GovTest Government Test & Measurement Business & Procurement » Agilent

Designed with Power Applications in Mind

Ali Cheung — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:40:36 +0000

Power designs present many measurement challenges. Agilent’s InfiniiVision X-Series oscilloscopes offer a wide range of prices, features and probing options to get the best results for your project and budget.

5-in-one design: oscilloscope plus options for logic analysis, protocol analysis, 3-digit voltmeter, and function generator w/ AWG
1M waveforms per second update rate to capture the most elusive signal variances
Over a dozen applications for the 3000 X-Series, including power analysis for integrated power analysis capability
Dozens of probing options, including passive, active, current and differential

The DSO3XPWR option is a power measurement and analysis option that is integrated into InfiniiVision 3000 X-Series scopes. The embedded application provides a quick and easy way of analyzing the reliability and efficiency of your switching power supply.

Learn more:

Product Page – DSOX3PWR Power Measurements for the InfiniiVision 3000 X-Series Oscilloscopes
Application Note – 7 Hints that Every Engineer Should Know when Making Power Measurements with Oscilloscopes

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Add WaveGen and DVM for Free

Ali Cheung — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:29:53 +0000

For a limited time, any customer who purchases one or more new Agilent InfiniiVision 2000 or 3000 X-Series oscilloscopes is eligible to receive a free WaveGen built-in 20MHz function/arbitrary generator + a free integrated 3-digit voltmeter (DVM) per oscilloscope.

2000 X-Series: DSOX2WAVEGEN 20-MHz function generator and DSOXDVM 3-digit voltmeter

3000 X-Series: DSOX3WAVEGEN 20-MHz function/arbitrary generator and DSOXDVM 3-digit voltmeter

Both WaveGen and DVM integration are exclusive to the Agilent InfiniiVision 2000 and 3000 X-Series oscilloscopes. Do more than you thought possible with an oscilloscope that now offers up to 5-in-1 instrument integration, made possible by breakthrough technology delivered by Agilent Technologies, the fastest growing oscilloscope company.

Start date: March 1, 2012 (Japan: April 1, 2012)
End date: August 31, 2012
Promotion code: 5.866
Fact Sheet: Oscilloscopes Redefined – Add WaveGen and DVM for Free-Promotion
Application Note: Component Testing Using an Oscilloscope with Integrated Waveform Generator

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Oscilloscopes Redefined

Ali Cheung — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:13:00 +0000

Oscilloscopes are redefined with Agilent’s breakthrough technology that delivers more scope for the same budget. The Agilent InfiniiVision 3000 X-Series offers entry-level price points to fit cusomter’s budget with superior performance and optional capabilities that are not available in any other oscilloscope in its class.

Customers can do more with the power of 5 instruments in 1: Oscilloscope, Logic timing analyzer, WaveGen built-in 20 MHz Function/Arbitrary Waveform Generator (optional), Integrated Digital Voltmeter and protocol analyzer (optional). The InfiniiVision 3000 X-Series features the deepest memory in its class with up to 4 Mpts of Agilent’s patented MegaZoom IV technology that is always enabled and always responsive providing the industry’s fastest update rate at up to 1 million waveforms per second, with no compromise if you turn on measurements or add digital channels.

In addition, the 3000 X-Series offers 33 automated measurements, nine parametric triggers, serial protocol triggers, as well as waveform math functions including FFT. All of this at a comparable price to the Tektronix DPO2000 oscilloscope.

Learn more:

Product Page – Agilent InfiniiVision X-Series
Application Note – When is it Time to Transition to a Higher Bandwidth Oscilloscope?
Demo – See More, Do More, Get More, Industry Comparison, 360 Degree View, Product Specs

Call TestMart at 888-665-2765 for a GSA quote

Scope Smackdown: Agilent MSO-X 3054A vs. Tektronix MSO3054 Oscilloscopes

Michael Fox — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:55:32 +0000

Ready for a scope smackdown? Here’s your chance to demo both the Agilent InfiniiVision MSO-X 3054 and Tektronix MSO3054 oscilloscope at the same time. Free 7-day trial to compare and contrast both units for display, sample/update rates, bandwidth upgrades, hardware-based tests, built ins and much more. See for yourself which comes out on top. This smackdown only available for a limited time. Sign up for your own no-obligation free trial below.

U.S. government, military and prime contractor facilities only

No obligation, costs or hidden fees
Free shipping to and from your facility
Limited slots available
Open dates and product datasheet

Schedule a free Agilent MSO-X 3054A vs. Tektronix MSO3054 7-day field trial

Call GSAMart toll free at (888) 665-2765 x3745 or Sign up

Free Gov-Only Field Trial Sweep Generator: Agilent E8257N

Michael Fox — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:10:05 +0000

The Agilent Technologies E8257N signal generator is an electronic instrument that generates repeating electronic signals.It contains an electronic oscillator, a circuit that is capable of creating a repetitive waveform. Generator, Sweep, 40 GHz.

U.S. Government, military and prime contractor facilities only.

No obligation, costs or hidden fees
Free shipping to and from your facility
Limited slots available
Open dates and product datasheet

Schedule a free 7-day field trial

Call GSAMart toll free at (888) 665-2765 x3745 or Sign up

Manufacturers test new distribution channels

Travis Wheeler — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:09:36 +0000

Prominent manufacturers of test equipment, who have historically sold directly to their customers, have begun exploring new sales channels and are now offering a wider variety of products through distributors, franchisees, and online stores. And what may be even more surprising is that their use of these new channels is not limited to low-end instruments. In fact, manufacturers are working more closely than ever with distributors to coordinate both sales efforts and technical support.

“Over the last five years, we’ve seen a major broadening of the channel in terms of the types of equipment that’s resold and the level of sophistication,” said Mike Stonebraker, director of worldwide indirect channels in the Electronic Measurement Group at Agilent Technologies.

Two of the most dominant test-and-measurement companies, Agilent and Tektronix, have both increased sales through distribution. Agilent has honed its distribution strategy over the last two years, a move that appears to be working out well for the company. “It’s been a major trend in our business and a strong contributor to growth as well,” said Stonebraker. Indeed, 25% of the company’s orders come from indirect channels today, compared to only 8% two years ago, according to a company spokesperson.

Stonebraker gave credit to Tektronix and Fluke for pioneering the use of distribution for low-end equipment years ago. Agilent took note of their success, he said, realizing that its customers also likely wanted a more-efficient purchasing process. “Engineers don’t necessarily need to see another engineer to make a decision on what piece of test equipment to buy,” Stonebraker explained. “When a customer wants to buy their 10th scope and it’s exactly like the previous nine, all they want is the quickest and simplest way.”

Tektronix also has expanded its use of indirect channels. The company has used distributors for more than 20 years, but lately has started selling higher-end equipment through the channel. Late last year, Tektronix announced new distribution agreements with Allied Electronics, Entest, Newark, and TestEquity, authorizing those firms to carry higher-performance oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, and bit-error-rate testers. And this year, Tektronix, which is a subsidiary of Danaher, inked similar agreements with several European distributors.

Vendors are using specific channels to meet particular needs. Some high-end products are still only available directly from the manufacturer, such as the Tektronix DSA8200 digital sampling oscilloscope, which requires custom configuration, said Gina Bonini, technical marketing manager at Tektronix. On the other hand, some of the company’s distributor partners are beefing up their technical chops and building their own applications teams, she added.
Tektronix direct and indirect sales people frequently work together on sales opportunities, said Faride Akretch, also a technical marketing manager. “We don’t see it as either [a direct sale or an indirect sale]. We see it as a combination of the two.”

Full article by Tam Harbert, Test & Measurement World

USB test instruments provide portable modularity

Travis Wheeler — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:18:07 +0000

The USB (Universal Serial Bus) provides PC connectivity with many desirable attributes, so it is no surprise that test instruments have arisen that use the USB to link to a host computer. What may be surprising, however, is the range of functions and performance levels available from USB test instruments. Data-acquisition, signal-generation, measurement, and RF instruments are all available with USB connectivity, and engineers can mix-and-match multiple instruments to form a complete test platform.

True to their “universal” name, USB ports have become pervasive, available on virtually every personal and industrial computer in production. Even production-test systems based on the personal computer architecture offer USB ports. And for good reason. A USB 2.0 port (the most commonly available) provides hot-swappable plug-and-play connectivity, transfers data at rates up to 480 Mbps (faster than 100-Mbps Ethernet), offers host power to attached devices, and has the ability to connect 128 unique endpoints to the host through a single port. The new USB 3.0 specification boosts data rates nearly tenfold.

To leverage the availability and simplicity of USB, a number of companies have created test instruments that link through USB to a host PC for processing, control, and display. The most common of these instruments are DSOs (digital storage oscilloscopes) and function generators, many from small companies that specialize in these portable instruments. The Australian company Esis and the UK-based Elan Digital Systems, for instance, both offer the USBscope50—a PC plug-in not much larger than a flash drive that accepts standard BNC probes (Figure 1). The instrument has a 75-MHz input bandwidth and can capture 8-bit samples at a rate of 50 Msamples/s in single-shot capture. For repetitive signals, the instrument provides capture timing equivalent to 1 Gsample/s.

The two companies also offer a 12.5-MHz DDS function generator with 0.2-Hz resolution and ±10-V output, a 100-MHz clock and pulse generator, and a 50-MHz frequency/period counter, all in the same form factor. The modules are stackable to form a suite of interrelated instruments, using an adapter that permits four modules to share the same USB port. Thus, you can provide a test stimulus, measure output frequency, and examine two waveform channels using an ordinary laptop and a collection of modules that could fit into a shirt pocket.

The USB test-instrument market is not limited to specialty companies, either. Both Agilent Technologies and National Instruments offer numerous USB-based test instruments. NI, for instance, has more than 50 different USB instrument modules, including 6.5-digit DMMs (digital multimeters), RF power meters, data-acquisition units, thermocouple signal conditioners, and DSOs. Agilent has many similar types of instruments along with unique functions such as a 4×8 two-wire switch matrix and source-measure units with four-quadrant operation.

The USB instruments from both companies can operate as stand-alone devices or can be plugged into a chassis that aggregates several instruments into a test-equipment platform. The chassis enables triggering and synchronization of module operation as well as aggregating the command and data transfer for multiple instruments onto a single USB port. Further, chassis mounting helps ruggedize the USB modules, providing added protection against field hazards. NI offers four- and eight-slot USB module enclosures and has recently introduced a one-slot CompactDAQ enclosure for USB, Ethernet, or wireless connectivity. Agilent has a chassis capable of handling six modules (Figure 3).

The use of a chassis to combine multiple USB modules into an integrated test platform can push the bus to its limits. While a USB port can supply power to the attached instrument, for instance, that power is limited to 500 mA at 5 V. As a result, chassis systems must use an external power “brick” rather than drawing from the host, and then supply power to the plug-in modules from this external source.

Full article by Richard A. Quinnell, T&M World

Test comes roaring back

Travis Wheeler — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:13:56 +0000

In 2010, Danaher added Keithley Instruments to a stable that already included such well-known brands as Tektronix and Fluke. Combined, the Danaher family of test companies recorded $2.8 billion in sales, edging out Agilent for the number-one spot in the top 10.

Last year, Tektronix introduced a new mixed-signal oscilloscope platform, the MSO/DPO5000 Series, and unveiled new high-bandwidth and low-capacitance passive voltage probes. “Taken together, these products give embedded systems engineers unmatched performance and analysis tools for complex debug and validation tasks,” noted Amir Aghdaei, Tektronix president.

Other hot areas cited by Aghdaei include PCI Express, where bus speeds require effective test tools, such as the Tektronix TLA7SA00 logic protocol analyzer. Also in demand: instruments to support test work on DDR3 and DDR4 as well as the new USB 3.0 standard and 100 Gigabit Ethernet communications.

Meanwhile, new products like the model 810 handheld vibration tester for equipment maintenance fueled growth for sister company Fluke. Among other key product introductions cited by Barbara Hulit, Fluke’s president, is the 190 Series II ScopeMeter, a four-channel device built for 600-V electrical environments found in manufacturing.

“With energy prices uncertain, we anticipate enduring interest in products for measuring and reducing energy consumption,” said Hulit, “and the march of electronic controls across segments, from manufacturing to commercial buildings, will drive the need for more complex measurements as part of regular maintenance and troubleshooting.”

Ron Nersesian, president of Agilent’s Electronic Measurement Group, attributed his business unit’s 15% increase in 2010 revenue in large part to the introduction of more than 200 products, including 47 modular instruments in September alone.

“Our September announcement was the largest modular-instrument introduction in the history of the electronic-measurement industry,” claimed Nersesian. “We are just scratching the surface in our multiyear plan to develop modular solutions and give customers the products that best fit their measurement needs.”

Nersesian said that interest in smartphones is “exploding,” which is driving test applications for 3G and 4G communications. The aerospace and defense business is also growing for Agilent, which claims technology leadership in core products such as oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal analyzers, and signal sources. One example: the Infiniium 90000 X-Series oscilloscopes that feature up to a 32-GHz analog bandwidth. On the horizon, added Nersesian, is more business from applications related to cloud computing and green technology.

For Japan-based Anritsu, not even a deadly tsunami and earthquake could dampen solid business performance in 2010, when revenue grew nearly 11% in yen (19% in dollars). In fact, all three Japanese companies in the top 10 reported a return to normal operations within two months of the March disaster.

“The chief factors that contributed to our revenue were growth in installation of broadband communications networks and the expansion of data-communications services,” said company president Hirokazu Hashimoto. “As a result, our top-performing test products were those that measured mobile communications, including conformance test systems, signaling testers, and field measuring instruments.”

Anritsu’s new MT8220C radio communications analyzer can evaluate and measure 2G, 3G, and 3.5G mobile terminals, as well as LTE devices. Other key product launches included the MW8219A PIM Master, which is designed to accurately locate the source of passive intermodulation, such as near base stations.

Hashimoto said Anritsu’s prospects for 2011 are strong, as the company exploits opportunities in mobile communications. Longer term, he sees growth from automotive electronics, digital household electronics, and machine-to-machine communications.

Another Japan-based company, Yokogawa, gets 80% of its revenue from industrial automation, but its measurement business grew by 16.3% in yen in 2010 (+26% in dollars). Its areas of focus: precision power measurements, waveform-measuring instruments, and data-acquisition systems.

As for significant new products, Takashi Nishijima, president of Yokogawa Meters & Instruments, pointed to the WT1800 precision power analyzer, which measures power consumption and efficiency in cutting-edge inverter/converter technologies. In addition, the new DL850 ScopeCorder instruments provide flexible solutions for making mixed-signal measurements, especially in mechatronics, aerospace, and vehicle systems.

“The global T&M market has been recovering rapidly, led especially by growth in emerging countries,” said Nishijima. “We have invested in these regions, maintained our position in major markets, and expect continual and steady growth in 2011 and beyond.”

Full article by Lawrence D. Maloney, T&M World

PXI DMM Speed Showdown: Agilent vs Brand X

Ali Cheung — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:52:36 +0000

Below is a video demonstrating how Agilent’s M9183A PXI DMM is over 10 times faster in a transactional test setup compared to Brand X’s PXI DMM (you can probably guess who Brand X is). Transactional testing refers to automated test setups where the DMM and switching has to be reconfigured for each measurement or test point on the DUT. That means at each test point the DMM is configured, armed (*INIT command), and the measurement is fetched from memory into the test software.Everything in the test is the same except the DMMs so each test setup has the same switching, same PXI chassis, same code, and the DMM measurement aperture time is the same. Check out the video below:

The reason that Brand X’s DMM is so much slower is because its measurement arming time is ~ 6 ms! Agilent’s M9183A measurement arming time is < 100 us. With an arm time of 6 ms Brand X is wasting the benefit gained by the high speed PXI bus. In fact, with such a large arm time a ‘box’ DMM using USB, LAN, or GPIB is faster. For instance Agilent’s 34410A DMM takes only ~ 2 ms to make a measurement (that is including IO latency).

Full blog post by Neil Forcier

Agilent’s T&M ‘Dreamliner’ hits the road

Travis Wheeler — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:40:29 +0000

A luxury transport truck carrying more than $4-million worth of test and measurement equipment is making its way across North America this spring/summer, as Agilent Technologies Inc. brings its Innovation Tour to major high tech hubs in Eastern Canada.

With 17 stops in total, the ‘Dreamliner’ brings the T&M leader’s latest technology innovations directly to the electronics design communities in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Waterloo ON.

“We get lots of engineers, technicians and design managers on-board to see our extensive set of test solutions that include LTE, LTE-Advanced, MIMO, RFID, WLAN and others, says Brian Withnell, account manager of Agilent Canada’s electronic test and measurement products. “We try to show the test equipment and systems that are ahead of the technology wave, which helps participates get firsthand experience in an informal environment that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to see.”

The roving display, which has traveled to date 6,973 miles, includes a broad mix of technology, including everything from handheld, low-cost scopes, digital multi-meters and more high end products such as signal sources and generators, 32GHz real-time oscilloscopes.

Full article at Electronic Products and Technology