Use the product only as specified. Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any products connected to it. Carefully read all instructions. Retain these instructions for future reference.

This product shall be used in accordance with local and national codes.

For correct and safe operation of the product, it is essential that you follow generally accepted safety procedures in addition to the safety precautions specified in this manual.

The product is designed to be used by trained personnel only.

Only qualified personnel who are aware of the hazards involved should remove the cover for repair, maintenance, or adjustment.

Before use, always check the product with a known source to be sure it is operating correctly.

This product is not intended for detection of hazardous voltages.

Use personal protective equipment to prevent shock and arc blast injury where hazardous live conductors are exposed.

While using this product, you may need to access other parts of a larger system. Read the safety sections of the other component manuals for warnings and cautions related to operating the system.

When incorporating this equipment into a system, the safety of that system is the responsibility of the assembler of the system.

The Service safety summary section contains additional information required to safely perform service on the product. Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures. Read this Service safety summary and the General safety summary before performing any service procedures.

These terms may appear in this manual:

WARNING:Warning statements identify conditions or practices that could result in injury or loss of life.

CAUTION:Caution statements identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to this product or other property.

These terms may appear on the product:

• DANGER indicates an injury hazard immediately accessible as you read the marking.
• WARNING indicates an injury hazard not immediately accessible as you read the marking.
• CAUTION indicates a hazard to property including the product.

When this symbol is marked on the product, be sure to consult the manual to find out the nature of the potential hazards and any actions which have to be taken to avoid them. (This symbol may also be used to refer the user to ratings in the manual.)

The following symbols(s) may appear on the product.

This section lists other safety compliance information.

Measurement and overvoltage category descriptions

Measurement terminals on this product may be rated for measuring mains voltages from one or more of the following categories (see specific ratings marked on the product and in the manual).

• Overvoltage Category I. For equipment intended to be connected to a mains supply in which means have been taken to substantially and reliably reduce transient overvoltages to a level where they cannot cause a hazard.
• Measurement Category II. For measurements performed on circuits directly connected to the low-voltage installation.
• Measurement Category III. For measurements performed in the building installation.
• Measurement Category IV. For measurements performed at the source of low-voltage installation.

Note:Only mains power supply circuits have an overvoltage category rating. Only measurement circuits have a measurement category rating. Other circuits within the product do not have either rating.

This section provides information about the environmental impact of the product.

Product end-of-life handling

Observe the following guidelines when recycling an instrument or component:

Equipment recycling

Production of this equipment required the extraction and use of natural resources. The equipment may contain substances that could be harmful to the environment or human health if improperly handled at the product’s end of life. To avoid release of such substances into the environment and to reduce the use of natural resources, we encourage you to recycle this product in an appropriate system that will ensure that most of the materials are reused or recycled appropriately.

This symbol indicates that this product complies with the applicable European Union requirements according to Directives 2012/19/EU and 2006/66/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and batteries. For information about recycling options, check the Tektronix Web site (http://www.tek.com/productrecycling).

Battery recycling

This product contains a small installed lithium metal button cell. Please properly dispose of or recycle the cell at its end of life according to local government regulations.

Perchlorate materials

This product contains one or more type CR lithium batteries. According to the state of California, CR lithium batteries are classified as perchlorate materials and require special handling. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate for additional information.

Welcome to the 3 Series MDO. The 3 Series MDO Oscilloscopes (MDO32 and MDO34) are 2- and 4-channel oscilloscopes, enabling you to efficiently and cost-effectively perform mixed domain debugging.

Make sure that you received everything you ordered. If anything is missing, contact Tektronix Customer Support. In North America, call 1-800-833-9200. Worldwide, visit www.tek.com to find contacts in your area.

Check the packing list that came with your instrument to verify that you have received all standard accessories and ordered items. If you purchased factory options, tap Help > About to confirm that the option(s) are listed in the Installed Options table.

Use the correct process to eliminate the chance of pinching your thumb or rear-panel-connected cables while rotating the handle.

WARNING:Hold the top of the handle to rotate the handle on the instrument. Do not hold the handle from the sides and rotate, as this can pinch the base of your thumb between the handle and the case.

CAUTION:If you have routed any cables between the handle and the case, be careful when rotating the handle so that you do not pinch the cables.

Lock an oscilloscope to a test bench or equipment rack to prevent property loss. Attach a standard laptop security lock to the rear panel of the oscilloscope, to secure the oscilloscope to a workbench, rack, or other locations.

Probes and cables connect the oscilloscope to your device under test (DUT). Use a probe that best matches your signal measurement needs.

1. Tektronix Versatile Probe Interface (TekVPI). These probes support two-way communication with the oscilloscope through on-screen menus and remotely through programmable support. The remote control is useful in applications like ATE where you want the system to set probe parameters.
2. Tektronix Versatile Probe Interface (TekVPI) for Passive Probes. These probes build upon the functionality of the TekVPI interface. Each probe is matched with its corresponding oscilloscope channel, allowing the oscilloscope to optimize the signal input path. This provides AC compensation across the frequency band.
3. TPA-BNC Adapter. The TPA-BNC Adapter allows you to use TEKPROBE II probe capabilities, such as providing probe power and passing scaling and unit information to the oscilloscope.
4. BNC Interfaces. Some of these use TEKPROBE capabilities to pass the waveform signal and scaling to the oscilloscope. Some only pass the signal and there is no other communication.
5. Logic Probe Interface. The P6316 probe provides 16 channels of digital (logical one or zero) information.
6. TPA-N-VPI Adapter. The TPA-N-VPI Adapter allows you to use TekVPI probes with the RF input.

Connect TPP0250, TPP0500B, TPP1000, TekVPI+, TekVPI, or other supported Tektronix analog probes by pushing them into an input connector. The probe base latch locks with a 'click' when the probe is fully seated.

TekVPI probes automatically set the channel input parameters for that probe (bandwidth, attenuation, termination, and so on). If a probe has a Menu button, push that button to open an on-screen configuration menu. Follow instructions provided with active probes to set their parameters (auto zero, degauss, and so on).

Connect a BNC probe or cable by pushing it onto a channel BNC bayonet connector and turn the lock mechanism clockwise until it locks.

For more information on the many probes available for use with 3 Series MDO oscilloscopes, visit the Oscilloscope Probe and Accessory Selector Tool at www.tek.com.

Note:Connecting a probe does not automatically enable that channel (make it active). Use the instrument controls or programmatic interface to turn on a channel and open its configuration menu to verify or change probe or cable settings (bandwidth, attenuation, termination and so on).

Use a dry, soft cotton cloth to clean the outside of the unit. If any dirt remains, use a cloth or swab dipped in a 75% isopropyl alcohol solution. Use a swab to clean narrow spaces around controls and connectors. Do not use any liquid cleaning agents or chemicals that could damage the touchscreen, case, controls, markings or labels, or possibly infiltrate the case.

The front panel controls provide direct access to key instrument settings such as vertical, horizontal, trigger, and cursors. The connectors are where you input signals with probes or cables or insert USB devices.

Note:Refer to the instrument help for detailed information on using the controls to display waveforms and take measurements.

1. Use the Acquisition and Cursors controls to start and stop waveform acquisition, turn cursors on or off, enable or disable the fast acquisition mode, enable making a single waveform acquisition, calculate the average of all the samples for each acquisition interval, and delete the current acquisitions and measurement values from memory.
2. Use the Multipurpose Knobs (A, B) to move cursors, adjust the zoom, and set parameter values in configuration menu input fields.
3. Use the Trigger controls to force a trigger event at a random point in the waveform and captures the acquisition, set the amplitude level that the signal must pass through to be considered a valid transition, set the signal transition direction to detect for a trigger, and set how the instrument behaves in the absence or presence of a trigger event.
4. Use the Vertical controls to move the selected waveform up or down on the screen, set the amplitude units per vertical graticule division of the selected waveform, turn on (display) or select channels, and add or select a math, reference (saved), bus, RF, and digital waveform on the Waveform view.
5. Use the Horizontal controls to move the waveform from side to side on the screen, and set the time per major horizontal graticule division and samples/second parameters for the oscilloscope.
6. Use the Miscellaneous controls to turn touchscreen capability off, restore the oscilloscope settings to the default settings, automatically display a stable waveform, and save files or settings (using the current File > Save As settings).
7. Use Ground and probe compensation connectors to provide a ground connector to help reduce electrostatic damage (ESD) and adjust the high-frequency response of a passive probe. The Ground and Probe Compensation connectors are located at the lower right side of the instrument, near the front panel.
8. USB ports are located at the lower right corner of the front panel and on the rear panel. Connect USB flash drives to which you can save or recall data (such as instrument software updates, waveforms, settings, and screen captures) or connect peripheral devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
9. Use the Probe connectors to connect TekVPI+ and TekVPI measurement probes, BNC passive probes, the P6316 Logic Probe, and BNC cables.

The rear panel connections supply power to the oscilloscope and provide connectors for network, USB devices, video, reference signals, and the AFG output.

1. Power cord connector. Use only the power cord specified for this product and certified for the country of use.
2. AFG Out is the signal output for the optional Arbitrary Function Generator (AFG) feature.
3. AUX Out generates a signal transition on a trigger event or outputs a synchronization signal from the AFG.
4. LAN connector (RJ-45) connects the oscilloscope to a 10/100 Base-T local area network.
5. USB Device port lets you connect to a PC to remotely control the oscilloscope using the USBTMC protocol.
6. USB Host port lets you connect a USB memory device, keyboard, or mouse.
7. HDMI output lets you connect an external monitor or projector to show the oscilloscope screen.
8. Security lock connector lets you use a standard PC/laptop lock cable to secure the oscilloscope to a work bench or other locations.

The touchscreen user interface contains waveforms, measurement readouts, and touch-based controls to access all oscilloscope functions.

1. The Menu bar provides menus for typical operations including:
   • Saving, loading, and accessing files
   • Undoing or redoing an UI action
   • Setting oscilloscope display and measurement preferences
   • Configuring network access
   • Running self tests
   • Erasing measurement and settings memory (TekSecure™)
   • Loading option licenses
   • Opening a Help viewer
2. The Waveform View area displays analog, digital, math, reference, and bus waveforms. The waveforms include waveform handles (identifiers), trigger position, and level(s) indicators. See Identifying items in the time domain display.
3. The Results Bar contains controls for displaying cursors, adding result tables to the screen, and adding measurements to the Results bar. The controls are:
   • The Cursors button displays on-screen cursors. Touch and drag or use the Multipurpose knobs to move the cursors. Double-tap on a cursor or on the cursor readouts to open a configuration menu to set cursor types and related functions.
   • The Measure button opens a configuration menu from which to select and add up to four measurements to the Results bar. Each measurement you add has a separate badge. Double-tap a measurement badge to open its configuration menu.
   • The Search button lets you detect and mark a waveform where specified events occur. Tap Search to open a Search configuration menu and set the search conditions for analog and digital channels. Search badges are added to the Results Bar.
   • The Results Table button adds a Measurement, Bus, Search, and Harmonics results table to the screen. The Measure tab displays all measurements present in the Results bar. The Bus tab displays bus decode information for displayed bus waveforms. The Search tab displays search event information. The Harmonics tab displays harmonic measurement results.
   • The More... button on the Results Bar allows you to select Zoom or Mask.
   • The Draw Zoom/Mask button lets you to draw a mask or zoom. This button reflects the function selected in DRAW A BOX menu.
   • The Measurement and Search badges show measurement and search results and are displayed in the Results Bar.
4. The Settings Bar contains System badges for setting Horizontal, Trigger, Acquisition, and Date/Time parameters; Inactive Channel buttons to turn on channels; Math/Ref/Bus button to add math, reference, and bus waveforms to the display; and Channel and Waveform badges that let you configure the individual waveform parameters. Tap a channel or waveform button to add it to the screen and display a badge. Double-tap a badge to open its configuration menu.
5. Configuration Menus let you quickly change the parameters of the selected user interface item. You can open configuration menus by double-tapping on badges, screen objects, or screen areas.

Each area of the user interface has a specific function that helps manage information or controls. This topic shows and describes the key user interface elements.

1. The Waveform Record View is a graphical high-level view of the overall acquisition, how much of the acquisition is on the screen (shown in brackets), the locations of key time events including the trigger event, and the current position of waveforms cursors.
   
   
   

   If you are changing the horizontal time scale while the oscilloscope acquisition is stopped, the brackets change position to show the part of the waveform record that is being viewed relative to the current acquisition total record length.

   
   
   

   If cursors are active on a waveform, the Waveform Record View shows the relative cursor positions as small vertical dashed lines.

   
   
   

   When in Zoom mode, the Waveform Record View is replaced with the Zoom Overview. See Zoom user interface.

2. The Expansion Point icon on the waveform view shows the center point around which the waveform expands and compresses when changing horizontal settings.
   
   
3. The Trigger Position Indicator shows where the trigger event occurred in the waveform record.
   
   
4. The Zoom icon (in upper right corner of Waveform and Plot views) toggles zoom on and off.
   
   
5. The Trigger Level Indicator icon(s) shows the trigger level(s) on the trigger source waveform. Some trigger types require two trigger levels.
6. Measurement and Search badges show measurement and search results. See Badges.
7. The Results Bar Handle opens or closes the Results bar to maximize waveform screen viewing when needed. To reopen the Results bar, either tap the handle icon or swipe left from the right side of the display.
8. The System badges show global instrument settings (Horizontal, Trigger, Acquisition, Run/Stop status, and Date/Time). See Badges.
9. The Inactive Channel buttons add channel waveforms to the Waveform view and add an associated Channel badge to the Settings bar.

   The Add Math Ref Bus button expands allowing you to add a math, reference, or bus waveform to the Waveform view and add an associated Waveform badge to the Settings bar.

   The RF button activates the frequency domain display and adds an RF badge. Double-tap the badge to open the RF configuration menu to configure the RF input. This button is only active if one of the RF options is enabled.

   The AFG button opens the AFG configuration menu to set and enable the AFG output. This button is only present if the AFG option is installed.

   The DVM button lets you use an analog probe to take DC, AC RMS, or DC+AC RMS voltage measurements on your DUT. Tap the button to add a DVM badge to the Results Bar and open a configuration menu. The DVM option also enables a trigger frequency counter, accessible from the Mode & Holdoff panel in the Trigger badge menu. This button is only present if the DVM option is installed.

10. Double-tap a badge to open its associated configuration menu. See Badges. See Configuration menus.

    If you add more Channel or Waveform badges than can fit in the waveform badge display area, tap the scroll buttons at each end of the waveform badge area to scroll and display hidden badges.

11. The Waveform Handles on each waveform identify the source of that waveform (Cx for channels, M for Math, Rx for Reference waveforms, Bx for bus waveforms). The waveform handles are at the zero-volt level of the waveform by default. The currently selected waveform handle is a solid color; unselected waveform handles are outlined.

    Double-tapping a waveform handle opens the configuration menu for that waveform.

    For digital channels, the waveform handle shows the channel number, with each individual digital signal labeled D0–D15 and displayed with a different color.

    
    
    

    Double-tapping a digital waveform handle opens the digital channel configuration menu.

    Dragging a digital signal handle over another handle swaps locations of the signals in the waveform view. Dragging a digital signal handle out of the group, creates a new group. A selected digital group or signal handle can be moved using the Vertical Position control.

Badges are rectangular icons that show waveform, measurement, and instrument settings or readouts. Badges also provide fast access to configuration menus. The badge types are Channel, Waveform, Measurement, Search, and System.

Channel and Waveform badges

Channel and Waveform (Math, Ref, Bus) badges are shown in the Settings Bar, located along the bottom left of the screen. Each waveform has its own badge. The badges show high-level settings for each displayed channel or waveform. Double-tap a badge to open its configuration menu.

Most Channel and Waveform badges also have Vertical Scale buttons, shown by single-tapping the badge. Use these buttons to increase or decrease the vertical scale setting for that waveform.

You can drag or flick Channel and Waveform badges down off the display to turn them off. Swiping back up from the bottom of the display restores them if they were accidentally deleted.

Channel badges are listed in the channel order. For more information, double-tap the badge to open its configuration menu or search the instrument Help.

Measurement badges

Result badges are located in the Results Bar. They show measurement or search results. The badge title also shows the measurement source or sources. To add a Measurement badge, tap the Measure button, select a measurement, and tap Add.

Double-tap a Measurement badge to open its configuration menu to change or refine settings.

Some measurements and their badges are only available as options. For example, Power measurements are only listed in the Add Measurement menu if the PWR option is installed.

To add statistical readouts to individual measurement badges, double-tap a measurement badge to open its configuration menu and select Show Statistics in Badge.

You can drag or flick Measurement badges off to the right of the display to delete them. You can bring the badge back by swiping in from the right.

Search badges

Search badges are also shown in the Results Bar, below the Measurement badges. A search badge lists the search source, search type, and the number of search event occurrences in the current acquisition. The instrument marks the waveform where those events occur with small down-pointing triangles along the top of the waveform graticule. Double-tap a search badge to open its configuration menu to change or refine search settings.

Search badges are created by tapping the Search button. Use the displayed configuration menu to set the search criteria.

Search badges have < (Previous) and > (Next) Navigation buttons that open the Zoom mode and center the waveform in the display at the position of the previous or next search mark in the waveform record. Search badge Navigation buttons are only usable when acquisitions are stopped.

You can drag or flick a Search badge to the right, off the display, to delete it. You can bring the badge back by swiping in from the right.

Signal clipping and badges

Clipping causes inaccurate amplitude-related measurement results. Clipping also causes inaccurate amplitude values in saved waveform files. If a math waveform is clipped, it will not affect amplitude measurements on that math waveform.

WARNING:Clipping is caused by excessive or dangerous voltages at the probe tip and/or a vertical scale setting that is not adequate to display the entire vertical range of the waveform. Excessive voltage at the probe tip can injure the operator and cause damage to the probe and/or instrument.

This instrument shows a warning triangle symbol and the word Clipping in a Channel badge when a vertical clipping condition exists. Any measurement badges associated with that channel also indicate a clipping condition.

To close the clipping message, change the vertical scale to show the entire waveform, disconnect the probe tip from the excessive voltage source, and check that you are probing the correct signal using the correct probe.

Error messages and badges

This instrument shows a warning triangle symbol and an error message abbreviation in a Channel badge when an error occurs.

To remove the message from the badge, clear the error.

System badges

System badges (in the Settings bar) display the main Horizontal, Trigger, and Acquisition settings. You cannot delete System badges.

Double-tap a System badge to open its configuration menu.

The Horizontal badge also has Scale buttons, shown by single-tapping the badge. Use the Horizontal Scale buttons to increase or decrease the horizontal time/div setting.

Common badge actions

Action	Result	Example
Single tap	Immediate access controls (Scale, Navigation).
Double tap	Configuration menu with access to all settings for the badge.
Touch and hold	Right-click menu with single tap access to common actions. Typical actions include turning off a channel and deleting a measurement or search badge.

Configuration menus let you quickly set the parameters for channels, system settings (Horizontal, Trigger, Acquisition), measurements, cursor readouts, Waveform view, and so on.

Double-tap an item (badge, Waveform View, cursor readouts, and so on) to open its configuration menu. For example, double-tap a Channel badge in the Settings Bar to open its configuration menu.

Selections or values that you enter take effect immediately. Menu contents are dynamic and can change depending on your selections, instrument options, or attached probes.

Related settings are grouped into 'panels.' Tap the panel name to show those settings. Changes to panel settings can change the values and/or fields shown in that panel and other panels.

Tap anywhere outside a configuration menu to close it.

To open Help content for a configuration menu, tap the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the menu.

Use the zoom tools to magnify waveforms to view signal details.

1. The Zoom Overview shows the entire waveform record. Use pinch and expand gestures on the Zoom Overview waveforms to change the horizontal time base settings.
2. The Zoom Box shows the area of the Zoom Overview to display in the Zoom View (see 5). You can touch and drag the box to move the area to view. Moving the Zoom Box or changing its position does not change the horizontal time base settings.
3. The Zoom icon (in the upper right corner of the Waveform View) switches zoom mode on and off.
4. The DRAW A BOX menu has an option to toggle between drawing a zoom box (default mode) and drawing segments for Mask Testing.

   A zoom box lets you quickly draw a box around an area of interest in the Waveform or Zoom Overview. Drawing a box immediately puts the oscilloscope into zoom mode. To draw a zoom box, tap the Draw Zoom button while in Zoom mode in the DRAW A BOX menu, then touch and drag on the waveform to draw a box waveform. You can continue to draw zoom boxes until you single tap anywhere on the screen or open a menu.

   To toggle between Zoom mode and Mask mode, tap the More button and select one of the two options in the DRAW A BOX menu.

5. The Zoom View shows the zoomed waveforms as marked by the Zoom Box. Use pinch and/or drag options in the zoom view to change the zoomed area of interest. Pinch, expand, and drag gestures in the Zoom View only change zoom magnification settings and Zoom Box position.
6. Use the Zoom Title Bar controls to adjust the horizontal size and the position of the zoom area. Click or tap the + or - buttons or use the A and B multipurpose knobs. Double tap the zoom scale and position fields to enter a value using a numerical keypad. Touch the Zoom Position or Horizontal Zoom Scale fields before using the multipurpose knobs to adjust the zoom.

Use standard touchscreen actions, similar to those found on smart phoness and tablets, to interact with most screen objects. You can also use a mouse to interact with the UI. The equivalent mouse operation is shown for each touch operation.