The HardwareThe WaveRunner2 LT was introduced in 2001 as the successor of the original WaveRunner LT Series of midrange oscilloscopes. As with the original WaveRunner, the new scopes were again manufactured by Iwatsu in Japan, with the underlying technology and software coming from LeCroy.
The WaveRunner2 LT was available in two (LTxx2) and four channel (LTxx4) models and offered bandwidths from 350MHz to 1GHz with sample rates between 1GSa/s and 4GSa/s. In addition to the standard sample memory of 100kpts/250kpts per channel, larger memory configurations are available as "M" (Medium, 1Mpts/Ch), 'ML' (Medium Large, 2MPts/Ch) and "L" (Large, 4Mpts/Ch) options, although not all scopes supported all memory options:
Model | Analog Bandwidth | Max Channels | Max Sample Rate 1 Channel | Max Sample Rate 2 Channel | Max Sample Rate 3-4 Channel | Aquisition Memory 1 Ch (Std/'M'/'ML'/'L') | Aquisition Memory 2 Ch (Std/'M'/'ML'/'L') | Aquisition Memory 3-4 Ch (Std/'M'/'ML'/'L') |
LT262 | 350MHz | 2 | 1GSa/s | 1GSa/s | --- | 100k/---/2M/--- | 100k/---/2M/--- | --- |
LT264 | 350MHz | 4 | 1GSa/s | 1GSa/s | 1GSa/s | 100k/1M/2M/--- | 100k/1M/2M/--- | 100k/1M/2M/--- |
LT354 | 500MHz | 4 | 1GSa/s | 1GSa/s | 1GSa/s | 250k/1M/2M/--- | 250k/1M/2M/--- | 250k/1M/2M/--- |
LT372 | 500MHz | 2 | 4GSa/s | 2GSa/s | --- | 500k/---/---/8M | 100k/---/---/4M | --- |
LT374 | 500MHz | 4 | 4GSa/s | 4GSa/s | 2GSa/s | 500k/2M/---/8M | 500k/2M/---/8M | 100k/1M/---/4M |
LT584 | 1GHz | 4 | 4GSa/s | 4GSa/s | 2GSa/s | 500k/2M/---/8M | 500k/2M/---/8M | 100k/1M/---/4M |
With the WaveRunner2 LT LeCroy moved from the older style white casing to the newer blue casing with light blue-grey front, a style that would even stay with later LeCroy scopes (WaveRunner 6000, WaveSurfer 400).
The LCD screen remains at 8.4" which is at the large side (especially compared to the tiny screens found on most other scopes of that time), displaying a standard VGA resolution of 640x480 with 256 colors out of a palette of 4096 colors. The display panel is a Sharp LQ084V1DG21.
The front panel layout was changed and now clearly resembles the layout of the high-end LC Series successor scope WavePro 900. This change also brought a new button labelled
WavePilot which allows quick access to all the signal analysis and measurement tools (more on this later).
The commonality with the WavePro 900 Series doesn't end at the front panel, though. The Aquisition system has been revamped as well. Gone are the separate proprietary sample memory modules (HMM, Hybrid Memory Module), the sample memory is now integrated in the ADC hybrids. This means that all scopes physically contain the maximum amount of sample meory (4Mpts per hybrid), and the various available memory sizes are now only determined by software locks.
The BNC inputs on the front retain the standard LeCroy
ProBus probe interface which can be found on all LeCroy midrange and high-end scopes from the old 9300 Series to the latest WaveRunner 6Zi/WavePro 7Zi. Of course the analog inputs are 50 Ohms/1MOhms switchable, and the 50 Ohms range does even have an overload protection.
Other changes include the processing subsystem, which again shares commonality with the WavePro 900. It remains based around a PowerPC 603e processor with Chips & Technology 65545 graphics processor (seems to be a CHReP system), but the new platform comes with faster PC133 SDRAM memory in standard DIMM format which allows the WaveRunner2 to take up to 512MB RAM (compared with 128MB of slow EDO/FPM memory in the predecessor).
In terms of connectivity, the WaveRunner2 offers essentially the same package as the original WaveRunner. Serial and parallel interfaces are there, as is a VGA out (which mirrors the internal display) and GPIB. It also has a PCMCIA Type II/III slot on the rear which can be activated with the 'HDS' software option. Although the slot was originally meant to take an IBM MicroDrive 520MB PCMCIA hard disk, it also works perfectly fine with Compact Flash cards in a PCMCIA-to-CF adapter, although the logical size of the FAT partition is limited to 512MB (which is still plenty of space for saving screen shots, configuration files and waveforms!).
There also is the Citizen W1D slimline 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drive which is prone to malfunction as the drive belt tends to dissolve into some sticky goo, which can be fixed by either replacing the drive (some old Compaq laptops used a similar floppy drive) or the belt. Another option is to replace it with a floppy emulator, although there aren't many devices available in slimline format.
The WaveRunner2 also has the expansion slot that can be found in the original WaveRunner and the WavePro 900. It can take an optional Ethernet adapter however these are rare like hen's teeth.
Of course, like with other LeCroy scopes, an integrated thermal printer was available as an option.
Similar to other LeCroy scopes made by Iwatsu (i.e. the original WaveRunner, WavePro 900, WaveSurfer 400, WaveJet 300/300A/300T) the apparent build quality is very high, much better than on the 9300 and LC Series (or the WaveRunner Xi, for that matter). Like it's predecessor, the WaveRunner2 is cooled by a single fan only which isn't temperature controlled but also isn't very noisy (it's less noisy than my Rigol DG1062z AWG, which I don't consider loud or intrusive).