Tektronix TSO820 8 Series Sampling Oscilloscope

The Tektronix TSO820 8 Series Sampling Oscilloscope is a high-performance instrument for characterizing high-speed electrical and optical signals. Its disaggregated architecture separates acquisition hardware from analysis software, enabling flexible scaling and network deployment. The mainframe accommodates two user-swappable optical modules—the TSO8C17 and TSO8C18—each delivering optical bandwidth exceeding 30 GHz across wavelengths from 750 nm to 1650 nm, with calibrated support at 850 nm, 1310 nm, and 1550 nm. Fully integrated optical reference receivers (ORR) enable single-mode and multi-mode fiber conformance testing. Configurable bandwidth enhancement extends performance to 35 GHz in 0.0001 GHz increments. The system connects via Ethernet (1 Gigabit recommended) to a separate PC running TSOVu analysis software, which performs live and post-processing of PAM4 optical signals, eye diagrams, and optical measurements including TDECQ. Session files preserve waveform data, configurations, and measurements; waveform export supports CSV format. A sophisticated programmatic interface enables automation and high test throughput. The TSO820 addresses demanding applications in telecommunications, data storage, and semiconductor testing, including compliance verification for IEEE 802.3 standards such as 400GBASE-FR8 and 400GBASE-DR4, as well as high-speed 100 Gb Ethernet NRZ signals.

– Technical Specifications

• Optical Bandwidth: >30 GHz (modules); up to 35 GHz with user-configurable bandwidth enhancement
• Wavelength Range: 750–1650 nm (calibrated: 850 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm)
• Module Slots: 2 slots compatible with TSO8C17, TSO8C18, and future modules
• Fiber Input: 50 μm FC/PC (multi-mode); accommodates 9 μm single-mode fibers
• Bandwidth Enhancement (BWE): 0.0001 GHz increments on TSO8C17/TSO8C18
• Architecture: Disaggregated (acquisition hardware + separate PC analysis)
• Network Connectivity: Ethernet (1 Gigabit recommended)
• Analysis Platform: Windows 10/11, 64-bit
• Data Export: Session files (*.tss); CSV waveform format

– Key Features

• Integrated optical reference receivers (ORR) for single-mode and multi-mode conformance
• Variable extinction ratio (ER) correction for measurement accuracy and repeatability
• PAM4 optical signal analysis with eye diagrams and standard optical measurements
• User-swappable optical modules—no factory reconfiguration required
• High sensitivity and low-noise performance for precise signal characterization
• Measurement plug-in architecture supporting dynamic installation

– Typical Applications

• Telecommunications compliance testing (IEEE 802.3 standards)
• 400 Gb Ethernet (400GBASE-FR8, 400GBASE-DR4) validation
• High-speed NRZ and PAM4 optical signal analysis
• Data storage and semiconductor component characterization
• Single-mode and multi-mode fiber testing across multiple wavelengths

– Compatibility & Integration

• Network-based operation from any location via Ethernet
• Programmatic interface for automation and test synchronization
• Configuration and measurement recall via session files
• Measurement report generation capabilities