How 10X Attenuating Probes Kill Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Figure 1: Signal waveforms captured using a 10X attenuating
probe (top) and a BNC probe (bottom) with tips open

We've begun discussing things that can derail (see what we did there?) your power-rail measurements, such as the deleterious effects of RF interference. In the same context, one should always be mindful of certain characteristics of oscilloscope probes; namely, the 10X attenuating probes that are often lying around on the testbench.

Understand RF Pickup When Measuring Power Rails

Figure 1: Teledyne LeCroy's
HDO8108A sports a very low
noise floor of about 145 μV 

Measuring the noise on a power rail seems to be a straightforward task. However, there are some basic pitfalls that can cause incorrect, or even downright strange, results. Let's look at one of these challenges: RF pickup. We'll demonstrate the effect of RF pickup on a power-rail measurement, and then we'll show you an effective means of mitigating that effect.