Evaluation Engineering - 8

PORTABLE INSTRUMENTATION

Sponsored by

Rohde & Schwarz' R&S
Cable Rider ZPH in use.

SPECIAL REPORT

SMALL,
BUT MIGHTY

Portable instrumentation vendors challenged to
pack robust features into small form factors
By Mike Hockett, Editor-in-Chief
Just as landline phones became accompanied by cordless and eventually pocket-sized versions, and large
desktop computers were accompanied
by laptops and then tablets, electronic
test instrumentation has also seen a

EVALUATION ENGINEERING OCTOBER 2019

portable revolution over the past couple
of decades. Benchtop solutions are still
most test engineers' bread-and-butter
when it comes to instrumentation used,
and they offer more features compared
to their portable counterparts. Still, the

natural progression to smaller form factors has resulted in portable instruments
that now contain nearly as many test
features as benchtop versions from just
a few years ago, or even have equal capabilities in some cases.
"Like most other devices we use in our
consumer lives, there is a greater demand
for longer battery life and lower weight,"
Rohde & Schwarz product manager
Rich Markley recently told Evaluation
Engineering. "Users do not want to lug
around a heavy instrument and then have
to charge or swap batteries to get a full
day of testing in. Another trend is users
wanting devices that are not only robust,
but also more modern. Bigger, higher-resolution displays that show more information at a glance. Touchscreens that make
inputting settings far easier than before.
However, they also do not want to give up
the ruggedness, and in some cases, the
ability to use the instrument with gloves.
So, finding that sweet spot is important
for Rohde & Schwarz."
While wanting ever-smaller form factors, customers want their portable instruments to cutting-edge when it comes
to features, along with having the same
user interface as benchtop alternatives.
It's quite the challenge for vendors of these
products to pack as much as possible into
so little space.
"Rohde & Schwarz always delivers technically advanced, high-quality products,
no matter whether they are designed to
perform as a dedicated benchtop or a
handheld solution," Markley explained.
"Creating an instrument with those high
standards in mind but in a form that has
to be compact and lightweight, rugged,
while including a big, user-friendly display-all while supported by a long battery life-was a clear goal for us. With our
instruments in the R&S Spectrum Rider
FPH spectrum analyzer family-the R&S
Cable Rider ZPH cable and antenna analyzer portfolio and the R&S Scope Rider
oscilloscope-we have achieved just that."
Markley elaborated that many end users are frustrated that portable instruments often have limited capabilities
compared to their benchtop counterparts.
A great example for this is the portable
oscilloscopes. Traditionally, portable

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