you when a or b are active.
3. Select. Push to activate special functions.

For example, when using the two vertical cursors (and no horizontal ones are visible), you can push this button to link or
unlink the cursors. When the two vertical and two horizontal cursors are both visible, you can push this button to make
either the vertical cursors or the horizontal cursors active.
4. Fine. Push to toggle between making coarse and fine adjustments with the many operations of multipurpose knobs a
and b
5. Turn the lower Multipurpose b knob, when activated, to move a cursor or set a numerical parameter value for a
menu item. Push Fine to make adjustments more slowly.
6. Intensity. Push to enable Multipurpose a to control waveform display intensity and knob b to control graticule intensity.
7. Zoom button. Push to activate zoom mode.

8. Pan (outer knob). Turn to scroll the zoom window through the acquired waveform.
9. Zoom-scale (inner knob). Turn to control the zoom factor. Turning it clockwise zooms in further. Turning it
counterclockwise zooms out.
10. Play-pause button. Push to start or stop the automatic panning of a waveform. Control the speed and direction with
the pan knob.
11. ← Prev. Push to jump to the previous waveform mark.
12. Set/Clear Mark. Push to establish or delete a waveform mark.
13. → Next. Push to jump to the next waveform mark.

14. Horizontal Position. Turn to adjust the trigger point location relative to the acquired waveforms. Push to center
when delay is on. Push to set to 10% when delay is off.
15. Horizontal Scale. Turn to adjust the horizontal scale (time/division).
16. Autoset. Push to automatically set the vertical, horizontal, and trigger controls for a usable, stable display.
17. Single. Push to make a single sequence acquisition.
18. Run/Stop. Push to start or stop acquisitions.
19. Trigger Level. Turn to adjust the trigger level.
Push Level to Set 50%. Push the Trigger level knob to set the trigger level to the midpoint of the waveform.
20. Force Trig. Push to force an immediate trigger event.

21. Print. Push to print to the selected printer.

22. Power switch. Push to power on or off the oscilloscope.
23. USB 2.0 Host port. Insert a USB peripheral to the oscilloscope, such as a keyboard or a flash drive.
24. Save. Push to perform an immediate save operation. The save operation uses the current save parameters, as defined
in the Save / Recall menu.
25. Save / Recall Menu. Push to save and recall setups, waveforms, and screen images to internal memory, or a USB
flash drive.
26. Default Setup. Push to perform an immediate restore of the oscilloscope to the default settings.
27. Utility. Push to activate the system utility functions, such as selecting a language or setting the date/time.
28. D15 - D0. Push to display or remove the digital channels from the display, and to access the digital channel setup
menu (with option MDO3MSO only).
29. Menu Off. Push to clear a displayed menu from the screen.

Identifying Items in the Time Domain Display

The items shown in the graphic below may appear in the display. Not all of these items are visible at any given time. Some
readouts move outside the graticule area when menus are turned off.
1. The acquisition readout shows when an acquisition is running, stopped, or when acquisition preview is in effect. Run =
acquisitions enabled. Stop = Acquisitions not enabled. Roll = roll mode (40 ms/div or slower). PreVu = The oscilloscope
is stopped or between triggers. You can change the horizontal or vertical position or scale to see approximately what the
next acquisition will look like. A/B = When using the average acquisition mode, B shows the total number of acquisitions to
be averaged (set this using the Acquisition Mode side menu), and A shows the current progress towards this total number.
2. The trigger position icon shows the trigger position in the acquisition.
3. The expansion point icon (an orange triangle) shows the point that the horizontal scale expands and compresses around.
To make the expansion point the same as the trigger point, push Acquire and set the lower menu Delay item to Off.

4. The waveform record view shows the trigger location relative to the waveform record. The line color corresponds to the
selected waveform color. The brackets show the part of the record currently displayed on the screen.
5. The trigger status readout shows trigger status. Status conditions are: PrTrig: Acquiring pretrigger data. Trig? = Waiting
for trigger. Trig’d: Triggered. Auto: Acquiring untriggered data.
6. The security icon indicates when the I/O ports are disabled.
7. The cursor readout shows time, amplitude, and delta (Δ) values for each cursor. For FFT measurements, it shows
frequency and magnitude. For serial and parallel buses, the readout shows the decoded values.
8. The trigger level icon shows the trigger level on the waveform. The icon color corresponds to the trigger source color.
9. The trigger readout shows the trigger source, slope, and level. The trigger readouts for other trigger types show other
parameters.
10. The top line of the record length/sampling rate readout shows the sampling rate. You can adjust it with the Horizontal
Scale knob. The bottom line shows the record length. You can adjust it by pushing Acquire and Record Length
on the lower menu.

11. The horizontal position/scale readout shows on the top line the horizontal scale (adjust with the Horizontal Scale knob).
With Delay Mode on, the bottom line shows the time from the T symbol to the expansion point icon (adjust with the
Horizontal Position knob). Use horizontal position to insert added delay between when the trigger occurs and when you
actually capture the data. Insert a negative time to capture more pretrigger information. With Delay Mode off, the bottom
line shows the time location of the trigger within the acquisition, as a percentage.
12. The Timing Resolution readout shows the timing resolution of the digital channels. Timing resolution is the time between
samples. It is the reciprocal of the digital sample rate. When the MagniVu control is on, “MagniVu” appears in the readout.
13. Measurement readouts show the selected measurements. You can select up to four measurements to display at one
time. A symbol appears instead of the expected numerical measurement if a vertical clipping condition exists. Part of
the waveform is above or below the display. To obtain a proper numerical measurement, turn the vertical scale and
position knobs to make all of the waveform appear in the display.
14. The auxiliary waveform readouts show the vertical and horizontal scale factors of the math and reference waveforms.
15. The channel readout shows the channel scale factor (per division), coupling, invert, and bandwidth status. Adjust with the
Vertical Scale knob and in the channel 1, 2, 3, or 4 menus.
16. For digital channels, the baseline indicators point to the high and low levels. The indicator colors follow the color code
used on resistors. The D0 indicator is black, the D1 indicator is brown, the D2 indicator is red, and so on.

17. The group icon indicates when digital channels are grouped.
18. The bus display shows decoded packet level information for serial buses or for parallel buses. The bus indicator
shows the bus number and bus type.
19. For analog channels, the waveform baseline indicator shows the zero-volt level of a waveform, assuming you have not
used any offset. The icon colors correspond to the waveform colors.
Identifying Items in the Frequency Domain Display

Activate the frequency domain display by pressing the front panel RF button.

1. Vertical graticule labels

2. Start frequency
3. Reference level
4. Vertical scale
5. Center frequency
6. Span and resolution bandwidth
7. Stop frequency
8. Reference marker

Identifying Items in the Arbitrary Function Generator Display
1. If visible, the output is on

2. AFG label
3. Waveform type, e.g. “Sine”
4. Additive Noise icon
5. Frequency
6. Amplitude
(See page 183, Use the Arbitrary Function Generator.)

Identifying Items in the Digital Voltmeter Display
1. Measurement type (AC+DC RMS, DC, AC RMS, or Frequency)

2. Numerical value of the current measurement
3. Graphic (min, max, value, five-second rolling range)
The number on the left side of the graphic’s linear scale is the minimum value of the range (e.g. 0.000 V).
The number on the right side of the graphic’s linear scale is the maximum value of the range (e.g. 400.0 mV).
The gray bar shows the five second rolling average of measurements.
The inverted triangle shows the location on the scale of the current measurement value.
4. Minimum measurement value recorded since you powered on the instrument or since you last pushed the Reset
DVM Statistics menu item.
5. Maximum measurement value recorded since you powered on the instrument or since you last pushed the Reset
6. Average of all measurement values recorded since you powered on the instrument or since you last pushed the Reset
7. Frequency
NOTE. An “Over bandwidth” message appears for voltage measurements ≥ 10 kHz. An “Under bandwidth” message
appears for voltage measurements ≤ 10 Hz. A “?” message appears next to min or max measurements that have gone
out of bounds. Push Reset DVM Statistics to remove the “?” from the display.
(See page 131, Taking Digital Voltmeter Measurements.).

Front Panel Connectors

1. Logic Probe Connector
2. Channel 1, 2, 3, 4. Channel inputs with
TekVPI Versatile Probe Interface.
3. RF input connector.
4. PROBE COMP. Square wave signal
source to compensate or calibrate
probes. Output voltage: 0 – 2.5 V,
amplitude ± 1% behind 1 kΩ ±2%.
Frequency: 1 kHz.
5. Ground.
6. Application Module Slots.
Side-Panel Connector
1. Ground strap connector. This is a
receptacle for a grounding strap.

Rear-Panel Connectors
1. AFG OUT. Use the AFG OUT port to transmit signals from the arbitrary function generator.
2. AUX OUT
3. LAN. Use the LAN (Ethernet) port (RJ-45 connector) to connect the oscilloscope to a 10/100 Base-T local area network.
4. Video Out. Use the Video Out port (DB-15 female connector) to show the oscilloscope display on an external monitor
or projector.
5. USB 2.0 Device port. Use the USB 2.0 High Speed Device port to connect a PictBridge compatible printer, or for direct
PC control of the oscilloscope using USBTMC protocol.
NOTE. The cable connected from the USB 2.0 Device port to the host computer must meet the USB2.0 specification for high
speed operation when connected to a high speed host controller.
6. USB 2.0 Host port. Use the USB 2.0 High Speed Host port to connect a USB memory device or USB keyboard.
7. Power input. Attach to an AC power line with integral safety ground.
8. Lock. Use to secure the oscilloscope.
9. VESA mount. 75 mm.

Acquire the Signal
Acquire the Signal

This section describes concepts of and procedures for setting up the oscilloscope to acquire the signal as you want it to.
Setting Up Analog Channels

Use front panel buttons and knobs to set up your instrument to acquire signals using the analog channels.
1. Connect the
TPP0250/TPP0500B/TPP1000 or VPI
probe to the input signal source.
2. Select the input channel by pushing the

front panel buttons.
NOTE. If you are using a probe that does not
supply probe encoding, set the attenuation
(probe factor) in the oscilloscope vertical
menu for the channel to match the probe.
4. Push Autoset.

Acquire the Signal
5. Push the desired channel button. Then

adjust the vertical position and scale.
6. Adjust the horizontal position and scale.

The horizontal position determines the
number of pretrigger and posttrigger
samples.
The horizontal scale determines the size
of the acquisition window relative to the
waveform. You can scale the window to
contain a waveform edge, a cycle, several
cycles, or thousands of cycles.
Quick Tip
Use the zoom feature to see multiple cycles of your signal in the upper part, and a single cycle in the lower part of the
display. (See page 147, Using Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms.)
Labeling Channels and Buses

You can add a label to the channels and buses shown on the display for easy identification. The label is placed on the
waveform baseline indicator in the left side of the screen. The label can have up to 32 characters.
To label a channel, push a channel input button for an analog channel.
1. Push a front panel button for an input

channel or a bus.

Acquire the Signal
2. Push a lower menu button to create a label, Label

such as for channel 1 or B1.
3. Push Choose Preset Label to view a list Choose

Preset
of labels. Label
4. Turn Multipurpose b to scroll through the

list to find a suitable label. You can edit the
label after you insert it if necessary.
5. Push Insert Preset Label to add the label. Insert

Preset
Label
If you are using a USB keyboard, use the

arrow keys to position the insertion point
and edit the inserted label, or type in a new
label. (See page 35, Connecting a USB
Keyboard to Your Oscilloscope.)
6. If you do not have a USB keyboard

connected, push the side and lower menu
arrow keys to position the insertion point.

Acquire the Signal
7. Turn Multipurpose a to scroll through the

list of letters, numbers, and other characters
to find the character in the name that you
want to enter.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789_=+-!@#$%^&*()[]{}<>/~'”\|:,.?
8. Push Select or Enter Character to let the
oscilloscope know that you have picked the
proper character to use.
You can use the lower menu buttons to edit Enter Back Delete Clear
Character Space
the label as needed.
9. Continue scrolling and pushing Select until

you have entered all the desired characters.
For another label, push the side and lower
menu arrow keys to reposition the insertion
point.
10. Push Display Labels and select On to see Display

Labels
the label.
On| Off
Using the Default Setup

To return the oscilloscope to its default settings:
2. If you change your mind, push Undo Undo

Default
Default Setup to undo the last default Setup
setup.

Acquire the Signal
Using Autoset
Autoset adjusts the instrument (acquisition, horizontal, trigger, and vertical controls) such that it displays four or five waveform
cycles for analog channels with the trigger near the midlevel, and ten cycles for digital channels.
Autoset works with both the analog and digital channels.
1. To autoset an analog channel, connect the

analog probe, and then select the input
channel. (See page 54, Setting Up Analog
Channels.)
To autoset a digital channel, connect

the logic probe and select the input
channel. (See page 79, Setting Up Digital
Channels.)
2. Push Autoset to execute an Autoset.
3. If desired, push Undo Autoset to undo Undo

Autoset
the last Autoset.
You can also disable the Autoset function. To disable or enable the Autoset function:
1. Push and hold Autoset.
2. Push and hold Menu Off.
3. Release Menu Off, and then release

Autoset.

Acquire the Signal
4. Select the desired setting using the side Autoset

Enabled
menu.
Autoset
Disabled
Quick Tips
To position the waveform appropriately, Autoset may change the vertical position. Autoset always sets vertical offset
to 0 V.
If you use Autoset when no channels are displayed, the instrument turns on channel 1 and scales it.
If you use Autoset and the oscilloscope detects a video signal, the oscilloscope automatically sets the trigger type to
video and makes other adjustments to display a stable video signal.
Acquisition Concepts
Before a signal can be displayed, it must pass through the input channel where it is scaled and digitized. Each channel
has a dedicated input amplifier and digitizer. Each channel produces a stream of digital data from which the instrument
extracts waveform records.
Sampling Process
Acquisition is the process of sampling an
analog signal, converting it into digital
data, and assembling it into a waveform
record, which is then stored in acquisition
memory. Input signal Sampled points
Digital values
Real-Time Sampling
MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes use Record points
real-time sampling. In real-time sampling,
the instrument digitizes all of the points it
acquires using a single trigger event.
Sampling rate

Acquire the Signal
Waveform Record
The instrument builds the waveform record through use of the following parameters:
Sample interval: The time between

recorded sample points. Adjust this
by turning the Horizontal Scale knob
or pushing Acquire and changing the
record length in the Acquire menu.
Record length: The number of samples

required to fill a waveform record. Set
this by pushing the Acquire button and
using the lower and side menus.
Trigger point: The zero time reference in

a waveform record. It is shown on the
screen by an orange T.
Horizontal position: When Delay Mode

is on, this is the time from the trigger
point to the expansion point. Adjust this
by turning the Horizontal Position knob.
Use a positive time to acquire the record
after the trigger point. Use a negative
time to acquire it before the trigger point.
Expansion point: The point that the

horizontal scale expands and contracts
around. It is shown by an orange triangle.
Using FastAcq
FastAcq™ provides high-speed waveform capture. It is helpful in finding elusive signal anomalies. Fast acquisition mode
reduces the dead time between waveform acquisitions, enabling the capture and display of transient events such as
glitches and runt pulses. Fast acquisition mode can also display waveform phenomena at an intensity that reflects their
rate of occurrence.
To use FastAcq:
1. Push Acquire.

Acquire the Signal
2. Push FastAcq. Mode Record FastAcq Delay Set Horiz. Waveform XY Display
Sample Length Off Position to Display Off
10k On Off 10%
FastACq
3. Toggle the FastAcq side-menu button to Fast Acq

select On. On Off
4. Push Waveform Palette. Waveform

Palette
a Temper-
ature
5. Turn the Multipurpose a knob to select the

desired display palette.
The display palette lets you enhance the visibility
of events. This choice uses intensity grading to
indicate how often rare transients occur relative
to normal signals. The choices are Temperature,
Spectral, Normal and Inverted.
Temperature uses color-grading to indicate
frequency of occurrence with hot colors like
red/yellow indicating frequently occurring events
and colder colors like blue/green indicating
rarely occurring events.
Spectral uses color-grading to indicate
frequency of occurrence with colder colors like
blue indicating frequently occurring events and
hot colors like red indicating rarely occurring
events.
Normal uses the default channel color (like
yellow for channel one) along with gray-scale
to indicate frequency of occurrence where
frequently occurring events are bright.
Inverted uses the default channel color
along with gray scale to indicate frequency of
occurrence where rarely occurring events are
bright.
These color palettes help highlight the events
that over time occur more often or, in the case of
infrequent anomalies, occur less often.

Acquire the Signal
How the Analog Acquisition Modes Work

Sample mode retains the first sampled point
from each acquisition interval. Sample is the
default mode.
Peak Detect mode uses the highest and

lowest of all the samples contained in two
consecutive acquisition intervals. This mode
only works with real-time, noninterpolated
sampling and is useful for catching high
frequency glitches.
Hi Res mode calculates the average of all

the samples for each acquisition interval.
This mode also only works with real-time,
noninterpolated sampling. Hi-Res provides
a higher-resolution, lower-bandwidth
waveform.
Envelope mode finds the highest and lowest

record points over all acquisitions. Envelope
uses Peak Detect for each individual
acquisition.
Average mode calculates the average value

for each record point over a user-specified
number of acquisitions. Average uses
Sample mode for each individual acquisition.
Use average mode to reduce random noise.
Changing the Acquisition Mode, Record Length, and Delay Time

Use this procedure to change the acquisition mode.
1. Push Acquire.
2. Push Mode. Mode Record FastAcq Delay Set Horiz. Waveform XY Display
Sample Length Off Position to Display Off
10k On Off 10%

Acquire the Signal
3. Then choose the acquisition mode from the Acquisition

Mode
side menu. You can chose from: Sample,
Peak Detect, Hi Res, Envelope, or Average.
Sample
Peak
Detect
Hi Res
Envelope
Average
16
NOTE. Peak Detect and Hi Res modes take advantage of sample points that the oscilloscope would have discarded at lower
sweep speeds. Therefore, these modes only work when the current sample rate is less than the maximum possible sample
rate. As soon as the oscilloscope starts to acquire at the maximum sample rate, then the Peak Detect, Hi Res and Sample
modes all look the same. You can control the sample rate by setting the Horizontal scale and the Record Length.
4. If you chose Average, turn Multipurpose a
to set the number of waveforms to average
over.
5. Push Record Length.

6. Scroll through the available choices.
Choose among 1000, 10 k, 100 k, 1 M, 5 M,
and 10 M points.

Acquire the Signal
7. Push Delay on the lower menu to select

On when you want to delay the acquisition
relative to the trigger event.
With Delay set to On, turn the Horizontal Position knob counterclockwise to increase the delay. The trigger point will move
to the left and ultimately outside of the acquired waveform. Then you can adjust the Horizontal Scale knob to acquire more
detail around the area of interest at the center of the screen.
When this delay is on, the trigger point separates from the horizontal expansion point. The horizontal expansion point
stays at the center of the screen. The trigger point can move off the screen. When this happens, the trigger marker turns
to point in the direction of the trigger point.
Use the delay feature when you want to acquire waveform detail that is separated from the trigger event by a significant
interval of time. For example, you can trigger on a sync pulse that occurs once every 10 ms and then look at high-speed
signal characteristics that occur 6 ms after the sync pulse.
When the delay feature is set to Off, the expansion point is tied to the trigger point so that scale changes are centered
around the trigger point.
Using Roll Mode

Roll mode gives a display similar to a strip chart recorder for low-frequency signals. Roll mode lets you see acquired data
points without waiting for the acquisition of a complete waveform record.
Roll mode is enabled when the trigger mode is auto and the horizontal scale is set to 40 ms/div or slower.
Quick Tips
Switching to Envelope or Average acquisition mode, using digital channels, using math waveforms, turning on a bus,
or switching to Normal trigger will disable Roll mode.
Roll mode is disabled when you set the horizontal scale to 40 ms per division or faster.
Push Run/Stop to halt Roll mode.

Acquire the Signal
Act on Event
Tell the oscilloscope to perform a defined action after a defined event has occurred. The event can be a trigger or a certain
number of acquisitions. The action can be to:
Stop acquisitions
Save a waveform or a screen image to a file
Print
Send a pulse out the AUX OUT port
Generate a remote interface SRQ
Send an e-mail notification
Display a message on the oscilloscope display
1. Push Test.
2. Push Application on the lower-menu. Application Event Action Repeat

Act on Acquisition Off
Event
3. Turn Multipurpose a to select Act on Event
4. Push Event on the lower menu.

This brings up the event type side menu.
Select the desired event type.

Acquire the Signal
Event Type
None
Trigger
Acquisi-
tions
(a) 10
5. Push Actions on the lower menu.

This brings up the Actions side menu. Use
the menu to select an action to occur on the
event.
Actions
6. Select the action type from the resulting Select

Actions
pop-out menu.
(a) Stop
Acq
7. Select whether or not to enable the action. Enable

Action
On Off
8. If you selected E-mail Notification from the Configure

E-mail
list of actions above, you can now select
Configure E-mail from the side menu to
define the parameters of the e-mail.
NOTE. There is a single set of SMTP server
settings saved for both Act on Event e-mail
notification and for the e-mail printer (set through
the Utility > Print Setup > Select Printer > Add
E-mail Printer menus). If you modify the SMTP
settings in one of these two locations, they will
be similarly modified in the other location.
9. Push Repeat. from the lower menu.
This lets you set how many times to repeat
the selected event and resulting action.

Acquire the Signal
Setting Up a Serial or Parallel Bus

Your oscilloscope can decode and trigger on signal events or conditions that occur on:
Bus type With this hardware

Audio (I2S, Left Justified (LJ), Right MDO3AUDIO application module
Justified (RJ), and TDM)
CAN and LIN MDO3AUTO application module
FlexRay MDO3FLEX application module
I2C and SPI MDO3EMBD application module
MIL-STD-1553 MDO3AERO application module
Parallel MDO3000 Series oscilloscope with the MDO3MSO option
RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, and MDO3COMP application module
UART
USB 2.0 MDO3USB application module
NOTE. 1 GHz bandwidth models are required for high-speed (HS) USB.
(See page 14, Application Module Free Trial.)
Using Buses in Two Steps

To quickly use serial bus triggering:
1. Push B1 or B2 and enter parameters of the

bus on which to trigger.
You can separately assign a different bus to
each of the B1 and B2 buttons.

Acquire the Signal
2. Push Trigger Menu and enter trigger

parameters. (See page 90, Choosing a
Trigger Type.)
You can display bus information without
triggering on the bus signal.
Setting Up Bus Parameters
NOTE. For most bus sources, you may use any combination of channels 1 through 4, and D15 through D0. With some
buses, you may also use Ref 1 through 4 and Math as sources for protocol decode.
To trigger on serial or parallel bus conditions, refer to Triggering on Buses. (See page 93, Triggering on Buses.)
To set up bus parameters:
1. Push B1 or B2 to bring up the lower bus

menu.
2. Push Bus. Turn Multipurpose a to scroll Bus B1 Define Thresholds B1 Label Bus Event
Parallel Inputs Parallel Display Table
through the list of bus types and select the
desired bus: Parallel, I2C, SPI, RS-232, CAN,
LIN, FlexRay, Audio, USB, or MIL-STD-1553.
The actual menu items shown will depend on
your model oscilloscope and the application
modules installed.
3. Push Define Inputs. The choices depend
on the selected bus.

Acquire the Signal
Use the side menu buttons to define Define

Inputs
parameters for the inputs, such as specific
signals to an analog or digital channel.
If you select Parallel, push the side menu Clocked
Data
button to enable or disable Clocked Data.
Yes No
Push the side menu button to select the Clock

Edge
Clock Edge on which to clock data: rising
edge, falling edge, or both edges.
Turn Multipurpose a to select the Number Number of
Data Bits
of Data Bits in the parallel bus.
(a) 16
Turn Multipurpose a to select the desired Define Bits

bit to define. (a) Bit 15
(b) D15
Turn Multipurpose b to select the desired
analog or digital channel as the source for
the bit.
4. Push Thresholds. Bus B1 Define Thresholds B1 Label Bus Event

You can set the threshold for all channels in

the parallel or serial bus from a list of preset
values. The preset values vary, depending
on the bus type.
Alternatively, you can set the threshold to a
specific value for the signals that make up the
parallel or serial bus. To do so, push Select
on the side menu and turn Multipurpose a
to select a Bit or a Channel number (Signal
name).
Then, turn Multipurpose b to define the

voltage level above which the oscilloscope
treats the signal as a logic high and below
which as a logic low.
NOTE. Some buses use two thresholds per
channel.

Acquire the Signal
5. Optionally, push B1 Label to edit the label for Bus B1 Define Thresholds B1 Label Bus Event
the bus. (See page 55, Labeling Channels
and Buses.)
6. Push Bus Display and use the side menu Bus

to define how to display the parallel or serial
bus.
Depending on the bus, use the side menu or Bus and
Wave-
the knobs to set the number format. forms
Hex
Binary
ASCII
7. Push Event Table and select On to display a Event

Table
list of bus packets with timestamps.
On Off
Save
Event
Table
For a clocked parallel bus, the table lists the

value of the bus at each clock edge. For
an unclocked parallel bus, the table lists the
value of the bus whenever any one of its bits
changes.
The Event Table lists bytes, words, or
packets, depending on the bus type.
8. Push Save Event Table to save the event
table data in a .csv (spreadsheet) format on
the currently selected storage device.

Acquire the Signal
This example of an Event Table is from an

RS-232 bus.
RS-232 event tables display one line for each
7- or 8-bit byte when Packets are set to Off.
RS-232 event tables display one line for each
packet when Packets are set to On.
Other buses display one word, frame, or
packet per row, depending on the bus type.
9. Push B1 or B2 and turn Multipurpose a

to move the bus display up or down on the
screen.
I2C Bus
To acquire data from an I2C bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you select I2C, push Define Inputs and Bus B1 Define Thresholds Include B1 Label Bus Event
I2C Inputs R/W in I2C Display Table
the appropriate side menu choices. Address
No
You can assign the predefined SCLK Input

or SDA Input to the channel connected to
the signal.
2. Push Include R/W in Address and then
push the desired side button.
This control determines how the oscilloscope
shows the I2C addresses in bus decode
traces, cursor readouts, Event Table listings,
and trigger settings.
If you select Yes, the oscilloscope displays 7-bit addresses as eight bits, where the eighth bit (LSB) is the R/W bit. It
displays 10-bit addresses as 11 bits where the third bit is the R/W bit.
If you select No, the oscilloscope displays 7-bit addresses as seven bits, and 10-bit addresses as ten bits.
In the physical layer of the I2C protocol, 10 bit I2C addresses are preceded by the five bit code, 11110. The oscilloscope
does not include these five bits in address readouts.

Acquire the Signal
SPI Bus
To acquire data from an SPI bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected SPI, push Define Inputs and Bus B1 Define Thresholds Configure B1 Label Bus Event
SPI Inputs SPI Display Table
the appropriate side menu choices.
You can set the Framing to SS (Slave
Select) or to Idle Time.
You can assign the predefined SCLK, SS,
MOSI, or MISO signals to any channel.
2. Push Configure and the desired side menu

choices.
3. Push SCLK to set the edge of the signal to SCLK

match the SPI bus being acquired.
4. Set the level of the SS, MOSI, and MISO SS
signals to match the SPI bus. Active
High
Active Low
Active High means that a signal is considered MOSI

active when the signal is greater than the Active
High
threshold value. Active Low
Active Low means that the signal is MISO

considered active when the signal is lower Active
High
than the threshold value. Active Low
-more-
1 0f 2

Acquire the Signal
5. Use Multipurpose a to set the number of Word Size

bits of the SPI Word Size. (a) 8 bits
6. Push either side menu button to set the bit Bit Order
MS First
order of the SPI bus.
Bit Order
LS First
RS-232 Bus
To acquire data from a RS-232 bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected RS-232, push Configure and Bus B1 Define Thresholds Configure B1 Label Bus Event
RS-232 Inputs 9600-8-N RS-232 Display Table
the desired side menu choices.
Use the side menu to configure the bus.
Use Normal polarity for RS-232 signals and
Inverted polarity for RS-422, RS-485, and
UART buses.

Acquire the Signal
2. Push Bit Rate, and turn Multipurpose a to Bit Rate

select the appropriate bit rate. 9600 bps
3. Push Data Bits and select the number to Data Bits

match the bus. 7 |8
4. Push Parity and turn Multipurpose a to Parity

match the polarity used by the bus as None, (a) None
Odd, or Even.
5. Push Packets and select On or Off. Packets
On |Off
6. Turn Multipurpose a to select an End of

Packet
end-of-packet character.
0A
(Linefeed)
RS-232 decoding displays a stream of bytes.

You can organize the stream into packets
with an end-of-packet character
If you defined an end-of-packet character

to use for RS-232 decoding, the stream of
bytes will be displayed as packets.
When decoding an RS-232 bus in ASCII

mode, a large dot indicates that the value
represents a character outside the printable
ASCII range.
CAN Bus
To acquire data from a CAN bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected CAN, push Define Inputs Bus B1 Define Thresholds Bit Rate B1 Label Bus Event
CAN Inputs 500 Kbps CAN Display Table
and the appropriate side menu choices.

Acquire the Signal
2. Turn Multipurpose a to select the channel CAN Input

connected to the CAN bus source. (a) 1
3. Turn Multipurpose a to select the type of Signal

Type
CAN signal: CAN_H, CAN_L, Rx, Tx, or
CAN_H
Differential.
4. Turn Multipurpose a to set the Sample Sample
Point
Point from 5% to 95% of the position within
50%
the bit period or the unit interval.
5. Push Bit Rate and turn Multipurpose a to Bus B1 Define Thresholds Bit Rate B1 Label Bus Event
CAN Inputs 500 Kbps CAN Display Table
select from the list of predefined bit rates.
Alternatively, you can set the bit rate to a
specific value. To do so, select Custom, and
then turn Multipurpose b to set the bit rate
from 10,000 to 1,000,000.
LIN Bus
To acquire data from a LIN bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected LIN, push Define Inputs and Bus B1 Define Thresholds Configure B1 Label Bus Event
LIN Inputs LIN Display Table
the appropriate side menu choices.
2. Turn Multipurpose a to select the channel LIN Input

connected to the LIN bus source. (a) 1
3. Turn Multipurpose a to set the Sample Sample

Point
Point from 5% to 95% of the position within
50%
the bit period or the unit interval.
4. Select the Polarity to match the LIN bus Polarity
being acquired. Normal
(High=1)
Polarity
Inverted
(High=0)

Acquire the Signal
5. Push Configure and the appropriate side Bus B1 Define Thresholds Configure B1 Label Bus Event
LIN Inputs LIN Display Table
menu choices.
6. Push Bit Rate, and turn Multipurpose a to Bit Rate

select from the list of predefined bit rates. (a)
19.2K bps
Alternatively, you can set the bit rate to a
specific value. To do so, select Custom, and
then turn Multipurpose b to set the bit rate
from 800 bps to 100,000 bps.
7. Push LIN Standard, and turn Multipurpose LIN
Standard
a to select the appropriate standard.
v1.x
8. Push Include Parity Bits with Id to select Include

Parity Bits
whether or not to include parity bits. with Id
On Off
FlexRay Bus
To acquire data from a FlexRay bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected FlexRay , push Define Bus B1 Define Thresholds Bit Rate B1 Label Bus Event
FlexRay Inputs FlexRay Display Table
Inputs and the desired side menu choices.
FlexRay
2. As appropriate, push the Threshold, Bit Rate,

Label, Bus Display and Event Table buttons
and set their corresponding parameter
values.
Audio Bus
To acquire data from an Audio bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected Audio, push Define Inputs Bus B1 Define Thresholds Configure B1 Label Bus Event
Audio Inputs RS-232 Display Table
and the desired side menu choices.

Acquire the Signal
2. Push Type, and turn Multipurpose a Audio Bus

Type
to select the type of audio bus data
configuration on which to trigger.
3. Select I2S to trigger on the standard Inter-IC I2S
Sound, or Integrated Interchip Sound,
electrical serial bus interface standard stereo
format.
4. Select Left Justified to trigger on an I2S Left
Justified
stream where there is no bit clock delay and (LJ)
the data starts right on the edge of the word
select clock.
5. Select Right Justified to trigger on an I2S Right
Justified
stream where the data lines up with the right (RJ)
edge of the word select clock.
6. Select TDM to trigger on time-division TDM
multiplexing.
7. Push Configure, and the appropriate

buttons on the side menu to further set up
I2S triggering.
USB Bus
To acquire data from a USB bus, you need to also set up these items:
1. If you selected USB, push Define Inputs to Bus B1 Define Thresholds B1 Label Bus Event
USB Inputs USB Display Table
set the USB bus speed and probe type.
Full Speed
2. The Thresholds, Label, Bus Display, and

Event Table menus operate similarly to the
other serial buses.
NOTE. 1 GHz bandwidth models are required
for high-speed (HS) USB.

Acquire the Signal
MIL-STD 1553
To acquire data from a MIL-STD 1553 bus, you Bus B1 Define Thresholds RT B1 Label Bus Event
MIL – 1553 Inputs 800 mV 12.0μS 1553 Display Table
need to also set up these items:
0.00 V 4.00μS
1. Push Define Inputs and turn Multipurpose

a to select the desired side menu choices.
Select the polarity desired to match the
MIL-STD-1553 bus being acquired.
2. The Thresholds, Label, Bus Display, and
Event Table menu items operate similarly to
how they work on other serial bus menus.
3. Push RT if you wish to change the Response
Time (RT) maximum and minimum default
values.
Physical Layer Bus Activity

Oscilloscope waveform traces from analog channels 1 to 4, digital channels D15 to D0, Math waveforms, and the traces you
see when you choose to display a bus always show the physical layer bus activity. In the physical layer display, bits that were
transmitted earlier are to the left, and bits that were transmitted later are to the right.
I2C, and CAN buses transmit the MSB (most significant bit) first
SPI buses do not specify a bit order
RS-232 and LIN buses transmit the LSB (least significant bit) first
NOTE. The oscilloscope displays the decode traces and event tables for all buses with the MSB on the left and LSB
on the right.
For example, an RS-232 signal (after the start bit) might be high, high, high, low, high, low, low, and high. Since the RS-232
protocol uses high for zero and low for one, this value would be 0001 0110.
Since the decode displays the MSB first, the oscilloscope reverses the order of the bits and displays 0110 1000. If the bus
display is set to hex, the value displays as 68. If the bus display is set to ASCII, the value displays as h.

Acquire the Signal
Setting Up Digital Channels

Use front panel buttons and knobs to set up your instrument to acquire signals using the digital channels.
1. Connect the P6316 16-channel logic probe

to the input signal source.
2. Connect the ground lead or leads to the

circuit ground.
You can connect a separate lead for each
channel or a common ground lead for each
group of 8 wires.
3. If needed, connect the appropriate grabber
for each probe to the probe tip.
4. Connect each probe to the desired circuit
test point.
5. Push D15 - D0 on the front panel to display
the menu.
6. Push D15 - D0 on the lower menu to access D15 – D0 Thresholds Edit Labels Monitor MagniVu Height
the D15 - D0 On or Off menu. On/Off On Off On Off S ML

Acquire the Signal
7. Turn Multipurpose a to scroll through the list

of digital channels. Turn Multipurpose b to
position the selected channel.
As you position channels close to each other
on the display, the oscilloscope groups the
channels, and adds the group to the pop-up
list. You can select the group from the list to
move all the channels in the group instead of
individual channels.
8. Push Thresholds on the lower menu. You
can assign a different threshold value to each
channel.
9. Push Edit Labels on the lower menu and
create the label. You can create labels
through the front panel or with an optional
USB keyboard. (See page 55, Labeling
Channels and Buses.)
10. Push Monitor to show the activity on digital
channels at a glance.
11. Push MagniVu on the lower menu to

increase the timing resolution. (See page 81,
When and Why to Turn On MagniVu.)

Acquire the Signal
12. Push Height on the lower menu repeatedly

to set the signal height. You only need to do
this once to set the height for all of the digital
channels.
Quick Tip
Use the zoom feature to see multiple cycles of the signal in the upper part, and a single cycle in the lower part of the
display. (See page 147, Using Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms.)
When setting up the logic probe, the first set of eight leads (pins 7 to 0) on the logic probe are marked GROUP 1 on the
lead box. The second set (pins 15 to 8) is marked GROUP 2.
Digital channels store a high or low state for each sample. The threshold that separates high from low can be set for
each set of eight channels.
When and Why to Turn On MagniVu

Tektronix MagniVu acquisition technology allows you to have higher timing resolution so that you can more accurately
determine edge placement and make more precise timing measurements on digital edges. Using MagniVu, you can see
up to 16 times more detail than you can using normal digital channel sampling.
The MagniVu record is acquired in parallel to the main digital acquisition and is available at any time, running or stopped.
MagniVu provides an ultra high resolution view of your data sampled at a maximum resolution of 121.2 ps for 10,000
points centered around the trigger.
NOTE. MagniVu centers itself around the trigger point. If you turn MagniVu on while using a large record length and you are
looking somewhere other than the trigger point, then the digital signal may be off screen. In most of these cases, you can find
the digital record by looking for the digital signal in the upper overview and panning accordingly.
NOTE. You should turn on MagniVu when light gray shading is displayed to indicate the uncertainty of the edge position. If
the shading is not displayed, you do not need to use MagniVu. (See page 113, Viewing Digital Channels.)
Using MagniVu
1. Push D15 – D0.
2. Push MagniVu and select On. D15 – D0 Thresholds Label Monitor MagniVu Height
On/Off On Off On Off S ML

Acquire the Signal
Quick Tips
If you think you need more timing resolution, turn on MagniVu to increase the resolution.
MagniVu is always acquired. If the oscilloscope is in a stopped state, you can turn on MagniVu and still get the resolution
without taking another acquisition.
The serial bus features do not use data acquired in MagniVu mode.
Setting Up the RF Inputs

Frequency and Span Parameters
1. The center frequency is a precise

frequency at the center of the display.
In many applications, it is a carrier
frequency.
2. The span is the range of frequencies

you can observe around the center
frequency.
To define the center frequency and the span:
1. Push Freq/Span on the front panel.

Acquire the Signal
Frequency
& Span
2. Push Center Frequency on the side menu Center

Frequency
and use either the Multipurpose a knob or
(a)
the oscilloscope keypad to enter the desired 2.24 GHz
center frequency. If you use the keypad,
you can also use the resulting side menu
choices to enter units.
3. Push Span and use either the Multipurpose Span
b knob or the keypad to enter the desired (b)
3.00 GHz
span. If you use the keypad, you can also
use the resulting side menu choices to enter
units.
4. Push Start to set the lowest frequency to Start
capture. 7.36 MHz
5. Push Stop to set the highest frequency to Stop

capture. 3.74 GHz
6. Push To Center to move the frequency

identified by the reference marker to the To Center
center frequency.
Reference Level
1. Push Ampl to bring up the side menu for
adjusting RF amplitude settings.

Acquire the Signal
Amplitude
2. Push Ref Level and turn Multipurpose a to Ref Level

set the approximate maximum power level, (a)
-25.0 dBm
as shown by the baseline indicator at the top
of the frequency graticule.
3. Push Vertical and turn Multipurpose a to Vertical
adjust the vertical position. You will move 420 mdiv
the baseline indicator up or down. This is 20.0 dB/div
useful if you want to move signals onto the
visible display.
Turn Multipurpose b to adjust the vertical
scale.
4. Push Vertical Units and turn Multipurpose Vertical
Units
a to define the vertical units of measure for
dBm
the frequency domain. Choices are: dBm,
dBμW, dBmV, dBμV, dBmA, and dBμA.
This is useful if your application requires
a different unit of measurement than that
being currently displayed.
5. Push Auto Level to direct the oscilloscope Auto Level
to automatically calculate and set the
reference level for you.
Resolution Bandwidth
The resolution bandwidth (RBW) determines the level to which the oscilloscope can resolve individual frequencies in
the frequency domain. For example, if the test signal contains two carriers separated by 1 kHz, you will not be able to
discriminate between them unless the RBW is less than 1 kHz.
The views below both show the same signal. The difference between them is their RBW.
Lower (narrower) RBWs take longer to process, Higher (wider) RBWs take less time to process, but have less frequency resolution
but have finer frequency resolution and a lower and a higher noise floor.
noise floor.

Acquire the Signal
1. Push BW to bring up the resolution

bandwidth side menu. This allows you to set
the smallest frequency difference that the
instrument can discern in the frequency axis.
Bandwidth
2. Push RBW Mode to select either Auto or RBW

Mode
Manual.
Auto
Auto sets the resolution bandwidth Manual
automatically as you change the span. The
default behavior is RBW = Span/1000.
Manual allows you to set your own
resolution bandwidth.
3. To manually adjust the RBW, push RBW RBW
and turn Multipurpose a. (a)
600 kHz
(Auto)
4. Push Span : RBW and turn Multipurpose Span :

RBW
a to set the span/RBW ratio.
1000 : 1
This ratio is used when the RBW Mode is
set to Auto. The default is 1000:1 but you
can set it to other values in a 1-2-5 sequence
(e.g. 1000, 20000, 50000).
5. Push Window and turn Multipurpose a to Window
choose which FFT window type to use. Kaiser
The choices are: Kaiser, Rectangular,

Hamming, Hanning, Blackman-Harris, or
Flat-Top.
The RF bandwidth FFT feature provides six windows. Each offers a trade-off between frequency resolution and magnitude
accuracy. The choice of which window to use depends upon what you want to measure and your source’s signal
characteristics. Use the following guidelines to select the best window:
Description Window
Kaiser
The frequency resolution when using the Kaiser window is fair; the spectral leakage and
amplitude accuracy are both good.
The Kaiser window is best used when frequencies are very close to the same value but have
widely differing amplitudes (the side lobe level and shape factor are closest to the traditional
Gaussian RBW). This window is also good for random signals.

Acquire the Signal
Description Window
Rectangular
The frequency resolution when using the Rectangular (a.k.a. boxcar or none) window is very
good, the spectral leakage is high, and amplitude accuracy is poor.
Use the Rectangular window for measuring transients or bursts where the signal levels
before and after the event are nearly equal. Also, use this window for equal-amplitude sine
waves with frequencies that are very close together, and for broadband random noise with a
relatively slow varying spectrum. This window is the best type for measuring the frequency
spectrum of non-repetitive signals, and measuring frequency components near DC.
Hamming
The frequency resolution when using the Hamming window is good (slightly better than
Hanning), the spectral leakage is moderate, and amplitude accuracy is fair.
Use the Hamming window for measuring sine, periodic, and narrow band random noise. This
window works well on transients or bursts where the signal levels before and after the event
are significantly different.
Hanning
The frequency resolution when using the Hanning (a.k.a. Hann) window is good, the spectral
leakage is low and amplitude accuracy is fair.
Use the Hanning window for measuring sine, periodic, and narrow band random noise. This
Blackman-Harris
The frequency resolution when using the Blackman-Harris window is poor, the spectral
leakage is very low and amplitude accuracy is good.
Use the Blackman-Harris window for measuring predominantly single frequency waveforms to
look for higher order harmonics, or several moderately or widely spaced sinusoidal signals.
Flat-Top
The frequency resolution when using a Flat-Top window is poor, the spectral leakage is
low and amplitude accuracy is very good.
Use the Flat-Top window for making accurate amplitude measurements of moderately or
widely spaced sinusoidal signals.

Trigger Setup
Trigger Setup
This section contains concepts and procedures for setting up the oscilloscope to trigger on your signal.
Triggering Concepts
Trigger Event
The trigger event establishes the time-reference point in the waveform record. All waveform record data is located in time
with respect to that point. The instrument continuously acquires and retains enough sample points to fill the pretrigger portion
of the waveform record. That is the part of the waveform that is displayed before, or to the left of, the triggering event on
screen. When a trigger event occurs, the instrument starts acquiring samples to build the posttrigger portion of the waveform
record, that is, the part displayed after or to the right of the trigger event. After a trigger is recognized, the instrument will not
accept another trigger until the acquisition is complete and the holdoff time has expired.
Untriggered display Triggered display
Trigger Modes
The trigger mode determines how the instrument behaves in the absence of a trigger event:
Normal trigger mode enables the instrument to acquire a waveform only when it is triggered. If no trigger occurs, the last
waveform record acquired remains on the display. If no last waveform exists, no waveform is displayed.
Auto trigger mode enables the instrument to acquire a waveform even if a trigger does not occur. Auto mode uses a
timer that starts when the acquisition is started, and the pretrigger information is obtained. If a trigger event is not
detected before the timer times out, the instrument forces a trigger. The length of time it waits for a trigger event
depends on the time base setting.
Auto mode, when forcing triggers in the absence of valid triggering events, does not synchronize the waveform on the
display. The waveform will appear to roll across the screen. If valid triggers occur, the display will become stable.
You can also force the instrument to trigger by pushing the front panel Force Trig button.

Trigger Setup
Trigger Holdoff
Adjust holdoff to obtain stable triggering when
the instrument is triggering on undesired
trigger events.
Trigger holdoff can help stabilize triggering,
since the oscilloscope does not recognize
new triggers during the holdoff time. When
the instrument recognizes a trigger event, it
disables the trigger system until acquisition
is complete. In addition, the trigger system
remains disabled during the holdoff period Holdoffs
that follows each acquisition.
Trigger Coupling
Trigger coupling determines what part of the
signal is passed to the trigger circuit. Edge
and Sequence triggering can use all available
coupling types: DC, AC, Low Frequency
Rejection, High Frequency Rejection, and
Noise Rejection. All other trigger types use
DC coupling only.
Horizontal Position
When Delay Mode is on, use horizontal
position to acquire waveform detail in a
region that is separated from the trigger
location by a significant interval of time.

Trigger Setup
1. Adjust the position (delay) time by

rotating the Horizontal Position knob.
2. Turn horizontal SCALE to acquire the

detail that you need around the position
(delay) expansion point.
The part of the record that occurs before the trigger is the pretrigger portion. The part that occurs after the trigger is the
posttrigger portion. Pretrigger data can help you troubleshoot. For example, to find the cause of an unwanted glitch in
your test circuit, you can trigger on the glitch and make the pretrigger period large enough to capture data before the
glitch. By analyzing what happens before the glitch, you may uncover information that helps you find the source of the
glitch. Alternatively, to see what is happening in your system as a result of the trigger event, make the posttrigger period
large enough to capture data after the trigger.
Slope and Level

The slope control determines whether the
instrument finds the trigger point on the rising
or the falling edge of a signal.
The level control determines where on that
edge the trigger point occurs.
The oscilloscope provides a long horizontal

bar or bars across the graticule to temporarily
show the trigger level.
1. Turn the front panel Trigger Level knob

to adjust the trigger level without going
to a menu.
2. Push the front panel Trigger Level knob

to quickly set the trigger level to the
midpoint of the waveform.

Trigger Setup
Choosing a Trigger Type

To select a trigger:
1. Push Trigger Menu.
2. Push Type to bring up the Trigger Type Trigger

Type
side menu.
Sequence
NOTE. The bus trigger in the MDO3000 (B Trigger)
Series works on parallel buses even without Pulse
an application module. Using the bus trigger Width
on other buses requires use of a MDO3AERO,
Timeout
MDO3AUDIO, MDO3AUTO, MDO3FLEX,
MDO3COMP, MDO3EMBD, or MDO3USB Runt
application module. Logic
Setup &
Hold
Rise/Fall
Time
Video
Bus
3. Turn Multipurpose a to select the desired

trigger type.
4. Complete the trigger setup using the lower Type Source Coupling Slope Level Mode
menu controls displayed for the trigger Edge 1 DC 100 mV Auto
type. The controls to set up the trigger vary & Holdoff
depending on the trigger type.

Trigger Setup
Selecting Triggers
Trigger Type Trigger Conditions
Edge Trigger on a rising edge, a falling edge, or both edges,
as defined by the slope control. Coupling choices are
DC, LF Reject, HF Reject, and Noise Reject.
Edge triggers are the simplest and most commonly
used trigger type, with both analog and digital signals.
An edge trigger event occurs when the trigger source
passes through a specified voltage level in the specified
direction.
Sequence Combine an edge A Event (Main) trigger with the B
(B Trigger) (not Event (Delayed) trigger to capture more complex signals.
available with an (See page 65, Act on Event.)
edge slope of Time. After the A Event occurs, the trigger system waits
Both) the specified amount of time, and then looks for the B
Event before triggering and displaying the waveform.
Events. After the A Event occurs, the trigger system
looks for a specified number of B Events before
triggering and displaying the waveform.
Pulse Width Trigger on pulses that are less than, greater than, equal
to, or not equal to a specified time. Additionally, you can
trigger when a pulse width is within or outside a range of
two different specified times. You can trigger on positive
or negative pulses. Pulse width triggers are primarily
used on digital signals.
Timeout Trigger when no pulse is detected within a specified

time. The signal stays above or below (or either above
or below) a set value for a set amount of time.
Runt Trigger on a pulse amplitude that crosses one threshold

but fails to cross a second threshold before recrossing
the first. You can detect positive or negative (or either)
runts, or only those wider than, less than, greater than,
equal to, or not equal to a specified width. Runt triggers
are primarily used on digital signals.

Trigger Setup

Logic Trigger when all channels transition to the specified
state. Turn Multipurpose a to select a channel. Push
the appropriate button on the side menu to set that
channel's state to High (H), Low (L), or Don't Care (X).
Push Clock on the side menu to enable clocked (state)
triggering. You can have at most a single clock channel.
Push Clock Edge on the lower menu to change the
polarity of the clock edge. Turn off clocked triggering and
return to unclocked (pattern) triggering by selecting the
clock channel and setting it to high, low, or don't care.
For unclocked triggering, by default, triggering occurs
when the selected condition goes true. You can also
select triggering when the condition goes false, or
time-qualified triggering.
You can use up to 20 channels for a Logic trigger (4
analog and 16 digital).
NOTE. Optimum Logic trigger performance is achieved
by using only analog channels or only digital channels.
Setup and Hold Trigger when a logic data input changes state inside of
the setup or hold time relative to a clock edge.
Setup is the amount of time that data should be stable
and not change before a clock edge occurs. Hold is the
time that data should be stable and not change after a
clock edge occurs.
MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes are capable of multiple
channel Setup and Hold triggering, and can monitor the
state of an entire bus for setup and hold violations. You
can use up to 20 channels for a Setup and Hold trigger
(4 analog and 16 digital).
Push Clock on the side menu to select the clock
channel. Push the Select control, Data, and Not used
buttons to select one or more channels you want to
monitor for setup and hold violations.
NOTE. Optimum Setup and Hold trigger performance is
achieved by using only analog channels or only digital
channels.
Rise/Fall Time Trigger on rise and fall times. Trigger on pulse edges
that traverse between two thresholds at faster or slower
rates than the specified time. Specify pulse edges as
positive or negative or either.

Trigger Setup

Video Trigger on specified fields or lines of a composite video
signal. Only composite signal formats are supported.
Trigger on NTSC, PAL, or SECAM. Works with
Macrovision signals.
Trigger on a variety of HDTV video standard signals, as
well as custom (non-standard) bilevel and trilevel video
signals with 3 to 4,000 lines.
Bus Trigger on various bus conditions.

I2C requires a MDO3EMBD module.
SPI requires an MDO3EMBD module.
CAN requires an MDO3AUTO module.
RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, and UART require an
MDO3COMP module.
LIN requires an MDO3AUTO module.
FlexRay requires an MDO3FLEX module.
Audio requires an MDO3AUDIO module.
USB requires an MDO3USB module.
MIL-STD-1553 requires an MDO3AERO module.
Parallel requires option MDO3MSO.
(See page 14, Application Module Free Trial.)
Triggering on Buses
You can use your oscilloscope to trigger on multiple data buses, if you have the appropriate application module installed. The
MDO3000 Series can trigger on parallel buses without an application module. The oscilloscope can display both the physical
layer (as analog waveforms) and the protocol level information (as digital and symbolic waveforms).
To set up the bus trigger:
1. If you have not already defined your bus

using the front panel B1 or B2 buttons, do
so now. (See page 67, Setting Up a Serial
or Parallel Bus.)

Trigger Setup
3. Push Type. Type Source Trigger On Address Direction Mode

Bus Bus Address 07F Write Auto
B1 (I2C) & Holdoff

trigger type side menu until you select Bus.
5. Push Source Bus and use the Source Bus

side menu to select the bus that you want
to trigger on.
6. Push Trigger On and select the desired
trigger on feature from the side menu.
Parallel Bus Trigger (requires option MDO3MSO)

You can trigger on a binary or hex data value. Push Data on the lower menu and enter the parameters of interest with the
Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b knobs.
I2C Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Start, Repeated Start, Stop, Missing Ack, Address, Data, or Address/Data.
If you are setting up an I2C trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Address or Address/Data, push Address
on the lower menu to access the I2C Address side menu.
Push Addressing Mode on the side menu and select 7 bit or 10 bit. Push Address on the side menu. Enter the address
parameters of interest with the Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b knobs.
Then push Direction on the lower menu and select the direction of interest: Read, Write, or Read or Write.
If you have made a Trigger On selection of Data or Address/Data, push Data on the lower menu to access the I2C
Data side menu.
Push Number of Bytes and enter the number of bytes with Multipurpose a.
Push Addressing Mode on the side menu and select 7-bit or 10–bit. Push Data on the side menu. Enter the data
parameters of interest with the Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b knobs.
For more information on the I2C address formats, refer to item 2 under Setting Up Bus Parameters.
SPI Bus Trigger

You can trigger on SS Active, MOSI, MISO, or MOSI & MISO.
If you are setting up an SPI trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of MOSI or MISO, push Data on the lower
menu, push MOSI or MISO on the side menu, and enter the data parameters of interest using the Multipurpose a and
Multipurpose b knobs.
Then push Number of Bytes and enter the number of bytes with the Multipurpose a knob.
If you select MOSI & MISO, push Data on the lower menu and enter the parameters of interest in the side menus.

Trigger Setup
RS-232 Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Tx Start Bit, Rx Start Bit, Tx End of Packet, Rx End of Packet, Tx Data, or Rx Data.
If you are setting up an RS-232 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Tx Data or Rx Data, push Data on the
lower menu.
Push Number of Bytes and enter the number of bytes with Multipurpose a.
Push Data on the side menu, and enter the parameters of interest with the Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b knobs.
CAN Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Start of Frame. Type of Frame, Identifier, Data, Id & Data, End of Frame, and Missing Ack.
If you are setting up a CAN trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Type of Frame, push Frame Type on the lower
menu, and select Data Frame, Remote Frame, Error Frame, or Overload Frame.
If you have made a Trigger On selection of Identifier, push Identifier on the lower menu and select a Format. Then push
Identifier on the side menu, and enter a binary or hex value with multipurpose knobs a and b.
Push Direction on the lower menu and select the direction of interest: Read, Write, or Read or Write.
If you have made a Trigger On selection of Data, push Data on the lower menu and enter the parameters of interest.
LIN Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Sync, Identifier, Data, Id & Data, Wakeup Frame, Sleep Frame, or Error.
If you are setting up an LIN trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Identifier, Data, or Identifier & Data, push
Identifier or Data on the lower menu and enter the parameters of interest on the resulting side menu.
If you have made a Trigger On selection of Error, push Error Type on the lower menu and enter the parameters of
interest on the side menu.
FlexRay Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Start of Frame, Type of Frame, Identifier, Cycle Count, Header Fields, Data, Id & Data, End
of Frame or Error.
Audio Bus Trigger

If you are using an I2C, Left Justified (LJ), or Right Justified (RJ) audio bus, you can trigger on Word Select or Data.
If you are using an TDM audio bus, you can trigger on Frame Sync or Data.
USB Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Sync, Reset, Suspend, Resume, End of Packet, Token (Address) Packet, Data Packet, Handshake
Packet, Special Packet, or Error.

Trigger Setup
MIL-STD-1553 Bus Trigger

You can trigger on Sync, Command, Status, Data, Time (RT/IMG), or Error.
If you are setting up a MIL-STD-1553 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Command, push RT Address on the
lower menu to enter specific values of RT Address to trigger on. Push Command Word Details on the lower menu to enter
the T/R bit value, Subaddress/Mode value, Word Count/Mode Code value, and Parity value.
If you are setting up a MIL-STD-1553 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Status, push RT-Address on the
lower menu to enter specific values of RT Address to trigger on. Push Status Word Bits on the lower menu to enter values
for Message Error (bit 9), Instr. (bit 10), Service Req. (bit 11), BCR (bit 15), Busy (bit 16), Subsystem Flag (bit
17), DBCA (bit 18), Terminal Flag (bit 19) and Parity.
If you are setting up a MIL-STD-1553 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Data, push Data on the lower
menu to enter specific Data values, and the Parity value.
If you are setting up a MIL-STD-1553 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Time (RT/IMG), push Trigger When
on the lower menu to set the trigger condition. Push Times on the lower menu to set the Maximum and Minimum times.
If you are setting up a MIL-STD-1553 trigger and have made a Trigger On selection of Error, push l Error Type on the lower
menu to select the type of error to trigger on.
I2C, SPI, USB, CAN, LIN, and FlexRay Bus Trigger Data Matching
Rolling window byte matching for I2C, SPI, USB, and FlexRay. To use a rolling window to trigger on data, you
define the number of bytes to match. Then the oscilloscope uses a rolling window to find any match within a packet,
with the window rolling one byte at a time.
For example, if the number of bytes is one, the oscilloscope will attempt to match the first byte, second byte, third, and so
on within the packet.
If the number of bytes is two, the oscilloscope will try to match any two consecutive bytes, such as one and two, two and
three, three and four, and so on. If the oscilloscope finds a match, it will trigger.
With FlexRay or USB, obtain a rolling window match by setting the Byte Offset in the Data menu to Don't care.
Specific byte matching (non-rolling window matching for a specific position in the packet) for I2C, SPI,
USB, CAN, and FlexRay.
You can trigger on a specific byte for I2C, SPI, CAN, and FlexRay in several ways:
For I2C and SPI, enter the number of bytes to match the number of bytes in the signal. Then use don't cares (X) to
mask the bytes that you are not interested in.
For I2C, push Trigger On on the lower menu to trigger on Address/Data. Push Address. On the side menu, push
Address, and turn Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b as needed. Set the address to don't cares (X) if you want to
mask the address. The data will be matched starting at the first byte without using a rolling window.
For USB, triggering occurs when the user-selected data input matches the data and qualifier in the signal starting at
the byte offset. Set the number of bytes to match the number of bytes of interest. Use the data qualifier to perform: =,
!=, <, >, >=, and <= operations.
For CAN, triggering occurs when the user-selected data input matches the data and qualifier in the signal starting at
the first byte. Set the number of bytes to match the number of bytes of interest. Use the data qualifier to perform: =,

Trigger Setup
!=, <, >, >=, and <= operations. Triggering on identifier and data always matches the identifier and data selected by
the user, with the data starting at the first byte. No rolling window is used.
For FlexRay and Ethernet, triggering occurs when the user-selected data input matches the data and qualifier in the
signal starting at the byte offset. Set the number of bytes to match the number of bytes of interest. Use the data qualifier
to perform: =, !=, <, >, >=, and <= operations. Triggering on identifier and data always matches the identifier and data
selected by the user, with the data starting at the first byte. No rolling window is used.
Data Value Matching

You can trigger on a specific data value for RS-232 bytes. If you defined an end-of-packet character to use for RS-232 bus
decoding, you can use the same end-of-packet character as a data value for trigger data matching. To do so, choose the Tx
End of Packet or the Rx End of Packet character as the Trigger On selection.
You can also trigger on a specific data value for other buses.
Parallel Bus Trigger Data Matching

Optimum parallel bus trigger performance is achieved by using only analog channels or only digital channels.
Checking Trigger Settings

To quickly determine the settings of some
key trigger parameters, check the Trigger
readout at the bottom of the display. The
readouts differ for edge and the advanced
triggers.
1. Trigger source = channel 1.
Edge trigger readout
2. Trigger slope = rising.
3. Trigger level = 0.00 V.

Trigger Setup
Using Sequence Trigger (A (Main) and B (Delayed))

Combine an edge A Event (Main) trigger with the B Event (Delayed) trigger to capture more complex signals. After the A
Event occurs, the trigger system looks for the B Event before triggering and displaying the waveform.
A and B triggers can (and typically do) have separate sources.
NOTE. You can select sequence triggering when you choose the slope type Falling or Rising — but not when you pick
the slope type Both.
Use the Edge trigger menu to set up the A trigger first. Then, to use the B trigger:
2. Push Type.
3. Turn Multipurpose a to select a trigger type
of Sequence (B Trigger).
This brings up the Sequence (B Trigger)
menu.
4. Push B Trigger After A. Type Source Coupling Slope Level B Trigger Mode
Sequence 1 DC 0.00 V After A Auto
(B Trigger) Time & Holdoff

Trigger Setup
Select the method for sequencing the B Time

trigger after the A by pushing a side menu (a) 8 ns
button.
B Events
1
Set to
Minimum
5. Set the other Sequence Trigger parameters

in the related side and lower menus.
B Trigger After Delay Time

The A trigger arms the instrument.
Posttrigger acquisition starts on the first B
edge after the trigger delay time.
Trigger on B Events
The A trigger arms the instrument.
Posttrigger acquisition starts on the nth B
event.
Quick Tips
B-trigger delay time and horizontal position are independent functions. When you establish a trigger condition using
either the A trigger alone or the A and B triggers together, you can also use the horizontal position control to delay the
acquisition by an additional amount.
When using the B trigger, the A and B trigger types can only be Edge.

Trigger Setup
Starting and Stopping an Acquisition

After you have defined the acquisition and trigger parameters, start the acquisition with Run/Stop or Single.
Push Run/Stop to start acquisitions.

The oscilloscope acquires repeatedly
until you push the button again to stop
the acquisition.
Push Single to take a single acquisition.
Single sets the trigger mode to Normal
for the single acquisition.
If any analog or digital waveforms are
active, then pressing Run/Stop to stop
acquisitions will cause the oscilloscope
to wait for one more trigger event before
stopping. Once the acquisition occurs,
the Run/Stop button will turn red and the
Single button will become unlit.
If the Trigger Mode is set to Auto and
another trigger event does not occur
within the Auto trigger timeout period
then an acquisition will be made and the
instrument will stop.
If the Trigger mode is set to Normal,
the oscilloscope will continue waiting
for a trigger event to occur as long as
necessary.

Display Waveform or Trace Data

This section contains concepts and procedures for displaying the acquired waveform or trace.
Adding and Removing a Waveform

1. To add or remove a waveform from the
display, push the corresponding front
panel channel button or the D15-D0
button.
You can use the channel as a trigger
source whether or not it is displayed.
Setting the Display Style and Persistence

1. To set the display style, push Acquire.
2. Push Waveform Display. Mode Record FastAcq Delay Set Horiz. Waveform XY Display
Sample Length Off Position to Display On
10k On Off 10%

3. Push Dots Only On Off on the side menu. Waveform

Display
Dots on will display the waveform record
points as dots on the screen. Dots off
connects the dots with vectors.
Dots Only
On Off
4. Push Persistence to Off to display the Persis-

tence
display persistence.
On Off
5. Push Persist Time, and turn Multipurpose Persist

Time
a to have waveform data remain on screen
(a) Auto
for a user-specified amount of time.
6. Push Set to Auto to have the oscilloscope Set to Auto
automatically determine a persistence time
for you.
7. Push Clear Persistence to reset the Clear Per-
sistence
persistence information.
8. To display the amplitude from one waveform

against the amplitude from another, push XY
Display. Then push Triggered XY from the
side menu.
A data point from the first waveform
specifies the horizontal location while the
corresponding data point from the second
waveform specifies the vertical location for
each displayed point.
You can optionally view both the YT and XY
displays simultaneously on the same screen.
Quick Tips
Variable persistence accumulates record points for a specified time interval. Each record point decays independently
according to the time interval. Use variable persistence for displaying infrequently appearing signal anomalies, such
as glitches.
Infinite persistence continuously accumulates record points until you change one of the acquisition display settings. Use
infinite persistence for displaying unique signal anomalies, such as glitches.
The XY Display mode graphs the data in fixed pairs of waveforms against one another.

Setting the Graticule Style

1. To set the graticule style, push Utility.

Page
3. Turn Multipurpose a and select Display. Display
4. Push Graticule on the lower menu. Utility Backlight Graticule Screen Trigger
Page Intensity Full Annotation Frequency
Display High Readout

5. Select the desired style on the side menu.

The Frame graticule provides a clean screen
on which you can most easily read automatic
measurement results and other screen text.
The Full graticule can help you make cursor
measurements on hard copies.
The Grid, Solid, and Cross Hair graticules
provide compromises between Frame and
Full.
Quick Tips
You can display IRE and mV graticules. To do this, set the trigger type to video and set the vertical scale to
114 mV/division. (The 114 mV/division selection is available in the fine vertical scale settings for the channel when you
set the trigger type to video.) The oscilloscope will automatically display the IRE graticule for NTSC signals, and the mV
graticule for other video signals (PAL, SECAM, HDTV, and custom).
Setting the LCD Backlight Brightness and Dimming Settings
1. Push Utility.

Page
4. Push Backlight . Utility Backlight Graticule Screen

Page High Full Annotation
Display

5. Select the intensity level on the side menu. Backlight

Choices are: High, Medium, and Low.
Backlight
Intensity
High
6. Enabling Auto-Dim will turn down the Auto-Dim

screen lighting after a set time. Using it may On Off
help prolong the LCD life.
Time
60min
Setting Waveform Intensity

1. Push Intensity on the front panel.
This will bring up the intensity readout on

the display.

waveform intensity.
3. Turn Multipurpose b to select the desired

intensity for the graticule.
4. Push Intensity again to clear the intensity
readout from the display.

Scaling and Positioning a Waveform

Use the horizontal controls to adjust the time base, adjust the trigger point, and to examine waveform details more closely.
You can also use the Wave Inspector Pan and Zoom controls to adjust the display of waveforms. (See page 147, Using
Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms.)
If you push the Horizontal Position knob and Delay is set to On, the horizontal position is set to 0 seconds. If you push it
and Delay is set to Off, the horizontal position is set to 10%.
Original waveform Scaled horizontally Positioned horizontally
Use the vertical controls to select waveforms, adjust the waveform vertical position and scale, and set input parameters.
Push a channel menu button (1, 2, 3, or 4), button as many times as needed and the associated menu items to select,
add, or remove a waveform.
Original waveform Scaled vertically Positioned vertically

Quick Tips
Preview. If you change the Position or Scale controls when the acquisition is stopped or when it is waiting for the next
trigger, the oscilloscope rescales and repositions the relevant waveforms in response to the new control settings. It
simulates what you will see when you next push the RUN button. The oscilloscope uses the new settings for the next
acquisition.
You may see a clipped waveform if the original acquisition went off the screen.
The math waveform, cursors, and automatic measurements remain active and valid when using preview.
Setting Input Parameters

Use the vertical controls to select waveforms, adjust the waveform vertical position and scale, and set input parameters.
1. Push a channel menu button 1, 2, 3, or 4 to

bring up the vertical menu for the designated
waveform. The vertical menu only affects
the selected waveform.
Pushing a channel button will also select or

cancel that waveform selection.
2. Push Coupling repeatedly to select the Coupling Termina- Invert Bandwidth (1) Label
tion Full
coupling to use. DC| AC On |Off More
1MΩ| 50Ω
Use DC coupling to pass both AC and DC
components.
Use AC coupling to block the DC component
and show only the AC signal.
3. Push Termination repeatedly to select the

input impedance to use.
Set the input impedance (termination) to
50 Ω or 1 MΩ if using DC coupling. Input
impedance is automatically set to 1 MΩ
when using AC coupling.
75 Ω is available on models ≤ 500 MHz.
For more information on input impedance,
see Quick Tips. (See page 110, Quick
Tips.)
4. Push Invert to invert the signal.
Select Off for normal operation and On
to invert the polarity of the signal in the
preamplifier.

5. Push Bandwidth, and select the desired

bandwidth on the side menu.
The set choices are: Full, 250 MHz, and
20 MHz. Additional choices may appear,
depending on the probe that you use.
Select Full to set the bandwidth to the full
oscilloscope bandwidth.
Select 250 MHz to set the bandwidth to
250 MHz.
Select 20 MHz to set the bandwidth to
20 MHz.
NOTE. 100 MHz and 200 MHz model
oscilloscopes do not include a 250 MHz option
on the menu.
6. Push Label to create a label for the channel.
(See page 55, Labeling Channels and
Buses.)
7. Push More to access a pop-up menu of
additional features. These are described
below.
8. Select Fine Scale to enable Multipurpose Fine Scale

a to make fine vertical scale adjustments.
Offset
Position
Probe
Setup
Deskew
9. Select Offset to enable Multipurpose a to

make vertical offset adjustments.
Push Set to 0 V on the side menu to set the
vertical offset to 0 V.
For more information on offset, see Quick
Tips. (See page 110, Quick Tips.)

10. Select Probe Setup to define probe

parameters.
On the side menu:
Select Voltage or Current to set the
probe type for probes that do not
have a TekProbe Level 1, TekProbe II
(requires a TPA-BNC adapter) or TekVPI
interface.
For probes that do not have a Tek
interface, when Probe Type is set to
Voltage, turn Multipurpose a to set
Attenuation to match the probe
For probes that do not have a Tek
interface, when Probe Type is set to
Current, turn Multipurpose a to set the
Amps/Volts ratio (Attenuation) to match
the probe.
If you are measuring current by probing
the voltage drop across a resistor,
set Measure Current to Yes. Push
A/V ratio on the side menu and turn
Multipurpose a to set the Amps/Volts
or Volts/Amp ratio of your setup. For
example, if you are measuring the drop
across a 2 Ω resistor, set the V/A ratio
to 2.
For some types of probes, you can push
this button to instruct the oscilloscope to
perform an AC calibration on the entire
signal path from the probe tip to the
specific oscilloscope channel. This can
result in a flatter frequency response
over the entire frequency range.
11. Select Deskew to make display and
measurement adjustments for probes that
have differing propagation delays. This is
especially important when using a current
probe in conjunction with a voltage probe.
For best results, use a deskew fixture, such
as the Tektronix 067-1686-xx.

If you do not have a deskew fixture, you

can use the controls in the Deskew menu to
set the oscilloscope's deskew parameters
to recommended values, based on the
nominal propagation delay of each probe.
The oscilloscope automatically loads the
nominal propagation delay values of TekVPI
and TekProbe II (requires use of a TPA-BNC
adaptor) probes. For other common probes,
first push Select on the side menu, and
select the channel to which the probe is
attached. Then push Probe Model on the
side menu, and select the probe model. If
your probe is not in the list, set probe model
to Other, and push Propagation Delay on
the side menu and dial in its propagation
delay with Multipurpose a.
To display the recommended deskew values
calculated by the oscilloscope, set Show
rec. deskews on the side menu to Yes.
To set the deskew values of each channel
to the recommended values, push Set all
deskews to recommended values on the
side menu.
Quick Tips
Using Probes with the TekProbe II and TekVPI Interfaces. When you attach a probe with the TekProbe II or the
TekVPI interface, the oscilloscope sets the channel sensitivity, coupling, and termination resistance automatically to
match the probe requirements. Tek Probe II probes require use of the TPA-BNC Adapter.
The Difference Between Vertical Position and Offset. Adjust the vertical position to place the waveforms where you
want to see them. The waveform baseline indicators indicate the zero Volts (or Amps) level for each waveform. If you
adjust the channel's Vertical Scale, the waveform expands or contracts around the waveform's baseline indicator.
When you use the Channel<x> > More >Offset > Vertical Offset control to move a waveform, the baseline indicator
no longer represents zero. Instead, it represents the level of the offset. If you adjust the channel's Vertical Scale, the
waveform expands or contracts around the waveform's baseline indicator.
50 Ω Protection. If you select 50 Ω termination, the maximum vertical scale factor is limited to 1 V/div, except that with a
10X probe the scale factor is 10 V. If you apply excessive input voltage, the oscilloscope automatically switches to 1
MΩ termination to protect the internal 50 Ω termination. For more details, refer to the specifications in the MDO3000
Series Oscilloscopes Technical Reference.

Positioning and Labeling Bus Signals

Positioning bus signals. Push the appropriate front panel bus button and turn the Multipurpose a knob to adjust the
vertical position of the selected bus. (See page 67, Setting Up a Serial or Parallel Bus.)
1. Push the appropriate front panel bus button

to select that bus.
2. Turn the Multipurpose a knob to adjust the

vertical position of the selected bus.
Labeling bus signals. To label a bus, do the following steps:

1. Push the appropriate front panel bus button.
2. Push Label. Bus (B1) Define Thresholds (B1) Label Bus Event
(See page 55, Labeling Channels and Buses.)
Positioning, Scaling, and Grouping Digital Channels

1. Push the front panel D15–D0 button.

2. Push D15–D0 on the lower menu. D15 – D0 Thresholds Edit Labels Monitor MagniVu Height
On/Off On |Off On |Off S|ML
3. Push Select on the side menu. Select

(a) D0
(b) 1.04 div
Display
On| Off
Turn on
D7–D0
Turn on
D15–D8
4. Turn Multipurpose a to select the channel

to move.
5. Turn Multipurpose b to move the selected

channel.
NOTE. The display of the channel (or group)
only moves after you stop rotating the knob.
6. To change the scale (height) of the digital

channels, push Height on the lower menu.
NOTE. The S (Small) selection will display
each waveform at 0.2 divisions tall. The M
(Medium) selection will display each waveform
at 0.5 divisions tall. The L (Large) selection will
display each waveform at 1 division tall. L only
works if there is enough room in the display to
display the waveforms. You can display up to 8L
waveforms at one time.
7. You can label individual digital channels for
easier identification. (See page 55, Labeling

8. To group some or all of the digital channels

together, move the channels right next to
each other. All the channels that are next to
each other automatically form a group.
You can see the groups by pushing
Select on the side menu and turning the
Multipurpose a knob.
When a group is selected, turn
Multipurpose b to move the whole
group.
Viewing Digital Channels

The various ways of displaying data from the digital channels help you analyze the signals. Digital channels store a high or
low state for each sample.
Logic high levels are displayed in green. Logic low levels are displayed in blue. When a single transition occurs during the time
represented by one pixel column, the transition (edge) is displayed in gray.
When multiple transitions occur during the time

represented by one pixel column, the transition (edge)
is displayed in white.
When the display shows a white edge, indicating multiple
transitions, you may be able to zoom in and see the
individual edges.
When you are zoomed in so far that there is more than

one pixel column per sample, the uncertainty of the edge
position is indicated by light gray shading.
NOTE. When the light gray shading is displayed, use
MagniVu.
Annotating the Screen

You can add your own text to the screen by doing the following:
1. Push Utility.


Page
3. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and select Display

Display.
4. Push Screen Annotation on the resulting Utility Backlight Graticule Screen Trigger
Page High Full Annotation Frequency
lower menu. Readout
Display
5. Push Display Annotation to select On on

the side menu.
The annotation window now appears.
Position it by turning the Multipurpose a
and Multipurpose b knobs.
6. Push Edit Annotation on the side menu
7. Turn the Multipurpose a knob to scroll
through the list of letters, numbers, and other
characters to select each desired character.
Alternatively, use a USB keyboard to type
in characters. (See page 35, Connecting a
USB Keyboard to Your Oscilloscope.)
To reposition the annotated text, push
Position on the side menu and turn
Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b, as
desired.
Viewing the Trigger Frequency

You can display a readout of trigger frequency. It counts all of the triggerable events, whether the oscilloscope triggered on
them or not, and displays the number of times per second that they occur. To display this readout, do the following:
1. Push Utility.


Page
4. Push Trigger Frequency Readout from the Utility Backlight Graticule Screen Trigger
Page High Full Annotation Frequency
resulting lower menu. Readout
Display
5. Push On on the side menu.

The trigger frequency now appears in the
Trigger readout, toward the lower right of the
display.
Displaying the Frequency Domain Menu

1. Push RF to bring up the frequency domain
menu.
2. Push Spectrum Traces to bring up the side Spectrum Spectro- Spectrum Detection Edit Labels
Traces gram Free Run Method
menu of four different spectrum trace types More
Off Auto
that the MDO3000 can display.
3. Push Spectrogram to bring up a side menu

to enable and configure the spectrogram
display.
4. Push Detection Method to bring up a side
menu of ways to reduce the FFT output to
the 750 pixel wide display.
5. Push Edit Label to label the RF traces.
6. Push More to choose between side menus
to compensate the RF signal path or to
configure the RF input probe.

Trace Types
The frequency domain window supports four spectrum traces. You may turn each of these traces on and off independently.
You can display all or some of them simultaneously.
1. Push Spectrum Traces from the RF Menu

to bring up the related side menu.
Spectrum
Traces
2. Set Normal to On to display the normal Normal

trace. On| Off
3. Set Average to On to display the average Average

trace. Turn Multipurpose a to set the 16
number of waveforms to include in each On |Off
average.
4. Set Max Hold to On to display the max hold Max Hold
trace. On |Off
5. Set Min Hold to On to display the min hold Min Hold

trace. On |Off
The figure to the right illustrates the different

trace types.
1. Normal trace: Each acquisition is
discarded as new data is acquired.
2. Max hold trace: The maximum data
values are accumulated over multiple
acquisitions of the Normal trace.
3. Min hold trace: The minimum data
values are accumulated over multiple
acquisitions of the Normal trace.
4. Average trace: Data from the Normal
trace is averaged over multiple
acquisitions. This is true power
averaging, which occurs before the log
conversion. Each power of 2 averaging
reduces the displayed noise by 3 dB.

The figure to the right shows the frequency

domain window’s trace indicator.
1. An RF trace indicator is placed at the
Reference Level.
2. A capital M appears if the maximum
trace is turned on.
3. A capital A appears if the average trace
is turned on.
4. A capital N appears if the normal trace
is turned on.
5. The small m appears if the minimum
trace is turned on.
Orange highlighting indicates the currently
selected trace. In the figure to the right,
the small m, which stands for the minimum
trace, is highlighted. This indicates that the
minimum trace is currently selected.
Detection Types
The MDO3000 calculates FFTs with a 1,000 to ~2,000,000 point output, depending on the acquisition settings. It then
reduces that FFT output into a 750 pixel-wide display. This means that approximately 1 to 2,000 FFT points get compressed
into each pixel column. The MDO3000 gives you several choices as to how this compression is done. The choices are:
+peak, sample, average, and -peak. The figure below illustrates how these detection methods work in a 5:1 compression,
where five points are reduced to each pixel column.
1. FFT points
2. Decimation
3. +Peak: Uses the highest amplitude point

in each interval.
4. Sample: Uses the first point in each

interval.

5. Average: Averages all points in each

interval.
6. –Peak: Uses the lowest amplitude point

in each interval.
Spectrogram Display
The spectrogram display is particularly useful for monitoring slowly-changing RF phenomena. The x-axis represents
frequency, just like the typical spectrum display. The y-axis represents time. Color indicates amplitude.
Spectrogram slices are generated by taking each spectrum and flipping it on its edge so that it is one pixel row tall, and then
assigning colors to each pixel based on the amplitude at that frequency with the cold colors of blue and green representing
low amplitude, and the hotter colors of yellow and red indicating higher amplitude. Each new acquisition adds another slice at
the bottom of the spectrogram, and the history moves up one row.
When acquisitions are stopped, you can navigate through the history of the spectrogram by pressing the side menu slice
control and turning the Multipurpose a knob. When acquisitions are stopped and the spectrogram is displayed, the
spectrogram slice trace is displayed as the Normal spectrum trace.
To use the spectrogram feature, push Spectrogram from the RF Menu to bring up the related side menu.
Spectro-
gram
1. Push Display to On to start the spectrogram. Display

On| Off
2. To review each spectrum captured in Slice

(Normal)
the spectrogram, push Run / Stop to
(a) -45
stop acquiring RF acquisitions. Turn
Multipurpose a.

Analyze Waveform or Trace Data

After having properly set up the acquisition, triggering, and display of your desired waveform or trace, you can analyze the
results. Select from features such as cursors, automatic measurements, statistics, waveform histograms, math, and FFT.
Using Markers in the Frequency Domain

1. Push Markers. This brings up the Markers
side menu.
Markers
2. Push Peak Markers and turn Multipurpose Peak

Markers
a to select how many peaks to label on the
(a) 5
display.
On| Off
NOTE. This is the maximum number of peaks
that will be marked. If there are more peaks that
meet the threshold and excursion criteria than
the specified number of Peak Markers identified
in this control, then only the specified number of
highest amplitude peaks will be marked.
3. Push
To Center to set the center frequency to the To Center
frequency indicated by the Reference Marker.
The Reference Marker is automatically placed
on the highest amplitude peak.
4. Push Threshold and turn Multipurpose Threshold
a to define the threshold of the peak -50.0 dBm
markers. Turn Multipurpose b to define Excursion
30.0 dB
their excursion value.
5. Push Manual Markers to activate manual Manual
Markers
markers. Use manual markers to measure
non-peak areas of interest in the spectrum. On |Off
6. Push Readout to choose between Absolute Readout

and Delta readouts. Delta readouts are Absolute
relative to the Reference Marker. Delta

Automatic Peak Markers

Automatic peak markers are on by default and assist with quickly identifying the frequency and amplitude of peaks in
the spectrum.
1. The Reference Marker is placed on the

highest amplitude peak. It is marked with
a red R in a triangle.
2. The automatic markers indicate
frequency and amplitude.
3. Absolute readouts show the actual
frequency and amplitude of the
automatic markers.
4. Delta readouts show the frequency and
amplitude of the automatic markers
relative to the reference marker.
In the screen shot shown below, a marker has been placed on each of the obvious peaks in the display. The Reference
Marker is the highest peak. It is marked with the red R in a triangle, and its readout is shown in red text.
1. Reference marker
2. Automatic markers
Use Threshold and Excursion to define which peaks are marked.

The threshold is a minimum amplitude that a signal must cross to be a valid peak. If the threshold is lower, more peaks will
tend to qualify to have markers. If the threshold is higher, fewer peaks tend to qualify to have markers.
The excursion is how far a signal needs to fall in amplitude between marked peaks to be another valid peak. If the excursion
is low, more peaks will tend to qualify to have associated markers. If the excursion is high, fewer peaks will tend to qualify to
have associated markers.

Each automatic marker has a readout associated with it. These can be absolute or delta readouts. An absolute marker
readout shows the actual frequency and amplitude of the associated marker. A delta marker readout shows the frequency
and amplitude differences from the Reference Marker. The Reference Marker’s readout indicates absolute frequency
and amplitude, regardless of the readout type.
Manual Markers
Two manual markers are provided for you to measure non-peak areas of the spectrum and to measure Noise Density and
Phase Noise. When the manual markers are turned on, the Reference Marker is no longer automatically attached to the
highest amplitude peak. It is now assigned to the Multipurpose a knob and can be moved to any location you desire. This
enables easy measurement of any part of the spectrum as well as delta measurements to any part of the spectrum. This
also lets you measure non-peak spectral content of interest. The readouts for manual markers indicate frequency and
amplitude, just like automatic marker readouts.
As with automatic peak marker readouts, the manual marker readouts can show either absolute or delta values.
1. One manual marker is controlled by

Multipurpose a.
2. The other manual marker is controlled
by Multipurpose b.
3. Delta readouts for frequency and

amplitude are shown at the top of the
display.
4. The third line of the manual marker
a always shows the noise density
(dBm/Hz).
5. The third line of manual marker b always
shows noise density when you choose
absolute markers. It shows phase
noise when you choose delta markers
(dBc/Hz).

Taking Automatic Measurements in the Time Domain

To take an automatic measurement in the time domain:
1. If the instrument is in the frequency domain,

push channel 1.
2. Push Measure.
3. Push Add Measurement. Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Waveform

surement Measure- DC His-
ment tograms More
4. Turn the Multipurpose b knob to select the

specific measurement. If needed, then turn
Multipurpose a to select the channel to
measure on.
5. To remove a measurement, push Remove

Measurement, turn Multipurpose a to
select the specific measurement, and push
OK Remove Measurement on the side
menu.
Quick Tips
To remove all measurements, select Remove All Measurements.
A symbol appears instead of the expected numerical measurement if a vertical clipping condition exists. Part of the
waveform is above or below the display. To obtain a proper numerical measurement, turn the vertical scale and position
knobs to make all of the waveform appear in the display.
If the oscilloscope displays a Low Resolution message, increase the record length of the acquisition so that the
oscilloscope has more points from which to calculate the measurement.

Selecting Automatic Measurements in the Time Domain

The following tables list each automatic measurement by category: time or amplitude. (See page 122, Taking Automatic
Measurements in the Time Domain.)
Time measurements
Measurement Description
Frequency The first cycle in a waveform or gated region. Frequency is the reciprocal of the period; it
is measured in hertz (Hz) where one Hz is one cycle per second.
Period The time required to complete the first cycle in a waveform or gated region. Period is
the reciprocal of frequency and is measured in seconds.
Rise Time The time required for the leading edge of the first pulse in the waveform or gated region
to rise from the low reference value (default = 10%) to the high reference value (default =
90%) of the final value.
Fall Time The time required for the falling edge of the first pulse in the waveform or gated region to
fall from the high reference value (default = 90%) to the low reference value (default =
10%) of the final value.
Delay The time between the mid reference (default 50%) amplitude point of two different
waveforms. See also Phase.
Phase The amount of time that one waveform leads or lags another waveform, expressed in
degrees where 360° makes up one waveform cycle. See also Delay.
Positive Pulse The distance (time) between the mid reference (default 50%) amplitude points of a
Width positive pulse. The measurement is made on the first pulse in the waveform or gated
region.
Negative Pulse The distance (time) between the mid reference (default 50%) amplitude points of a
Width negative pulse. The measurement is made on the first pulse in the waveform or gated
region.
Positive Duty The ratio of the positive pulse width to the signal period expressed as a percentage. The
Cycle duty cycle is measured on the first cycle in the waveform or gated region.
Negative Duty The ratio of the negative pulse width to the signal period expressed as a percentage.
Cycle The duty cycle is measured on the first cycle in the waveform or gated region.
Burst Width The duration of a burst (a series of transient events) and is measured over the entire
waveform or gated region.

Amplitude measurements
Peak-to-peak The absolute difference between the maximum and minimum amplitude in the entire
waveform or gated region.
Amplitude The high value less the low value measured over the entire waveform or gated region.
Max The most positive peak voltage. Max is measured over the entire waveform or gated
region.
Min The most negative peak voltage. Min is measured over the entire waveform or gated
region.
High This value is used as 100% whenever high reference, mid reference, or low reference
values are needed, such as in fall time or rise time measurements. Calculate using either
the min/max or histogram method. The min/max method uses the maximum value found.
The histogram method uses the most common value found above the midpoint. This
value is measured over the entire waveform or gated region.
Low This value is used as 0% whenever high reference, mid reference, or low reference
values are needed, such as in fall time or rise time measurements. Calculate using either
the min/max or histogram method. The min/max method uses the minimum value found.
The histogram method uses the most common value found below the midpoint. This
value is measured over the entire waveform or gated region.
Positive This is measured over the entire waveform or gated region and is expressed as:
Overshoot Positive Overshoot = (Maximum – High) / Amplitude x 100%.
Negative This is measured over the entire waveform or gated region and is expressed as:
Overshoot Negative Overshoot = (Low – Minimum) / Amplitude x 100%.
Total overshoot This is the summation of the positive overshoot and the negative overshoot.

Amplitude measurements (cont.)

Mean The arithmetic mean over the entire waveform or gated region.
Cycle Mean The arithmetic mean over the first cycle in the waveform or the first cycle in the gated
region.
RMS The true Root Mean Square voltage over the entire waveform or gated region.
Cycle RMS The true Root Mean Square voltage over the first cycle in the waveform or the first
cycle in the gated region.
Miscellaneous measurements
Positive Pulse The number of positive pulses that rise above the mid reference crossing in the waveform
Count or gated region.
Negative Pulse The number of negative pulses that fall below the mid reference crossing in the waveform
Count or gated region.
Rising Edge The number of positive transitions from the low reference value to the high reference
Count value in the waveform or gated region.
Falling Edge The number of negative transitions from the high reference value to the low reference
Count value in the waveform or gated region.
Area Area measurement is a voltage over time measurement. It returns the area over the
entire waveform or gated region in volt-seconds. Area measured above ground is
positive; area measured below ground is negative.
Cycle Area A voltage over time measurement. The measurement is the area over the first cycle
in the waveform or the first cycle in the gated region expressed in volt-seconds. The
area above the common reference point is positive, and the area below the common
reference point is negative.

Histogram measurements
Waveform Displays the number of waveforms that contributed to the histogram.
Count
Hits in Box Displays the number of samples within the histogram box or on its boundaries.
Peak Hits Displays the number of samples in the bin that contains the most hits.
Median Displays the middle histogram data value, where half of all histogram data points are
less than this value and half are greater than this value.
Peak-to-peak Displays the peak-to-peak value of the histogram. Vertical histograms display the voltage
of the highest nonzero bin minus the voltage of the lowest nonzero bin. Horizontal
histograms display the time of the right-most nonzero bin minus the time of the left-most
nonzero bin.
Histogram Max Displays the voltage of the highest nonzero bin in vertical histograms or the time of the
right most nonzero bin in horizontal histograms.
Histogram Min Displays the voltage of the lowest nonzero bin in vertical histograms or the time of the left
most nonzero bin in horizontal histograms.
Histogram Measures the average of all histogram data points within or on the histogram box.
Mean
Standard Measures the standard deviation (Root Mean Square (RMS) deviation) of all histogram
Deviation data points within or on the histogram box.
Sigma1 Displays the percentage of the hits in the histogram that are within one standard deviation
of the histogram mean.
Sigma2 Displays the percentage of the hits in the histogram that are within two standard
deviations of the histogram mean.
Sigma3 Displays the percentage of the hits in the histogram that are within three standard
deviations of the histogram mean.
Customizing an Automatic Measurement in the Time Domain

You can customize automatic measurements by using gating, modifying measurement statistics, adjusting the measurement
reference levels, or taking a snapshot.
Gating
Gating confines the measurement to a certain portion of a waveform. To use:
1. Push Measure.

2. Push More as many times as needed to Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Waveform
select Gating from the resulting pop-up ment More
tograms
menu.
3. Position the gates using the side menu Gating

options.
Off
(Full
Record)
Screen
Between
Cursors
Statistics
Statistics characterize the stability of measurements. To adjust statistics:
1. Push Measure.
2. Push More as many times as needed to Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Waveform
select Statistics from the resulting pop-up ment More
tograms
menu.

3. Push the side menu options. These include Measure-

ment Sta-
whether to turn statistics on or off and how tistics
many samples to use for mean and standard
On| Off
deviation calculations.
Mean &
Std Dev
Samples
(a) |32
Reset
Statistics
Snapshot
To see all the single-sourced measurements at one moment in time:
1. Push Measure.
2. Push Add Measurement. Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Waveform

ment tograms More

Source channel.
4. Turn Multipurpose b to select the

Measurement Type of Snapshot.

5. Push OK Snapshot All Measurements. OK

Snapshot
All Mea-
surements
6. View results.
Snapshot on 1
Period : 312.2μs Freq : 3.203 kHz

+Width : 103.7μs –Width : 208.5μs
Burst W : 936.5μs Fall 1.144μs
Rise : 1.452μs ±Over : 14.286%
+Duty : 33.23% –Duty : 66.77 %
+Over : 7.143% –Over : 7.143 %
High : 9.200 V Low : -7.600 V
Max : 10.40 V Min : -8.800 V
Ampl : 16.80 V Pk-Pk : 19.20 V
Mean : -5.396 V CycleMean : -5.396 V
RMS : 7.769 V CycleRMS : 8.206 V
Area : -21.58 mVs CycleArea : -654.6μVs
+Edges :1 -Edges :0
+Pulses :2 -Pulses :2
Reference Levels
Reference levels determine how time-related
measurements are taken. For example, they are
used in calculating rise and fall times.
1. Push Measure.
2. Push More as many times as needed to Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Wave-
surement Measure- DC form His-
select Reference Levels from the resulting ment tograms More
pop-up menu.

3. Set the levels using the side menu. Reference

Levels
Set Levels
in
% |Units
Use High and Low reference to calculate High Ref

rise and fall times. (a) 90.0 %
Use Mid reference primarily for Mid Ref

measurements between edges such 50.0 %
as pulse widths. 50.0 %
Low Ref
10.0 %
- Set to
Defaults
Taking Automatic Measurements in the Frequency Domain

To take an automatic measurement in the frequency domain:
1. If the instrument is in the time domain, push

RF.
2. Push Measure.
Select
Measure-
ment
None
3. Push Select Measurement.

4. Choose the measurement of interest from Select

Measure-
the side menu. ment
None
Channel power: The total power within the Channel

Power
bandwidth, defined by the Channel Width.
Adjacent channel power ratio: The power in the Adjacent
Channel
main channel and the ratio of channel power to Power
main power, for the upper and lower halves of Ratio
each adjacent channel.
Occupied bandwidth: The bandwidth that Occupied
Bandwidth
contains the specified % of power within the
analysis bandwidth.
As you select each frequency measurement, on screen help will appear to explain the purpose of that measurement. A
Configure item will appear on the lower menu. After you press Configure and set the measurement parameters in the
resulting side menu, the oscilloscope will automatically set the span. When the RF measurements are on, the Auto detection
method will set all frequency domain traces to the Average detection method. This provides optimal measurement accuracy.
Taking Digital Voltmeter Measurements

Use the digital voltmeter to measure the potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit.
1. Push channel 1 .
2. Push Measure.
Add Remove Indicators DVM Waveform More

Measure- Measure- Off Off His-
ment ment tograms
3. Push the bottom-menu button labelled DVM.

4. From the side menu, select the desired Digital

Voltmeter
Mode, Source and Display Style.
Mode
(a) |
Off
Source
(b) |1
Autorange
Unavail-
able when
Triggering
on DVM
Source
Display
Style
Full
Minimized
Reset
DVM
Statistics
View the finished results.
Taking Manual Measurements with Cursors

Cursors are on-screen markers that you position in the waveform display to take manual measurements on acquired data.
They appear as horizontal and/or as vertical lines. To use cursors on analog or digital channels:
1. Push Cursors to turn cursors on.

NOTE. A second push turns cursors off. You
can also push and hold Cursors to display the
cursor menu.

In this example, two vertical cursors appear

on the selected waveform. As you turn
Multipurpose a, you move one cursor to the
right or left. As you turn knob Multipurpose
b, you move the other cursor.
2. With cursors on, push Select.

This turns the cursor linking on and off.
If linking is on, turning Multipurpose a
moves the two cursors together. Turning
Multipurpose b adjusts the time between
the cursors.
3. Push Fine to toggle between a coarse and a
fine adjustment for the Multipurpose a and
Multipurpose b knobs.
Pushing Fine also changes the sensitivity of
other knobs as well.
4. Push and hold Cursors to display the cursor
menu.
5. Push Cursors on the lower menu to set the Cursors Source Bars Linked Bring Cursor
Waveform Selected Horizontal Cursors Units
cursors to Screen. On Off On Screen
Screen Waveform Vertical
In screen mode, two horizontal bars and two
vertical bars span the graticule.
6. Turn Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b

to move the pair of horizontal cursors.

7. Push Select.
This makes the vertical cursors active and
the horizontal cursors inactive. Now, as you
turn the multipurpose knobs, the vertical
cursors will move.
Push Select to make the horizontal cursors
active again.
8. View the cursor and the cursor readout.
NOTE. On digital channels, you can take timing
measurements with cursors, but not amplitude
measurements.
9. Display multiple waveforms on the screen

by pushing one or more of the channel 1
through 4 buttons or by pushing the D15 –
D0 button.
10. Push and hold Cursors to display the cursor
menu again.
11. Push Source on the lower menu.

A pop-up menu will appear. The default
menu selection of Selected Waveform will
cause the cursors to take measurements on
the selected (last used) waveform.
12. Turn Multipurpose a to choose a channel
to measure other than the one pointed to by
Selected Waveform.
13. Push Menu Off to remove the pop-up menu.
14. Turn Multipurpose a and take cursor
measurements on the alternate waveform.

15. Push Cursors again. This turns off the

cursors. The screen no longer displays the
cursors and the cursor readout.
Using Cursor Readouts

Cursor readouts supply textual and numeric information relating to the current cursor positions. The oscilloscope always
shows the readouts when the cursors are turned on.
Readouts appear in the upper right corner of the graticule. If Zoom is on, the readout appears in the upper right corner of
the zoom window.
When a bus is selected, the readout shows the decoded bus data in the format you have selected from the choices in the bus
menu. When a digital channel is selected, the cursors show the values of all displayed digital channels.
NOTE. When serial or parallel buses are selected, the data value at that point is displayed in the cursor readout.
Δ Readout:
The Δ readouts indicate the difference
between the cursor positions.
a Readout:
Indicates that the value is controlled by the
Multipurpose a knob.
b Readout:
Indicates that the value is controlled by the
Multipurpose b knob.
The horizontal cursor lines on the display

measure the vertical parameters, typically
voltage.

The vertical cursor lines on the display

measure horizontal parameters, typically
time.
The square and circle shapes in the readout map to the multipurpose knobs when both vertical and horizontal cursors
are present.
Using XY Cursors
When the XY Display mode is on, the cursor readouts will appear to the right of the lower graticule (XY). They will include
rectangular, polar, product, and ratio readouts. The oscilloscope will display vertical-bar waveform cursors in the upper
graticule (YT).
Setting Up a Histogram
You can display a vertical (voltage) or horizontal (time) histogram. Use histogram measurements to get statistical
measurement data for a section of a waveform along one axis. The sources for a histogram can be any of the four or two
analog channels, a math waveform, or any of the four or two reference waveforms.
To Display a Histogram
1. Set up the oscilloscope to show the
waveform on which to measure the
histogram. Use Autoset if appropriate.
2. Push Measure.
3. Push Waveform Histograms on the lower Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Waveform
menu. ment More
tograms

4. Push the top button on the side menu to Off

select the waveform axis for which you want Vertical
to show the histogram values: Vertical or Horizontal
Horizontal.
5. Push Source on the side menu and turn Source
Multipurpose a to select the channel for (a) 1
which to display histogram measurements.
6. Push Horiz. Limits on the side menu and Horiz.
Limits
turn the Multipurpose a and Multipurpose
L (a)
b knobs to set the L (left) and R (right) -584ns
boundaries of the histogram box. R (b)
760ns
7. Push Vert. Limits on the side menu and turn Vert.

Limits
the Multipurpose a and Multipurpose b to
T (a)
set the T (top) and B (bottom) boundaries -584ns
of the histogram box. B (b)
760ns
8. Push - more - 1 of 2. - more -

1 of 2
9. Push Display on the side menu and select Display

Linear or Log. Linear
Log
To Add Measurements on Histogram Data
1. Push Add Measurement on the lower menu Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Wave-
to add measurements on the histogram data. ment tograms More

2. Push Source on the side menu and turn Source

Multipurpose a to select H for histogram (a) H
measurements.
3. Push Measurement Type on the side Measure-
ment
menu and turn Multipurpose b to select a
Type
histogram measurement. (b) Peak
Hits
4. Push OK Add Measurement on the side OK

menu to add the measurement to the Add Mea-
surement
measurement readout list.
To Reset Histogram Measurements and Statistics

To reset the histogram measurements and statistics, follow these steps:
1. Push Waveform Histograms on the lower Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Wave-
menu. ment tograms More
2. Push - more - 1 of 2 on the side menu. - more -

1 of 2
3. Push Reset Histogram Counts on the side Reset

Histogram
menu. Counts
4. Push More on the side menu. Add Mea- Remove Indicators DVM Wave-
ment tograms More

5. Push Reset Statistics on the side menu. Reset

Statistics
You can view the histogram at the top (for horizontal histograms) or the left edge (for vertical histograms) of the graticule.
Quick Tips
Use horizontal histograms to measure signal jitter.
Use vertical histograms to measure signal noise.
Using Math Waveforms

Create math waveforms to support the analysis of your channel and reference waveforms. By combining and transforming
source waveforms and other data into math waveforms, you can derive the data view that your application requires.
NOTE. Math waveforms are not available for use with serial buses.
NOTE. Math functions are available when the instrument is operating in time-domain mode.
Use the following procedure for executing simple (+, –, x, ÷) math operations on two waveforms:
1. Push Math.

2. Push Dual Wfm Math. Dual Wfm FFT Advanced Spectrum (M) Label
Math Math Math
3. On the side menu, set the sources to either

channel 1, 2, 3, 4, or reference waveforms
R1, 2, 3, or 4. Choose the +, –, x, or ÷
operators.
4. For example, you might calculate power
by multiplying a voltage waveform and a
current waveform.
Quick Tips
Math waveforms can be created from channel or reference waveforms or a combination of them.
Measurements can be taken on math waveforms in the same way as on channel waveforms.
Math waveforms derive their horizontal scale and position from the sources in their math expressions. Adjusting these
controls for the source waveforms also adjusts the math waveform.
You can zoom in on math waveforms using the inner knob of the Pan-Zoom control. Use the outer knob for positioning
the zoomed area. (See page 147, Using Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms.)
Using FFT
An FFT function breaks down signals into component frequencies, which the oscilloscope uses to display a graph of
the frequency domain of a signal, as opposed to the oscilloscope's standard time domain graph. You can match these
frequencies with known system frequencies, such as system clocks, oscillators, or power supplies.
1. Push Math.

2. Push FFT. Dual Wfm FFT Advanced Spectrum (M) Label

Math Math Math
FFT
3. Push FFT Source on the side menu, if FFT

Source
needed, and turn Multipurpose a to select
1
the source to use. Choices are: channels
1, 2, (3, and 4 on four-channel models),
reference waveforms R1, R2, (R3, and R4
on four-channel models).
4. Push Vertical Scale on the side menu Vertical
Units
repeatedly to select either Linear RMS or
Linear
dBV RMS. RMS
5. Push Window on the side menu repeatedly Window

to select the desired window. Hanning
Window choices are: Rectangular,

Hamming, Hanning, and Blackman-Harris.
6. Push Horizontal on the side menu Horizontal
to activate the Multipurpose a and 625kHz
Multipurpose b knobs to pan and zoom the 1.25kHz-
/div
FFT display.

7. The FFT will appear on the display.
Quick Tips
Use short record lengths for faster instrument response.
Use long record lengths to lower the noise relative to the signal and increase the frequency resolution.
If desired, use the zoom feature along with the horizontal Position and Scale controls to magnify and position the
FFT waveform.
Use the default dBV RMS scale to see a detailed view of multiple frequencies, even if they have very different amplitudes.
Use the linear RMS scale to see an overall view of how all frequencies compare to each other.
The math FFT feature provides four windows. Each offers a trade-off between frequency resolution and magnitude
accuracy. The choice of which window to use depends upon what you want to measure and your source’s signal
characteristics. Use the following guidelines to select the best window:
Description Window
Rectangular
The frequency resolution when using the Rectangular (a.k.a. boxcar or none) window is very
good, the spectral leakage is high, and amplitude accuracy is poor.
Use the Rectangular window for measuring transients or bursts where the signal levels
before and after the event are nearly equal. Also, use this window for equal-amplitude sine
waves with frequencies that are very close together, and for broadband random noise with a
relatively slow varying spectrum. This window is the best type for measuring the frequency
spectrum of non-repetitive signals, and measuring frequency components near DC.
Hamming
The frequency resolution when using the Hamming window is good (slightly better than
Hanning), the spectral leakage is moderate, and amplitude accuracy is fair.
Use the Hamming window for measuring sine, periodic, and narrow band random noise. This

Description Window
Hanning
The frequency resolution when using the Hanning (a.k.a. Hann) window is good, the spectral
leakage is low and amplitude accuracy is fair.
Use the Hanning window for measuring sine, periodic, and narrow band random noise. This
Blackman-Harris
The frequency resolution when using the Blackman-Harris window is poor, the spectral
leakage is very low and amplitude accuracy is good.
Use the Blackman-Harris window for measuring predominantly single frequency waveforms to
look for higher order harmonics, or several moderately or widely spaced sinusoidal signals.
Using Advanced Math

The advanced math feature lets you create a custom math waveform expression that can incorporate active and reference
waveforms, measurements, and/or numeric constants. To use this feature:
1. Push Math.
2. Push Advanced Math. Dual Wfm FFT Advanced Spectrum (M) Label
Math Math Math
3. Use the side menu buttons to create custom

expressions.

4. Push Edit Expression and use the

multipurpose knobs and the resulting lower
menu buttons to create an expression.
When done, push OK Accept.
For example, to use Edit Expression to take the integral of a square wave:
1. Push Clear on the lower menu.

2. Turn Multipurpose a to select Intg(.
3. Push Enter Selection.
4. Turn Multipurpose a to select channel 1.
5. Push Enter Selection.
6. Turn Multipurpose a to select ).
7. Push OK Accept.
Using Spectrum Math

The spectrum math feature lets you create a math waveform by adding or subtracting frequency traces.
NOTE. Spectrum Math is only available when the instrument is acquiring in Spectrum Analyzer mode.
1. Push Math.
2. Push Spectrum Math. Use the side menu Spectrum (M) Label
Math
choices to construct your desired math
trace.

Spec-trurn
Math
3. Push 1st Source on the side menu and use 1st Source
the multipurpose knobs to adjust the vertical (a) RF:N
settings of the reference waveform or trace.
4. Choose + or – as the operator. Operator
+
5. Choose the second source from the 2nd

Source
provided options.
The math waveform will appear on the display
as a red trace.
6. Push Label from the lower menu and use
the resulting side menu choices to give your
math trace an appropriate label.
NOTE. The oscilloscope will only complete the calculation if the units of measure of the source waveforms, when combined,
make logical sense.
Using Reference Waveforms and Traces

Create and store a reference waveform or trace. For example, you might do this to set up a standard against which to
compare other waveforms. To use the reference waveforms or traces:
NOTE. 10 M reference waveforms are volatile and not saved when the oscilloscope power is turned off. To keep these
waveforms, save them to external storage.
1. Push Ref R. This brings up the lower

reference menu.
2. Use the resulting lower menu selections to (R1) |(On) (R2) |(Off) (R3) |(Off) (R4) |(Off)
display or select a reference waveform or 3-May-14
trace.

R1
3. Push Vertical on the side menu and use Vertical

the multipurpose knobs to adjust the vertical 0.00 div
settings of the reference waveform or trace. 100 mV/div
4. Push Horizontal on the side menu and Horizontal

use the multipurpose knobs to adjust 0.00 s
the horizontal settings of the reference 4.00 μs/div
waveform or trace.
5. Push Edit Label and use the resulting Edit Labels
menus to define labels to display with the
reference waveforms and traces.
6. Pus Ref Details to read information Ref Details
about the selected reference. Use this
to determine whether the reference is an
analog waveform or an RF trace.
7. Push Save to File to store reference Save to
File
information in external storage.
Quick Tips
Selecting and Displaying Reference Waveforms. You can display all the reference waveforms at the same time.
Push the appropriate screen button to select a particular reference waveform.
Removing Reference Waveforms from the Display. To remove a reference waveform from the display, push R on the
front panel to access the lower menu. Then push the associated lower menu to turn it off.
Scaling and Positioning a Reference Waveform. You can position and scale a reference waveform independently
from all other displayed waveforms. Select the reference waveform and then adjust it with a multipurpose knob. You can
do this whether acquisition is running or not.
If a reference waveform is selected, scaling and repositioning of the reference waveform operates the same way
whether zoom is turned on or off.
Saving 10 M Reference Waveforms. 10 M reference waveforms are volatile and not saved when the oscilloscope
power is turned off. To keep these waveforms, save them to external storage.

Using Wave Inspector to Manage Long Record Length Waveforms

The Wave Inspector controls (zoom/pan, play/pause, marks, search) help you to efficiently work with long record length
waveforms. To magnify a waveform horizontally, turn the Zoom knob. To scroll through a zoomed waveform, turn the
Pan knob.
The Pan-Zoom Control consists of:

1. An outer pan knob
2. An inner zoom knob
Zooming a Waveform
To use zoom:
1. Rotate the inner knob on the Pan-Zoom

control clockwise to zoom in on a
selected portion of the waveform. Rotate
the knob counterclockwise to zoom back
out.
2. Alternatively, enable or disable the zoom

mode by pushing the zoom button.

3. Examine the zoomed view of the

waveform that appears on the larger,
lower portion of the display. The upper
portion of the display will show the
position and size of the zoomed portion
in the waveform, within the context of the
overall record.
Panning a Waveform
While the zoom feature is on, you can use the pan feature to quickly scroll through the waveform. To use pan:
1. Rotate the pan (outer) knob of

the pan-zoom controls to pan the
waveform.
Turn the knob clockwise to pan
forward. Turn it counterclockwise to
pan backwards. The further you turn
the knob, the faster the zoom window
pans.
Playing and Pausing a Waveform

Use the play-pause feature to automatically pan through a waveform record. To use it:
1. Enable the play-pause mode by

pushing the play-pause button.
2. Adjust the play speed by turning the
pan (outer) knob further. The further
you turn it, the faster it goes.

3. Change the play direction by reversing

the direction that you are turning the
pan knob.
4. During play, up to a point, the more you
turn the ring, the faster the waveform
accelerates. If you rotate the ring as
far as it can go, the play speed does
not change, but the zoom box quickly
moves in that direction. Use this
maximum rotation feature to replay a
portion of the waveform that you just
saw and want to see again.
5. Pause the play-pause feature by

pushing the play-pause button again.
Searching and Marking Waveforms

You can mark locations of interest in the acquired waveform. These marks help you limit your analysis to particular regions of
the waveform. You can mark areas of the waveform automatically, if they meet some special criteria, or you can manually
mark each item of interest. You can use arrow keys to jump from mark to mark (area of interest to area of interest). You can
automatically search and mark many of the same parameters that you can trigger on.
Search marks provide a way to mark a waveform region for reference. You can set marks automatically with search
criteria. You can search for and mark regions with particular edges, pulse widths, runts, logic states, rise/fall times, setup
and hold, and bus search types.
To manually set and clear (delete) marks:
1. Move (the zoom box) to the area on the

waveform where you want to set (or
clear) a search mark by turning the pan
(outer) knob.
Push the next ( →) or previous (←)
arrow button to jump to an existing mark.
2. Push Set/Clear.
If no search mark is at the screen center,
the oscilloscope will add one.

3. Investigate your waveform by moving

from search mark to search mark. Use
the next ( →) or previous (←) arrow
button to jump from one marked location
to another, without adjusting any other
controls.
4. Delete a mark. Push the next ( →) or

previous (←) arrow button to jump to the
mark you want to clear. To remove the
current, center-positioned mark, push
Set/Clear. It works on both manually
and automatically created marks.
To automatically set and clear (delete) search marks:
1. Push Search.
2. Select the search type desired from the Search Search Source Slope Threshold
Off Type 1 0.00V
lower menu.
Edge
The search menu is similar to the trigger

menu.
3. From the side menu, turn on the search

function.
If desired, go to the second page of the
side menu and turn on the search mark
table. The search mark table shows a
time-stamped listing of each event.

4. On the screen, hollow triangles show the

location of automatic marks and solid
triangles show the custom (user-defined)
locations. These appear on both normal and
zoomed waveform views.
5. You can quickly investigate your waveform
by moving from search mark to search mark
with the next ( →) and previous (←) arrow
buttons. No other adjustments are needed.
Quick tips.
You can copy trigger settings to search for other locations in your acquired waveform that meet the trigger conditions.
You can also copy search settings to your trigger.
Custom (User) marks are saved with the waveform when the waveform is saved and when the setup is saved.
Automatic search marks are not saved with the waveform when the waveform is saved. However, you can easily
recapture them by reusing the search function.
The search criteria are saved in the saved setup.
The Wave Inspector includes the following search capabilities:

Search Description
Edge Searches for edges (rising, falling or both) with a user-specified threshold level.
Pulse Width Searches for positive or negative pulse widths that are >, <, =, or ≠ a user specified pulse
width, or are inside or outside of a range.
Timeout Searches for the lack of a pulse. The signal stays above or below (or either above or
below) a set value for a set amount of time.
Runt Searches for positive or negative pulses that cross one amplitude threshold but fail to cross
a second threshold before crossing the first again. Search for all runt pulses or only those
with a duration >, <, =, or ≠ a user specified time.
Logic Search for a logic pattern (AND, OR, NAND, or NOR) across multiple waveforms with each
input set to either High, Low, or Don't Care. Search for when the event goes true, goes
false, or stays valid for >, <, =, or ≠ a user specified time. Additionally, you can define one
of the inputs as a clock for synchronous (state) searches.
Setup & Hold Search for violations of user specified Setup and Hold times.

Search Description
Rise/Fall Time Search for rising and/or falling edges that are >, <, =, or ≠ a user specified time.
Bus Parallel: Search for a binary or hex value.
I2C: Search for Start, Repeated Start, Stop, Missing Ack, Address, Data, or Address and
Data.
SPI: Search for SS Active, MOSI, MISO, or MOSI & MISO
RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, UART: Search for Tx Start Bit, Rx Start Bit, Tx End of Packet, Rx
End of Packet, Tx Data, Rx Data, Tx Parity Error, Rx Parity Error.
CAN: Search for Start of Frame, Type of Frame (Data, Remote, Error, Overload), Identifier
(standard or extended), Data, Identifier and Data, End of Frame, or Missing Ack, Bit Stuffing
Error
LIN: Search for Synch, Identifier, Data, ID & Data, Wakeup Frame, Sleep Frame, Error
FlexRay: Search for Start of Frame, Type of Frame, Identifier, Cycle Count, Header Fields,
Data, ID & Data, End of Frame, Error
Audio: Search for Word Select or Data
USB: Search for Sync, Reset, Suspend, Resume, End of Packet, Token (Address) Packet,
Data Packet, Handshake Packet, Special Packet, or Error
MIL-STD-1553: Search for Sync, Command, Status, Data, Time (RT/IMG), Error

Auto-magnify
As you adjust the horizontal scale control to faster time/division settings, the MDO3000 Series automatically increases the
sample rate to keep acquiring the same record length in the shorter period of time. Eventually though, the MDO3000 Series
hits its maximum sample rate. Once the instrument is at its fastest sample rate, further changes to faster timebase settings
cause the oscilloscope to operate in Auto-magnify mode, where the oscilloscope shows the faster desired time/division
setting and continues to acquire the desired record length. The result is that the oscilloscope cannot show all of the acquired
points within the desired time/division setting.
Instead, the oscilloscope shows you only a portion of the entire record in the time-domain graticule. This feature provides you
with a way to magnify a portion of the record without having to use the smaller zoom screen display. This feature gives you
the maximum benefit of the sample rate / record length combination in your oscilloscope. With Auto-magnify, you have
access to the full record length at the maximum sample rate.
NOTE. Auto-magnify only comes on when the zoom feature is turned off.
1. The entire acquisition is indicated by the

horizontal bar in the upper display.
2. The portion of the acquisition shown in

the time domain graticule is shown within
the part of the upper display defined by
the brackets.

Limit and Mask Testing

Monitor an active input signal against a mask with the MDO3LMT Limit and Mask Test Module. Output pass or fail results.
The results can show whether the input signal is within the user-defined vertical and horizontal bounds of the mask. You can
create your own mask or recall a mask from a file. To set up and run a limit or mask test, do the following:
1. Select or create the mask.
2. Set up the test.
3. Run the test and view the results.
Create or Select the Mask

The two mask types you can create or select are: limit test and custom.
Create a limit test mask.
1. Push the front panel Default Setup button.
2. Connect your probe from your oscilloscope

to the mask source.
3. Push the front panel Autoset button.
4. Push the front panel Test button.
5. Push Application on the lower menu. Turn

Multipurpose a to select Limit/Mask Test
from the menu.
6. Push Select Mask on the lower menu and,
from the resulting side menu, select Limit
Test.

7. Push Create Limit Mask on the lower menu.

8. On the resulting side menu, push Source Source
Channel
Channel and turn Multipurpose a to
a1
choose the waveform to use as the template
for the limit test.
9. Push Horizontal ±Limit to set the mask Horizontal
±Limit
horizontal limits. The units are referenced to
200mdiv
graticule divisions, where one major division
contains 1,000 milli-divisions (mdiv).
10. Push Vertical ±Limit to set the mask Vertical
±Limit
vertical limits. The units are referenced to
200mdiv
graticule divisions, where one major division
contains 1,000 millidivisions (mdov).
11. Push OK Create Limit Mask to make the OK

mask in the oscilloscope. Create
Limit Mask
Create a custom mask. There are two ways to create a custom mask. You can load a mask from a text file or create a
mask via a remote interface.
Create a custom mask from a text file.
1. Push the front panel Test button.
2. Push Application on the lower

menu. Turn Multipurpose a to select
Limit/Mask Test from the menu.
3. Push Set Up Mask on the lower menu.
4. From the resulting side menu, push

Recall Mask from File.
Your mask text file should have an “.msk” file name extension and use the following format:
:REM "Initialize the custom mask"
:MASK:CUSTom INIT
:REM "Mask Setup Information"
:MASK:USER:LABEL "Custom Mask of STS-1"
:MASK:USER:AMPLITUDE 1.0000
:MASK:USER:VSCALE 200.0000E-3
:MASK:USER:VPOS -2.5000
:MASK:USER:VOFFSET 0.0E+0
:MASK:USER:HSCALE 4.0000E-9
:MASK:USER:HTRIGPOS 318.1000E-3
:MASK:USER:WIDTH 29.5500E-9
:MASK:USER:RECORDLENGTH 1000
:MASK:USER:TRIGTOSAMP 7.2750E-9

:REM "Mask Points are Defined in Volts and Seconds"

:REM "Points in a segment must be defined in counter clockwise order"
:REM "A single point at 0,0 indicates an empty segment"
:MASK:USER:SEG1:POINTS -7.5000E-9,1.5000,-7.5000E-9,100.0000E-3,-5.1656E-
9,100.0000E-3,-1.3536E-9,500.0000E-3,-1.3536E-9,1.2000,7.2750E-9,1.1000,15.9036E-
9,1.2000,15.9036E-9,500.0000E-3,19.7156E-9,100.0000E-3,22.0500E-9,100.0000E-
3,22.0500E-9,1.5000
:MASK:USER:SEG2:POINTS -7.5000E-9,-500.0000E-3,22.0500E-9,-500.0000E-3,22.0500E-9,-
100.0000E-3,13.4214E-9,-200.0000E-3,13.4214E-9,500.0000E-3,11.6780E-9,800.0000E-
3,7.2750E-9,900.0000E-3,2.8720E-9,800.0000E-3,1.1286E-9,500.0000E-3,1.1286E-9,-
200.0000E-3,-7.5000E-9,-100.0000E-3
:MASK:USER:SEG3:POINTS 0.0E+0,0.0E+0
Create a custom mask via a remote interface. To use remote interface commands to create and edit a mask, see
the MDO3000 Series Oscilloscope Programmer Manual.
Set Up the Test

To set up the limit or mask test, connect the test source to the oscilloscope. For a limit test, set the test source horizontal and
vertical settings to the same values that were used to create the limit test mask. Push Set Up Test on the lower menu and set
the following:
Setting Description
Source Channel Select the channel to be tested
Violation Threshold Set the number of violations that can occur before a test status is considered failed.
Stop After Waveform Set the test to stop after a set number of waveforms.
Stop After Time Set the test to stop after a set amount of time elapses.
Select Action on Failure Set how the oscilloscope responds to test failure. You can set multiple actions.
These are:
Stop acquisition
Save waveform to file
Save screen image to file
Print screen image
Aux out pulse
Set a remote interface service request (SRQ)
Select Action on Test Completion Set how the oscilloscope will respond to test completion. You can set multiple
actions. They are:
Aux out pulse
Set a remote interface service request (SRQ)
Pre-Test Delay Set a delay before starting a test.

Setting Description
Repeat Test Set On for the test to repeat when it has run the minimum number of waveforms or
the minimum amount of time.
Set Off tor the test to run a single time and not repeat.
Mask Polarity Set the mask polarity to use during the test. When Both is selected, the test will run
with Normal polarity for about half of the expected number of waveforms or amount
of time and then will run with Inverted polarity for the remained of the test.
Run the Test and View the Results
1. Push Run Test on the lower menu to start Application Set Up Select Create Set Up Run Test Show
Limit/Mask Mask Mask Limit Mask Test Results
and stop the test. On |Off
Test On Limit Test 1 Off
2. Push Show Results on the lower menu

and use the resulting side menu to select
whether to show basic or more detailed
results. You can also reset the results.
Quick Tips
Use Average acquisition mode to create a smoother, cleaner limit test mask.
If you want to re-use the mask later, save it to a file by selecting Set Up Mask from the lower menu and Save Mask to
File from the resulting side menu.
To simplify the setup of the test source, save the oscilloscope setup so that later you can quickly reload the settings to
correctly display the test source for limit testing.
Have the mask automatically re-scale with the source channel setting changes by selecting Set Up Mask on the lower
menu and Lock to Source as On on the resulting side menu.
The math waveform is not available when using mask testing.

Making Video Tests

Trigger on and display video signals. Do this with standard, built-in video test tools. To use this application:
1. Push Test.
2. Turn Multipurpose a to select Video

Picture.
3. Use the bottom menu buttons to set up the Applica- Display Standard Contrast Odd Source Location
tion On NTSC Automatic Even 1
desired video test.
Video Interlaced
Picture Off PAL
Choose among:
- Display on/off
- Standard: NTSC or PAL
- Contrast/update rate
- Odd/Even/Interlaced
- Source channel
- Location on the screen to display the results
See a test pattern from a video generator
See an actual video picture

See a video of a video of a video ... signal by connecting a cable from the VIDEO
OUT in the rear panel to an analog input channel in the front panel
Making Automated Power Measurements

Acquire, measure, and analyze power signals with the MDO3PWR Power Analysis Module. To use this application:
1. Push Test.
2. Turn Multipurpose a to select Power

Analysis.
3. Push Analysis. Applica- Analysis

tion None
4. Use the side menu buttons to select the

desired analysis function.
Choose among:
- Power quality
- Switching loss
- Harmonics
- Ripple
- Modulation
- Safe operating area
- Deskew
See the MDO3PWR, DPO3PWR and
DPO4PWR Power Analysis Modules User
Manual for more information.

Save and Recall Information

The oscilloscope provides permanent storage for setups, waveforms, and screen images. Use the internal storage of the
oscilloscope to save setup files and reference waveform data.
Use external storage, such as USB drives or network drives, to save setups, waveforms, and screen images. Use the
external storage to carry data to remote computers for further analysis and for archiving.
External file structure. If you are saving information to external storage, select the appropriate menu (such as the To
File side menu to save setups and waveforms) and turn Multipurpose a to scroll through the external file structure.
E: is the USB memory device plugged into the USB port on the front of the oscilloscope
F: is the USB memory device plugged into the USB port on the rear of the oscilloscope
I through Z are network storage locations
Turn the Multipurpose a knob to scroll through the list of files. Push Select on the front panel to open and close folders.
Naming your file.

The oscilloscope gives all files it creates a default name in the following format:
tekXXXXX.set for setup files where XXXXX is an integer from 00000 to 99999
tekXXXXX.png, tekXXXXX.bmp, or tekXXXXX.tif for image files
tekXXXXYYY.csv for spreadsheet files or tekXXXXYYY.isf for internal format files
For waveforms, the XXXX is an integer from 0000 to 9999. The YYY is the channel of the waveform, and can be one of
the following:
CH1, CH2, CH3, or CH4 for the analog channels
D00, D01, D02, D03, and so on through D15 for the digital channels
MTH for a math waveform
RF1, RF2, RF3, or RF4 for reference memory waveforms
ALL for a single spreadsheet file containing multiple channels when you select Save All Waveforms
For RF traces, XXXX is an integer from 0000 to 9999. The YYY defines the trace and can be one of the following:
NRM for a normal trace
AVG for an average trace
MAX for a maximum hold trace

MIN for a minimum hold trace

TIQ for a baseband I & Q file
NOTE. Analog, digital, and RF waveforms and traces and those waveforms and traces derived from them (such as math
and references) can be saved to an ISF file. When saving all channels in ISF format, a group of files will be saved. Each
will have the same value for XXXX, but the YYY values will be set to the different channels that were turned on when the
Save All Waveforms operation was performed.
The XXXX value will automatically increment each time you save a file of the same type. For example, the first time you save
a file, that file is named tek00000. The next time you save the same type of file, the file will be named tek00001.
Editing file, directory, reference waveform, or instrument setup names. Give files descriptive names that you can
recognize at a later date. To edit file names, directory names, reference waveform and instrument setup labels:
1. Push Save / Recall Menu.
2. Push Save Screen Image, Save Waveform, Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
Screen Waveform Setup Waveform Setup Utilities
or Save Setup. Image Save| to
Setup
3. For waveform or setup files, enter the file To File

manager by pushing the appropriate side
menu button.

file structure. (See page 160, External file
structure.)
5. Push Select to open or close file folders.

6. Push Edit File Name.

Edit the file name the same way you edit
labels for channels. (See page 55, Labeling
7. Push the Menu Off button to cancel the
save operation, or push OK Save on the
side menu to complete the operation.
OK Save
Saving a Screen Image

A screen image consists of a graphical image of the oscilloscope screen. This is different from waveform data, which
consists of numeric values for each point in the waveform. To save a screen image:

Do not yet push the Save button.
2. Push Save Screen Image on the lower Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
menu. Image Save| to
Setup

Save
Screen
Image
3. Push File Format on the side menu to File

Format
select among: .tif, .bmp, and .png formats.
.png
4. Push Orientation to select between saving Orientation

the image in a landscape (horizontal) and a
portrait (vertical) orientation.
5. Push Ink Saver to turn the Ink Saver mode Ink Saver
on or off. When on, this mode provides a On |Off
white background.
6. Push Edit File Name to create a custom Edit File
Name
name for the screen image file. Skip this
step to use a default name.
7. Push OK Save Screen Image to write the OK Save
Screen
image to the selected media. Image
For information on printing screen images of waveforms, go to Printing a Hard Copy. (See page 170, Printing a Hard Copy.)
Saving and Recalling Waveform and Trace Data

Waveform and trace data consists of the numeric values for each point in the waveform or trace. It copies the data, as
opposed to a graphical image of the screen. To save the current waveform or trace data or to recall previously stored
waveform or trace data:
2. Push Save Waveform or Recall Waveform Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
on the lower menu. Image Save| to
Waveform
NOTE. The oscilloscope can save digital

waveforms to .csv files, not reference memories.
The oscilloscope cannot recall digital waveforms.
NOTE. The oscilloscope can save, but not
recall, RF acquisitions as .TIQ files. You can use
.TIQ files with Tektronix SignalVu Vector Signal
Analysis software.

3. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and, on

the side menu, select one of the displayed
waveforms or traces. Alternatively, select
All Displayed Waveforms.
When saving RF trace data, you can select
to save it as either the standard display data
or as baseband I and Q data (.TIQ files).
Use the I and Q data with Tektronix SignalVu
Vector Signal Analysis software.
4. Turn the Multipurpose b knob and select
the location to save the waveform or trace
data to or to recall it from.
Save the information externally to a file on
a USB drive or mounted network drive.
Alternatively, save the information internally
to one of the four or two reference files.

5. Push File Details to save to a USB or File Details

network drive.
This brings up the file manager screen. Use
it to navigate to the desired drive and folder,
and optionally to specify the file name.
Skip this step to use the default name and
location.
Saving a waveform to file. When you push File Details on the side menu, the oscilloscope changes the side menu contents.
The following table describes these side menu items for saving data to a mass storage file.
Side menu button Description
Instrument Specific File Sets the oscilloscope to save data from analog, digital, or RF channels (and math and
Format (.ISF) reference waveforms derived, where possible, from those channels), in Instrument Specific
Format (.isf) format. This format is the fastest to write. It also creates the smallest-sized file.
Use this format if you intend to recall an analog waveform or RF trace to reference memory
for viewing or measuring.
Spreadsheet file format Sets the oscilloscope to save data as a comma-separated data file that is compatible with
(.csv) popular spreadsheet programs.
Analog and RF data stored in this file format can also be recalled to reference memory.
Saving a waveform or trace to reference memory. To save a waveform or trace to nonvolatile memory inside the
oscilloscope, push the Save Waveform screen button, select the waveform that you want to save, and then select one of
the reference waveform locations.
Saved waveforms contain only the most recent acquisition. Gray-scale information, if any, is not saved.
NOTE. 10 M reference waveforms are volatile and not saved when the oscilloscope power is turned off. To keep these
waveforms, save them to external storage.
Displaying a reference waveform. To display a waveform stored in nonvolatile memory:

1. Push Ref R.

2. Push R1, R2, RI or R4. (R1) |(On) (R2) |(Off) (R3) |(Off) (R4) |(Off)
If you push the side menu Ref Details, you

can read whether the reference holds analog
waveform or RF trace information.
Removing a reference waveform from the display. To remove a reference waveform from the display:
1. Push Ref R.
2. Push R1, R2, RI or R4 on the lower menu (R1) |(On) (R2) |(Off) (R3) |(Off) (R4) |(Off)
to remove the reference waveform or trace
from the display.
The reference waveform is still in nonvolatile
memory and can be displayed again with
another push of the button.
NOTE. 10 M reference waveforms are volatile
and not saved when the oscilloscope power is
turned off. To keep these waveforms, save them
to external storage.
Saving and Recalling Setups

Setup information includes acquisition information, such as vertical, horizontal, trigger, cursor, and measurement information.
It does not include communications information, such as GPIB addresses. To save the setup information:
2. Push Save Setup or Recall Setup on the Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
lower menu. Image Save| to
Setup

3. From the resulting side menu, select the Save

Setup
location to save the setup to or to recall it
from. To File
To save setup information to one of the ten
internal setup memories in the oscilloscope, Edit Labels
push the appropriate side menu button.
To Setup 1
To save setup information to a USB or
network drive, push the To File button.
To Setup 2
– more –
4. If you are saving information to a USB or

network drive, turn Multipurpose a to scroll
through the file structure. (See page 160,
External file structure.)
Push Select to open or close file folders.
Push the Menu Off button to cancel the save

operation, or push Save to Selected File on
the side menu to complete the operation.

5. Save the file. Save to

Selected
File
Quick Tips
Recalling the Default Setup. Push Default Setup on the front panel to initialize the oscilloscope to a known setup.
(See page 57, Using the Default Setup.)
Saving with One Button Push

After you have defined the save/recall parameters with the Save/Recall Menu button and menu, you can save files with a
single push of the Save button. For example, if you have defined the save operation to save waveform data to a USB flash
drive, then each push of the Save button will save current waveform data to the defined USB flash drive.
1. To define the Save button behavior, push

Save/Recall Menu.
2. Push Assign Save to .... Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
Image Save| to
Setup
3. Push the side menu button corresponding to Assign

Save to
the items or items you wish to save when
you push the Save button.
Screen
Image
Waveform
Setup
Image,
Waveform,
and Setup
4. From now on, when you push Save the

oscilloscope will perform the action that you
just specified rather than requiring you to
navigate through the menus each time.

Managing Drives, Directories, and Files

You can manage drives, directories, and files from the oscilloscope user interface.
1. Push Save/Recall Menu.
2. Push File Utilities. Save Save Save Recall Recall Assign File
Screen Waveform Setup Waveform Setup Save Utilities
Image
to
Setup
Select the desired file operation from the side

menus. You can:
Create a new folder
Delete a highlighted directory, or file
Copy a highlighted drive, directory or file
Paste a previously copied drive, directory,
or file
Mount or unmount a networked drive
Rename a highlighted drive, directory, or file
Format a highlighted drive
Mounting a Network Drive

Mount a network storage device, such as a PC or a file server, to save setups, waveforms, and screen images directly to
the drive or to recall waveforms or setups from the drive.
To save to or recall files from a network drive, you must first connect your oscilloscope to the network (See page 26,
Connecting Your Oscilloscope to a Computer.).
NOTE. Consult your network administrator for information related to your network.
After the network connection has been established, do the following:

1. Push Save/Recall Menu on the front panel.
2. Push File Utilities on the lower menu and, from the resulting side menu, select – more – 1 of 2. Then select Mount.

3. From the resulting side menu, set the following:

Setting Description
Drive Letter Select from I: to Z:
Server Name or IP Address Use a USB keyboard or the on-screen interface to enter the server name or IP
address.
Path Use a USB keyboard or the on-screen interface to enter the shared file path.
For example, to mount an MS Windows PC directory named “C:\Example”, enter
“C$\Example”. The dollar sign enables sharing. No colon is needed.
User Name If necessary, use a USB keyboard or the on-screen interface to enter the user name.
User Password If necessary, use a USB keyboard or the on-screen interface to enter the user
password. The oscilloscope only displays “*”'s as you type the password. They are
erased from the screen after OK Accept is pushed.
NOTE. Ensure that file sharing is enabled for the network location.
4. Push OK Accept.
NOTE. To unmount a network drive, push Save/Recall Menu on the front panel, push File Utilities on the lower menu, push
– more – 1 of 2 on the side menu, and Unmount items.
NOTE. Any network locations that were mounted when the oscilloscope was powered down will be automatically remounted
when the oscilloscope is powered up. Unmount any network location that you do not want to automatically remount
on power up.
Printing a Hard Copy

To print an image of what appears on the oscilloscope screen, do the following procedure.
Connect a Printer to Your Oscilloscope

Connect a non-PictBridge printer to a USB port on the rear or front panel of the oscilloscope. Alternatively, connect a
PictBridge printer to the USB device port on the rear panel, or hook up a networked printer through the Ethernet port.
NOTE. Refer to the www.tektronix.com/printer_setup Web page for a list of compatible printers.

Set Up Print Parameters

To set up the oscilloscope to print hard copies:
1. Push Utility.

Page
3. Turn Multipurpose a and select Print Print Setup

Setup.
4. Push Select Printer if you are changing the Utility Select Orientation Ink Saver PictBridge
Page Printer Landscape On Printer
default printer. Settings
Print Setup PictBridge
Turn Multipurpose a to scroll through the

list of available printers.
Push Select to choose the desired printer.
To add a non-PictBridge USB printer to
the list, plug the printer into a USB host
port. The oscilloscope will automatically
recognize most printers.
To set up a PictBridge USB printer, refer to
the next topic.
To add an Ethernet printer to the list, refer to
that topic. (See page 175, E-mail Printing.)
5. Select the image orientation (portrait or
landscape).
Landscape
Portrait

6. Choose Ink Saver On or Off.

The On selection will print out a copy with a
clear (white) background.
Ink Saver on Ink Saver off
Printing to a PictBridge Printer

To set up the oscilloscope to print to a PictBridge printer:
1. Push Utility.

Page
4. Push USB. Utility USB Ethernet & Network Socket GPIB

Page Printer LXI Configura- Server 1
I/O tion
Automatic

USB
Device
Port
Connect to
Computer
5. Push Connect to PictBridge Printer. Connect to

PictBridge
Printer
Disabled
(Off bus)
Printing Over Ethernet

To set up the oscilloscope to print over Ethernet:
1. Connect an Ethernet cable to the rear-panel

Ethernet port.
2. Push Utility.

Page
4. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and select Print

Setup
Print Setup.

5. Push Select Printer. Utility Select Orientation Ink Saver PictBridge

Page Printer Landscape Off Printer
Print (N/A) Settings
Setup
6. Push Add Network Printer. Add

Network
Printer
Add E-mail
printer
Rename
Printer
Delete
Network
Printer

to find the first character in the printer name
that you want to enter.
If you are using a USB keyboard, use
the arrow keys to position the insertion
point and type in the printer name. (See
page 35, Connecting a USB Keyboard to
Your Oscilloscope.) ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
0123456789_=+-!@#$%^&*()[]{}<>/~'”\|:,.?
Character Space
the name, as needed.


10. Push the down arrow key to move the Add

Printer
character cursor down a row to the Server
Name field.
11. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and push
Select or Enter Character as often as
needed to enter the name.
12. If desired, push the down arrow key to move
the character cursor down a row to the
Server IP Address: field.
OK Accept
13. Turn Multipurpose a and push Select or

Enter Character as often as needed to enter
the name.
14. When done, push OK Accept.
NOTE. If you have multiple printers connected
to the oscilloscope at the same time, the
oscilloscope will print to the printer listed in the
Utility> Utility Page> Print Setup> Select Printer
menu item.
E-mail Printing
To set up the oscilloscope to print via e-mail to e-mail enabled printers:
1. Connect an Ethernet cable to the rear-panel

Ethernet port.
2. Push Utility.


Page
4. Turn Multipurpose a and select Print Print

Setup
Setup.
5. Push Select Printer. Utility Select Orientation Ink Saver PictBridge

Page Printer Landscape Off Printer
Print (N/A) Settings
Setup
6. Push Add E-Mail Printer. Select

Printer
Add
Network
Printer
Add E-mail
printer
Rename
Printer
Delete
Printer


to find the first character in the name that
you want to enter.
If you are using a USB keyboard, use
the arrow keys to position the insertion
point and type in the printer name. (See
page 35, Connecting a USB Keyboard to
Your Oscilloscope.) ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
NOTE. There is a single set of SMTP server
0123456789_=+-!@#$%^&*()[]{}<>/~'”\|:,.?
settings saved for both the e-mail printer and
for Act on Event e-mail notification (Test >
Application > Act on Event > Actions >
E-mail Notification > Configure E-mail). If you
modify the SMTP settings in one of these two
locations, they will be similarly modified in the
other location.
Character Space
the name, as needed.

10. Push the down arrow key to move the Add

Printer
character cursor down to more rows to fill
out.
11. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and push
Select or Enter Character as often as
needed to enter the name.
12. If desired, push the down arrow key to move
the character cursor down to added rows.
OK Accept
13. Turn Multipurpose a and push Select or

Enter Character as often as needed to enter
the name.

14. When done, push OK Accept.
Printing with One Button Push

Once you have connected a printer to your oscilloscope and set up print parameters, you can print current screen images with
a single push of a button:
Push the printer icon button in the lower left

corner of the front panel.
Using Oscilloscope Security Features

Erasing Oscilloscope Memory
The MDO3000 provides optional enhanced security to enable password protected control of turning on/off all instrument ports.
You can erase all setup and waveform information saved in the nonvolatile oscilloscope memory with the TekSecure function.
If you have acquired confidential data on your oscilloscope, you may want to execute the TekSecure function before you
return the oscilloscope to general use. The TekSecure function:
Replaces all waveforms in all reference memories with null values
Replaces the current front panel setup and all stored setups with the default setup
Displays a confirmation or warning message, depending on whether the verification is successful or unsuccessful
With the MDO3SEC option, you can also turn the I/O ports on or off and turn the firmware upgrade capability on or off.
To use TekSecure, without the MDO3SEC application module installed:

1. Push Utility.

Page
3. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and select Security

Security.

4. Push TekSecure Erase Memory. Utility TekSecure

Page Erase
Security Memory
5. Push OK Erase Setup and Ref Memory OK

on the side menu. Erase
Setup
This erases data in the oscilloscope’s & Ref
Memory
reference waveform and setup memory
locations.
To cancel the procedure, push Menu Off.

6. Power off the oscilloscope, and then power

it back on to complete the process.
To use TekSecure, with the MDO3SEC application module installed:

1. Push Utility.

Page
3. Turn the Multipurpose a knob and select Security

Security.

4. Push TekSecure Erase Memory. Utility TekSecure Security Firmware I/O Ports
Page Erase Password Upgrades Enabled
Security Memory Enabled
5. Push OK Erase Setup and Ref Memory on OK

the side menu. As before, this erases data Erase
Setup
in the oscilloscope’s reference waveform & Ref
and setup memory locations. Memory
6. Push Security Password. Use

Multipurpose a and the bottom menu to
enter a password.
7. Push Firmware Upgrades. Read the
on-screen warnings. To disable the ability to
load new firmware into the oscilloscope, on
the resulting side menu, push OK Disable
Upgrades.
8. Push I/O Ports. Read the on-screen
warnings. To disable all USB and Ethernet
ports on the oscilloscope, push OK Disable
All Ports on the resulting side menu.
To cancel the procedure, push Menu Off.

9. Power off the oscilloscope, and then power

it back on to complete the process.

Use the Arbitrary Function Generator

The MDO3000 contains an optional integrated arbitrary function generator (AFG) (option MDO3AFG). This is useful for
simulating signals within a design or adding noise to signals to perform margin testing.
The function generator provides output of predefined waveforms up to 50 MHz. Choose between sine, square, pulse,
ramp/triangle, DC, noise, sin(x)/x (Sinc), Gaussian, Lorentz, exponential rise/fall, Haversine and cardiac signals.
The AFG can generate up to 131,072 points of an arbitrary waveform. You can create the waveform from any of the four
internal ARB memories, the four (or two) analog channels, the four (or two) reference waveforms, the math waveform or the
16 digital channel waveforms. You can also use a .CSV (spreadsheet) file stored externally or a predefined template.
You can modify your arbitrary waveform via an on-screen editor and then replicate it out of the generator. For more involved
waveform manipulation, you can use Tektronix’ ArbExpress PC-based waveform creation and editing software. It is available
for free download from www.tektronix.com/software. Use version 3.1 or later with the MDO3000.
How to access the AFG

To access the AFG output, connect your cable
to the port marked AFG OUT in the back of the
oscilloscope.
To see the output of the AFG, connect the other

end of the cable to one of the input channels on
the front of the oscilloscope.
Push the front-panel AFG button to turn the

AFG output on and off.
The button lights up when the output is on. The
light goes out when it is off. The On-Off status is
always off when you recall an instrument setup.
The AFG will always come up in the off state
when you turn the oscilloscope power on.

How to change the waveform type

1. Push the AFG button to bring up the AFG
lower menu.
Waveform Wave– Frequency 100.00kHz Period 10.000μs Output

Sine form Amplitude 500.00m- High 250.00mV Settings
Settings Vpp
Offset Low –250.00
0.0000 V mV
2. Push the Waveform button on the AFG

lower menu and turn the Multipurpose a
knob to select the waveform type.
3. Push the Waveform Settings button on

the AFG lower menu to set the frequency,
period, amplitude, offset and the high and
low levels of the desired waveform.
4. Push the Output Settings button on the
lower menu to adjust the load impedance
and amount of additive noise.
You can enable the AFG trigger pulse to
come out of the rear-panel AUX OUT port.
This is useful if you want an AUX OUT pulse
that is synchronized to your AFG waveform
block. To enable this feature, push AFG >
Output Settings > AUX OUT > AFG.
The channel 1 sine wave shows the output of the AFG. The channel 2 square wave
show the output of the AFG sync pulse. It comes from the AUX OUT port.

Restrictions. When an output frequency is The output waveform (MHz) AFG trigger output
higher than 4.9 MHz, some restrictions exist. A frequency setting. frequency (MHz).
divided frequency that is lower than 4.9 MHz is
output from the AUX OUT port. The AFG trigger ≤ 4.9 MHz Signal frequency
frequency will be limited as shown in the table >4.9 MHz to 14.7 MHz Signal frequency / 3
to the right.
>14.7 MHz to 24.5 MHz Signal frequency / 5
>44.1 MHz to 50 MHz Signal frequency / 11
How to create an arbitrary waveform

You can create the waveform from any of the four internal ARB memories, the four (or two) analog channels, the four (or two)
reference waveforms, the math waveform or the 16 digital channel waveforms. You can also use a .CSV (spreadsheet) file
stored externally or a predefined template (square, sine, ramp, pulse, or noise).
1. Push the AFG button to bring up the AFG

lower menu.
2. On the lower-menu, push Waveform and Waveform Waveform Waveform Freq. 100.00kHz Period Output
Arbitrary Settings Edit Ampl. 500.00m- 10.000μV Settings
turn Multipurpose a to select Arbitrary from Offset Vpp High
the list of waveforms on the resulting pop-up 0.000 V 250.00mV
menu. Low –250.
00mV
3. Push Waveform Settings to set the

frequency, period, amplitude, offset, and high
and low levels.
4. Push Waveform Edit to bring up the
Waveform Edit lower menu. This menu will
let you manipulate existing waveform points,
as well as to add and delete points, and to
edit the voltage level.
For cases with many points to edit, consider
using Tektronix ArbExpress software,
which is available for free download from
www.tektronix.com/software.
Also, use the Waveform Edit menu to create
new arbitrary waveforms in the instrument.
You can do this by loading them from files
or from live channels.

If needed, push AFG > Waveform Edit to bring Edit Create Load Freq. 100.00kHz Period Save
Existing New Waveform Ampl. 500.00m- 10.000 μs Waveform
up the waveform edit lower menu. Offset Vpp High
0.000 V 250.00mV
5. Push Edit Existing to change, add, or delete Low –250.
points in a current waveform. 00mV
When you enable the internal editor, the screen

splits into a smaller top window and a larger
bottom window.
The smaller, top part of the screen becomes
an overview, which shows the entire waveform
memory. A box shows the zoomed-in portion of
the waveform.
The larger, lower part becomes the zoomed-in
view of the overview, as defined by the box in the
top part of the screen. This lower part shows up
to 500 points of the record.
Turn the Multipurpose a knob to select a point
to edit.
Turn the Multipurpose b knob to set the voltage
level of that point. The voltage level is a function
of the current amplitude and offset settings for
the waveform.
Use the side menu items to add or remove points
from the waveform.
6. Push Create New from the lower-menu to

make a fresh arbitrary waveform.
On the resulting side menu, turn
Multipurpose a or use the keypad to define
the number of points in the waveform. Your
waveform can have up to 131,072 points.
Turn Multipurpose b to choose the basic
function. Choose between square, sine,
ramp, pulse, and noise.
Push OK Create to build the new waveform.

7. Push the lower-menu button labeled Load

Waveform. Turn Multipurpose a to choose
which of your waveforms to display. Also,
you can use the side menu to load a saved
waveform from a file. When you have chosen
the desired waveform, push OK Load from
the side menu. Clear the menu by pushing
Menu Off twice.
Be sure that you have a BNC cable
connected from the AUX OUT port on the
back to the channel 1 port on the front.
View your arbitrary waveform on the
oscilloscope display.
8. On the lower menu, push Save Waveform.

Turn Multipurpose a to select which of
the four slots to store your newly created
waveform. Push OK Save. If you want, push
Edit Labels and use Multipurpose a and
the lower menu to assign a name to your new
waveform. Clear the label menu by pushing
Menu off.

Quick Tips
You can save arbitrary waveforms in .CSV format. A .CSV file consists of sets of waveform point pairs (voltage, point
number).
You can load arbitrary waveforms from a variety of active time domain waveform sources: Channel 1 - 4, Ref 1 - 4,
MATH, digital channels D0 - D15.
The arbitrary waveform memory may be saved to and loaded from one of four arbitrary waveform memory locations.
These may only be loaded to the active arbitrary waveform. You cannot save them to files or recall them directly to
the arbitrary waveform memory locations.
NOTE. Loading from digital waveform sources will use the main waveform record. MagniVu records are not supported.
NOTE. Load impedance scales the vertical settings to show what the load would see based on the load impedance. Since
the AFG is a 50 Ω source, for most accurate operation, set the load impedance to 50 Ω and set the input channel to 50 Ω.
NOTE. Noise range is reduced above 50% of the function Maximum Amplitude according to the function:
Noise Percent Maximum = 100.0 * (Maximum Amplitude / Amplitude – 1.0)

Use the Application Modules

Optional application module packages extend the capability of your oscilloscope. (See page 14, Application Module Free
Trial.) (See page 14, Installing an Application Module.)
Refer to the MDO3000 Series Application Module Installation Instructions that came with your application module for
instructions on installing and testing an application module. Some modules are described in the following list. Additional
modules may be available. Contact your Tektronix representative or visit our Web site at www.tektronix.com for more
information. Also, refer to Contacting Tektronix at the beginning of the manual.
You purchase application modules as stand-alone products. You can purchase them at the time of initial MDO3000
purchase or at a later time.
Application modules have licenses. You can transfer a license between an application module and an oscilloscope. The
license may be contained in the module; allowing you to move the module from one instrument to another. Alternatively, you
can contain the license in the oscilloscope; allowing you to remove the module and store it for safekeeping. You can transfer
the license back to the module for use in another MDO3000 oscilloscope. Transferring the license to an oscilloscope and
removing the module permits the use of more than two applications simultaneously.
The MDO3AERO Aerospace Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information on
MIL-STD-1553 buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet decoding,
search tools, and packet decode tables with time- stamp information. Signal Inputs - Ch1 - Ch4, Math, Ref1 - Ref4.
Recommended Probing - Differential or single ended (only one single-ended signal required)
The MDO3AUDIO Audio Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information on I2S,
LJ, RJ, and TDM audio buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet
decoding, search tools, and packet decode tables with time-stamp information. Signal Inputs - Any Ch1 - Ch4 and, with
option MDO3MSO, any D0 - D15. Recommended Probing - Single ended.
The MDO3AUTO Automotive Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information
on CAN and LIN buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet decoding,
search tools, and packet decode tables with time- stamp information. Signal Inputs – CAN or LIN: Any Ch1 - Ch4 and,
with option MDO3MSO, any D0 - D15. Recommended Probing - CAN: Single ended or differential; LIN: Single ended.
The MDO3COMP Computer Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information on
RS-232/422/485/UART buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet
decoding, search tools, and packet decode tables with time-stamp information. Signal Inputs - Any Ch1 - Ch4 and, with
option MDO3MSO, any D0 - D15. Recommended Probing - RS-232/UART: Single ended; RS-422/485: Differential.
The MDO3EMBD Embedded Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information on
I2C and SPI buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet decoding,
search tools, and packet decode tables with timestamp information. Signal Inputs - I2C or SPI: Any Ch1 - Ch4 and, with
option MDO3MSO, any D0 - D15. Recommended Probing - Single ended.
The MDO3FLEX Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level information on FlexRay
buses as well as use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus views, packet decoding, search tools,
packet decode tables with time-stamp information. Signal Inputs - Any Ch1 - Ch4 (and, with option MDO3MSO, any D0 -
D15; single-ended probing only). Recommended Probing - Single ended or differential.
The MDO3LMT Limit and Mask Test Module enables testing against limit templates generated from "golden"
waveforms and mask testing using custom masks.
The MDO3PWR Power Analysis Module enables quick and accurate analysis of power quality, switching loss,
harmonics, safe operating area (SOA), modulation, ripple, and slew rate (dI/dt, dV/dt).
The MDO3USB USB 2.0 Serial Triggering and Analysis Module enables triggering on packet-level content for
low-speed, and full-speed USB serial buses. Also, enables use of analytical tools such as digital views of the signal, bus

views, packet decoding, search tools, and packet decode tables with time-stamp information for low-speed, full-speed,
and high-speed USB serial buses. Signal Inputs - Low-speed and Full-speed: Any Ch1 - Ch4, any D0 - D15 (with option
MDO3MSO); Low-speed, Full-speed, and High-speed: Any Ch1 - Ch4, Math, Ref1 - Ref4. Recommended Probing -
Low-speed and Full-speed: Single ended or differential; High-speed: Differential.
NOTE. 1 GHz bandwidth models are required for high-speed (HS) USB.

Appendix A: Warranted Specifications

√ Analog The Analog Bandwidth when the instrument is DC-50 coupled and the Bandwidth Selection if “Full”.
bandwidth, 50 Ω The limits stated below are for ambient temperature of ≤30 °C and the bandwidth selection set to FULL.
Reduce the upper bandwidth frequency by 1% for each °C above 30 °C.
Bandwidth 10 mV/div to 5 mV/div to 2 mV/div to 1 mV/div to
1 V/div 9.98 mV/div 4.98 mV/div 1.99 mV/div
1 GHz DC to 1.00 GHz DC to 500 MHz DC to 300 MHz DC to 150 MHz
500 MHz DC to 500 MHz DC to 300 MHz DC to 150 MHz
350 MHz DC to 350 MHz DC to 300 MHz DC to 150 MHz
200 MHz DC to 200 MHz DC to 150 MHz
100 MHz DC to 100 MHz
√ DC Balance 0.2 div with the input DC-50 Ω coupled and 50 Ω terminated
0.2 div with the input DC-75 Ω coupled and 75 Ω terminated
0.25 div at 2 mV/div with the input DC-50 Ω coupled and 50 Ω terminated
0.2 div with the input DC-1 MΩ coupled and 50 Ω terminated
0.3 div at 1 mV/div with the input DC-1 MΩ coupled and 50 Ω terminated
All above specifications are increased by (0.01 divisions)/( °C) above 40 °C
√ DC Gain ±2.5% for 1 mV/div, derated at 0.100%/°C above 30 °C
accuracy ±2.0% for 2 mV/div, derated at 0.100%/°C above 30 °C
±1.5% for 5 mV/div and above, derated at 0.100%/°C above 30 °C
±3.0% variable gain, derated at 0.100%/°C above 30 °C
√ DC Voltage Offset, position and the constant offset term must be converted to volts by multiplying by the appropriate
Measurement volts/div term.
Accuracy, Average The basic accuracy specification applies directly to any sample and to the following measurements; High,
Acquisition mode Low, Max, Min, Mean, Cycle Mean, RMS, and Cycle RMS. The delta volt accuracy specification applies
to subtractive calculations involving two of these measurements.
The delta volts (difference voltage) accuracy specification applies directly to the following measurements;
Positive Overshoot, Negative Overshoot, Pk-Pk, and Amplitude.
The limits are as follows:
Measurement Type DC Accuracy in Volts
Average of > 16 waveforms ±((DC Gain Accuracy) X |reading - (offset - position)| + Offset
Accuracy + 0.1 div)
Delta Volts between any two averages of ±(DC Gain Accuracy X |reading| + 0.05 div)
≥16 waveforms acquired with the same
scope setup and ambient conditions

√ Offset accuracy ±[0.005 × | offset – position | + DC Balance]

NOTE. Both the position and constant offset term must be converted to volts by
multiplying by the appropriate volts/div term.
√ Long-term ±10 ppm over any ≥ 1 ms time interval
sample rate
and delay time
accuracy
√ Auxiliary output Selectable Output: Main Trigger, Event, or AFG
(AUX OUT) Main Trigger: HIGH to LOW transition indicates the trigger occurred.
Event Out: The instrument will output a negative edge during a specified trigger
event in a test application.
A falling edge occurs when there is a specified event in a test application (i.e.
the waveform crosses the violation threshold in the limit / mask test application).
A rising edge occurs when the trigger system begins waiting for the next test
application event.
AFG: The trigger output signal from the AFG.
Characteristic Limits
Vout (HI) ≥ 2.25 V open circuit; ≥ 0.9 V into a 50 Ω load to ground
Vout (LO) ≤ 0.7 V into a load of ≤ 4 mA; ≤0.25 V into a 50 Ω load to ground
√ Random Noise, Instrument Bandwidth Selection RMS Noise
Sample acquisition bandwidth
mode (includes
instruments
with bandwidth
upgrades)
1 GHz Full bandwidth <(150 μV + 8% of Volts/div setting)
250 MHz bandwidth limit <(150 μV + 6% of Volts/div setting)
500 MHz Full bandwidth <(150 μV + 8% of Volts/div setting)
350 MHz Full bandwidth <(150 μV + 8% of V/div setting)
250 MHz bandwidth limit <(150 μV + 6% of V/div setting)
20 MHz bandwidth limit <(100 μV + 4% of V/div setting)
200 MHz Full bandwidth <(150 μV + 6% of Volts/div setting)
100 MHz Full bandwidth <(150 μV + 6% of Volts/div Setting)
20 MHz bandwidth limit <(100 μV + 4% of Volts/div Setting)

√ Delta Time The formula to calculate delta-time measurement accuracy (DTA) for a given instrument setting and input
Measurement signal is given below (assumes insignificant signal content above Nyquist)
Accuracy SR1 = Slew Rate (1st Edge) around the 1st point in the measurement
SR2 = Slew Rate (2nd Edge) around the 2nd point in the measurement
N = input-referred noise (voltsrms, Refer to the Random Noise, Sample acquisition mode specification)
tsr = 1/ (Sample Rate)
TBA = timebase accuracy (Refer to the Long-term sample rate and delay time accuracy specification)
tp = delta-time measurement duration (sec)
RD = (Record Length) / (Sample Rate)
Assumes that error due to aliasing is insignificant.

The term under the square-root sign is the stability, and is due to TIE (Time Interval Error). The errors due
to this term occur throughout a single-shot measurement. The second term is due to both the absolute
center-frequency accuracy and the center-frequency stability of the timebase and varies between multiple
single-shot measurements over the observation interval (the amount of time from the first single-shot
measurement to the final single-shot measurement).
√ Threshold +/- [100 mV + 3% of threshold setting after calibration]
Accuracy, digital Requires valid SPC.
input
Table 1: RF Channel Characteristics

Characteristic Description
√ Phase Noise 10 kHz: < –81 dBc/Hz; (–85 dBc/Hz, typical)
100 kHz: < –97 dBc/Hz; (–101 dBc/Hz, typical)
1 MHz: < –118 dBc/Hz; (–122 dBc/Hz, typical)
Phase Noise measured offset from 1 GHz CW signal.
√ Displayed Average Noise Level 9 kHz to 50 kHz: < –109 dBm/Hz; (< –113 dBm/Hz, typical)
(DANL) 50 kHz to 5 MHz: < –126 dBm/Hz; ( –130 dBm/Hz, typical)
5 MHz to 2 GHz : < –138 dBm/Hz; (< –142 dBm/Hz, typical)
2 GHz to 3 GHz: < –128 dBm/Hz; (< –132 dBm/Hz, typical)
√ Level Measurement Uncertainty < ±1.2 dB, < ±0.6 dB (typical), 18 °C - 28 °C temperature range
< ±2.0 dB, –10 °C to +55 °C

Table 1: RF Channel Characteristics (cont.)

√ Spurious Response (SFDR) 2nd harmonic distortion: >100 MHz, < –55 dBc
2nd harmonic distortion: > 100 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
With auto settings on and signals 10 dB below reference level
2nd harmonic distortion:9 kHz to 100 MHz, < –55 dBc
2nd harmonic distortion: 9 kHz to 100 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
With auto settings on and signals 10 dB below reference level and reference level ≤
–15 dBm
3rd order harmonic distortion: >100 MHz < –53 dBc
3rd order harmonic distortion: >100 MHz < –58 dBc (typical)
3rd order harmonic distortion: 9 kHz to 100 MHz, < –55 dBc
3rd order harmonic distortion: 9 kHz to 100 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
–15 dBm
2nd order intermodulation distortion: >100 Mhz, < –55 dBc
2nd order intermodulation distortion: >100 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
2nd order intermodulation distortion: 9 kHz to 15 MHz, < –55 dBc
2nd order intermodulation distortion: 9 kHz to 15 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
–15 dBm
3rd order intermodulation distortion: >15 MHz, < –55 dBc
3rd order intermodulation distortion: >15 MHz < –60 dBc (typical)
3rd order intermodulation distortion:9 kHz to 15 MHz, < –55 dBc
3rd order intermodulation distortion: 9 kHz to 15 MHz, < –60 dBc (typical)
–15 dBm
–45 dBc (–50 dBc, typical) for side bands < 25 kHz offset from the carrier
√ Residual Spurious Response < –78 dBm
< –67 dBm at 2.5 GHz
< –76 dBm at 1.25 GHz
≤ –15 dBm reference level and RF input terminated with 50 Ω.
√ Reference Frequency Error Cumulative Error: ±10 x 10-6
(Cumulative) Includes allowances for Aging per Year, Reference Frequency Calibration Accuracy,
and Temperature Stability.
Valid over the recommended 1 year calibration interval, from –10 °C to +55 °C .

Table 2: Arbitrary Function Generator

√ Sine and Ramp Frequency 130 ppm (frequency ≤10 kHz); 50 ppm (frequency > 10 kHz)
Accuracy
√ Square and Pulse Frequency 130 ppm (frequency ≤ 10 kHz); 50 ppm (frequency > 10 kHz)
Accuracy
√ Signal Amplitude Accuracy +/–[ (1.5% of peak-to-peak amplitude setting) + (1.5% of absolute DC offset setting)
+ 1 mV ] (frequency = 1 kHz)
√ DC Offset Accuracy +/-[ (1.5% of absolute offset setting) + 1 mV ]
Add 3 mV of uncertainty per 10 °C change from 25 °C ambient
Table 3: DVM/Counter
√ Voltage Accuracy DC: +/- (2 mV + [((( 4 * (Vertical Scale Voltage)) / (Absolute Input Voltage)) + 1)% of
Absolute Input Voltage] + (0.5% of Absolute Offset Voltage))
AC: ±2% (40 Hz to 1 kHz)
AC: +/-2% (20 Hz to 10 kHz) (typical)
For AC measurements, the input channel vertical settings must allow the Vpp input
signal to cover between 4 and 8 divisions.
√ Frequency Accuracy 10 ppm
√ Frequency Counter Maximum 100 MHz for 100 MHz models.
Input Frequency 150 MHz for all other models.
Table 4: Interfaces, Input and Output Ports

√ Auxiliary Output (Aux Out) Selectable Output: Main Trigger, Event, or AFG
Main Trigger: HIGH to LOW transition indicates the trigger occurred.
Event Out: The instrument will output a negative edge during a specified trigger event
in a test application.
A falling edge occurs when there is a specified event in a test application (i.e. the
waveform crosses the violation threshold in the limit / mask test application).
A rising edge occurs when the trigger system begins waiting for the next test
application event.
AFG: The trigger output signal from the AFG.

Appendix B: TPP0250, TPP0500B and TPP1000: 250 MHz, 500 MHz and 1 GHz 10X Passive Probes Information
Appendix B: TPP0250, TPP0500B and TPP1000: 250 MHz,

500 MHz and 1 GHz 10X Passive Probes Information
Operating Information
The TPP0250, TPP0500B and TPP1000 10X Passive Probes are compact passive probes with 10X attenuation that are
designed for use with Tektronix MDO3000 Series oscilloscopes.
The probes have no user- or Tektronix-serviceable parts.
Connecting the Probe to the Oscilloscope

Connect the probe as shown in the illustrations below.
Compensating the Probe with MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes

For information on compensating the probe, refer to the related section earlier in this manual.
(See page 11, Compensating a TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 Passive Voltage Probe.)
Standard Accessories
The standard accessories included with the probe are shown below.
WARNING. To avoid electric shock when using the probe or accessories, keep fingers behind the finger guard of probe
body and accessories.
To reduce risk of shock, when using the probe on floating measurements, ensure the reference lead accessories are fully
mated before connecting the probe to the circuit under test.

Item Description
Probe tips – pogo (white) and rigid (gray)
The white pogo tip is pre-installed on the probe,
and is spring-loaded for compliant testing of circuit
boards. Reorder Tektronix part numbers:
206-0610-xx (rigid tip)
206-0611-xx (pogo tip)
Insulator sleeve
Unscrew this sleeve to replace the probe tips. (See
procedure on next page).
Reorder Tektronix part number 342-1194-xx
Hook tip
Press the hook tip onto the probe tip and then
clamp the hook onto the circuit.
Rating: 300 V CAT II

Micro hook tip
Use this tip to access test points in tight spaces.
Press the hook tip onto the probe tip and then
extend the pincers around the circuit.
Rating: 300 V CAT II
Universal IC cap
Use this cap to prevent shorting the probe tip
between IC pins.
Press the cap on the probe tip until it snaps on, and
then spin the cap to expose the probe tip toward
the IC lead.
Ground springs
To limit aberrations on high frequency signals
caused by ground path inductance, bend the spring
to reach nearby ground connections (<0.75 in, long;
<0.25 in, short). Reorder Tektronix part numbers:
016-2028-xx (long, 2 ea.)
016-2034-xx (short, 2 ea.)

Item Description
Ground lead, with alligator clip
Secure the lead to the probe head ground and then
to your circuit ground.
Color bands
Use these bands to identify the oscilloscope
channel at the probe head.
Reorder Tektronix part number 016-0633-xx (5
pairs)
Optional Accessories
The accessories shown below are available for the probes and are rated ≤30 V unless indicated otherwise.
Accessory Part number

MicroCKT Test Tip 206-0569-xx
One ships with each oscilloscopes
BNC to Tip Adapter, Unterminated 013-0367-xx
Circuit Board Test Point/PCB Adapter 016-2016-xx
Chassis-Mount Probe Test Jack 131-4210-xx
6” Clip-on 196-3198-xx
Ground Lead
12” Alligator 196-3512-xx
Ground Lead
Wire, spool, 020-3045-xx
32 AWG

Replacing the Probe Tip

Order Tektronix part number 206-0610-xx for rigid tip replacement, or order part number 206-0611–xx for pogo pin
replacement.
Specifications
Table 5: Electrical and mechanical specifications
Characteristic TPP0250 TPP0500B TPP1000
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 250 MHz 500 MHz 1 GHz
System rise time (typical) <1.4 ns <700 ps <450 ps
System input capacitance Rigid tip: 3.9 pF ±0.3 pF
Pogo pin tip: 5.1 pf ±0.5 pF
System attenuation accuracy 10:1 ±2.2%
Probe series resistance @DC 9.75 MΩ ±0.5%
System input resistance @DC 10 MΩ ±2%
Propagation delay ~5.67 ns
Maximum input voltage 300 VRMS CAT II
Cable length 1.3 m, ±3 cm
Performance Graphs

Refer to the reference lead derating curve above when making floating measurements.
Table 6: Environmental specifications
Characteristics Description
Temperature
Operating –15 °C to +65 °C (+5 °F to +149 °F)
Nonoperating –62 °C to +85 °C (–80 °F to +185 °F)
Humidity
Operating 5% to 95% relative humidity (%RH) up to +30 °C, 5% to 75% RH above +30 °C
up to +65 °C. Noncondensing
Nonoperating 5% to 45% RH above +65 °C up to +85 °C. Noncondensing
Altitude
Operating 3.0 km (9,842 ft) maximum
Nonoperating 12.2 km (40,000 ft) maximum
Table 7: Certifications and compliances

Characteristics Description
EC Declaration of Compliance was demonstrated to the following specification as listed in the Official Journal
Conformity of the European Communities:
Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC:
EN61010-031: 2002
Measurement Category Category Examples of Products in this Category
Descriptions CAT III Distribution-level mains, fixed installation
CAT II Local-level mains, appliances, portable equipment
CAT I Circuits not directly connected to mains.
Pollution Degree 2 Do not operate in environments where conductive pollutants may be present (as defined in
IEC 61010-1). Rated for indoor use only.
Additional Safety Standards UL61010B-1, First Edition & UL61010B-2-031, First Edition.
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 1010.1-92, & CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 1010.2.031-94
IEC61010-031:2002

Equipment Recycling. This product complies with the European Union’s requirements according to Directive
2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). For more information about recycling
options, check the Support/Service section of the Tektronix Web site (www.tektronix.com).
Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any products connected to it.
To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as specified. Using the probe or accessories in a manner not specified
could result in a shock or fire hazard.
To Avoid Fire or Personal Injury

Ground-Referenced Oscilloscope Use. Do not float the reference lead of this probe when using with ground
referenced oscilloscopes (for example, DPO, MSO, and TDS series oscilloscopes). The reference lead must be connected to
earth potential (0 V).
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Connect the probe output to the measurement instrument before connecting the
probe to the circuit under test. Disconnect the probe input and the probe reference lead from the circuit under test before
disconnecting the probe from the measurement instrument.
Avoid Electric Shock. To avoid injury or loss of life, do not connect or disconnect probes or test leads while they
are connected to a voltage source.
Observe All Terminal Ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the product. Consult
the product manual for further ratings information before making connections to the product.
Avoid Electric Shock. When using probe accessories, never exceed the lowest rating of the probe or its accessory,
whichever is less, including the measurement category and voltage rating.
Avoid Electric Overload. To avoid injury or fire hazard, do not apply potential to any input, including the reference
inputs, that varies from ground by more than the maximum rating for that input.
Avoid Exposed Circuitry and Do not Operate Without Covers. Do not touch exposed connections and
components when power is present.
Inspect The Probe And Accessories. Before each use, inspect probe and accessories for damage (cuts, tears,
defects in the probe body, accessories, cable jacket, etc.). Do not use if damaged.
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions.

Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
Safety Terms and Symbols Terms in This Manual.

Symbols on the Product. These symbols may appear on the product:

Appendix C: P6316 General-Purpose Logic Probe Information
Product Description
The P6316 general-purpose logic probe connects the Tektronix MDO3000 Series of mixed-signal oscilloscopes to digital
buses and signals on your target system. The probe breaks out 16 data channels over two 2x8-pin headers (GROUP 1 and
GROUP 2). Each header includes eight signals on one row and eight grounds along the opposite row.
The P6316 is included with option MDO3MSO.
A pair of interchangable flying lead sets are included with the probe. The lead sets bring out one ground connection on each
end and eight signal leads for connecting to individual test points.
Connecting the Probe to the Oscilloscope

Connect the probe as shown in the illustration below.
1. Insert the probe label-side up into the connector on the oscilloscope.
2. To remove the probe, squeeze the buttons on the side and pull out the probe.

Connecting the Probe to Your Circuit

Attach the probe to the circuit using the appropriate connectors and adapters. Select the best method for your needs,
and then proceed to Setting up the Probe.
To set and view the digital channel parameters, do the following:
Push the D15–D0 button.
The parameters listed below can be set on each digital channel:
Threshold voltage and vertical position (the default threshold setting is 1.4 V)
Signal height and position (set once for all 16 channels)
Channel label
To set and view bus characteristics, do the following:
Push the B1 to B2 buttons.
The setup screens allow you to set and view various bus characteristics.
For buses such as SPI and I2C, you must have the appropriate application module. (See page 67, Setting Up a Serial or
Parallel Bus.)
Functional Check
Logic activity immediately displays on all connected, active channels. If you do not see an active channel:
1. Push Trigger.
2. Select Edge for the trigger type.
3. Select the channel that you are setting up as the source.
4. Push Autoset.
If you do not see an active signal, try another probe channel (or analog probe) to verify circuit activity at the test point.

Typical Application
1. Use the P6316 probe to view digital signals on a system bus.
2. Use an analog probe, such as the TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000 passive probe, to view analog waveform information.
Probe lead sets:
Probe Group 1 Group 2

Black probe 0 8
Brown probe 1 9
Red probe 2 10
Orange probe 3 11
Yellow probe 4 12
Green probe 5 13
Blue probe 6 14
Violet probe 7 15

Accessories
The following standard accessories ship with the probe and are shown in the illustration that follows.
Item Description Quantity Part number

1 8-channel leadset 2 196-3508-XX
2 Micro grabber clip 2 kits of 10 each 020-2896-XX
3 Probe tip 2 kits of 5 each 020-2897-XX
— Instructions (English, Japanese, & Simplified 1 each 071-2345-XX
Chinese languages)
1 Instructions are included with the probe, but not in the accessory kit.
The instructions can be downloaded at www.tektronix.com/manuals.

Specifications
Table 8: Electrical and mechanical specifications
Input channels 16 digital input
Input resistance, typical 101K Ohm to ground
Input capacitance 8 pF
Input signal swing
Minimum, typical 500 mV p-p
Specified at the input to the P6316 probe with all 8 ground inputs connected
to the user’s ground. Use of leadsets, grabber clips, ground extenders, or
other connection accessories may compromise this specification.
Maximum, typical +30 V, –20 V
Table 9: Environmental specifications

Temperature
Maximum operating +50 °C (+122 °F)
Minimum operating 0 °C (+32 °F)
Non-operating –40 °C to +71 °C (–40 °F to +159 °F)
Humidity 5% to 95% relative humidity at up to +30 °C (+86 °F)
5% to 60% RH above +30° C (+86 °F) up to +50 °C (+122 °F), non-condensing
Altitude
Operating 3,000 meters (9,843 feet)
Non-operating 12,000 meters (39,370 feet)
Equipment Recycling. This product complies with the European Union’s requirements according to Directive
2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). For more information about recycling
options, check the Support/Service section of the Tektronix Web site (www.tektronix.com).
Safety Summary
To avoid potential hazards, use this probe only as specified.
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Connect the probe output to the measurement instrument before connecting
the probe to the circuit under test. Disconnect the probe input and the probe ground from the circuit under test before
disconnecting the probe from the measurement instrument.
Observe All Terminal Ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the product. Consult
the product manual for further ratings information before making connections to the product.

Do not Operate Without Covers. Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.
Avoid Exposed Circuitry. Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures. If you suspect there is damage to this product, have it inspected by
qualified service personnel.
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions. Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
Safety Terms and Symbols in This Manual.

Symbols on the Product. This symbol may appear on the product:

Appendix D: OpenSSL License

License Issues
The OpenSSL toolkit stays under a dual license, i.e. both the conditions of the OpenSSL License and the original SSLeay
license apply to the toolkit. See below for the actual license texts. Actually both licenses are BSD-style Open Source
licenses. In case of any license issues related to OpenSSL please contact [email protected].
OpenSSL License
---------------
/* ====================================================================
* Copyright (c) 1998-2011 The OpenSSL Project. All rights reserved.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
* modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
* are met:
*
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
*
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
* the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
* distribution.
*
* 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this
* software must display the following acknowledgment:
* "This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project
* for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit. (http://www.openssl.org/)"
*
* 4. The names "OpenSSL Toolkit" and "OpenSSL Project" must not be used to
* endorse or promote products derived from this software without
* prior written permission. For written permission, please contact
* [email protected].
*
* 5. Products derived from this software may not be called "OpenSSL"
* nor may "OpenSSL" appear in their names without prior written
* permission of the OpenSSL Project.
*
* 6. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following
* acknowledgment:
* "This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project
* for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/)"
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE OpenSSL PROJECT `ÀS IS'' AND ANY
* EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
* IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
* PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE OpenSSL PROJECT OR
* ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
* SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT

* NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;

* LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
* HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
* STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
* ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED
* OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
* ====================================================================
*
* This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young
* ([email protected]). This product includes software written by Tim
* Hudson ([email protected]).
*
*/
Original SSLeay License

-----------------------
/* Copyright (C) 1995-1998 Eric Young ([email protected])
* All rights reserved.
*
* This package is an SSL implementation written
* by Eric Young ([email protected]).
* The implementation was written so as to conform with Netscapes SSL.
*
* This library is free for commercial and non-commercial use as long as
* the following conditions are adhered to. The following conditions
* apply to all code found in this distribution, be it the RC4, RSA,
* lhash, DES, etc., code; not just the SSL code. The SSL documentation
* included with this distribution is covered by the same copyright terms
* except that the holder is Tim Hudson ([email protected]).
*
* Copyright remains Eric Young's, and as such any Copyright notices in
* the code are not to be removed.
* If this package is used in a product, Eric Young should be given attribution
* as the author of the parts of the library used.
* This can be in the form of a textual message at program startup or
* in documentation (online or textual) provided with the package.
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
* modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
* are met:
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
* 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
* must display the following acknowledgement:
* "This product includes cryptographic software written by
* Eric Young ([email protected])"
* The word 'cryptographic' can be left out if the routines from the library
* being used are not cryptographic related :-).

* 4. If you include any Windows specific code (or a derivative thereof) from
* the apps directory (application code) you must include an acknowledgement:
* "This product includes software written by Tim Hudson ([email protected])"
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ERIC YOUNG `ÀS IS'' AND
* ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
* IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
* ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
* FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
* DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
* OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
* HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
* LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
* OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
* SUCH DAMAGE.
*
* The licence and distribution terms for any publicly available version or
* derivative of this code cannot be changed. i.e. this code cannot simply be
* copied and put under another distribution licence
* [including the GNU Public Licence.]
*/


Index
Index
Symbols and Numbers Audio Arbitrary function generator, 36

50 Ω protection, 110 bus trigger, 95 Autoset, 11, 38, 43, 54, 58
Auto Level, 84 B/W, 41
Auto trigger mode, 87 B1, B2, 40, 67, 68, 93
A Auto-magnify mode, 153 bus, 67, 68, 93
About, 25 Autoset, 58 Bus, 39
Accessories, 1 Video, 59 BW, 85
ACD3000, 3 Autoset button, 11, 38, 43, 54, 58 Channel, 39
Acquire button, 39, 60, 62, 101 Autoset disable, 58 Cursors, 41, 132
Acquisition Autoset undo, 58 D15 - D0, 44, 81
input channels and Auxiliary readout, 47 Default Setup, 39, 44, 54, 57
digitizers, 59 Average acquisition mode, 62 Fine, 38, 41, 43
modes defined, 62 Average detection type, 118 Force Trig, 43, 87
readout, 45 Average trace, 116 Freq/Span, 41, 82
sampling, 59 hard copy, 44, 178
Act on event, 65 Intensity, 42, 105
Adapter
B M, 40, 139, 140
TEK-USB-488, 3 B trigger, 99 Markers, 41
TPA-BNC, 3, 8 B/W button, 41 Math, 39, 40, 139, 140
TPA-N-VPI, 3, 8 B1, B2, 67, 68, 93 Measure, 38, 122, 127, 128
Adding waveform, 101 Backlight intensity, 104 Menu Off, 44
Adjacent channel power ratio Bandwidth, xvi, 108 Next, 42
measurement, 131 resolution, 84 Play-pause, 42, 148
Advanced math, 143 Baseline indicator, 84 Previous, 42
AFG button, 39 Baseline indicators, 47 Print, 44
Altitude, 6 Before Installation, 1 printer, 178
Ampl button, 41, 83 Blackman-Harris FFT window, 86, Ref, 40, 144, 145, 165
Amplitude measurement, 124 143 Reference, 39
Annotating the screen, 113 Blue lines, 113 RF, 22, 41, 48, 115
Application module, 36 BNC interface, 8 Run/Stop, 43, 64, 100
Application modules, 14, 189 Burst Width measurement, 123 Save / Recall, 39, 44, 162
30-day free trial, 14 Bus Search, 38, 150
license transfers, 14 button, 67, 68, 93 Select, 41
MDO3AERO, 3, 67 display, 48, 70 Set / Clear Mark, 42, 149
MDO3AUDIO, 3, 67 menu, 40, 68 Set to 50%, 43, 89
MDO3AUTO, 3, 67 positioning and labeling, 111 Single, 43, 100
MDO3COMP, 3, 67 setup, 68 Span, 83
MDO3EMBD, 3, 67 Bus and Waveforms display Test, 38
MDO3FLEX, 67 show physical layer bus Trigger level, 43
MDO3LMT, 3 activity, 78 Trigger menu, 90
MDO3PWR, 3, 67 Bus button, 39 Trigger Menu, 39
MDO3USB, 3, 67 Bus trigger, defined, 93 Utility, 18, 20, 21, 39, 103, 104,
Arbitrary function generator Buses, 67, 93 113, 114, 171
button, 36 cursor readout, 135 Vertical, 39
display, 49 Button Zoom, 42
use, 183 Acquire, 39, 60, 62, 101 BW button, 85
Area measurement, 125 AFG, 39 byte matching, 96
Ampl, 41, 83

Index
C D Excursion, 120
Calibration, 21, 22 D15 - D0 button, 44, 81 Expansion point, 60
Calibration certificate, 1 Date and time, changing, 20 Expansion point icon, 45
CAN, 40, 67, 93 Default Setup, 57, 168
Case
bus trigger, 95 button, 44, 54, 57
menu, 44
F
Factory calibration, 22
hard transit, 4 Undo, 57
Fall Time measurement, 123
soft transit, 3 Default Setup button, 39
Falling Edge Count
Center frequency, 83 Delay measurement, 123
measurement, 125
Channel Delay time, 64
FastAcq, 60
readout, 47 Delayed trigger, 98
FFT
vertical menu, 107 Delete directory or file, 169
Blackman-Harris, 86, 143
Channel button, 39 Depth, MDO3000, 5
controls, 140
Channel power measurement, 131 Deskew, 109
Flat-Top, 86
Cleaning, 7 Detection types, 117
Hamming, 86, 142
Clearance, 6 Digital channels, 113
Hanning, 86, 143
Clearance, MDO3000, 5 Baseline indicators, 47
Kaiser, 85
Communications, 26, 29, 32 Group icon, 48
Rectangular, 86, 142
Compensate scaling, positioning, grouping,
File format, 163
non-TPP0250, non-TPP500B or and labeling, 111
Instrument Specific File Format
non-TPP1000 probe, 13 setup, 79
(ISF), 165
signal path, 21 Digital Voltmeter
TIQ, 163
TPP0250, TPP500B or display, 51
File names, 160
TPP1000 probe, 11 use, 131
File system, 160, 165
Confidential data, 178 Disable Autoset, 58
Fine button, 38, 41, 43
Connecting Display
Firmware
a USB keyboard, 35 frequency domain, 48
upgrade, 23
to a PC, 26 information, 45
version, 25
Your oscilloscope, 26 persistence, 101
firmware.img file, 23
Connectivity, 1, 26, 29, 32 style, 101
Flash drive, 29
Connectors XY, 102
Flat-Top FFT window, 86
front panel, 52 Displaying, reference
FlexRay, 40, 67, 93
rear-panel, 53 waveforms, 165
bus trigger, 95
side-panel, 52 Drivers, 26, 29
Force Trig button, 43, 87
Controls, 36 Dual waveform math, 139
Format a drive, 169
Copy a drive, directory, or file, 169 DVM
Frame graticule style, 104
Coupling, 107 display, 51
Freq/Span button, 41, 82
Coupling, trigger, 88 use, 131
Frequency Domain
Cover
menu, 41
front, 3
Create new folder, 169 E Frequency domain display, 48
E-mail printing, 175 Frequency domain markers, 119
Cross Hair graticule style, 104
e*Scope, 29 automatic, 120
Cursor readout, 46, 135
Edge trigger, defined, 91 manual, 121
Cursors, 132
Edges Frequency Domain menu, 22
button, 41, 132
Fuzzy, 113 Frequency measurement, 123
linking, 133
White, 113 Frequency, center, 83
measurements, 132
Envelope acquisition mode, 62 Frequency, Source
menu, 132
Erase setup and ref memory, 178 MDO3000, 5
XY, 136
Ethernet, 28, 29, 30 Front cover, 3
Cycle Area measurement, 125
printing, 173 Front panel, 36
Cycle Mean measurement, 125
Event Table, 70 front panel connectors, 52
Cycle RMS measurement, 125
Excel, 26, 29 front panel overlay, 19

Index
Full graticule style, 104 Horizontal lines take an automatic measurement

Function Generator, 183 Green and blue, 113 in the time domain, 122
Functional check, 10 Horizontal position, 43, 60, 88, 89, take digital voltameter
Fuzzy edges, 113 106, 142 measurements, 131
and math waveforms, 140 take manual measurements
defined, 55 with cursors, 132
G readout, 47 trigger on buses, 93
Gating, 126 Horizontal scale, 43, 106, 142 upgrade the firmware, 23
GPIB, 27 and math waveforms, 140 use a sequential trigger, 98
GPIB address, 28 defined, 55 use a socket server, 32
Graticule readout, 47 use Act on Event, 65
Cross Hair, 104 How to use e*Scope, 29
Frame, 104 calibrate a TPP0250, TPP0500 use MagniVu, 81
Full, 104 or TPP1000 voltage use Wave Inspector, 147
Grid, 104 probe, 11 Humidity
intensity, 105 compensate a non-TPP0250, P6316, 7
IRE, 104 non-TPP0500B or
mV, 104 non-TPP1000 voltage
Solid, 104 probe, 13 I
styles, 103 compensate the signal path, 21 I2C, 40, 67, 93
Green lines, 113 connect probes and I2S, 40, 67, 93
Grid graticule style, 104 adapters, 7 Icon
Ground, 9 connect to a computer, 26 Expansion point, 45
lead, 14 erase memory, 178 Security, 46
strap, 9 label channels and buses, 55 Trigger level, 46
strap connector, 52 manage long record length Trigger position, 45
Ground strap, 36 waveforms, 147 Image orientation, 163, 171
Ground yourself to discharge perform a functional check, 10 Impedance, 107
static, 9 power off the oscilloscope, 10 Indicator
Group icon, 48 power on the oscilloscope, 9 baseline, 84
Grouping channels, 80 print a hard copy, 170 trace, 117
digital, 111 print via e-mail, 175 Indicator, waveform baseline, 48
recall setups, 166 Infinite persistence, 102
Ink Saver, 163, 172
H recall waveforms, 162
save screen images, 162 Inner knob, 42, 140
Hamming FFT window, 86, 142 save setups, 166 Input capacitance, P6316, 6
Hanning FFT window, 86, 143 save waveforms, 162 Input resistance, P6316, 6
Hard copy search through and add marks Instrument Specific File Format
button, 44 to waveforms, 149 (ISF), 165
printing, 170 select a trigger, 91 Intensity
HCTEK4321 transit hard case, 4 select automatic button, 42
Height, MDO3000, 5 measurements, 123 Intensity button, 105
Hi Res acquisition mode, 62 setup a waveform Invert, 107
High measurement, 124 histogram, 136 IRE graticule, 104
High-low indicators, 47 setup analog channels, 54 ISF format, 165
Histogram (waveform) setup bus parameters, 68
reset the count, 138
setup, 136
setup digital channels, 79
setup input parameters, 107
K
Histogram measurements, 126 setup VISA communica- Kaiser FFT window, 85
Hits in Box measurement, 126 tions, 26 Keyboard
Holdoff, trigger, 88 take an automatic measurement Connection, 35
Horizontal delay, 88 in the frequency Key layout style, 35
domain, 130 language, 18

Index
Keypad, 36 Math Menu, 36

Knob Advanced, 143 Bus, 40, 68
inner, 42, 140 button, 40, 139, 140 buttons, 38
Multipurpose, 20, 38, 41, 61, Dual waveform, 139 Cursors, 132
62, 165 FFT, 140 Default Setup, 44
outer, 42 menu, 40 Frequency Domain, 22, 41
pan, 42, 148, 149 spectrum, 144 Math, 40
Trigger level, 89 waveforms, 139 Measurement, 38
Vertical position, 55 Math button, 39 Reference, 40, 145, 146
Vertical Position, 39 Max hold trace, 116 Save / Recall, 39, 44, 162
Vertical scale, 55 Max measurement, 124, 126 Trigger, 90, 98
zoom, 42, 140, 147 Maximum nondestructive input Utility, 19, 20, 39, 44, 103, 114,
signal, P6316, 6 115, 171
Maximum signal swing, P6316, 6 Vertical, 39, 107
L MD03AERO, 189 Menu Off button, 44
Label bus, 111 MDO3AERO, 3, 67 Microsoft
LabVIEW SignalExpress, 26, 29 MDO3AUDIO, 3, 67, 189 Excel, 29
Landscape, 163, 171 MDO3AUTO, 3, 67, 189 Word, 29
Language MDO3COMP, 3, 67, 189 MIL-STD-1553, 40, 67, 93
change, 18 MDO3EMBD, 3, 67, 189 bus trigger, 95
overlay, 19 MDO3FLEX, 67, 189 data value matching, 97
Left Justified (LJ), 40, 67, 93 MDO3LMT, 3, 154, 189 Min hold trace, 116
Level, trigger, 89 MDO3PWR, 3, 67, 159, 189 Min measurement, 124, 126
License transfers for application MDO3USB, 3, 67, 189 Mode, roll, 64
modules, 14 Mean measurement, 125, 126 Monitor, 80
Limit testing, 154 Measure button, 38, 122, 127, 128 Mount or unmount a networked
LIN, 40, 67, 93 Measurement drive, 169
bus trigger, 95 adjacent channel power Multiple transition detection, 113
Linked cursors, 133 ratio, 131 Multipurpose knob, 38, 41, 61, 62,
Lock, standard laptop, 8 channel power, 131 165
Logic probe, 2 occupied bandwidth, 131 mV graticule, 104
interface, 8 Measurement menu, 38
Logic trigger, defined, 92 Measurements
Long record length automatic, 122 N
management, 147 cursor, 132 N-connector RF input, 36
Low measurement, 124 defined, 123 Negative Duty Cycle
Low resolution message, 122 DVM, 131 measurement, 123
LXI, 30 frequency domain, 130 Negative Overshoot
histogram, 126 measurement, 124
Negative Pulse Count
M power, 159
reference levels, 129 measurement, 125
M button, 40, 139, 140 snapshot, 128 Negative Pulse Width
MagniVu, 81 statistics, 127 measurement, 123
MagniVu readout, 47 Median measurement, 126 Network printing, 173
Main trigger, 98 Memory, erasure of, 178 Networked drives, mounting and
Mark, 149 unmounting, 169
Markers, 119, 120 NEX-HD2HEADER, 3
threshold and excursion, 120 Next button, 42
Markers button, 41 Normal trace, 116
Mask testing, 154 Normal trigger mode, 87

Index
O Position Probes
Occupied bandwidth bus, 111 BNC, 8
measurement, 131 digital channels, 111 connecting, 7
Offset and position, 110 Horizontal, 88, 89, 106, 142 ground lead, 14
Offset vertical, 108 Vertical, 106 logic, 8
OpenChoice Desktop, 1, 26, 29 Position and offset, 110 P6316, 203
Operating specifications, 5 Positive Duty Cycle TEK-USB-488 Adapter, 3
Option key, 15 measurement, 123 TekVPI, 3, 7
Orientation of the image, 163, 171 Positive Overshoot TPA-BNC Adapter, 3, 8
Outer knob, 42 measurement, 124 TPP0250, 1, 196
Overlay, 19 Positive Pulse Count TPP0500B, 1, 196
measurement, 125 TPP1000, 1, 196
Positive Pulse Width Pulse Width trigger, defined, 91
P measurement, 123
P6316, 81 Posttrigger, 87, 89
humidity, 7 Pouch, probe and accessory, 2 R
input capacitance, 6 Power Rackmount, 3
input resistance, 6 cord, 2 RBW, 84
logic probe, 2 input, 53 Readout
maximum nondestructive input off, 10 Acquisition, 45
signal, 6 removing, 10 Auxiliary, 47
maximum signal swing, 6 supply, 9 Channel, 47
pollution degree, 6 switch, 44 Cursor, 46, 135
probe ground leads, 79 Power measurements, 159 Horizontal position/scale, 47
threshold accuracy, 6 Predefined math expressions, 139 MagniVu, 47
threshold range, 6 Pretrigger, 87, 89 Record length/sampling
Pan, 147, 148 Previous button, 42 rate, 46
knob, 42, 148, 149 Print, 171 Timing resolution, 47
Parallel bus, 67, 93 E-mail, 175 Trigger, 46, 97
trigger, 93, 94 Ethernet, 173 Trigger frequency, 114
Pause, 148 hard copy, 170 Trigger status, 46
Peak detect acquisition mode, 62 Print button, 44 Real-time sampling, 59
–Peak detection type, 118 Probe Rear-panel connectors, 53
+Peak detection type, 117 accessory, 2 Recalling
Peak Hits measurement, 126 logic, 2 setups, 166
Peak-to-peak measurement, 124, Probe Comp, 11, 12 waveforms, 162
126 PROBE COMP, 36 Record length, xvi, 60
Period measurement, 123 PROBE COMP connector, 52 Record length/sampling rate
Persistence Probe compensation readout, 46
display, 101 non-TPP0250, non-TPP0500B Rectangular FFT window, 86, 142
infinite, 102 or non-TPP1000, 13 Ref button, 40, 144, 145, 165
variable, 102 TPP0250, TPP0500B or Ref R, 165
Phase measurement, 123 TPP1000, 11 Reference button, 39
Physical layer bus activity, 78 Probe connector Reference level, 117
PictBridge, 29, 170 analog, 52 Reference levels, 129
Picture mode, 158 logic, 52 Reference menu, 40, 145, 146
Play, 148 Reference waveforms, 145
Play-pause displaying, 165
button, 42, 148 removing, 146, 166
mode, 148 saving, 165
Pollution Degree saving 10 M waveforms, 146
P6316, 6 Removing reference
Portrait, 163, 171 waveforms, 146, 166

Index
Removing waveform, 101 Security icon, 46 T

Rename a drive, directory, or Security lock, 8 Table
file, 169 Select button, 41 Event, 70
Resolution bandwidth, 84 Selecting a keyboard key layout Search mark, 150
RF button, 22, 41, 48, 115 style, 35 Table, Event, 70
RF input connector, 36, 52 Sequence (B Trigger), defined, 91 TDM, 40, 67, 93
Right Justified (RJ), 40, 67, 93 Sequential triggering, 98 TEK-USB-488 Adapter, 3, 27, 28
Rise Time measurement, 123 Serial bus, 67 TekSecure, 178
Rise/Fall trigger, defined, 92 trigger, 93 TekVPI, 7
Rising Edge Count Serial number, 17 probes, 3
measurement, 125 Set / Clear Mark button, 42, 149 Telnet, 34
RMS measurement, 125 Set to 50% button, 43, 89 Temperature
Roll mode, 64 Setup MDO3000, 5
Rolling window data matching, 96 default, 44, 54, 57, 168 Termination, 107
RS-232, 40, 67, 93 Setup and Hold trigger, defined, 92 Test button, 38
bus trigger, 94 Side panel connector, 52 Threshold, 120
cursor readout, 135 Sigma1 measurement, 126 accuracy, P6316, 6
data value matching, 97 Sigma2 measurement, 126 range, P6316, 6
decoding, 74 Sigma3 measurement, 126 Timeout trigger, defined, 91
RS-422, 40, 67 Signal path compensation, 21 Timing resolution readout, 47
RS-485, 40, 67 Frequency domain, 22 TIQ files, 163
Run/Stop button, 43, 64, 100 Time and frequency TotalOvershoot measurement, 124
Runt trigger, defined, 91 domains, 21 TPA-BNC Adapter, 3, 8
Single button, 43, 100 TPA-N-VPI Adapter, 3, 8
Single sequence, 64, 100
S Slope, trigger, 89
TPP0250 probe, 1
TPP0250, TPP0500B or TPP1000
Sample acquisition mode, 62 SMTP, 66, 177 compensation, 11
Sample detection type, 117 Snapshot, 128 TPP0500B probe, 1
Sample interval, 60 Socket server, 32 TPP1000 probe, 1
Sample rates, xvi Socket Server, 28 Trace
Sampling process, defined, 59 Software drivers, 26, 29 average, 116
Sampling, real-time, 59 Software, optional, 189 indicator, 117
Save / Recall Solid graticule style, 104 max hold, 116
menu, 39, 44, 162 Span button, 83 min hold, 116
Menu button, 39 SPC, 21 normal, 116
Save button, 162 Specifications Transit case
Save / Recall Save button, 44 operating, 5 hard, 4
Saving power supply, 9 soft, 3
reference waveforms, 165 Spectrogram Transition trigger, defined, 92
screen images, 162 display, 118 Trigger
setups, 166 Spectrum Math, 144 Audio bus, 95
waveforms, 162 Spectrum traces, 116 B trigger after delay time, 99
Saving and recalling SPI, 40, 67, 93 Bus, defined, 93
Information, 160 bus trigger, 94 buses, 93
Scale Standard Deviation byte matching, 96
digital channels, 111 measurement, 126 Can bus, 95
Horizontal, 43, 106, 142 Start an acquisition, 100 concepts, 87
Vertical, 106 Statistics, 127 coupling, 88
Screen annotations, 113 Stop an acquisition, 100 data matching on a rolling
Search, 149 Switch, power, 44 window, 96
Search button, 38, 150
delayed, 98
Search mark table, 150
Edge, defined, 91
Securing memory, 178
event, defined, 87

Index
FlexRay bus, 95 U Voltage, Source

forcing, 87 UART, 40, 67 MDO3000, 5
Frequency readout, 114 Undo
holdoff, 88
level, 89
Autoset, 58
Default Setup, 57
W
level button, 43 Wave Inspector, 147
Upgrading
level icon, 46 Waveform
bandwidth, 15
level knob, 89 adding, 101
firmware, 23
LIN bus, 95 baseline indicator, 48
USB, 67, 93, 160, 170
Logic, defined, 92 Count measurement, 126
bus trigger, 95
menu, 90, 98 display style, 101
Device port, 53
MIL-STD-1553 bus, 95 histogram measurements, 126
flash drive, 29
MIL-STD-1553 data value intensity, 105
host ports, 44
matching, 97 pan, 147, 148
User interface language, 18
modes, 87, 90 pause, 148
User marks, 149
Parallel bus, 94 play, 148
Utility button, 18, 20, 21, 39, 103,
parallel bus data matching, 97 play-pause, 148
104, 113, 114, 171
parallel buses, 67 record defined, 60
Utility menu, 19, 20, 39, 44, 103,
point, 60 record view, 46
114, 115
position icon, 45 removing, 101
posttrigger, 87, 89 search and mark, 149
pretrigger, 87, 89 V user marks, 149
Pulse Width, defined, 91 Variable persistence, 102 zoom, 147
readout, 46, 97 Ventilation, 6 Weight
Rise/Fall, defined, 92 Versatile Probe Interface, 7 MDO3000, 5
RS-232 bus, 94 Version, firmware, 25 White edges, 113
RS-232 data value Vertical Width
matching, 97 button, 39 MDO3000, 5
Runt, defined, 91 menu, 39, 107 Word, 29
Sequence (B Trigger), offset, 110
defined, 91
sequential, 98
Offset, 108
position, 106
X
serial buses, 67 XY
position and autoset, 59
Setup and Hold, defined, 92 cursors, 136
position and offset, 110
slope, 89 display, 102
Position knob, 39, 55
SPI bus, 94 scale, 106
status readout, 46 Scale knob, 55 Z
Timeout, defined, 91 Video Zoom, 147
Trigger on B events, 99 Autoset, 59 button, 42
USB bus, 95 picture mode, 158 graticule size, 148
Video, defined, 93 Tests, 158 knob, 42, 147
Trigger menu Video Out
button, 39 port, 53
Trigger modes Video trigger, defined, 93
Auto, 87 View
Normal, 87 digital channels, 113
Trigger types, defined, 91 waveform record, 46
Triggering on Buses, 93 VISA, 26

MDO3000 Series Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes User Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MDO3000 Series Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes User Manual

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MDO3000 Series Mixed Domain Oscilloscopes User Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

x

For product information, sales, service, and technical support:

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual i

ii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual iii

iv MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Important safety information

General safety summary

To avoid ﬁre or personal injury

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual v

Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.

Probes and test leads

vi MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Keep ﬁngers behind the ﬁnger guards on the probes.

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual vii

Service safety summary

To avoid electric shock. Do not touch exposed connections.

viii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Terms in this manual

Symbols and terms on the product

The following symbol(s) may appear on the product:

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual ix

CISPR 11:2003. Radiated and conducted emissions, Group 1, Class A

EN 61000-3-2:2006. AC power line harmonic emissions

EN 61000-3-3:1995. Voltage changes, ﬂuctuations, and ﬂicker

x MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Australia / New Zealand contact.

EU declaration of conformity – low voltage

U.S. nationally recognized testing laboratory listing

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xi

Pollution degree descriptions

Pollution degree rating

xii MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Mains overvoltage category rating

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xiii

Product end-of-life handling

Restriction of hazardous substances

xiv MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Model MDO3104 MDO3102 MDO3054 MDO3052 MDO3034

Model MDO3032 MDO3024 MDO3022 MDO3014 MDO3012

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual xv

Model MDO3032 MDO3024 MDO3022 MDO3014 MDO3012

Conventions Used in This Manual

Sequence Step Front panel power Connect power Network USB

xvi MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual 1

Standard accessories (cont.)

2 MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Optional application modules

Optional instrument upgrades

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual 3

Optional accessories (cont.)

4 MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual

Optional accessories (cont.)

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscopes User Manual 5

Acquisition System: 50 Ω and 75 Ω

MDO3000 Series Oscilloscope with a P6316 Digital Probe

Threshold Accuracy: ±(100 mV + 3% of threshold setting after calibration)

Threshold Range: +25 V to –15 V.