T3SP Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs)

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Key Features

True-Differential TDRs

Fast TDR Repetition Rate

T3SP15-XR models for cable manufacturers

Full Calibrated Impedance Plot

Full calibrated S-Parameter

Trust, But Test—Your Cables Might Be Lying

ESD-protection

S-Parameter Measurements

Impedance Traces on PCBs

Key Features

  • True Differential and Calibrated TDR for Maximum Impedance Measurement Accuracy
  • Compact, Battery-Powered Design for true portability
  • 30 ps Typical Rise Time, S-Parameter support up to 15 GHz
  • 50,000-point memory for DUTs up to 50 meters (XR models)
  • Automatic Ohmic Loss Compensation for enhanced accuracy
  • Built-in Skew Analysis (Inter-Pair and Intra-Pair) for differential signal integrity
  • XR Series: Engineered for Speed, Optimized for Continuous Cable Production

True-Differential TDRs

Most of the modern high-speed designs are implemented with differential transmission lines. Using a true differential TDR simplifies the setup for signal integrity measurements in such designs. In some scenarios the ground connection could be difficult to connect or not accessible if you want measure unshielded twisted pair cables. Most of the time, when you take measurements using a true differential TDR a ground connection is not required and gives you the flexibility to use TDR-probes without a ground connection.

Fast TDR Repetition Rate

With up to 10 MHz repetition rate the T3SP-series is more than 300 times faster as conventional TDR instruments which are based on sampling scopes. To achieve the highest possible dynamic range TDR instruments need to acquire and average out hundreds of waveforms. The faster sampling rate delivers quicker and more accurate measurement results.

T3SP15-XR models for cable manufacturers

The T3SP15D-XR was created to provide a better alternative to production than using obsolete TDRs based on the sampling oscilloscope platform. Four new time bases were added into T3SP15D-XR, achieving two results. First, the extension of measurements to cables up to 50 m, and second, the ability to make very fast acquisitions, which is a key requirement for production. We added a repetition rate of 500 KHz, suitable for longer cables, and sampling rates of 20 ps and 40 ps, suitable for ultrafast acquisition times.

Full Calibrated Impedance Plot

Reference impedance in all TDR instruments are relative; they are made by comparing reflected amplitudes to an incident amplitude. Using full OSLT-calibration the T3SP-series is offering best accuracy for impedance measurements in time and frequency domain. Using four calibration standards (open, short, load, thru) for T3SP15D in the time domain instead of using a simple normalization which is common in TDR-instruments offers vastly improved error correction for the setup. Using OSLT calibration in the time domain avoids irregularities in impedance plots, such as ringing that occurs after the TDR incident step.

Full calibrated S-Parameter

Many of the modern standards like Ethernet or USB require you to measure the impedance matching of the cables and connectors within the frequency domain. These are the measures commonly made with traditional VNA instruments. The T3SPseries offers fully calibrated differential S-Parameter measurements up to 15 GHz (T3SP15D) using the same OSLT-calibration standards used by VNAs.

Trust, But Test—Your Cables Might Be Lying

Even premium cables can hide imperfections that introduce measurement artifacts. The T3SP Series instantly reveals cable quality, pinpointing out-of-spec sections caused by damage or defects. With up to 50,000-point acquisition, the SP Series delivers long, high-resolution TDR captures—ideal for extended DUTs. Flexible repetition rates from 10 MHz to 1 MHz support cable lengths up to 30 meters, while XR models extend this range to 50 meters with rates down to 500 kHz.

ESD-protection

High-frequency measurement devices are extremely sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD) and can lead to permanent damage to your measurement device. In addition, many laboratories have a requirement to take special precautions to protect their electronic equipment from any damage caused by ESD. The SP-series mitigates this risk by providing a higher degree of protection from this happening. Every SP-series model comes equipped with an ESD-protection module based on high-performance coaxial RF-switches. The ways this works is the RF input circuitry is protected by isolating the devices RF-signal detector from the input connector when the device is not being used to take measurements.

S-Parameter Measurements

The high bit rates used in modern electronics design and future serial data standards extend well into the microwave region. For example, the High-speed Universal Serial Bus (USB3.1) supports transfer rates up to 10 GB/s over twisted-pair cables. These high bit rate transmissions through connectors and cables results in considerable distortion because of channel dispersion. To keep the distortion to manageable levels, many standards specify the impedance, return loss and insertion loss for cables and connectors. These measurements are represented by the S-parameter. The T3SP series offer fully calibrated differential S-Parameter measurements up to 15 GHz (T3SP15D). This gives you the flexibility to store your output files in a variety of formats (CSV, Matlab and Touchstone) which can be easily which can be easily used in tools like SI-Studio, Matlab or other simulation programs.

Impedance Traces on PCBs

Due to increasing clock rates in high speed digital systems the necessity of controlled impedance Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) is growing rapidly. Additionally, cables and connectors must meet high frequency design specifications and controlled impedance specifications. The T3SP-series helps you to measure wave impedances of PCBs, cables, and connectors very accurate and comfortably. In contrast to other systems on the market, the T3SP-series is designed for measuring specific traces on a PCB and for on-board tests, the TDR-Probes ensure accurate measurement for qualification testing and debugging assembled PCBs.

Resources

Technical Docs

Webinars

Manuals

Name

T3SP Series Fact Sheet

 Fact Sheet

T3SP Series Datasheet

 Datasheet
Mastering the TDR in 45 minutes

In this free webinar, we show you the right way to think about signals on transmission lines and how to interpret TDR results.

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Taking the TDR for a Spin: Interpreting Impedance Profiles

In this webinar, you will learn how to interpret a TDR’s measured instantaneous impedance profile in terms of the interconnect’s characteristic impedance and time delay, and the location of impedance discontinuities.

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Differential Impedance: How Not to Be Confused

In this webinar, Dr. Eric Bogatin will explore how to think about differential and common impedance. Based on the properties of a differential pair, we will look at using a two port TDR as a differential TDR so we can characterize the basic differential impedance properties of the interconnect.

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Mastering the TDR - Part 4: Differential Pairs with no Return Paths

In this webinar, Dr. Eric Bogatin explores how unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables have no adjacent return plane yet can make great differential interconnects.

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Analyzing Discontinuities with a TDR

In this webinar, Dr. Eric Bogatin shows you how to analyze interconnects that are not uniform transmission lines. What does it mean to characterize a discontinuity? He will introduce you to the exciting and fun technique of “hacking interconnects” which anyone can do using a free and open source simulation tool which is provided.

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Advanced TDR Concepts

A TDR can measure much more than just the impedance profile of a transmission line. In this webinar, Dr. Eric Bogatin introduce you to a more advanced instrument to meet your most demanding needs.

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Name

T3SP Series Programming Manual

 Product Manual

T3SP Series Operator's Manual

 Product Manual

Model

T3SP10D

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T3SP10D-Bundle

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T3SP15D

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T3SP15D-Bundle

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T3SP10D-B

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T3SP10D-B-BUNDLE

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T3SP15D-B

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T3SP15D-B-BUNDLE

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T3SP15D-XR-BUNDLE

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T3SP15D-B-XR-BUNDLE

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    Miscellaneous Accessories

    model Description
    T3SP-SEP

    Single-ended TDR-Probe (high precision, 1.0/1.27/1.65/2.0/2.5 mm variable pitch)
    T3SP-SEPROBE-F

    Single-ended TDR Probe (industrial, 2.54mm fixed pitch)
    T3SP-DPROBE

    Differential TDR-Probe (high precision, 18 GHz, 0.5 - 5.0mm variable pitch)
    T3SP-DPROBE-F

    Differential TDR-Probe (5 GHz, 2.5 or 5mm fixed pitch)
    T3SP-CASE

    Storage and Travel Case (aluminum suitcase for TDRs and accessories)
    T3SP-BOARD

    Demo and Verification Board