WAVETEK 9500 Scope Calibration System

Wavetek's 9500 Oscilloscope Calibration System is truly unique. No other commercially available instrument makes calibrating oscilloscopes so easy.

The 9500 System's workload coverage includes analog and digital-storage oscilloscopes with bandwidths up to 1.1 GHz. Its unique active head technology delivers all the necessary calibration waveforms directly to the oscilloscope via a single output connector, and its ability to drive as many as five separate Active Heads eliminates the need for connection lead changes during the calibration process -- even on multi-channel oscilloscopes.

It's the complete Scope Calibration workstation in a box with everything you need to starting calibrating immediately, including automated software. And there's an option and configuration to suit every Scope Calibration need and budget. Choose from 400 MHz, single channel, to 1.1 GHz and beyond, multi-channel - with full upgradeability between configurations.

Features

The 9500 System's unique active head technology injects precision sine, square, fast-edge and timing marker waveforms directly into the oscilloscope's input connectors.

Using proprietary hybrid-circuit construction techniques and state-of-the-art semiconductor devices, these active heads generate 3-volt 150-picosecond rise-time edges just millimetres behind their BNC output connector -- eliminating signal aberrations caused by long interconnect paths. Accurate 50 ohm matching further enhances waveform integrity.

With the Active Head directly connected to the oscilloscope's input you will no longer have the problem of deciding whether aberrations in the trace are due to the oscilloscope or the connecting leads.

The very same Active Heads also deliver precision dc levels up to +/-200V, amplitude calibration squarewaves up to 200Vpk-pk from 10 Hz to 100 kHz (positive from ground, negative from ground or bipolar), levelled sinewaves from 0.1 Hz to 1.1 GHz and three different styles of high accuracy timing marker from 0.5 ns to 50 s.

A single Active Head is therefore capable of delivering all the waveforms required to calibrate input amplifier gain, offset, pulse response, bandwidth and flatness, LF and HF triggering and timebase accuracy.

The 9500 System's Active Heads come in two variants. The 9510 Active Head delivers 500 picosecond edges and the 9520 generates 150 and 500 picosecond edges - allowing you to test the pulse response of latest generation and next generation high-bandwidth scopes to their performance limits.

Both Active Heads are ruggedized for hard and continuous usage, coming with a three year warranty as standard. And, as you'd expect, all Active Heads work with all Model 9500 Workstation configurations.

It's all backed up by a simple calibration support strategy. When the 9500 system requires calibration, all you have to do is detach Active Heads and send them to one of our Service Centers (or a suitable in-house cal facility) - the Model 9500 mainframe can be easily calibrated with a long-scale DMM, allowing it to remain in operation using previously calibrated Active Heads.

Multi-channel Versatility

To cope with multi-channel oscilloscopes, the 9500 System can accept as many as five separate Heads, each of which can be activated in turn. Any one of the other Heads can be programmed to generate the necessary trigger signals.

The 9500 System's ability to route any calibration waveform to any oscilloscope input can be used to automate calibration procedures to the point where no operator intervention is required.

Forget the days when scope calibration systems meant a bulky rack of equipment full of RF signal generators, tunnel diode pulsers and signal multiplexers.

Model 9500 Scope Calibration Workstations provide you with a true 'single-box' solution measuring just 133 x 427 x 440 mm (5.24 x 16.8 x 17.3 inches). Combined with the system's lightweight portability (12kg / 27lbs), it's the ideal instrument for on-site scope calibration.

What's more, all the software you'll ever need to fully automate the calibration process is included in the package - software that's based on Wavetek's powerful Portocal-II Automated Calibration and Inventory Management System. ISO9000 compliant documentation of your scope calibration operations has never been easier.

If necessary, you can even semi-automate scope calibration without using a PC by utilizing the 9500 System's built-in PCMCIA based procedure mode.


Full Upgradeability

Model 9500 Scope Calibration Workstations are available in a range of configurations and options to suit every requirement and budget.

Choose from 400 MHz, 600 MHz or 1.1 GHz (with future extension to higher bandwidth) versions, and select between single channel + trigger and 5-channel versions. Then simply add the number and type of Active Heads you require.

The best news of all is that all configurations are fully upgradeable - you can build your system how and when you want, never having to worry about discarding equipment along the way.


Unsurpassed Accuracy

In addition to being the most versatile oscilloscope calibrator on the market, the 9500 System is also the most accurate. Its dc amplitude accuracy is +/-0.025% (around ten times better than other oscilloscope calibrators on the market) and squarewave amplitude accuracy is +/- 0.05%. Basic timing accuracy is +/-10 ppm, but this can be improved to +/-0.25 ppm by adding a high stability crystal reference option -- allowing you to calibrate the latest generation of high-accuracy digital-storage oscilloscopes. Alternatively you can frequency lock the 9500 to an external source such as an off-air frequency standard.


Flexible Remote Programming

Everything you can do via the 9500's front panel or procedure cards can also be driven via its IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface. This remote control interface conforms fully to the SCPI specification and even has a Tektronix 5000-Series emulation mode.

Specifications

Based on Wavetek's ground-breaking Portocal-II software system, our scope calibration software provides everything you need to completely automate the calibration process, including the production of ISO9000 documentation, the tracking of an entire instrument inventory, and the generation of new calibration procedures.

• Simple to use, intuitive WindowsTM interface
• Quickly installed from CD-ROM
• Network ready - allowing database and procedure sharing
• Organizes and tracks instrument inventory
• Transfer of data to and from statistical process control packages
• Custom procedure generation (no programming knowledge required)
• Fully customizable certificates and reports
• Comprehensive procedure library available via this Web Site (www.wavetek.com)

As you'd expect from the Leader in Scope Calibration, we're also the Leader in providing our customers with Scope Calibration Procedures.

Firstly, with any Model 9500 Scope Calibration Workstation, you'll receive a comprehensive free library of scope calibration procedures.

Secondly, you can buy into our cost-effective Option 10 Scheme, which entitles you to all new procedures generated by Wavetek over the next calendar year - that's at least 150 new procedures every 12 months in return for an affordable one-off payment! In addition, you'll also receive any software enhancements and updates that are issued during the period.

Thirdly, there's our new Fast Track procedure development scheme, which allows us to tailor procedures to your own individual requirements - at extremely competitive rates.

And remember, all procedures are written by skilled calibration engineers and are fully tested to the relevant manufacturer's instrument specifications - so you can be sure they're optimized for speed, accuracy and simplicity.