Speedy analysers handle latest fast serial buses: News from Tektronix

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Tektronix has released two new logic analysers - the TLA7012 portable mainframe and TLA7016 benchtop mainframe. The mainframes are compatible with all TLA modules and provide throughput that is at least three times faster than previous mainframe models enabling faster data analysis and more rapid zooming, searching, filtering and scrolling. Both use Windows XP Professional and the latest Intel Pentium processors to provide analysis speed that is twice as fast as the nearest competitor.

High speed serial buses, especially multilane serial buses including second generation PCI Express and SATA III as well as double datarate (DDR II) memories, place new requirements on designers for accurately sampling at high speed and at the correct time.

The increasingly sophisticated requirements necessitate flexibility, high performance, and ease of use.

The new logic analysers from Tektronix provide the modularity, throughput, high speed analysis, and ease of use to match engineering needs.

'Customers today are dealing with much larger data sets than they were only a few years ago and these will continue to increase in the future', said David Bennett, Vice President, Logic Analyser Product Line, Tektronix.

'The new logic analysers provide much faster data throughput, larger displays, major usability improvements, backwards-compatibility with all existing logic analyser modules, and a compelling migration path for customers using competing products'.

'The result is access to the most modern, modular and capable logic analysers in the industry and investment protection for Tektronix logic analyser customers'.

The new TLA7012 is a portable mainframe that can contain two modules allowing up to 272 channels of logic analysis capability, has an integrated 2GHz Pentium M processor, and features the largest integrated display available on a portable logic analyser, a high-resolution 15in active TFT display.

Short-cut keys on the front-panel provide instant access to commonly used menus and an optional touch screen allows access to all TLA functionality making it suitable for very space-constrained or rack-mounted environments.

The new TLA7016 benchtop mainframe is able to support up to six modules, up from five modules in previous models.

This allows designers of the latest technology, such as FB-DIMM, to use a single TLA7016 mainframe rather than the multiple mainframes required by other logic analyser vendors.

The TLA7016 uses a customer-supplied PC or an optional 3GHz Pentium 4 controller.

The TLA7012 and TLA7016 also share a new generation of application software, TLA Application Software version 5.0.

The new software provides a number of new capabilities including industry-first drag-and-drop triggering and automated measurements for logic analysers, and a dramatically improved user interface.

Customers can install V5.0 of the TLA Application Software on Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 computers which then can be used to connect to and control any TLA7012 or TLA7016 on their network.

A fast GbE LAN interface speeds the transfer of large data sets.

Both new units also take advantage of improved backplane interface to increase data throughput by 300% over previous models.

Customers can use mainframes individually, or combine portable and benchtop mainframes together for analysing and debugging more complex system problems.

A simplified expansion mechanism provides communications and control between the analysers.

Removable 3.5in hard drives on both the TLA7012 and the optional TLA7PC1 controller for the TLA7016 make these instruments ideal for security conscious customers.

Customers using Tektronix TLA704, TLA711, TLA714 and TLA715 may be eligible for a trade-up credit towards purchase of the new TLA7012 or TLA7016.

In addition to the compelling attributes of the TLA7012 and TLA7016, customers using logic analyser products from competitors may find credits for trade-up an extra reason to change to Tektronix.

As well as the trade-up programmes, a field-installable upgrade kit is available for purchase that converts existing TLA721 and TLA7XM into TLA7016 mainframes giving existing customers access to the latest logic analyser technology while leveraging their existing investment.

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Speedy analysers handle latest fast serial buses

Two new logic analysers use Windows XP Professional and the latest Intel Pentium processors to provide analysis speed claimed to be twice as fast as the nearest competitor.