Differential input Wi-Fi connected PC scopes reach 250MHz

It is the WiFiScope WS6 DIFF, which comes in three versions. The top end one, nominally 1Gsample/s has.

• 250MHz bandwidth
• 1Gsample/s, but see note*
• 8, 12, 14 or 16bit resolution
• 1Mpoint/channel data buffer (expandable to 256Msample/chan with XM option over USB)

*note, 1Gsample/s is only available in a single mode – 8bit sampling on one channel with other channels off
maximum achievable streaming rate is 200Msample/s – in the same mode

The company is also offering similar scopes for automotive measurement

The other two are nominally 500Msample/s and 200Msample/s, and WiFiScope WS4 DIFF is a similar, lower spec scope, still 4 channel, topping out at 50Msample/s on a single 12bit channel – it offers 12, 14 and 16bit resolution, but not 8bit.

“These differential Wi-Fi oscilloscopes are every day oscilloscopes built by engineers for engineers and can be used via an ethernet connection – LAN, WiFi or WAN – but also over a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 connection,” according to the firm. “The built-in battery gives the WiFiScope the possibility to perform fully differential measurements completely galvanically isolated, or over long distances.”

• Continuous acquisition up to 5Msample/s with 8bit resolution on one channel is available over Wi-Fi, with galvanic isolation
• Continuous acquisition up to 20MSample/s with 8bit resolution on one channel is available over LAN or WAN, over long range
• Continuous acquisition up to 200Msample/s with 8bit resolution on one channel is available over USB, without a separate network
• All these numbers drop at higher resolution, with more channels and with imperfect networks, study this web page for all the WS6 numbers

Each of the four BNC inputs is a differential input – the screen being one side of the differential and the centre being the other. They cannot be used single-ended without an option. “WiFiScope WS6 DIFF can be delivered with ‘SafeGround’ option,” according to the firm. “With SafeGround you can switch the differential inputs of the WiFiScope WS6 DIFF into single ended inputs with ground protection. It allows to make measurements using standard attenuating probes and protects the scope when a short circuit to ground is created.”

Power needs are supplied via a USB connection, from a 12Vdc (2A) input socket, or from the internal 8Ah 3.7V Li-ion battery.
Instrument size is 44 x 187 x 215mm, and weight 791g.

The PC software necessary to operate the scope is called Multi Channel, and, as well as an oscilloscope, can operate the instrument as a spectrum analyser, EMI pre-compliance analyser, multimeter, differential data logger or protocol analyser.

“Multi Channel oscilloscope software gives you the opportunity to share your data with everybody and lets you analyse your data without the need of an instrument,” according to TiePie. it offers “data analysis capabilities using many user configurable data processing I/O blocks, showing the analysis results in graphs, tables and/or meter displays. The Quick Setup system {allows you to] select the measurement task you want to accomplish with just up to four mouse clicks from a selection dialog that gives access to over 700 different instrument Quick Setups”.

A software development kit (SDK) is available to assist the writing of custom PC-based data acquisition software, along with examples in C, C++, C#, Python, Matlab, Node.js and Visual Basic.NET. “Developing the software for a USB data acquisition system or a wireless high speed WiFi data acquisition system makes no difference and the developed software can be used transparently,” said the company.

Specs for the lower-end WiFiScope WS4 DIFF can be found here

In brief they are:

• 4 channels
• 50 MHz bandwidth
• 50Msample/s max
• 12, 14 or 16 bit resolution
• 128kpoint data buffer (maximally expanded)