Probe compensation

To minimize capacitive loading on the device under test, most probes use a 10:1 attenuator. This can often be adjusted, or compensated, to improve the frequency response.

The probe should be adjusted to compensate for the specific oscilloscope channel that you are using. To do this connect the probe to a 1 kHz square wave calibration source and use a non-magnetic adjustment tool to adjust the compensation network to obtain a waveform display that has flat tops with no overshoot or rounding.

An uncompensated probe can lead to measurement errors, especially in measuring pulse rise or fall times.

For more information, see the application note "How to compensate 10:1 oscilloscope probes".