eeProductCenter Ultimate Products 5.1

Analog Boards / Buses DSP Electromechanical Embedded Tools Interconnects Microprocessors Memory Logic and Interfaces Passives / Sensors PLDs / FPGAs Power Components Power Sources RF / Microwave Test / Measurement

Product Shopper New Product Info

(1)
PICO TECHNOLOGY
4-channel scope features differential inputs
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Pico Technology has introduced its PicoScope 3425 PC oscilloscope that features four differential inputs, 12-bit precision, 5-MHz bandwidth and a high-speed USB 2.0 interface. A fully documented programming interface is included, with example programs in C, C++, Visual Basic, Excel and LabVIEW."

Readers say: "Good for lab work, probably awkward for some field work (laptop is too much when on a utility pole)." "Interesting concept with the differential input probes which distinguish it form other PC O-scopes, however the 500 ns min time base is a hindrance." "A nice new gadget. I prefer a common scope, not requiring a dedicated PC in my work." "Differential input is a great feature. Upper sample rate is a bit too low for many applications." "Seems great for higher-than normal voltage measurements, but too slow for high speed logic. Looks like great mid-range tool." "Not very fast but I do like the differential inputs."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
AGILENT
High-performance scope breaks 1-Gpt memory barrier
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced it broke the one-billion acquisition samples (1 Gpt) barrier for the first time in a high-performance oscilloscope. In addition to delivering the industry's deepest acquisition memory depth, the new Agilent Infiniium 90000A Series is said to offer the industry's first hardware/software integrated triggering system. Dubbed InfiniiScan Plus, this trigging system enables 150 picoseconds hardware-event identification and 75 picoseconds software-event identification."

Readers say: "Impressive instrument based upon the specs listed." "Nice scope" "If the need arises for 1Gb/S data capture, this fits the bill."

USABILITY RANK: 4

(3)
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
National Instruments releases USB digitizers, digital multimeter for portable measurement
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "National Instruments (NI) has released the NI USB-5132/5133 digitizers and the NI USB-4065 6�-digit digital multimeter (DMM). These small, lightweight instruments feature bus-powered and plug-and-play operation, which makes them suitable for portable, benchtop and OEM applications. They are shipped with NI LabVIEW SignalExpress LE interactive measurement workbench software for acquiring, analyzing and presenting data with no programming required."

Readers say: "Nice product, but price is a little high, one could get a good portable scope for this price."

USABILITY RANK: 2

(4)
AGILENT
Agilent scopes boast industry's biggest display, fastest waveform update rate
eeProductCenter's Janine Love says: "Agilent Technologies Inc. has introduced 10 new oscilloscope models that make up the InfiniiVision 7000 Series. The new Agilent InfiniiVision 7000 Series offers bandwidths up to 1 GHz and delivers a memory waveform update rate of up to 100,000 waveforms per second. The company reports that each model is equipped with the industry's largest display (a 12.1-inch XGA LCD display) and comes in a package that is 7 inches deep and weighs 14 pounds."

Readers say: "LeCroy, Agilent, Tektronix ... sounds like a horse race. But it keeps improving the test equipment." "We have two Agilent mixed signal scopes, one from each previous generation, and they are grrrrreat!"

USABILITY RANK: 3

(5)
ZTEC INSTRUMENTS
Compact LAN oscilloscope delivers benchtop performance, high-channel density
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "ZTEC Instruments has released a small 1-U height, half-rack width oscilloscope that provides features that are typically found in much larger benchtop instruments. The rack-mountable, high-channel density ZT4610 LAN oscilloscope targets automatic test equipment (ATE), aerospace and defense, and embedded applications."

Readers say: "We are on the PXI bandwagon for now. But LXI could be in the future."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(6)
VERIWAVE
802.11n test tool addresses early stages of product development
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "VeriWave, Inc. has expanded its wireless LAN (WLAN) performance testing and analysis portfolio by delivering what it claims is the first 802.11n debugging, troubleshooting and unit test tool to address the early development stages of 802.11 -compliant devices."
USABILITY RANK: 8

(7)
ROHDE & SCHWARTZ
Rohde & Schwarz unveils mobile spectrum analyzer for WLAN, WiMAX, WCDMA
eeProductCenter's Jack Shandle says: "The portable R&S FSL18 spectrum analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz meets the growing need for compact instruments in applications such WiMAX network installation and maintenance. Weighing in at less than 8 kg, the FSL18 delivers a unique combination of wide frequency range (9 kHz to 18 GHz) and large I/Q demodulation bandwidth (28 MHz) -- particularly for an entry-level instrument."

Readers say: "Love the light weight and functionality of the unit. Have had to use it on rooftops in Arizona during the summer and it has held up extremely well."

USABILITY RANK: 5

(8)
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
RF power meter combines measurement accuracy with small size
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "National Instruments has introduced the company's first USB-controlled true RMS RF power meter for automated test, measurement and monitoring applications in a small footprint of 8.5 x 3.0 x 5.6 cm (3.35 x 1.18 x 2.2 in.)."

Readers say: "Great, now we can measure RF power with a laptop. It's about time."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(9)
VITESSE
IC-based scope function redefines system integrity analysis
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. claims its advanced high-speed IC-based oscilloscope function will significantly change the economics of signal integrity analysis and network reliability. VScope, an IC-based embedded waveform viewing technology, is said to open up new possibilities to redefine the dynamics and economies of backplane design, signal integrity analysis, test & measurement equipment, and remote monitoring in communication systems."

Readers say: "What was once just for FPGAs is now in receiver ICs"

USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
ATRENTA
Design-for-test tool delivers advanced timing closure analysis
eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Atrenta Inc. has introduced its SpyGlass-DFT DSM design-for-test solution for deep submicron (DSM) circuits, supporting at-speed timing closure analysis, RTL testability improvement and fault coverage estimation for transition delay testing. Atrenta says this is the industry's first tool that will accelerate design turnaround times by identifying timing closure issues caused by at-speed testing early at RTL."

USABILITY RANK: 10

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com