Tektronix MSO44B 1 GHz — 4 Series B Mixed Signal Oscilloscope

In summary, the Tektronix MSO44B is a 4-channel Mixed Signal Oscilloscope from the 4 Series B platform, configured with 1 GHz of analog bandwidth on 4 FlexChannel® inputs. It delivers a 12-bit ADC (16-bit in High Res mode), 6.25 GS/s real-time sample rate on all channels, 31.25 Mpoints standard record length (62.5 Mpoints optional), and a 13.3-inch optically-bonded 1,920 × 1,080 HD capacitive multi-touch display. Each unit ships with one TPP1000 passive probe per channel. The 4 Series B is the second generation of the 4 Series, with a new processing platform that more than doubles responsiveness and significantly accelerates measurements and data transfers.

What is the Tektronix MSO44B 1 GHz used for?

The MSO44B 1 GHz is used to verify and debug embedded systems, validate power converters, and characterize complex multi-channel designs requiring simultaneous time-domain, frequency-domain, and digital logic visibility. Tektronix identifies the platform as ideal for embedded systems, three-phase power electronics, automotive electronics, power supply design, and DC-to-DC power converters. FlexChannel® lets each input act as analog, eight digital inputs (with TLP058), or simultaneous analog + spectrum — so the instrument is reconfigurable without buying additional hardware.

How does the 4 Series B compare to a traditional 8-bit oscilloscope?

The 4 Series B uses a 12-bit ADC providing 16× the vertical resolution of traditional 8-bit ADCs, with High Res mode extending to 16 bits at ≤125 MS/s. Lower-noise front-end amplifiers further improve fine-detail resolution — critical for engineers measuring millivolt-level switching ripple on high-voltage rails.

Quantitatively, the MSO44B 1 GHz delivers >500,000 wfms/s standard capture (FastFrame™ to >5,000,000 wfms/s), ≤ 7 ps RMS trigger jitter in sample/edge mode, 36 automated measurements, and an auxiliary trigger input rated ≤ 300 V_RMS. Standard 1 MΩ DC gain accuracy is ±1.0% (±2.0% at 1 mV/Div and 500 µV/Div). Time base accuracy is ±2.5 × 10⁻⁶ over any ≥ 1 ms interval. Operating range 0 °C to +50 °C; Measurement CAT II (300 V).

The 4 Series B aligns with standards engineers expect: LXI Core 2016 v1.5; 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet; USB 2.0 Host, USB 3.0 SuperSpeed, USB 2.0 Device (USBTMC); the TekVPI® probe interface; IVI-COM drivers for LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, .NET, Python, and C/C++/C#; and three-phase harmonics analysis per IEEE-519 via optional 4-3PHASE. Safety: UL 61010-1, 61010-2-030; CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010.1, 61010.2.030; EN 61010-1; IEC 61010-1, 61010-2-030; CE marked; RoHS compliant.

Why engineers choose the 4-channel 4 Series B

• Four FlexChannel® inputs configured as analog, digital, or analog + spectrum cover the majority of bench debug applications without paying for unused capacity.
• Each FlexChannel® reconfigures at any time — add a TLP058 and a single input becomes eight digital channels (up to 32 total).
• The 4-channel model carries the full 4 Series B feature set — 12-bit ADC, 6.25 GS/s, 31.25 Mpoints, Spectrum View, FastAcq™, Visual Trigger, 13.3-in HD touchscreen — at the lower platform entry point.
• Digital channels share the same 6.25 GS/s sample rate and up to 62.5 Mpoint record length as analog channels — eliminating the traditional MSO compromise.
• Spectrum View provides independent time- and frequency-domain acquisition paths behind each FlexChannel® — both domains can be optimized simultaneously without the constant tuning of math-based FFTs.

Common applications

• Embedded systems debug — time-correlated analog rails plus I²C, SPI, eSPI, I3C, UART, CAN, CAN FD, LIN, FlexRay, SENT, and other buses (with decode options)
• Switch-mode power supply design — ripple, switching loss, dv/dt, di/dt, SOA, in-rush current, harmonics (4-PWR-BAS / 4-PWR)
• Wide-bandgap (SiC / GaN) validation per JEDEC and IEC using the 4-WBG-DPT Double Pulse Test option, paired with IsoVu™ isolated probes
• Mixed-domain analysis — Spectrum View + RF vs. Time + Spectrograms + IQ capture for noise hunting, EMI investigation, intermittent RF events
• Compliance and production test — Mask/Limit testing (4-MTM), automated pass/fail, bus protocol triggering

Accessories Supplied

Product Core & Specifications

The 4 Series B pairs a 13.3-inch HD optically-bonded display — the largest in its class — with a streamlined front panel: color-coded LED light rings, dedicated Run/Stop, Single Sequence, Force Trigger, Default Setup, Autoset, and Quick-save buttons. Stacked display mode automatically gives each waveform its own graticule slice so every channel uses the full ADC range simultaneously, eliminating the visibility-vs-accuracy trade-off. Variable font sizing (12–20 point) scales the entire UI, and the capacitive touchscreen supports drag, pinch, expand, and swipe gestures.

Behind each FlexChannel®, Tektronix's patented Spectrum View architecture provides both a time-domain decimator and a frequency-domain digital downconverter (DDC). The two acquisition paths run independently, so time-domain settings (sample rate, record length, time/div) and frequency-domain settings (center frequency, span, RBW) can be optimized simultaneously — something math-based FFTs cannot do. Channel Power (CHP), ACPR, and Occupied Bandwidth (OBW) measurements are integrated as standard on each channel.

Model overview & vertical / horizontal system

Digital channels (TLP058) — vertical system

Trigger & acquisition

Measurements, math, Spectrum View

• Cursors: Waveform, V Bars, H Bars, V&H Bars, Polar (XY/XYZ plots)
• Automatic measurements: 36 standard — unlimited badges or collective results table; statistics across current acquisition and all acquisitions
• Amplitude / timing categories: Amplitude, Max, Min, Pk-Pk, Overshoot, Mean, RMS, AC RMS, Top, Base, Area · Period, Frequency, Unit Interval, Data Rate, Pulse Width, Skew, Delay, Rise/Fall Time, Phase, Slew Rate, Burst Width, Duty Cycle, Setup/Hold Time
• Math: arithmetic and advanced equation editor with filters and variables; Invert, Integrate, Differentiate, trig and log functions; user-loadable FIR filters
• FFT: Spectral Magnitude/Phase, Real/Imaginary; Hanning, Rectangular, Hamming, Blackman-Harris, Flattop2, Gaussian, Kaiser-Bessel, TekExp windows
• Spectrum View span / RBW: 18.6 Hz to 312.5 MHz span · 18.6 µHz to 15.625 MHz RBW (extends to 500 MHz / 25 MHz with 4-SV-BW-1)
• RF measurements: Channel Power (CHP), ACPR, Occupied Bandwidth (OBW) — standard on each channel
• RF vs. Time (4-SV-RFVT): Magnitude/Frequency/Phase traces; edge, pulse width, timeout RF triggers; Spectrograms; IQ capture

Optional protocol trigger, decode & search

I²C, SPI, eSPI, I3C, RS-232/422/485/UART, SPMI, SMBus, CAN, CAN FD, LIN, FlexRay, SENT, PSI5, CXPI, USB 2.0 (LS/FS/HS), eUSB2, Ethernet (10/100), EtherCAT, Audio (I²S/LJ/RJ/TDM), MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Spacewire, NRZ, Manchester, SVID, SDLC, 1-Wire, MDIO, and NFC. Parallel buses up to 48 bits wide are standard and may combine analog and digital channels.

Probe compatibility & included probes

The instrument uses the TekVPI® probe interface, supporting direct attachment of TekVPI active, differential, and current probes — including TIVP Series IsoVu™ isolated probes — without external power. Up to 80 W is available at the front-panel connectors. Each MSO44B ships with one passive probe per channel matched to model bandwidth: TPP0250 (200 MHz models), TPP0500B (350/500 MHz models), TPP1000 (1 GHz/1.5 GHz models).

Display, connectivity, power, physical & environmental

Optional functionality & software bundles

• 4-RL-1: Extend record length to 62.5 Mpoints/channel
• 4-AFG: Integrated 50 MHz Arbitrary/Function Generator — 13 waveforms, 250 MS/s, up to 128 k point arb memory
• 4-PWR-BAS / 4-PWR: Power measurements and advanced power analysis (FRA/Bode, PSRR, Magnetics with 4-PWR)
• 4-WBG-DPT: Wide-Bandgap SiC/GaN Double Pulse Test (JEDEC/IEC)
• 4-MTM: Mask & Limit testing
• 4-SV-RFVT / 4-SV-BW-1: Spectrum View RF vs. Time + Spectrograms + IQ capture / extend Spectrum View capture bandwidth to 500 MHz
• 4-VID: NTSC, PAL, SECAM video triggering
• Free with product registration: 4-digit Digital Voltmeter (DC, AC RMS, DC+AC RMS) and 8-digit Trigger Frequency Counter
• Software bundles: 4-STARTER, 4-PRO-SERIAL, 4-PRO-POWER, 4-PRO-AUTO, 4-PRO-MILGOV, 4-ULTIMATE — 1-year subscription or perpetual

This webpage was written by a human with an A.I. "Intern", which may contain errors. Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.