PicoScope 2200AB Series - Ultra-Compact 2-Channel Oscilloscopes PS 2205A, 8-Bit, 200MS/s, Buffer: 16kS, 25MHz

The PicoScope 2200AB Series includes compact USB oscilloscopes for measurements on electronic circuits, assemblies and signals. Unlike traditional benchtop oscilloscopes, a PicoScope is connected to a computer via USB and operated using the PicoScope software. This provides a large display, convenient analysis functions and easy documentation options.

The series is particularly suitable for development, service, education, troubleshooting, mobile measurements and laboratory workstations with limited space. Depending on the model, the PicoScope 2000 Series offers bandwidths up to 100 MHz, sampling rates up to 1 GS/s and memory depths up to 128 MS.

A PicoScope 2200AB is suitable for many typical measurement tasks in electronics, development, education and service. These include checking sensor signals, microcontroller circuits, digital levels, PWM signals, clock and control signals, audio signals, and simple bus or communication signals.

The series is especially practical when a mobile or space-saving USB oscilloscope is required. Since the devices are powered via USB, no separate power supply is needed. This makes them ideal for field service, training, workshops, test benches and flexible laboratory workstations.

The models differ mainly in bandwidth, maximum sampling rate and memory depth. The lower-cost A models are suitable for simple to medium-level measurement tasks, while the B models offer more performance, higher bandwidths and deeper memory for more demanding analyses.

As a simple guideline: for education, basic measurements and simple service tasks, a smaller model is often sufficient. For faster signals, serial data, longer recordings or more detailed troubleshooting, the B models are the better choice. The PicoScope 2000B models offer deeper memory, higher bandwidths and faster waveform update rates.

Yes, in many applications a PicoScope 2200AB can replace a traditional benchtop oscilloscope. Its main advantage is that display, operation, storage and analysis are handled via the PC. This allows waveforms to be shown on a large screen, documented, saved, exported and analysed conveniently.

A benchtop oscilloscope may be preferable if a completely standalone device without a computer is required. A PicoScope, on the other hand, is particularly strong when mobility, software features, a large display, data export and good value for money are important.

The PicoScope software is used to operate the device. The current PicoScope 7 software is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It provides functions for oscilloscope display, measurements, analysis, triggering, spectrum analysis, serial protocol decoding and documentation.

A major advantage is that the software is available free of charge. New features and improvements are provided through free software updates, helping to keep the PicoScope up to date after purchase.

Yes. Depending on the model, the PicoScope 2000 Series includes an integrated function generator and an arbitrary waveform generator, or AWG. This allows signals such as sine, square, triangle or freely defined waveforms to be generated.

This is especially useful when a circuit not only needs to be measured, but also actively stimulated with test signals. Typical applications include testing amplifiers, filters, inputs, sensor stages or digital circuits.

“Up to 1 GS/s” means that, depending on the model, the oscilloscope can capture up to 1 billion samples per second. This high sampling rate is important for resolving fast signal changes with fine time resolution.

However, it is important to note that the maximum sampling rate depends on the selected model and the number of active channels. When multiple channels are active, the maximum sampling rate is shared between the channels. In practice, this means that users who need to capture very fast signals or several channels at the same time should consider a more powerful model in the series.

Deep memory allows more measurement points to be stored in a single acquisition. This is especially helpful when longer signal sequences need to be recorded with high time resolution. Without sufficient memory, an oscilloscope has to reduce the sampling rate over longer time windows, which can cause important details to be lost.

For simple measurements, smaller memory is often sufficient. For intermittent faults, digital communication, long signal sequences or detailed analyses, larger memory is a clear advantage. Depending on the model, the PicoScope 2000 Series offers memory depths up to 128 MS.

Yes, the PicoScope software supports serial protocol decoding. This is especially helpful when troubleshooting microcontroller, embedded and communication circuits. Depending on the signal and application, protocols can be displayed and compared in time with the electrical signals.

For simple serial signals, the analogue channels can already be used. If many digital signals need to be analysed in parallel, mixed-signal models with digital inputs are useful. PicoScope software includes integrated serial decoders without additional licence costs.

The right PicoScope depends mainly on the required bandwidth, sampling rate, memory depth and application. For simple measurements, education, hobby use, service and basic electronics, smaller models are often sufficient. For development, fast digital signals, longer recordings, serial analyses or more demanding troubleshooting, models with higher bandwidth and larger memory are recommended.

As a rule of thumb, it is worth allowing some reserve in bandwidth and memory if the PicoScope will be used regularly in professional applications. Users who only occasionally measure simple signals can start with an entry-level model. Those who use the device long-term in development, laboratory work or quality assurance will usually benefit from a more powerful model such as the PicoScope 2207B or 2208B.