| Vertical (analog channels) |
| Input channels |
4 |
| Bandwidth (–3 dB) |
500 MHz |
| Rise time |
< 850 ps |
| Bandwidth limit |
20 MHz, selectable |
| Vertical resolution |
8, 10 or 12 bits FlexRes |
| Enhanced vertical resolution (software) |
Up to 4 extra bits beyond ADC resolution |
| Input connector |
BNC (f) |
| Input characteristics |
1 MΩ ±0.5% ∥ 12 pF ±1 pF, or 50 Ω ±2%. Single-ended. |
| Input coupling |
1 MΩ AC/DC or 50 Ω DC |
| Input sensitivity |
2 mV/div to 4 V/div (10 vertical divisions) |
| Input ranges (full scale) |
1 MΩ ranges: ±10 mV, ±20 mV, ±50 mV, ±100 mV, ±200 mV, ±500 mV, ±1 V, ±2 V, ±5 V, ±10V, ±20 V
50 Ω ranges: ±10 mV, then as above up to ±5 V |
| DC gain accuracy |
±(0.5% of signal + 1 LSB) |
| DC offset accuracy |
±(1% of full scale + 250 µV)
Offset accuracy can be improved by using the “zero offset” function in PicoScope 6. |
| LSB size (quantization step size) |
8 bits: < 0.4 % of input range
10 bits: < 0.1 % of input range
12 bits: < 0.025 % of input range |
| Analog offset range (vertical position adjustment) |
±1.25 V (10 mV to 1 V ranges)
±20 V (2 V to 20 V ranges) |
| Analog offset control accuracy |
±0.5% of offset setting, additional to DC accuracy above |
| Overvoltage protection |
1 MΩ ranges: ±100 V (DC + AC peak) up to 10 kHz
50 Ω ranges: 5.5 V RMS |
| Vertical (digital channels with optional TA369 8-channel MSO pods) |
| Input channels |
8 channels per MSO pod. Supports up to 2 pods / 16 channels. |
| Maximum detectable input frequency |
500 MHz (1 Gb/s) |
| Minimum detectable pulse width |
1 ns |
| Input connector (probe tip) |
Staggered signal and ground sockets for each channel, to accept 0.64 - 0.89 mm round or 0.64 mm square pin, 2.54 mm pitch |
| Input characteristics |
101 kΩ ±1% ∥ 3.5 pF ±0.5 pF |
| Threshold range and resolution |
±8 V in 5 mV steps |
| Threshold accuracy |
±(100 mV + 3% of threshold setting) |
| Threshold grouping |
PicoScope 6: Two independent threshold controls, one per 8-channel port
PicoSDK: Individual threshold for each channel |
| Threshold selection |
TTL, CMOS, ECL, PECL, user-defined |
| Maximum input voltage at probe tip |
±40 V up to 10 MHz, derated linearly to ±5 V at 500 MHz |
| Minimum input voltage swing (at 500 MHz) |
400 mV peak to peak |
| Hysteresis (at DC) |
PicoScope 6: Fixed hysteresis approx. 100 mV.
PicoSDK: selectable per port; approx. 50 mV, 100 mV, 200 mV or 400 mV |
| Minimum input slew rate |
No minimum slew rate requirement |
| Horizontal |
| Maximum sampling rate (real time, 8-bit mode) |
| Up to 2 total analog channels and MSO pods |
5 GS/s[3] |
| Up to 4 total analog channels and MSO pods |
2.5 GS/s[3] |
| Up to 8 total analog channels and MSO pods |
1.25 GS/s |
| Over 8 channels and digital ports |
N/A |
| Maximum sampling rate (real time, 10-bit mode) |
| 1 analog channel or digital port |
5 GS/s |
| Up to 2 total analog channels and MSO pods |
2.5 GS/s |
| Up to 4 total analog channels and MSO pods |
1.25 GS/s |
| Up to 8 total analog channels and MSO pods |
625 MS/s |
| Over 8 channels and digital ports |
N/A |
| Maximum sampling rate (real time, 12-bit mode) |
| Up to 2 analog channels plus any MSO pods |
1.25 GS/s[3] |
[1] No more than one channel from each of ABCD and EFGH[2] No more than one channel from each of AB, CD, EF and GH
[3] No more than one channel from each of AB and CD |
| Max. sampling rate, USB 3.0 streaming mode, PicoScope 6 (split between active channels, PC dependent) |
~20 MS/s |
| Max. sampling rate, USB 3.0 streaming mode, PicoSDK (split between active channels, PC dependent) |
~312 MS/a (8-bit mode)
~156 MS/a (10/12-bit modes) |
| Max. sampling rate to on-device buffer (continuous USB streaming of downsampled data, PicoSDK only, split between enabled channels) |
1.25 GS/s (8-bit mode) |
| 625 MS/s (10/12-bit modes) |
| Capture memory (shared between active channels) |
4 GS (2 GS at 10/12-bit) |
| Maximum single capture duration at maximum sampling rate (PicoScope 6) |
200 ms |
| Maximum single capture duration at maximum sampling rate (PicoSDK) |
800 ms (8-bit)
400 ms (10-bit)
1600 ms (12-bit) |
| Capture memory (continuous streaming) |
100 MS in PicoScope software. Buffering using full device memory when using PicoSDK, no limit on total duration of capture. |
| Waveform buffer (number of segments) |
PicoScope 6: 10 000
PicoSDK: 2 000 000 |
| Timebase ranges |
1 ns/div to 5000 s/div |
| Initial timebase accuracy |
±2 ppm |
| Timebase drift |
±1 ppm/year |
| ADC sampling |
Simultaneous sampling on all enabled analog and digital channels |
| External reference clock |
| Input characteristics |
Hi-Z, AC coupled (> 1 kΩ at 10 MHz) |
| Input frequency range |
10 MHz ±50 ppm |
| Input connector |
Rear-panel BNC, dedicated |
| Input level |
200 mV to 3.3 V peak to peak |
| Overvoltage protection |
±5 V peak max |
| Dynamic performance (typical) |
| Crosstalk |
±10 mV to ±1 V ranges: better than 1200:1 up to full bandwidth (equal voltage ranges)
±2 V to ±20 V ranges: better than 300:1 up to full bandwidth (equal voltage ranges) |
| Harmonic distortion, 8-bit mode |
-50 dB at 1 MHz full scale |
| Harmonic distortion, 10/12-bit mode |
-60 dB at 1 MHz full scale |
| SFDR, 8-bit mode |
> 50 dB on ±50 mV to ±20 V ranges |
| SFDR, 10/12-bit mode |
> 60 dB on ±50 mV to ±20 V ranges |
| Noise, 8-bit mode |
< 200 μV RMS on most sensitive range |
| Noise, 10/12-bit mode |
< 150 μV RMS on most sensitive range |
| Linearity, 8-bit mode |
< 2 LSB |
| Linearity, 10-bit mode |
< 4 LSB |
| Bandwidth flatness |
(+0.3 dB, –3 dB) from DC to full bandwidth |
| Low frequency flatness |
< ±3% (or ±0.3 dB) from DC to 1 MHz |
| Triggering |
| Source |
Any analog channel, AUX trigger, plus digital ports with optional TA369 MSO pods |
| Trigger modes |
None, auto, repeat, single, rapid (segmented memory) |
| Advanced trigger types (analog channels) |
Edge, window, pulse width, window pulse width, level dropout, window dropout, interval, runt, logic Logic allows arbitrary combinations of up to 4 analog channels or MSO ports |
| Trigger sensitivity (analog channels) |
Digital triggering provides 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth of scope |
| Advanced trigger types (digital inputs) |
With optional MSO pods: Edge, pulse width, dropout, interval, pattern, logic (mixed signal) |
| Maximum pre-trigger capture |
100% of capture size |
| Maximum post-trigger delay |
PicoScope 6: up to 0.8 s at fastest timebase
PicoSDK: > 1012 sample intervals, settable in 1 sample steps (delay range at fastest sample rate of > 200 s in 200 ps steps) |
| Rapid trigger mode rearm time |
700 ns max, 300 ns typical (single channel, 5 GS/s) |
| Maximum trigger rate |
PicoScope 6: 10 000 waveforms in 3 ms; PicoSDK: 1 million waveforms in 0.3 s |
| Trigger time-stamping |
Each waveform is timestamped with a resolution of one sample interval relative to the previous waveform. Time resets when any settings are changed. |
| Auxiliary trigger I/O |
| Connector type |
Rear-panel BNC |
| Trigger types (triggering scope) |
Edge, pulse width, dropout, interval, logic |
| Input bandwidth |
> 10 MHz |
| Input characteristics |
2.5 V CMOS Hi-Z input, DC coupled |
| Threshold range |
Fixed threshold, 1.25 V nominal |
| Hysteresis |
1 V max (VIH < 1.75V, VIL > 0.75V) |
| Overvoltage protection |
±20 V peak max |
| Function generator |
| Standard output signals |
Sine, square, triangle, DC voltage, ramp up, ramp down, sinc, Gaussian, half-sine |
| Standard signal frequency |
Sine: 100 μHz to 50 MHz; Square: 100 μHz to 50 MHz; Other waves: 100 μHz to 1 MHz |
| Output frequency accuracy |
Oscilloscope timebase accuracy ± output frequency resolution |
| Output frequency resolution |
0.002 ppm |
| Sweep modes |
Up, down, dual with selectable start/stop frequencies and increments |
| Sweep frequency range |
Sine / square waves: 0.075 Hz to 50 MHz
Other waves: 0.075 Hz to 1 MHz
Swept frequencies down to 100 μHz are possible using PicoSDK with some restrictions |
| Sweep frequency resolution |
In PicoScope 6 software: 0.075 Hz. Sweep frequency resolution down to 100 μHz is possible via PicoSDK with some restrictions |
| Triggering |
Free-run, or from 1 to 1 billion counted waveform cycles or frequency sweeps. Triggered from scope trigger or manually. |
| Gating |
Software controlled gating of waveform output |
| Pseudorandom output signals |
White noise, selectable amplitude and offset within output voltage range
Pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS), selectable high and low levels within output voltage range, selectable bit rate up to 50 Mb/s |
| Output voltage range |
±5 V into open circuit; ±2.5 V into 50 Ω |
| Output voltage adjustment |
Signal amplitude and offset adjustable in < 1 mV steps within overall range |
| DC accuracy |
±(0.5% of output voltage + 20 mV) |
| Amplitude flatness |
< 2.0 dB to 50 MHz (sine wave into 50 Ω)
< 0.5 dB to 50 MHz (square)
< 1.0 dB to 1 MHz (other waveforms) |
| Analog filters |
50 MHz selectable filter (5-pole, 30 dB/octave) |
| SFDR |
70 dB (10 kHz 1 V peak to peak sine into 50 Ω) |
| Output noise |
< 700 μV RMS (DC output, filter enabled, into 50 Ω) |
| Output resistance |
50 Ω ±3% |
| Connector type |
Rear-panel BNC |
| Overvoltage protection |
±20 V peak max |
| Arbitrary waveform generator |
| Update rate |
Variable from < 1 S/s to 200 MS/s with < 0.02 ppm resolution |
| Buffer size |
40 kS |
| Vertical resolution |
14 bits (output step size < 1 mV) |
| Bandwidth |
No filter: 100 MHz
Filtered: 50 MHz |
| Rise time (10% to 90%) |
No filter: 3.5 ns
Filtered: 6 ns |
| Sweep modes, triggering, frequency accuracy and resolution, voltage range and accuracy and output characteristics as for function generator. |
| Probe support |
| Active probe interface |
Active probe interface on four channels supporting A6000 Series active probes. Probe interface supplies power and controls the active probe. |
| Probe detection |
Automatic detection of P2036 (300 MHz) and P2056 (500 MHz) 10:1 oscilloscope probes |
| Probe compensation pin |
1 kHz, 2 V peak to peak square wave, 600 Ω |
| Probe compensation pin rise time |
< 50 ns |
| Spectrum analyzer |
| Frequency range |
DC to 500 MHz |
| Display modes |
Magnitude, average, peak hold |
| Y axis |
Logarithmic (dbV, dBu, dBm, arbitrary dB) or linear (volts) |
| X axis |
Linear or logarithmic |
| Windowing functions |
Rectangular, Gaussian, triangular, Blackman, Blackman−Harris, Hamming, Hann, flat-top |
| Number of FFT points |
Selectable from 128 to 1 million in powers of 2 |
| Math channels |
| Functions |
−x, x+y, x−y, x*y, x/y, x^y, sqrt, exp, ln, log, abs, norm, sign, sin, cos, tan, arcsin, arccos, arctan, sinh, cosh, tanh, delay, average, frequency, derivative, integral, min, max, peak, duty, highpass, lowpass, bandpass, bandstop, coupler |
| Operands |
A to H (input channels), T (time), reference waveforms, pi, 1D0 to 2D7 (digital channels), constants |
| Automatic measurements |
| Scope mode |
AC RMS, true RMS, frequency, cycle time, duty cycle, DC average, falling rate, rising rate, low pulse width, high pulse width, fall time, rise time, minimum, maximum, peak to peak |
| Spectrum mode |
Frequency at peak, amplitude at peak, average amplitude at peak, total power, THD %, THD dB, THD+N, SFDR, SINAD, SNR, IMD |
| Statistics |
Minimum, maximum, average, standard deviation |
| DeepMeasure™ |
| Parameters |
Cycle number, cycle time, frequency, low pulse width, high pulse width, duty cycle (high), duty cycle (low), rise time, fall time, undershoot, overshoot, max. voltage, min. voltage, voltage peak to peak, start time, end time |
| Serial decoding |
| Protocols |
1-Wire, ARINC 429, BroadR-Reach, CAN & CAN FD, DALI, DCC, DMX512, Ethernet 10Base-T and 100Base-TX, FlexRay, I²C, I²S, LIN, PS/2, Manchester, Modbus, SENT, SPI, UART (RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485), and USB 1.1 |
| Mask limit testing |
| Statistics |
Pass/fail, failure count, total count |
| Mask creation |
User-drawn, table entry, auto-generated from waveform or imported from file |
| Display |
| Interpolation |
Linear or sin(x)/x |
| Persistence modes |
Digital color, analog intensity, custom, fast |
| Languages |
Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish |
| Software |
| Windows software |
PicoScope for Windows
PicoSDK
For Windows 7, 8 and 10 |
| macOS software |
PicoScope for macOS (beta: feature list)
Software development kit (SDK)
OS versions: 64-bit only. See release notes. |
| Linux software |
PicoScope for Linux (beta: feature list)
Software development kit (SDK)
See Linux Software & Drivers for details of supported distributions. 64-bit only. |
| Example code |
Users writing their own apps can find example programs for all platforms on the Pico Technology (picotech) organization page on GitHub. |
| Languages |
Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish |
| General specifications |
| PC connectivity |
USB 3.0 SuperSpeed (USB 2.0 compatible) |
| PC connector type |
USB Type B |
| Power requirement |
12 V DC from supplied PS016 PSU. Up to 7 A including powered accessories. |
| Ground terminal |
Functional ground terminal accepting wire or 4 mm plug, rear-panel |
| Dimensions |
245 x 192 x 61.5 mm |
| Weight |
2.2 kg (scope only)
5.6 kg (in carry case with PSU and cables) |
| Temperature range |
Operating: 0 to 40 °C
For quoted accuracy after 20 minutes warm-up: 15 to 30 °C
Storage: –20 to +60 °C |
| Humidity range |
Operating: 5% to 80% RH non-condensing
Storage: 5% to 95% RH non-condensing |
| Altitude range |
Up to 2000 m |
| Pollution degree |
EN 61010 pollution degree 2: “only nonconductive pollution occurs except that occasionally a temporary conductivity caused by condensation is expected” |
| IP rating |
IP20 |
| Safety compliance |
Designed to EN 61010-1:2010 |
| EMC compliance |
Tested to EN 61326-1:2013 and FCC Part 15 Subpart B |
| Environmental compliance |
RoHS & WEEE compliance |
| PC requirements |
Processor, memory and disk space: as required by the operating system
Ports: USB 3.0 (recommended) or 2.0 (compatible) |
| Warranty |
5 years |
| MSO pod dimensions |
| MSO digital interface cable length |
500 mm (scope to pod) |
| MSO probe flying lead length |
225 mm (pod to probe tip) |
| MSO pod size |
75 x 55 x 18.2 mm |
| MSO probe size |
34.5 x 2.5 x 6.7 mm (including ground clip) |