[SI-LIST] Re: TDR Analsis Equipment..Tektronix vs Agilent?

Tom,
  Can't speak for the Agilent kit I've never used it,  I've used Tek TDR 
kit since '95, right now I have the CSA8300 with the 80E04, and I've 
always been very happy with it.  I'd question the use of the 80E04 for 
the 50 - 80 mil resolution you're asking for though.
  A TDR can only resolve discontinuities that are at least 1/2 the TDR 
rise time apart.  Assuming you're going to be looking at 100ohm diff 
traces then these will have  flight times of roughly 140 ps/in for 
microstrip and 170ps/in for stripline,  50 mils in microstrip works out 
at 7ps and 80mils in stripline at 14ps.  So you're looking at putting a 
rise time into the board of 14 - 28ps, this is real hard to do, 
particularly as the 80E04 has a 23 ps typical rise time, by the time 
you've connected your board to it probably going to be nearer 30ps.  
Remember also that the rise time degrades as it passes down your traces, 
so the further down your trace you go the more your resolution drops.  
You're probably going to need the 80E10 module (12ps).  Consider also 
getting an 80A03 Tek connect probe interface module, that allows you to 
put the sampling module on the end of around 2 foot of cable, makes it 
much easier to use short cables to the UUT.
Take a look in TEKs data sheet 80SICON and see if 80SSPAR will do what 
you need, it's roughly half the cost of 80SICON.

Regards
Dave Instone
+44 (0)1235 824963

OXFORD SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
25 MILTON PARK
ABINGDON
OXFORDSHIRE
OX14 4SH
Registered in England no 2733820
Registered Address: As above 



tom_cip_11551 wrote:
> Hi to the Signal Integrity community.
>
> I am looking for a set of equipment with wich to do TDR analysis on 
> high speed PCB structures. We are now building boards to run at 
> speeds of 3 Gb/s or faster and I would like to resolve 
> discontinuites within, say, 50 mils to 80 mils of each other.
>
> I have gotten quotes from Tektronix and Agilent for TDR equipment.  
>
> The Tektronix system consists of the DSA8200 digital sampling scope, 
> the 80E04 TDR sampling module and the 80SICON signal integrity and 
> failure analysis software (a $20K item by itself).
>
> The Agilent system consists of the 86100C scope, the 54754A TDR 
> module and various other software programs for S parameters, Jitter 
> analysis, etc.
>
> I am wondering what the Signal Integrity community at large is 
> using. Which system is more popular and, most important, cost 
> effective?
>
> What are some of the advantages and drawbacks of each?
>
> Are there other solutions on the market that are more cost effective?
>
> Thank You
> Tom
>
>
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