PicoScope 3000 Series

ANALOG AND MIXED-SIGNAL

USB OSCILLOSCOPES

60 to 250 MHz analog bandwidth

Up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling
2 or 4 analog channels
MSO models with 16 digital channels
Built-in function generator and AWG
Up to 512 MS buffer memory
Hardware-accelerated update rates
USB connected and powered

Automatic measurements
Mask limit testing
Advanced triggers
Serial decoding
Maths channels
Spectrum analyzer

Free technical support and updates

Free SDK and example programs
5 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED

www.picotech.com
Power, portability, and performance
The PicoScope 3000 Series USB‑powered PC oscilloscopes
are small, light, and portable, while offering a range of high-
performance specifications required by engineers in the lab or
on the move.
These oscilloscopes offer 2 or 4 analog channels, plus an
additional 16 digital channels on the MSO models. The flexible,
high‑resolution display options enable you to view and analyze
each signal in fine detail.
Supported by the advanced PicoScope 6 software, these devices
offer an ideal, cost-effective package for many applications,
including embedded systems design, research, test, education,
service, and repair.

High bandwidth and sampling rate

Despite a compact size and low cost, there is no compromise on performance. With input bandwidths up to 250 MHz, the PicoScope 3000
Series scopes can be used for a wide range of signal types from DC and baseband into RF and all the way up to VHF.
This is matched by a real-time sampling rate of up to 1 GS/s, allowing detailed display of high frequencies. For repetitive signals, the
maximum effective sampling rate can be boosted to 10 GS/s by using Equivalent Time Sampling (ETS) mode. With a sampling rate of four
or five times the input bandwidth, PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes are well equipped to capture high-frequency signal detail.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Deep memory
The PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes are also market leaders in offering a huge buffer memory, allowing them to sustain their high
sampling rates across long timebases. For example, using a 512 MS buffer the PicoScope 3207B can sample at 1 GS/s all the way down to
50 ms/div (a 500 ms total capture time).

x1 x256

x130 x2 00
000 0 000

Powerful tools are included to allow you to manage and examine all
of this data. As well as functions such as mask limit testing and color
persistence mode, the PicoScope 6 software enables you to zoom
into your waveform by several million times. A zoom overview
window allows you to easily control the size and location of the
zoom area.

Up to 10 000 waveforms can be stored in the segmented waveform

buffer. The Buffer Overview window then allows you to rewind and
review the history of your waveform. No longer will you struggle to
catch an infrequent glitch.

PicoScope 3000 Series

PicoScope 3000 Series Oscilloscopes - overview
PicoScope 2 analog 4 analog 16 digital Buffer Sampling
USB 2.0 USB 3.0 AWG* Bandwidth
model channels channels channels memory rate (max.)

3204A • • 60 MHz 4 MS 500 MS/s

3204B • • • 60 MHz 8 MS 500 MS/s
3205A • • 100 MHz 16 MS 500 MS/s
3205B • • • 100 MHz 32 MS 500 MS/s
3206A • • 200 MHz 64 MS 500 MS/s
3206B • • • 200 MHz 128 MS 500 MS/s
3207A • • 250 MHz 256 MS 1 GS/s
3207B • • • 250 MHz 512 MS 1 GS/s

3404A • • 60 MHz 4 MS 1 GS/s

3404B • • • 60 MHz 8 MS 1 GS/s
3405A • • 100 MHz 16 MS 1 GS/s
3405B • • • 100 MHz 32 MS 1 GS/s
3406A • • 200 MHz 64 MS 1 GS/s
3406B • • • 200 MHz 128 MS 1 GS/s

3204D MSO • • • • 60 MHz 128 MS 1 GS/s

3205D MSO • • • • 100 MHz 256 MS 1 GS/s
3206D MSO • • • • 200 MHz 512 MS 1 GS/s
3404D MSO • • • • 60 MHz 128 MS 1 GS/s
3405D MSO • • • • 100 MHz 256 MS 1 GS/s
3406D MSO • • • • 200 MHz 512 MS 1 GS/s

* Arbitrary waveform generator

PicoScope 3204, PicoScope 3204,

3205, 3206 3205 and
and 3207 A and B 3206 D MSO

PicoScope 3404, PicoScope 3404,

3405 and 3406 3405 and
A and B 3406 D MSO

PicoScope 3000 Series

Triggers
Since 1991 Pico Technology have been pioneering the use of digital triggering and precision hysteresis using the actual digitized data.
Traditionally digital oscilloscopes have used an analog trigger architecture based on comparators. This can cause time and amplitude errors
that cannot always be calibrated out. The use of comparators often limits the trigger sensitivity at high bandwidths and can also create a
long trigger rearm delay.

PicoScopes broke new ground back in 1991 by being the first to use digital triggering. This method reduces errors and allows our
oscilloscopes to trigger on the smallest signals, even at the full bandwidth. Trigger levels and hysteresis can be set with high precision and
resolution.
Digital triggering also reduces rearm delay and this, combined with the segmented memory, allows the triggering and capture of events that
happen in rapid sequence. At the fastest timebase you can use rapid triggering to collect 10,000 waveforms in under 20 milliseconds. The
mask limit testing function can then scan through these waveforms to highlight any failed waveforms for viewing in the waveform buffer.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Function generator
All of the PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes include a built-in function generator with sine, square, triangle, and DC modes as standard.
As well as basic controls to set level, offset and frequency, more advanced controls allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies and
trigger the generator from a specified event. Combined with the spectrum peak hold option, this becomes a powerful tool for testing
amplifier and filter responses. The 3000 Series B and D models also include the capability to generate white noise and pseudo-random
binary sequence (PRBS) outputs.

Arbitrary waveform generator

Selected PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes include a built-in arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). With a majority of oscilloscopes, you
would need to purchase separate hardware to gain this functionality, taking up extra space on your workbench.

The AWG can be used to emulate missing sensor signals during product development, or to stress test a design over the full intended
operating range.
Waveforms can be created or modified using the AWG editor, imported from oscilloscope traces, or loaded from a spreadsheet; as the
hardware is integrated, these tasks can be performed instantly and easily.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Hardware acceleration and data aggregation
For a majority of setups, the data collection speed of the PicoScope will be faster than the USB transfer rate, and so information has to be
stored in high-speed memory on the device. However, even deep-memory devices are required to have fast waveform update rates. For
instance, the PicoScope 3207B can sample at 1 GS/s for timebases as long as 20 ms/div, capturing 200 million samples per waveform, and
still update several times per second.

To ensure these fast waveform update rates, and to prevent a bottleneck of raw data, hardware acceleration is required
to avoid the PC’s CPU having to process every sample. Hardware acceleration enables the oscilloscope to intelligently
compress the raw ADC data stored in its memory before transferring it to the PC.

Traditionally, the oscilloscope would perform a simple decimation and only transfer every nth sample, resulting in the vast majority of data
being lost (up to 99.999%) and a lack of high-frequency information.

PicoScope deep-memory oscilloscopes perform data aggregation instead. Dedicated logic divides the memory into blocks, and transfers
the minimum and maximum values of each block to the PC, preserving the high-frequency data. For example, a waveform with 100 million
samples may be divided into 1 000 blocks of 100 000 samples each, with only the minimum and maximum values for each block being
transferred back to the PC. If a zoom is applied to the waveform, the oscilloscope will again divide the selected area into blocks and transfer
the minimum and maximum data, so that fine detail is rapidly viewable.

In the example above, both waveforms show the same signal, but using different types of hardware acceleration. The top waveform has
used the aggregation possible with a PicoScope, and as a result the high-frequency spikes are preserved. The bottom waveform has used
traditional decimation, and shows a loss of signal data.

In parallel with the data aggregation, other data such as average

values are also returned to speed up measurements and to reduce
the number of occasions where we do have to use the PC’s
processor.

When the trace length is set to be shorter than the scope’s

memory, the PicoScope will automatically configure the memory
as a circular buffer, recording recent waveforms for review. For
example, if 1 million samples are captured, up to 500 waveforms
will be stored in oscilloscope memory. Tools such as mask limit
testing can then be used to scan through each waveform to identify anomalies.

Furthermore, as the hardware acceleration is performed with an FPGA, improvements to your scope’s hardware can be made through
regular, free software upgrades: no physical updates to your PicoScope are required.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Spectrum analyzer
With the click of a button you can display a spectrum plot of selected channels up to the full bandwidth of the oscilloscope. A full range of
settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bands, window types, and display modes (instantaneous, average, or peak-hold).

You can display multiple spectrum views with different channel selections and zoom factors, and place these alongside time-domain views of
the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements can be added to the display, including THD, THD+N,
SNR, SINAD and IMD. You can even use the AWG and spectrum mode together to perform swept scalar network analysis.

Signal integrity
Most oscilloscopes are built down to a price. PicoScopes are built
up to a specification.

Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk

and harmonic distortion. Years of oscilloscope design experience
can be seen in improved bandwidth flatness and low distortion.
We are proud of the dynamic performance of our products, and
publish their specifications in detail.

The result is simple: when you probe a circuit, you can trust in
the waveform you see on the screen.

PicoScope 3000 Series

USB connectivity High-end features as standard
The USB connection not only allows high-speed data acquisition and Buying a PicoScope is not like making a purchase from other
transfer, but also makes printing, copying, saving, and emailing your oscilloscope companies, where optional extras considerably increase
data from the field quick and easy. USB powering removes the need the price. With our scopes, high-end features such as resolution
to carry around a bulky external power supply, making the kit even enhancement, mask limit testing, serial decoding, advanced
more portable for the engineer on the move. triggering, automatic measurements, math channels, XY mode,
segmented memory, and a signal generator are all included in the
Selected PicoScope 3000 Series price.
oscilloscopes now also feature a
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection, To protect your investment, both the PC software and firmware
making the already-optimized inside the scope can be updated. Pico Technology have a long
process of data transfer even faster. history of providing new features for free through software
downloads. We deliver on our promises of future enhancements
Further benefits of a USB 3.0 connection include faster saving of year after year, unlike many other companies in the field. Users
waveforms and faster gap-free continuous streaming of up to of our products reward us by becoming lifelong customers and
125 MS/s when using the SDK, while the scope is still backward- frequently recommending us to their colleagues.
compatible with older USB systems.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Advanced display
The PicoScope software dedicates almost all of the display area to the waveform. This ensures that the maximum amount of data is seen at
once. Even with a laptop the viewing area is much bigger and of a higher resolution than with a typical benchtop scope.

With a large display area available, you can also create a customizable split-screen display, and view multiple channels or different variants of
the same signal at the same time. As the example below shows, the software can even show both oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer traces
at once. Additionally, each waveform shown works with individual zoom, pan, and filter settings for ultimate flexibility.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Color persistence mode

Color persistence mode allows you to see old and new data superimposed, with new data in a brighter color or shade. This makes it easy to
see glitches and dropouts and to estimate their relative frequency. Choose between analog persistence and digital color, or create custom
display modes.

Math channels
With PicoScope 6 you can perform a variety of mathematical
calculations on your input signals and reference waveforms.

Use the built-in list for simple functions such as addition and inversion,
or open the equation editor and create complex functions involving
trigonometry, exponentials, logarithms, statistics, integrals and
derivatives.

Custom probe settings

Custom probes allow you to correct for gain, attenuation, offsets and nonlinearities of probes and transducers, or convert to different
measurement units such as current, power or temperature. Definitions for standard Pico-supplied probes are built in, but you can also
create your own using linear scaling or even an interpolated data table, and save them for later use.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Serial decoding
The deep-memory PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes include serial decoding capability across all channels, and are ideal for this job as
they can capture thousands of frames of uninterrupted data.

The decoded data can be displayed in the format of your choice: In graph, In table, or both at once. Serial protocols
• In GRAPH format shows the decoded data beneath the waveform on a common time axis, with error frames UART/RS-232
marked in red. These frames can be zoomed to investigate noise or distortion. SPI
I2C
• In TABLE format shows a list of the decoded frames, including the data and all flags and identifiers. You can set
I2S
up filtering conditions to display only the frames you are interested in, search for frames with specified properties,
CAN
or define a start pattern to signal when the program should list the data.
LIN
PicoScope can also import a spreadsheet to decode the numerical data into user-defined text strings. FlexRay

IN G
RAPH

IN TA
BLE

High-speed data acquisition and digitizer

The supplied drivers and software development kit (SDK) allows you to write your own software or interface to popular third-party
software packages such as National Instruments LabVIEW and MathWorks MATLAB.

The driver supports data streaming, a mode which captures gap-free continuous data over USB direct to the PC’s RAM or hard disk at
rates of up to 125 MS/s and capture sizes limited only by available PC storage. Sampling rates in streaming mode are subject to PC
specifications and application loading.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Mask limit testing
Mask limit testing allows you to compare live signals against known good signals, and is designed for production and debugging
environments. Simply capture a known good signal, draw a mask around it, and then attach the system under test. PicoScope will capture
any intermittent glitches and can show a failure count and other statistics in the Measurements window.

The numerical and graphical mask editors can be used separately or in combination, allowing you to enter accurate mask specifications,
modify existing masks, and import and export masks as files.

Automatic measurements
PicoScope allows you to display a table of calculated
measurements for troubleshooting and analysis.

Using the built-in measurement statistics you can see the average,
standard deviation, maximum and minimum of each measurement
as well as the live value. You can add as many measurements as
you need on each view. For information on the measurements
available in scope and spectrum modes, see Automatic
Measurements in the Specifications table.

PicoScope 3000 Series

PicoScope 6 software with ANALOG signals
PicoScope: The display can be as simple or as detailed Waveform replay tools: PicoScope automatically records up to 10,000
as you need. Begin with a single view of one channel, of the most recent waveforms. You can quickly scan through to look for
and then expand the display to include up to four live intermittent events, or use the Buffer Navigator to search visually.
channels, plus math channels and reference waveforms.
Trigger marker: Drag the marker to adjust trigger level and
Oscilloscope controls: Controls such as voltage range, channel pre-trigger time.
enable, timebase and memory depth are placed on the toolbar for
quick access, leaving the main display area clear for waveforms. Zoom and pan tools: PicoScope makes it easy to zoom into
large waveforms. Either use the zoom-in, zoom-out and pan
tools, or click and drag in the Zoom Overview window for
Tools > Serial decoding: Decode multiple serial data signals fast navigation.
and display the data alongside the physical signal or as a
detailed table. Signal generator: Generates standard signals or arbitrary
Tools > Reference channels: Store waveforms in memory waveforms. Includes frequency sweep mode.
or on disk and display them alongside live inputs. Ideal for
diagnostics and production testing. Rulers: Each axis has two rulers that can be
Tools > Masks: Automatically generate a test mask from a dragged across the screen to make quick
waveform or draw one by hand. PicoScope highlights any measurements of amplitude, time
parts of the waveform that fall outside the mask and shows and frequency.
error statistics.
Views: PicoScope is carefully designed to
make the best use of the display area. The
Channel options: Set axis offset and scaling, waveform view is much bigger and of a higher
DC offset, zero offset, resolution enhancement, resolution than with a typical benchtop scope.
custom probes, and filtering here. You can add new scope and spectrum views
with automatic or custom layouts.
Auto setup button:
Configures the timebase Ruler legend: Absolute
and voltage ranges for and differential ruler
stable display of signals. measurements are listed here.

Movable axes: The vertical axes Trigger toolbar: Automatic measurements: Display Zoom overview: Spectrum view:
can be dragged up and down. Quick access to calculated measurements for trouble- Click and drag for View FFT data
This feature is particularly useful main controls, with shooting and analysis. You can add as quick navigation in alongside scope
when one waveform is obscuring advanced triggers in many measurements as you need on each zoomed views. view or in dedicated
another. There’s also an Auto a pop-up window. view. Each measurement includes statistical spectrum mode.
Arrange Axes command. parameters showing its variability.

PicoScope 3000 Series

Mixed-signal oscilloscopes

The PicoScope 3000 Series Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes (MSOs)

include 16 digital inputs alongside the standard 2 or 4 analog
channels, so that you can view your digital and analog signals
simultaneously.

These models include the same features as other PicoScope 3000

Series oscilloscopes, such as SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectivity,
deep memory, and a built-in arbitrary waveform generator, as
well as functions such as mask limit testing, math and reference
channels, advanced triggers, serial decoding, and automatic
measurements.

Digital triggers
The PicoScope 3000 Series MSO models offer a comprehensive set of advanced triggers covering both the analog and digital inputs, to help
you capture the data you need.

As well as simple edge triggers, a selection of time-based triggers are

available for both digital and analog inputs.
• The pulse-width trigger allows you to trigger on either “high”
or “low” pulses, which are shorter or longer than a specified
time, or which fall inside or outside a range of times.
• The interval trigger measures the time between subsequent
rising or falling edges. This allows you to trigger if a clock signal
falls outside of an acceptable frequency range, for example.
• The dropout trigger fires when a signal stops toggling for a
defined interval of time, functioning rather like a watchdog
timer.

Logic triggering allows you to trigger the scope when any or all of the 16 digital inputs match a user-defined pattern. You can specify
a condition for each channel individually, or set up a pattern for all channels at once using a hexadecimal or binary value. You can also
combine logic triggering with an edge trigger on any one of the digital or analog inputs, to trigger on data values in a clocked parallel bus for
example.

Serial decoding for digital signals

The PicoScope 3000 Series MSO models bring extra power to the
serial decoding features outlined in Serial decoding for analog
signals. You can decode serial data on all analog and digital inputs
simultaneously, giving you up to 20 channels of data with any
combination of serial protocols!

PicoScope 3000 Series

Digital channels
To view the digital signals in the PicoScope 6 software, simply click the digital channels button. Channels can be added to the view by
dragging and dropping, and can then be reordered, grouped, and renamed.

ANA
LOG

DIG I
TAL

The 16 digital inputs can be displayed individually or in arbitrary groups labelled

with binary, decimal or hexadecimal values. A separate logic threshold from
–5 V to +5 V can be defined for each 8-bit input port. The digital trigger can be
activated by any bit pattern combined with an optional transition on any input.
Advanced logic triggers can be set on either the analog or the digital input
channels, or both.

PicoScope 3000 Series

PicoScope 6 software with DIGITAL signals
The flexible nature of the PicoScope 6 software interface allows for
high-resolution viewing of up to 16 digital and 4 analog signals at once.
You can use the whole of your PC’s display to view the waveforms,
ensuring you never miss a detail again.

Digital channels button: Set up and Split-screen display: PicoScope can display both
display digital inputs. View analog and analog and digital signals at the same time. The
digital signals on the same timebase. split-screen display can be adjusted to give more
or less space to the analog waveforms.
Oscilloscope controls: PicoScope’s
full analog-domain controls, including
Analog waveforms: View analog
zoom, filtering, and signal generator,
waveforms time-correlated with
are all available in MSO digital signal
digital inputs.
mode.

Show by level: Group bits Display format: Display selected

into fields and then display bits individually or as groups in
as an analog level. numerical or ASCII format.

PicoScope 3000 Series

APPLICATION EXAMPLES

TESTING ON THE MOVE

The PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes slip easily into a laptop bag, so you don’t need to carry bulky benchtop instruments to perform
on-site troubleshooting. Being powered via a USB connection, your PicoScope can simply be plugged into your laptop and used for
measuring wherever you are. The PC connection also makes saving and sharing your data quick and easy: in a matter of seconds you can
save your scope traces to review later, or attach the complete data file to an email for analysis by other engineers away from the test site.
As PicoScope 6 is free to download by anyone, colleagues can use the full capabilities of the software, such as serial decoding and spectrum
analysis, without needing an oscilloscope themselves.

EMBEDDED DEBUGGING
You can test and debug a complete signal-processing chain using a PicoScope 3406D MSO.

Use the built-in arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) to inject single-shot or continuous analog signals. The response of your system can
then be observed in both the analog domain, using the four 200 MHz input channels, and in the digital domain with 16 digital inputs at up to
100 MHz. Follow the analog signal through the system while simultaneously using the built-in serial decoding function to view the output of
an I2C or SPI ADC.

If your system drives a DAC in response to the analog input changing, you can decode the I2C or SPI communication to that as well as its
analog output. This can all be performed simultaneously using the 16 digital and 4 analog channels.

Using the deep 512 MS buffer memory, you can capture the complete response of your system without sacrificing the sampling rate, and
zoom in on the captured data to find glitches and other points of interest.

PicoScope 3000 Series

detailed specifications for 2-channel models
PicoScope 3204 A/B PicoScope 3205 A/B PicoScope 3206 A/B PicoScope 3207 A/B
VERTICAL
Input channels 2 channels, BNC single-ended
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz 250 MHz
Rise time (calculated) 5.8 ns 3.5 ns 1.75 ns 1.4 ns
Vertical resolution 8 bits
Input ranges ±50 mV to ±20 V full scale in 9 ranges
Input sensitivity 10 mV/div to 4 V/div (10 vertical divisions)
Input coupling AC / DC
Input characteristics 1 MΩ ±1%, in parallel with 13 pF ±1 pF
DC accuracy ±3% of full scale
±250 mV (50 mV to 200 mV ranges)
Analog offset range
±2.5 V (500 mV to 2 V ranges)
(vertical position adjust)
±20 V (5 V to 20 V ranges)
Offset adjust accuracy ±1% of offset setting, additional to DC accuracy
Overvoltage protection ±100 V (DC + AC peak)

HORIZONTAL
Maximum sampling rate 500 MS/s (1 channel in use) 1 GS/s (1 ch. in use)
(real-time) 250 MS/s (2 channels in use) 500 MS/s (2 chs. in use)
Maximum equivalent-time
sampling rate 2.5 GS/s 5 GS/s 10 GS/s 10 GS/s
(repetitive signals)
10 MS/s in PicoScope
software
Maximum sampling rate 10 MS/s in PicoScope software
125 MS/s when using
(streaming) > 10 MS/s using the supplied SDK (PC-dependent)
supplied SDK
(PC-dependent)
Timebase ranges
2 ns/div to 5000 s/div 1 ns/div to 5000 s/div 500 ps/div to 5000 s/div 500 ps/div to 5000 s/div
(real‑time)
4 MS 8 MS 16 MS 32 MS 64 MS 128 MS 256 MS 512 MS
Buffer memory
(A model) (B model) (A model) (B model) (A model) (B model) (A model) (B model)
Buffer memory 100 MS in PicoScope software
(streaming) Up to available PC memory when using supplied SDK
Maximum buffer segments 10 000
Timebase accuracy ±50 ppm ±2 ppm ±1 ppm/year
Sample jitter < 5 ps RMS typical < 3 ps RMS typical

TRIGGERING
Trigger modes None, auto, repeat, single, rapid (segmented memory)
Advanced trigger types Edge, window, pulse width, window pulse width, dropout, window dropout, interval, logic, runt pulse
Trigger sensitivity Digital triggering provides 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth of scope
Trigger types (ETS mode) Rising edge, falling edge
Trigger sensitivity
10 mV p-p typical (at full bandwidth)
(ETS mode)
Maximum pre-trigger
Up to 100% of capture size
capture
Maximum post-trigger
Up to 4 billion samples (selectable in 1 sample steps)
delay
Trigger rearm time < 2 μs on fastest timebase < 1 μs on fastest timebase
Up to 10 000 waveforms
Maximum trigger rate Up to 10 000 waveforms in a 20 ms burst
in a 10 ms burst

PicoScope 3000 Series

 PicoScope 3204 A/B PicoScope 3205 A/B PicoScope 3206 A/B PicoScope 3207 A/B
EXTERNAL TRIGGER INPUT
Trigger types Edge, pulse width, dropout, interval, logic, delayed
Input characteristics Front panel BNC, 1 MΩ ±1% in parallel with 13 pF ±1 pF
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz 250 MHz
Threshold range ±5 V, DC coupled
Overvoltage protection ±100 V (DC + AC peak)

FUNCTION GENERATOR
All models: sine, square, triangle, DC voltage
Standard output signals
B models only: ramp, sinc, Gaussian, half-sine, white noise, PRBS
Standard signal frequency DC to 1 MHz
Sweep modes Up, down, dual with selectable start / stop frequencies and increments
Output frequency accuracy As oscilloscope
Output frequency
< 10 mHz < 25 mHz
resolution
Output voltage range ±2 V
Output voltage
Signal amplitude and offset adjustable in approximate 1 mV steps within overall ±2 V range
adjustments
Amplitude flatness < 0.5 dB to 1 MHz typical
DC accuracy ±1% of full scale
SFDR > 60 dB, 10 kHz full scale sine wave
Output characteristics Front panel BNC, 600 Ω output impedance
Overvoltage protection ±20 V

ARBITRARY WAVEFORM GENERATOR (B models only)

Update rate 20 MS/s 100 MS/s
Buffer size 8 kS 8 kS 16 kS 32 kS
Resolution 12 bits (output step size approximately 1 mV)
Bandwidth > 1 MHz
Rise time (10% to 90%) < 120 ns

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
USB 3.0
PC connectivity USB 2.0
(USB 2.0 compatible)
Dimensions 200 mm x 140 mm x 40 mm (including connectors)
Weight < 0.5 kg
Operating: 0 °C to 50 °C (20 °C to 30 °C for stated accuracy)
Temperature range
Storage: –20 °C to 60 °C
Operating: 5% RH to 80% RH non-condensing
Humidity range
Storage: 5% RH to 95% RH non-condensing

PicoScope 3000 Series

detailed specifications for 4-channel models
PicoScope 3404 A/B PicoScope 3405 A/B PicoScope 3406 A/B
VERTICAL
Input channels 4 channels, BNC single-ended
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz
Rise time (calculated) 5.8 ns 3.5 ns 1.75 ns
Vertical resolution 8 bits
Input ranges ±50 mV to ±20 V full scale in 9 ranges
Input sensitivity 10 mV/div to 4 V/div (10 vertical divisions)
Input coupling AC / DC
Input characteristics 1 MΩ ±1%, in parallel with 14 pF ±1 pF
DC accuracy ±3% of full scale
±250 mV (50 mV, 100 mV, 200 mV ranges)
Analog offset range
±2.5 V (500 mV, 1 V, 2 V ranges)
(vertical position adjust)
±20 V (5 V, 10 V, 20 V ranges)
Offset adjust accuracy ±1% of offset setting, additional to DC accuracy
Overvoltage protection ±100 V (DC + AC Peak)

HORIZONTAL
1 GS/s (1 channel in use)
Maximum sampling rate
500 MS/s (2 channels in use)
(real-time)
250 MS/s (3 or 4 channels in use)
Maximum equivalent-time
sampling rate 2.5 GS/s 5 GS/s 10 GS/s
(repetitive signals)
Maximum sampling rate 10 MS/s in PicoScope software
(streaming) > 10 MS/s using the supplied SDK (PC-dependent)
Timebase ranges (real‑time) 2 ns/div to 5000 s/div 1 ns/div to 5000 s/div 500 ps/div to 5000 s/div
4 MS 8 MS 16 MS 32 MS 64 MS 128 MS
Buffer memory
(A model) (B model) (A model) (B model) (A model) (B model)
Buffer memory (streaming) 100 MS in PicoScope software. Up to available PC memory when using supplied SDK.
Maximum buffer segments 10 000
Timebase accuracy ±50 ppm
Sample jitter < 3 ps RMS typical

TRIGGERING
Trigger modes Auto, none, rapid, repeat, single (segmented memory)
Advanced trigger types Edge, window, pulse width, window pulse width, dropout, window dropout, interval, logic, runt pulse
Trigger sensitivity Digital triggering provides 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth of scope
Trigger types (ETS mode) Rising edge, falling edge
Trigger sensitivity (ETS mode) 10 mV p-p typical (at full bandwidth)
Maximum pre-trigger capture Up to 100% of capture size
Maximum post-trigger delay Up to 4 billion samples (selectable in 1 sample steps)
Trigger re-arm time < 2 µs on fastest timebase
Maximum trigger rate Up to 10 000 waveforms in a 20 ms burst

PicoScope 3000 Series

 PicoScope 3404 A/B PicoScope 3405 A/B PicoScope 3406 A/B
EXTERNAL TRIGGER INPUT
Trigger types Edge, pulse width, dropout, interval, logic, delayed
Input characteristics Front panel BNC, 1 MΩ ±1% in parallel with 14 pF ±1 pF
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz
Threshold range ±5 V, DC coupled
Overvoltage protection ±100 V (DC + AC peak)

FUNCTION GENERATOR
All models: sine, square, triangle, DC voltage.
Standard output signals
B models only: ramp, sinc, Gaussian, half-sine, white noise, PRBS
Standard signal frequency DC to 1 MHz
Sweep modes Up, down, dual with selectable start / stop frequencies and increments
Output frequency accuracy As oscilloscope
Output frequency resolution < 10 mHz
Output voltage range ±2 V
Output voltage adjustments Signal amplitude and offset adjustable in approximate 1 mV steps within overall ±2 V range
Amplitude flatness < 0.5 dB to 1 MHz typical
DC accuracy ±1% of full scale
SFDR > 60 dB, 10 kHz full scale sine wave
Output characteristics Front panel BNC, 600 Ω output impedance
Overvoltage protection ±20 V

ARBITRARY WAVEFORM GENERATOR (B models only)

Update rate 20 MS/s
Buffer size 8 kS 8 kS 16 kS
Resolution 12 bits (output step size approximately 1 mV)
Bandwidth > 1 MHz
Rise time (10% to 90%) < 120 ns

PROBE COMPENSATION OUTPUT

Impedance 600 Ω
Frequency 1 kHz square wave
Level 2 V pk-pk

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
PC connectivity USB 2.0
Dimensions 190 mm x 170 mm x 40 mm (including connectors)
Weight < 0.5 kg
Operating: 0 °C to 40 °C (20 °C to 30 °C for stated accuracy)
Temperature range
Storage: –20 °C to 60 °C
Operating: 5% RH to 80% RH non-condensing
Humidity range
Storage: 5% RH to 95% RH non-condensing

PicoScope 3000 Series

 PicoScope 3000 Series Oscilloscopes - 2-channel model detailed specifications

detailed specifications for MSO models

PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope
3204D MSO 3205D MSO 3206D MSO 3404D MSO 3405D MSO 3406D MSO
VERTICAL (analog)
Input channels 2 channels, BNC single-ended 4 channels, BNC single-ended
Bandwidth (–3 dB) 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz 60 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz
Rise time (calculated) 5.8 ns 3.5 ns 1.75 ns 5.8 ns 3.5 ns 1.75 ns
Vertical resolution 8 bits
Input ranges ±20 mV to ±20 V full scale in 10 ranges
Input sensitivity 4 mV/div to 4 V/div in 10 vertical divisions
Input coupling AC / DC
Input characteristics 1 MΩ ±1%, in parallel with 14 pF ±1 pF
DC accuracy ±3% of full scale ±200 µV
±250 mV (20 mV, 50 mV, 100 mV, 200 mV ranges)
Analog offset range
±2.5 V (500 mV, 1 V, 2 V ranges)
(vertical position adjust) ±20 V (5 V, 10 V, 20 V ranges)
Offset adjust accuracy ±1% of offset setting, additional to DC accuracy
Overvoltage protection ±100 V (DC + AC peak)
VERTICAL (digital)
Input channels 16 channels (2 ports of 8 channels each)
Input connectors 2.54 mm pitch, 10 x 2 way connector
Maximum input frequency 100 MHz
Minimum detectable pulse width 5 ns
Input impedance (with TA136 cable) 200 kΩ ±2% ∥ 8 pF ±2 pF
Digital threshold range ±5 V
Input dynamic range ±20 V
Overvoltage protection ±50 V
Threshold grouping Two independent threshold controls: Port 0 (D0 to D7), Port 1 (D8 to D15)
Threshold selection TTL, CMOS, ECL, PECL, user-defined
Threshold accuracy ±100 mV
Minimum input voltage swing 500 mV pk-pk
Channel-to-channel skew < 2 ns typical
Minimum input slew rate 10 V/µs
HORIZONTAL
1 GS/s (1 analog channel in use)
500 MS/s (Up to 2 analog channels or digital ports* in use)
Maximum sampling rate (real-time) 250 MS/s (Up to 4 analog channels or digital ports* in use)
125 MS/s (5 or more analog channels or digital ports* in use)
*A digital port contains 8 digital channels
Maximum equivalent-time
2.5 GS/s 5 GS/s 10 GS/s 2.5 GS/s 5 GS/s 10 GS/s
sampling rate (repetitive signals)*
Maximum sampling rate 10 MS/s in PicoScope software
(streaming) 125 MS/s when using the supplied SDK (PC-dependent)
2 ns/div to 1 ns/div to 500 ps/div to 2 ns/div to 1 ns/div to 500 ps/div to
Timebase ranges
5000 s/div 5000 s/div 5000 s/div 5000 s/div 5000 s/div 5000 s/div
Buffer memory 128 MS 256 MS 512 MS 128 MS 256 MS 512 MS
Buffer memory (streaming) 100 MS in PicoScope software. Up to available PC memory when using supplied SDK.
Maximum buffer segments 10 000
Timebase accuracy ±50 ppm ±2 ppm ±2 ppm ±50 ppm ±2 ppm ±2 ppm
Sample jitter < 3 ps RMS typical

PicoScope 3000 Series

 PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope
3204D MSO 3205D MSO 3206D MSO 3404D MSO 3405D MSO 3406D MSO
TRIGGERING (all)
Trigger modes Auto, none, rapid, repeat, single (segmented memory)
Advanced trigger types* Edge, window, pulse width, window pulse width, dropout, window dropout, interval, logic, runt pulse
Trigger sensitivity* Digital triggering provides 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth of scope
Trigger types (ETS mode)* Rising edge, falling edge
Trigger sensitivity (ETS mode)* 10 mV p-p typical (at full bandwidth)
Maximum pre-trigger capture Up to 100% of capture size
Maximum post-trigger delay Up to 4 billion samples (selectable in 1 sample steps)
Trigger re-arm time < 2 µs on fastest timebase
Maximum trigger rate Up to 10 000 waveforms in a 20 ms burst

TRIGGERING (digital)
Source D0 to D15
Trigger types Combined pattern and edge
Advanced triggers Edge, pulse width, dropout, interval, logic

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Standard output signals Sine, square, triangle, DC voltage, ramp, sinc, Gaussian, half-sine, white noise, PRBS
Standard signal frequency DC to 1 MHz
Sweep modes Up, down, dual with selectable start / stop frequencies and increments
Output frequency accuracy As oscilloscope
Output frequency resolution < 10 mHz
Output voltage range ±2 V
Output voltage adjustment Signal amplitude and offset adjustable in approximate 1 mV steps within overall ±2 V range
Amplitude flatness < 0.5 dB to 1 MHz typical
DC accuracy ±1% of full scale
SFDR > 60 dB 10 kHz full scale sine wave
Output characteristics Rear panel BNC, 600 Ω output impedance
Overvoltage protection ±20 V

ARBITRARY WAVEFORM GENERATOR (AWG)

Update rate 20 MS/s
Buffer size 32 kS
Resolution 12 bits (output step size approximately 1 mV)
Bandwidth > 1 MHz
Rise time (10% to 90%) < 120 ns

PROBE COMPENSATION OUTPUT

Impedance 600 Ω
Frequency 1 kHz
Level 2 V pk-pk

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
PC connectivity USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Dimensions 190 mm x 170 mm x 40 mm (including connectors)
Weight < 0.5 kg
Operating: 0 °C to 40 °C (15 °C to 30 °C for stated accuracy).
Temperature range
Storage: –20 °C to 60 °C
Operating: 5% RH to 80% RH non-condensing.
Humidity range
Storage: 5% RH to 95% RH non-condensing
* analog channels only

PicoScope 3000 Series

common specifications for all models
ALL MODELS
DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE
Crosstalk Better than 400:1 up to full bandwidth (equal voltage ranges)
Harmonic distortion < –50 dB at 100 kHz full scale input
SFDR 52 dB typical
Noise 180 µV RMS (on most sensitive range)
Bandwidth flatness +0.3 dB, –3 dB from DC to full bandwidth

SPECTRUM ANALYZER
Frequency range DC to maximum bandwidth of scope
Display modes Magnitude, average, peak hold
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
−x, x+y, x−y, x*y, x/y, x^y, sqrt, exp, ln, log, abs, norm, sign, sin, cos, tan, arcsin,
Functions
arccos, arctan, sinh, cosh, tanh, freq, derivative, integral, min, max, average, peak, delay
Operands All input channels, reference waveforms, time, constants, π

AUTOMATIC MEASUREMENTS (analog channels only)

AC RMS, true RMS, cycle time, DC average, duty cycle, falling rate, fall time, frequency,
Oscilloscope mode
high pulse width, low pulse width, maximum, minimum, peak to peak, rise time, rising rate.
Frequency at peak, amplitude at peak, average amplitude at peak,
Spectrum mode
total power, THD %, THD dB, THD+N, SFDR, SINAD, SNR, IMD
Statistics Minimum, maximum, average, standard deviation

SERIAL DECODING
Protocols CAN, FlexRay, I²C, I²S, LIN, SPI, UART/RS-232

MASK LIMIT TESTING

Statistics Pass/fail, failure count, total count

DISPLAY
Interpolation Linear or sin(x)/x
Persistence modes Digital color, analog intensity, custom, none

GENERAL
USB 2.0 models: powered from single USB port
Power requirements USB 3.0 models: powered from single USB 3.0 port or two USB 2.0 ports (dual cable supplied)
For 4-channel models, use a USB port supplying at least 1200 mA, or use the AC adaptor supplied.
Safety approvals Designed to EN 61010-1:2010
EMC approvals Tested to EN 61326-1:2006 and FCC Part 15 Subpart B
Environmental approvals RoHS and WEEE compliant
PicoScope 6 (for Windows and Linux). Windows and Linux SDK.
Software included
Example programs (C, Visual Basic, Excel VBA, LabVIEW).
PC requirements Microsoft Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (not Windows RT)
Output file formats bmp, csv, gif, jpg, mat, pdf, png, psdata, pssettings, txt
Output functions copy to clipboard, print
Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French,
Languages German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese,
Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish

PicoScope 3000 Series

connections

2-channel models

Ch A AWG and
function generator USB port
Ch B
External trigger

4-channel models

Ch A AWG and Earth terminal

function generator USB port
Ch B
External trigger DC power
Ch C input
Ch D Probe compensation pin

2-channel MSO models

Ch A USB port

Ch B 16 digital inputs AWG and Earth terminal

function generator

4-channel MSO models

Ch A Earth DC
Ch B terminal power
16 digital inputs input
Ch C AWG and USB port
Ch D function generator

PicoScope 3000 Series

Kit contents
All PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscope kits contain:
• PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscope
• Switchable x1/x10 probes (2 or 4) in carrying case
• Quick Start Guide
• Software and reference CD
• USB cable(s)*
• AC power adaptor (selected models)*
* see table below

MSO kit CONTENTS

PicoScope 3000D MSO kits also contain:
• TA136 digital cable
• TA139 pack of 10 test clips (x2)

probes
All PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes are supplied with two or four probes (quantity to match the number of analog channels), which are
chosen to obtain the specified system bandwidth. See the table below for more information on which probes are included and how to order
additional probes.

Order code Description Models supplied with

MI007 60 MHz x1/x10, 1.2 m probe 3204, 3404 A, B and D MSO
TA132 150 MHz x1/x10, 1.2 m probe 3205, 3405 A, B and D MSO
TA131 250 MHz x1/x10, 1.2 m probe 3206, 3406 A, B and D MSO
TA160 250 MHz x1/x10, 1.2 m probe 3207 A and B

USB CONNECTIVITY and power

All PicoScope 3000 Series oscilloscopes are supplied with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 cable to match
the scope’s specifications. To ensure that the USB 3.0 model scopes work effectively with older
USB systems, and to supply extra power for all scopes with 4 analog channels, a double-headed
USB 2.0 cable is also provided with selected models. This cable enables you to use a second USB USB 2.0 cable
port for additional power.

For PicoScope 3000 models with 4 analog channels, the supplied AC power adaptor may be
required if the USB port(s) provide less than 1200 mA.

USB 2.0
Analog Scope USB USB 2.0 USB 3.0 AC power
double-headed USB 2.0 cable, double-headed
channels connection cable cable adaptor
cable
2.0 •
2
3.0 • •
2.0 • • •
4
3.0 • • •
USB 3.0 cable

PicoScope 3000 Series

Ordering information
Order code Model number Description
PP708 PicoScope 3204A 60 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope
PP709 PicoScope 3204B 60 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope with AWG*
PP710 PicoScope 3205A 100 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope
PP711 PicoScope 3205B 100 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope with AWG
PP712 PicoScope 3206A 200 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope
PP713 PicoScope 3206B 200 MHz 2-channel oscilloscope with AWG
PP875 PicoScope 3207A 250 MHz 2-channel USB 3.0 oscilloscope
PP876 PicoScope 3207B 250 MHz 2-channel USB 3.0 oscilloscope with AWG
PP846 PicoScope 3404A 60 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope
PP847 PicoScope 3404B 60 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope with AWG
PP848 PicoScope 3405A 100 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope
PP849 PicoScope 3405B 100 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope with AWG
PP850 PicoScope 3406A 200 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope
PP851 PicoScope 3406B 200 MHz 4-channel oscilloscope with AWG
PP931 PicoScope 3204D MSO 60 MHz 2-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG
PP932 PicoScope 3205D MSO 100 MHz 2-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG
PP933 PicoScope 3206D MSO 200 MHz 2-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG
PP934 PicoScope 3404D MSO 60 MHz 4-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG
PP935 PicoScope 3405D MSO 100 MHz 4-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG
PP936 PicoScope 3406D MSO 200 MHz 4-channel mixed-signal oscilloscope with AWG

* Arbitrary waveform generator

More oscilloscopes in the PicoScope range...

PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope PicoScope
2000 Series 3000 Series 4000 Series 5000 Series 6000 Series 9000 Series
Ultra-compact General-purpose High precision Flexible resolution High performance Sampling scopes
and handheld and MSO models 12 to 16 bits 8 to 16 bits Up to 1 GHz and TDR to 20 GHz

UK headquarters: US headquarters:
Pico Technology Pico Technology
James House 320 N Glenwood Blvd
Colmworth Business Park Tyler
St. Neots Texas 75702
Cambridgeshire United States
PE19 8YP
United Kingdom
 +44 (0) 1480 396 395  +1 800 591 2796
 +44 (0) 1480 396 296  +1 620 272 0981
 [email protected]  [email protected]

Errors and omissions excepted. Windows is a registered trade mark of Microsoft

Corporation in the United States and other countries. Pico Technology and
PicoScope are internationally registered trade marks of Pico Technology Ltd.
MM054.en-3. Copyright © 2014 Pico Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. www.picotech.com