MSO8504HD | Lab-Grade 5 GHz 4-Channel 12-Bit Mixed Signal Oscilloscope

Overview

The MSO8504HD is a lab-grade 5 GHz 4-channel mixed signal oscilloscope on UNI-T’s MSO8000HD platform, with a native 12-bit ADC, 20 GSa/s real-time sample rate in half-channel mode, 1 Gpts of standard memory per channel at half channels and a typical rise time of ≤ 88 ps. Sustained waveform capture is ≥ 1,000,000 wfms/s, and the 12-bit resolution is native across the acquisition rather than an averaging mode you switch on and pay for in update rate.

It is the MSO8000HD built for power electronics. A 1 MΩ input path specified to 500 MHz takes current probes and high-voltage differential probes directly, and the optional MSO8000HD-PWR suite automates switching loss, safe operating area, efficiency, ripple, inrush and control-loop measurements — for switching supplies, converters, inverters, motor drives and new-energy systems. The 50 Ω inputs keep 5 GHz on hand for the gate drive, the controller and the digital side of the design.

It is the entry point to the MSO8000HD series, below the MSO8604HD at 6 GHz and the MSO8804HD at 8 GHz. It ships with four UT-P07 500 MHz high-impedance passive probes alongside the 50 Ω kit; the 8 GHz MSO8804HD is 50 Ω only.

Key Features

Detailed Features

Power Analysis (Optional)

Power conversion is judged by what happens at the switching edge and over thousands of cycles. The MSO8504HD measures both: the 1 MΩ path takes the current and high-voltage probes, 12-bit resolution reads millivolt ripple on a rail measured in tens of volts, and deep memory holds long start-up, shut-down and fault sequences at full sample rate.

MSO8000HD-PWR adds automated power quality, inrush current, harmonics, switching loss, safe operating area (SOA), start-up and shut-down timing, modulation, ripple, efficiency, R_ds(on), power-supply sequencing, slew rate (dv/dt and di/dt), control-loop response (Bode plot) and power-supply rejection ratio (PSRR). Results are repeatable from one run to the next, which is what turns a bench check into a validation record.

Power probes connect on the 1 MΩ path: UT-P4150 (12 MHz, 150 A), UT-P4030D (100 MHz, 30 A) and UT-P4500 (5 MHz, 500 A) DC/AC current probes; UT-P30 through UT-P36 high-voltage differential probes; and the UT-PR2060 power rail probe (1 GHz, ±60 V offset) for ripple on low-voltage rails.

Two Input Paths, One Instrument

The 50 Ω path carries the full 5 GHz for high-speed serial and signal-integrity work. The 1 MΩ path is specified to 500 MHz and takes the four UT-P07 high-impedance passive probes in the box, plus current and high-voltage differential probes, which is the right tool for touching a live board without loading it. Vertical scale runs 1 mV/div to 1 V/div at 50 Ω and 1 mV/div to 10 V/div at 1 MΩ.

Native 12-Bit Across the Acquisition

The MSO8000HD platform digitises at 12 bits natively — sixteen times the vertical resolution of an 8-bit oscilloscope at the same gain setting. That matters most when a small signal has to be read in the presence of a large one: ripple on a rail, a low-level reflection riding on a clean edge, the difference between two nominally identical lanes. ERes mode extends resolution to a maximum of 16 bits where bandwidth can be traded for it.

Channel Architecture — 5 GHz Half-Channel, 4 GHz Full-Channel

The instrument interleaves its digitisers. Half the channels gives the full 5 GHz and 20 GSa/s; all four analog channels gives 4 GHz and 10 GSa/s, with memory following the same split at 1 Gpts/CH and 500 Mpts/CH. Plan the channel count around the fastest edge in the measurement.

Deep Memory and Sequence Mode

Standard memory is 500 Mpts per channel in full-channel mode and 1 Gpts per channel on half channels; MSO8000HD-MD2G doubles both. Sequence mode segments that memory across many triggers, storing event after event with minimal dead time between them, which is where the ≥ 1,000,000 wfms/s figure earns its keep.

Integrated Instruments

Spectrum analyzer, 4-digit digital voltmeter, 8-digit frequency counter and the limit-template testing kit are standard. MSO8000HD-AWG adds a dual-channel function and arbitrary waveform generator, 60 MHz maximum output at 625 MSa/s with modulation and sweep. MSO8000HD-LA enables the 16 digital channels.

Measurement and Automation

74 automated parameter measurements with quick-measure, statistical analysis, histograms, trend charts and trace analysis. SCPI over LAN and USB for rack automation, plus a built-in WebServer that puts the display and controls in a browser.

Applications

Power Electronics and Power-Supply Design

Switching-supply, converter and motor-drive work needs switching loss per transition, safe operating area under transients, R_ds(on), efficiency and control-loop stability, measured the same way every time. MSO8000HD-PWR (Optional) automates those measurements on the 1 MΩ path, with a current probe on the switch and a high-voltage differential probe across it.

New Energy Systems

Inverters, chargers and battery power stages combine high voltage, high current and fast edges. The UT-P4000 current probes (up to 500 A), the UT-P30 to UT-P36 high-voltage differential probes and 12-bit resolution let the power stage and its controller be characterized with one instrument.

Mixed 50 Ω and High-Impedance Benches

A serial link on 50 Ω in the morning and a power rail or control line on 1 MΩ in the afternoon, without swapping instruments or re-cabling the bench.

High-Speed Digital Design

5 GHz and ≤ 88 ps rise time cover PCIe Gen2, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet and embedded SerDes bring-up, with optional jitter, eye-diagram and PAM-N analysis.

In the Box

• 2 × UT-P6150 low-impedance passive probe, 1.5 GHz
• 4 × UT-P07 high-impedance passive probe, 500 MHz
• 2 × UT-JLC12 SMA cable, 12 GHz, 1 m
• 2 × UT-KJG12 SMA adapter, BNC to SMA, 50 Ω
• 2 × UT-L45 BNC-to-BNC straight-through cable, 1 m
• 1 × UT-D30 USB 3.0 data cable, 1 m
• 1 × region-specific power cord
• 1 × front-panel protective cover
• Calibration certificate

Instrument dimensions 445 × 311.3 × 189.7 mm (W × H × D), under 12.5 kg. Ships one unit per carton.

Recommended Add-Ons

• MSO8000HD-LA — enables the 16 digital channels.
• MSO8000HD-MD2G — doubles memory to 1 Gpts/CH full-channel and 2 Gpts/CH half-channel.
• MSO8000HD-BND — all optional serial protocol decoders in one license.
• MSO8000HD-PWR — advanced power analysis.
• UT-P4150, UT-P4030D, UT-P4500 — DC/AC current probes, 5 MHz to 100 MHz, 30 A to 500 A.
• UT-P30 to UT-P36 — high-voltage differential probes.
• UT-PR2060 — 1 GHz power rail probe, ±60 V offset.
• MSO8000HD-JITTER — jitter analysis and eye diagram.
• MSO8000HD-AWG — dual-channel 60 MHz function and arbitrary waveform generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the MSO8504HD differ from the MSO8604HD and MSO8804HD?

Bandwidth and application focus. All three share the chassis, the 20 GSa/s digitiser, 12-bit resolution, memory options, display and analysis stack. The MSO8504HD (5 GHz) and MSO8604HD (6 GHz) carry a 1 MΩ input path specified to 500 MHz, ship with four UT-P07 high-impedance probes and support MSO8000HD-PWR power analysis. The MSO8804HD (8 GHz) is 50 Ω only and built for signal-integrity work.

Which probes do I need for power analysis?

A current probe on the 1 MΩ path — UT-P4150, UT-P4030D or UT-P4500 — and a high-voltage differential probe such as UT-P30 for floating voltage measurements. Add the UT-PR2060 power rail probe for ripple on low-voltage rails.

Do I get 5 GHz on all four channels?

No. 5 GHz and 20 GSa/s are available in half-channel mode. With all four analog channels active the instrument runs at 4 GHz and 10 GSa/s — the standard interleaving trade across the series.

What is the rise time?

≤ 88 ps, at 50 Ω.

Are the 16 digital channels included?

The 16-channel logic analyzer hardware is built into every MSO8000HD. It is enabled by the MSO8000HD-LA license (Optional) and connected through the UT-M15 16-channel logic probe (Optional), which UNI-T lists as a separate item.