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Weighing the Benefits of Benchtop vs. USB Based Test Equipment

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November 3, 2022 - Vista, California - Axiom Test Equipment, Inc., an electronic test equipment rental and sales company has published a new blog post entitled "Weighing the Benefits of Benchtop vs. USB Based Test Equipment," that explains the differences between benchtop and USB based test equipment to identify the best option for a user's project. The most glaring difference between USB-controlled units and standard benchtop units is usually size. A USB unit fits next to a laptop computer on a small desk while a benchtop unit occupies the better part of a laboratory work area or 6U or more of a standard 19-in.-wide test equipment rack.

Another difference between a USB unit and a traditional benchtop unit is the computer. For USB equipment, the computer is part of the test setup, whereas for a benchtop unit, it is an option. For USB test equipment, the choice of personal computer (PC) can contribute to the effectiveness of the measurements since it must have the speed and compatible microprocessor and operating system (OS) to run the test software for the USB units. There is no doubt that USB test equipment is finding their places on test benches, in the field, and even in home laboratories.

There is no doubt that USB test equipment is finding their places on test benches, in the field, and even in home laboratories. They offer accuracy and ease of use but rely on a PC for measurements. Older, larger benchtop versions of essential test units will not be going away anytime soon, since they do provide levels of accuracy, control, and flexibility simply not possible with USB test equipment. Learn more information on how this applies to Network Analyzers, Power Meters, and Spectrum Analyzers by reading the full post on Axiom’s Website: https://www.axiomtest.com/blog/Weighing-the-Benefits-of-Benchtop-vs.-USB-Based-Test-Equipment/

Weighing the Benefits of Benchtop vs. USB Based Test Equipment

As the name implies, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) provides a widely accepted digital port for connecting computers to other electronic devices, typically printers and memory sticks but sometimes test equipment. By relying on an external computer and the appropriate software, USB-driven test equipment can provide quite a bit of performance and functionality in a small package, often a fraction of the size of the more traditional benchtop version of the unit. But there may be times when having that older, larger unit in the test lab may provide more comfort and confidence than the simple convenience of adding measurement capability to a laptop computer by plugging in a USB connector. How do the two formats stack up when comparing workhorse units like vector network analyzers (VNAs), spectrum analyzers, and power meters/sensors? Comparing the two options may help when it comes time to choose between them for a particular test application.

The most glaring difference between USB-controlled units and standard benchtop units is usually size. A USB unit fits next to a laptop computer on a small desk while a benchtop unit occupies the better part of a laboratory work area or 6U or more of a standard 19-in.-wide test equipment rack. A USB unit may weigh about 3 lbs. and fit into a briefcase for ease of transport while a benchtop unit may weigh 10 times as much and require a second set of hands to help when shift it around in the lab.

Another difference between a USB unit and a traditional benchtop unit is the computer. For USB equipment, the computer is part of the test setup, whereas for a benchtop unit, it is an option. For USB test equipment, the choice of personal computer (PC) can contribute to the effectiveness of the measurements since it must have the speed and compatible microprocessor and operating system (OS) to run the test software for the USB units. In a benchtop unit, the controlling computer is built into the equipment, contributing to its larger size...

 

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Whatever type of testing your project requires, rent or buy quality test equipment from Axiom Test Equipment. For over 15 years Axiom Test Equipment has rented, sold, repaired and accepted trade-in of test equipment to support your test & measurement needs. If you would like help selecting any type of test equipment for your next project, contact Axiom Test Equipment's sales department at sales@axiomtest.com, call 760-806-6600, or browse Axiom Test Equipment's inventory online at www.axiomtest.com.

About Axiom Test Equipment

Get Exactly What You Need. Rent - Buy - Repair - Trade-In

Established in 2005, Axiom Test Equipment strives to continually improve itself and offer the best value for its customers. We offer our customers several practical, efficient and cost effective solutions for their business or projects' test equipment needs. Whether you need to rent & buy test equipment, repair test equipment, sell or trade equipment, we are committed to providing superior customer service and high quality electronic test equipment.

At Axiom Test Equipment we provide several services. We rent electronic test and measurement equipment. We also sell test equipment. If you have a piece of malfunctioning or broken test equipment we also have an in-house repair lab. For anyone seeking a way to offload their surplus or obsolete equipment, we offer a trade-in program or we can buy the equipment from you.

We stock a comprehensive inventory of equipment and can use our extensive network to find you those hard to get items. We believe in getting equipment to you quickly and at a competitive price.

Contacts

Fabian Garcia
Marketing Coordinator
Axiom Test Equipment
2610 Commerce Way 
Vista, CA  92081
Phone: (760) 806-6600

Web: www.axiomtest.com

E-Mail: fgarcia@axiomtest.com

Posted November 4, 2022