Tektronix has announced what they say is the world's fastest probe to complement their fast four-channel real-time oscilloscope. At 20 GHz, the new P7520 probe matches the DSA72004 digital serial analyzer (DSA) oscilloscope with regard to bandwidth, providing electrical engineers with a highly advanced oscilloscope and probe combination.

The latest addition to the Tektronix P7500 probing family, the P7520 sets a record for bandwidth, provides superior signal fidelity with fast rise time and low circuit loading, a "needle nose" form factor, and TriMode measurement switching. When used with the DSA72004, the P7520 enables R&D engineers to debug and validate high-speed serial data circuits up to 10 Gb/s.

The speed of this probe/scope combination enables customers to debug and validate the third harmonic of 10-Gb/s signals and perform compliance testing to the fifth harmonic on signals up to 8 Gb/s including PCI-Express 3, SATA Gen-3 and HDMI 1.3.

When used with Tektronix ultra high-performance oscilloscopes, such as the DSA70000 and DPO70000 series, the Tektronix P7520 probe is said to provide the highest signal fidelity and acquisition performance in the industry.

TriMode probing allows engineers to switch between differential, single-ended, and common-mode measurements without moving the probe connections. This enables an engineer to work more efficiently, making three different kinds of measurements with one probe and one setup rather than employ multiple probes and interconnections.

With less chip real estate available for connecting probes, engineers often have difficulty attaching a probe to the DUT. The probe body of the P7520 is streamlined so that several probes are able to fit into confined spaces. Interchangeable probe tip modules provide miniature solder-in tips. Interchangeable extension cables assist with reaching difficult-to-probe areas and a needle-nose handheld style probe module can be used for both fixtured and handheld applications.

The price of the P7520 is $16,900; shipments are expected to begin the latter part of this month.

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