How long will the MSO8000 Capture a Signal

Posted on: December 16th, 2020 by Doug Lovell

To determine how long an oscilloscope will capture a signal when it is operated in single trigger mode is determined by taking the instrument’s memory depth and dividing it by the instrument’s sample rate.  The memory depth can be changed within the instrument’s acquire menu and then the sample rate can be changed by adjusting the horizontal scaling.  The table below lists the different memory depth and sample rate combinations that are possible on the MSO8000 series and lists the length of time the instrument is able of capturing with each possible combination.  

Note that the length of time listed is in seconds and this is for one channel. 

Memory Depth
Sample Rate1000000100000002500000050000000100000000125000000250000000500000000
200005050012502500500062501250025000
5000020200500100020002500500010000
100000101002505001000125025005000
20000055012525050062512502500
500000220501002002505001000
10000001102550100125250500
20000000.5512.5255062.5125250
50000000.22510202550100
100000000.112.551012.52550
200000000.040.412451020
500000000.020.20.5122.5510
1250000000.0080.080.20.40.8124
2500000000.0040.040.10.20.40.512
5000000000.0020.020.050.10.20.250.51
12500000000.00080.0080.020.040.080.10.20.4
25000000000.00040.0040.010.020.040.050.10.2
50000000000.00020.0020.0050.010.020.0250.050.1
100000000000.00010.0010.00250.0050.010.01250.0250.05