Tektronix MSO46B 350 MHz — 4 Series B Mixed Signal Oscilloscope

In summary, the Tektronix MSO46B is a 6-channel Mixed Signal Oscilloscope from the 4 Series B platform, configured with 350 MHz of analog bandwidth on 6 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 TPP0500B 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 MSO46B 350 MHz used for?

The MSO46B 350 MHz 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 MSO46B 350 MHz 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. Optional three-phase electrical analysis (4-3PHASE) is available on the 6-channel model only. 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 6-channel 4 Series B

• Six analog channels eliminate the trade-off when debugging multi-rail power converters, three-phase systems, or automotive electronics needing more than four simultaneous analog viewpoints.
• Six-channel models are priced only ~20% above four-channel models — far less than the 50% one might expect — making the extra channels an unusually high-leverage investment.
• Optional 4-3PHASE three-phase electrical analysis is exclusive to the 6-channel model: IEEE-519 harmonics, phasor diagrams, switching ripple, DC-to-three-phase-AC converter measurements (EV/inverter design).
• 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 MSO46B 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
• 4-3PHASE: Three-phase electrical analysis — IEEE-519 harmonics, phasor diagrams, switching ripple (6-channel only)
• 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.