Selecting your next oscilloscope: Why deep memory matters

Selecting your next oscilloscope: Why fast update rate matters

Since oscilloscope update rate characteristics are often presented differently by each manufacturer, interpreting them can be confusing or misleading. Oscilloscope manufacturers typically provide an update rate value that describes an oscilloscope model at its fastest acquisition rate. Because update rate values are heavily impacted by numerous oscilloscope settings, it is often difficult to compare one vendor's update rate value with a different vendor's value.

This document provides:

  • An explanation of update rate
  • How users can quickly perform their own update rate characterization
  • How to compare vendor update rates
  • Benefits of fast update rate