Difference between RF function on 3 Series MDO and 4 Series MSO

Dear All,

The Tektronix 3 Series MDO models have a built-in RF input,while  4 Series MSO modes don't have this input.

 3 Series MDO (RF Commands ) , 4 Series (Spectrum View commands)
As described in the  3 Series MDO programmer manual:
MDO instruments calculate Fast Fourier Transform calculations (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

Is that means the RF function could be calculated according to the measurement of CH1-CH4 channels even we don't have RF input on 3 Series MDO models.

Could someone tell me more about the difference,  thanks in advance.

Hi Jeremy,

They are significantly different. The following comparison explains it well: <a href="https://www.tek.com/en/documents/fact-sheet/3-series-mdo-spectrum-analyzer-vs-oscilloscope-fft-comparison">https://www.tek.com/en/documents/fact-sheet/3-series-mdo-spectrum-analyzer-vs-oscilloscope-fft-comparison</a>

Main points to take away:

- ~15 dB better dynamic range than scopeFFT

- Significantly higher bandwidth (Up to 3 GHZ)

These may, or may not, be important to you, depending on what measurements you are taking.

Hi Teles,

Thanks for the information.

May I ask if the bandwidth of the RF input channel in 3 Series MDO models is normally higher than the 4 Series MSO models?

Is the Spectrum View of 4 Series MSO models(MSO44)  type of scopeFFT? Or it is same as the built in RF channel of 3 Series MDO with different kind of probe?

Spectrum View: A New Approach to Frequency Domain Analysis on Oscilloscopes | Tektronix

this document seems have some help on understanding the difference.