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Product Shopper New Product Info

(1)
LINK INSTRUMENTS
100-MHz scope/spectrum analyzer connects to Windows using USB

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "As a self-calibrating 2-channel PC-hosted oscilloscope, Link Instruments's DSO-8502 runs in conjunction with virtually any Windows PC, including Windows XP and Win 2000. The company also indicates initial testing with Windows Vista has proved successful."

Readers Say:

"Great!"
"This looks like a useful piece of gear, but I have some concern about battery life and about how the accuracy/precision of this instrument might potentially degrade due to low battery charge."
"Great concept on value for the function and excellent execution on the details."
"First USB-based analyzer I've seen with a tolerable sample rate and bandwidth."
"Nice piece of equipment. Would like to see more channels and SPI/I2C adapters for the software."
"I look forward to using this product."
"I would like to see a higher sampling rate. Nice compromise for a standalone scope."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES
USB 2.0 test coverage done with one-button operation

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "Grappling with complex and tedious USB tests? Help's on the way. Test-and-measurement house Agilent Technologies Inc. is adding USB 2.0 (Universal Serial Bus) receiver test functions to its 81134A 3.35-GHz pulse pattern generator, essentially automating USB test with single-button operation. The package is priced at less than $10,000."

Readers Say:

"Ideal. A higher-end version of the Measurement Computing product (previously rated). Would love to see Linux compatibility. Would also like to see a demo unit! :)"
"Very interesting capabilities, especially the memory depth. I'd like a version with more bits in the ADC."
"For the price, I think they could integrate the PC into an all-in-one package. That would get my attention."
"The most complete and accurate total solution - easy to use and with superior signal integrity, gives developers more design margin, which is the biggest deal these days."

USABILITY RANK: 3

(3)
MEASUREMENT COMPUTING
Measurement Computing expands low-cost USB datalogger family

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Measurement Computing Corp. has added to its USB product line three battery-powered specialty loggers -- one for voltage [USB-503], one for current [USB-504] and a 'lite' temperature logger [USB-501-LT] that resembles a USB flash drive."

Readers Say:

"Capacity and time rate too low, but a great start."
"No mention of compatible host operating system."

USABILITY RANK: 2

(4)
ANRITSU
Handheld analyzer displays eye patterns

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "Anritsu Company's latest MP1026A Bit Master portable, priced starting at less than $20,000, extends the company's existing nomadic test equipment line, which is growing by leaps and bounds."

Readers Say:

"Wonderful product."
"How can I use this for testing HDMI cables?"
"This is an interesting piece of equipment for which we have no current application."

USABILITY RANK: 5

(5)
STMICROELECTRONICS
STMicroelectronics introduces factory-calibrated serial real-time clocks

eeProductCenter's Emily Gleason says: "STMicroelectronics announced its serial real-time clock (RTC) chips with factory calibration [the M41T83 and M41T93], enabling manufacturers using the parts to simplify assembly and test operations by omitting the time-consuming calibration step."

Readers Say:

"Very nice, an integrated package."
"Nice for applications that need high-precision calendar time; price point lets me standardize on this part for lower-end applications as well."

USABILITY RANK: 4

(6)
AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES
Scope/analyzer gets phase-noise, spectral jitter analysis

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "With new modules and software for high-speed serial device characterization and signal integrity measurement, test-and-measurement vendor Agilent Technologies, Inc. is rolling out phase-noise application software and options for the company's popular DCA-J digital communications analyzer/scope."

Readers Say:

"A bit pricey, but VERY accurate."

USABILITY RANK: 8

(7)
BERKELEY VARITRONICS SYSTEMS
Ultra Mobile PC hosts RF spectrum analyzer

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "This product [BumbleBee-TABLET] marks a departure for Berkeley Varitronics Systems (BVS). In the past, its BumbleBee RF instrumentation line was based on a piggyback PDA configuration, usually using a Windows CE-based Compaq iPAQ PocketPC personal digital assistant."

Readers Say:

"Its OK."
"Good specs for hobby market, but possibly too high a price point. Developers who can afford $500-$1000 for a tool will probably have higher expectations."
"Lots of nice features, but you cannot really be all things to all people all of the time. I would sooner spend a bit more and have a separate scope and the $400 Intronix Logic Analyzer"
"Nice."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(8)
PRECISIONWAVE
Vector signal generator attacks EVM price barrier

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "As a follow-on to its p1411A signal generator, test equipment maker precisionWave Corp. rolls out a low-cost but high-performance RF vector signal generator [the p1511A]."

Readers Say:

"Excellent specs and price point for go/no-go testing."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(9)
AR RF/MICROWAVE INSTRUMENTATION
1.2-GHz signal generator is a re-seller's hot ticket

eeProductCenter's Alex Mendelsohn says: "AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation's latest Model SG1200 signal generator looked to me to be exactly like Aeroflex's previously introduced IFR 2023A/B and 2025 line of RF generators."

Readers Say:

"The USB capability is a good feature."
"Excellent price point, functionality. Emulation of older DMMs makes it an easier upgrade."
"Great price/performance. I'm especially interested in the resistance resolution and easy 4-wire measurement concept."

USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
LITEPOINT
One-box WiMAX tester speeds manufacturing

eeProductCenter's Emily Gleason says: "LitePoint announced the IQmax-100 one-box manufacturing test solution. With integrated vector signal analyzer (VSA) and vector signal generator (VSG) resources, one-box IQmax Test Systems offer test results for critical fixed and mobile WiMAX physical layer parameters including all bandwidth and data rate options for product development, volume manufacturing and quality assurance (QA)."

USABILITY RANK: 10

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com