Upgrading a 100MHz DSO to a 500MHz DSO

[Rocketmagnet]

Hi all,

What exactly is the difference between these digital oscilloscopes?
**broken link removed**

They are all 2.5GS/s, but come in 100MHz, 300MHz, and 500MHz versions, and the price difference is quite considerable. Would be be feasible to buy a 100MHz version and upgrade it to 500MHz?

I wonder just how much difference there really is between these 'scopes. A common thing that companies do is to make a single product, but sell limited versions of it for a lower price (for example the difference between the DX and SX versions of the Intel 486).

Maybe the 100MHz 'scope is the same as the 500MHz one, but with a bandwidth limiter installed. Any thoughts?

Hugo

 

[E-design]

Even if the front ends are the same, these features will most probably be limited in software also. Very little chance of getting past that. It may also be tied to the serial number.

Example: On some Agilent/HP equipment if you swap a board from another identical unit, it may not work at all, or at best all the calibration constants will be lost. Often it will tell you that it does not recognize the board.