Digital oscilloscope's structure has analog signal acquisition circuit, which transforms signal's amplitude to fit ADC dynamic range. This circuit is commonly called oscilloscope's vertical or front-end amplifier. Difficulty in designing front-end amplifiers in GHz range largely affects higher frequency range oscilloscope's price. This work is focused on designing a front-end amplifier using discrete and openly sold components. We propose a design for attenuator, buffer, variable gain circuits.

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... Amplifier's prototype is designed. Main characteristics of the amplifier were measured. Measured bandwidth is 3 GHz. Amplifier's gain and attenuation can support vertical scale sensitivity range from 10 mV/div to 1 V/div. Step response distortion is under 10 %. SMD and PTH relay model attenuators were evaluated. In this paper we review oscilloscope's front-end purpose and structure. We review amplifiers design and provide the results of experimental measurements.