Tektronix Epic Oscilloscopes

Series Overview

• 300 Series
• 400 Series
• 500 Series
• 2200 Series
• 2400 Series
• 5000 Series
• 7000 Series
• 11000 Series

Featured Models and Topics

The 500 Series

• The 545 / 545B: A True Monster
• Innovating Ideas
• The Winning Decision
• New 530 Series
• 545, The Monster
• The Futuristic 545
• From 545 to 545B
• CRTs and Phosphors
• Delayed Sweep
• Tubes & Tubes
• Distributed Amplifiers
• Plug-in Architecture
• Me and the Monsters
• Its First Repair
• Ceramic Strips
• Which & When
• Min vs. Max
• Howard Caesar Vollum
• Howard's Letter
• The Scope Class
• The 515A: Versatile and Portable
• Specifications
• The Delay Line
• The "New" CRT
• A Cyclone
• The RM561A: Beautiful, but... Dead!
• The Repair Job
• Belle de Nuit
• Hybrid Technology
• 3B3 Dual Time Base: So Similar, so Different
• 3A1 Dual Trace
• Conclusions

The 300 Series

• First portables
• The 310A: Dream Book
• 30 Electron Tubes
• 310A ceramic stripes
• The Rear Panel
• Old Style Details
• The 321A: True Jewelry
• True Portable
• Triple A
• Vs. Goliath
• A typical '60s
• The Nuvistor
• Power Supply
• Power Supply Circuit
• Memento Homo

The 400 Series

• The 453: Almost a Modern Scope
• The Mythical 453
• My 453A
• Mod.(ification) 127C
• Top View
• Golden Bottom
• Side View
• Lever Switches
• Need for Evolution
• Some other Details
• The 456/475: They can travel with you
• Panel Distribution
• A Unique Frame
• Built From Inside Out?
• New Components
• For any environment
• Air Conditioning
• Circuitries
• Vertical Attenuators
• Vertical Amplifiers
• Trigger and Sweep
• Interface Board
• Power Supply
• Crisp CRT Traces!
• 465/475 Bargain
• Recapping the 465
• Fixing attenuators
• Comparing to the 453
• Conclusions

The 7000 Series

• Everything Changes!
• The models
• The Winning Idea
• 7000-Series e-book

The 5000 Series

• Really the Worst?
• The 5103N D11
• Tektronix Quality
• Damned Torpedoes!
• 5B10N: Time Base
• 5A18N Dual Amp
• Really Not the Worst!

The 11000 Series

• The Future on the Road
• The project
• The ET Project
• We Must Do It
• 1986, the Launch
• Mainframes
• The 11000 Revolution
• The 4-Traces Wall
• Human Interface
• Autosetup & Measur
• Automatic Comparisons
• 11400-Architecture
• Modularity
• 11403 Boards
• Complexity
• Acquisition System
• Self-Test & Diagnostics
• Enhanced Accuracy
• B-Side
• Talking to It
• On the Market
• Manuals
• Another Monster
• Using It
• A Small Repair
• Bewitched Colors
• CRT Degausser
• Performance

Plug-ins

• The 11A52
• Overdrive Recovery
• Seeking New World

2400 Series Analog

• The 2000-Family: A (too) Rich Family?
• Wikipedia Teaches
• Most Important Models
• A Different Classification
• Analog Models Manuals
• Quality Issues?
• The 2465: A great classic
• Those Cursors!
• Those Incredible CRTs
• New Approach
• The Front Panel
• The Circuitry
• Hybrid Circuits
• The EAROM
• Vertical Attenuators
• Attenuator: A Repair Story
• Nobody is Perfect
• The Power Supply
• Heat & Fans
• Other Boards
• Critical Parts
• Final Balance

The 2445B

• The "B" New Models
• A Different Logic
• Simpatico?
• Main Board Bricks
• Right Side View
• Counter Timer Trigger
• Repairs and Roses

The 2467

• The Last King

2400-Series Digital

• The 2430: 2430, the First
• Digital Breaks Out
• Ends and Starts

The 2431L

• Main Board
• Display Board
• Processor Board
• Dallas Memories
• Simplified Rear Panel
• Fixing the HV Board

The 2200 Series

• The 2230 and 2221
• The Two Worlds Heroes
• Become a carver
• The 2221
• Out of the Box
• 2230's Secrets
• Main Board Bottom
• Attenuators
• Suicidal Diodes
• Fixing 2230's PSU
• Lost Potentiometers
• A better solution
• End of the Story
• Lessons Learnt
• Finished
• 2230 Backlash!

The 2430A

• Measurements
• Main Board
• Warning, do not Fry ICs
• Accessible
• You Can Open It
• Power Supply
• Power Supply Repair
• The Rear Panel
• The Missing Click

The 2440

• Main Board
• Hi-tech Inside
• Processor Board
• Sunk by Torpedoes
• Performance
• Collateral Damages
• The Jokey 2431L

General Topics

• Improved Construction
• Main Board Bricks
• The CCDs
• The Circuit
• Front Panel
• Mismatching
• I've Got It!
• Does Tektronix Lie?
• Averaging, Accuracy etc.
• Calibration
• Probes Calibration
• Calibration/Diagnostics
• Accessories
• Useful!
• Prices Today
• 2000-Series notes
• Last-minute Bug
• New Knobs
• EPROMS
• Manuals
• Years and Versions
• Size and Weight

Acknowledgments

• The Show Goes On!

Front Panel Description (Example: Type 545 Oscilloscope)

The front panel features controls for:

• Main Sweep: Controls for Time/cm, Multiplier, Stability, Triggering Level, Triggering Mode (AC FAST, AC SLOW, DC, EXT), Slope, and Ready Trigger.
• Horizontal Display: Controls for Main Sweep, Delayed, Main, and SX Magnifier.
• Vertical Controls (Channel A & B): Controls for Position, Variable Volts/cm, Gain, ADL (AC/DC), Polarity, and Mode (CHOP/ALT).
• Delay Time Controls: Controls for CM of Delay Time, Delaying Multiplier, and Sweep.
• Square-Wave Calibrator: Provides calibration signals (e.g., 100mV, 5V).
• General Controls: Intensity, Focus, Astigmatism, Scale Illum.

Key Features and Technologies

This chronicle details various Tektronix oscilloscope models, highlighting their technological advancements, design philosophies, and contributions to the field of electronics. It covers:

• Plug-in architecture for modularity and versatility.
• Advancements in sweep generation and triggering systems.
• Development of dual-trace capabilities.
• CRT technology and display characteristics.
• Power supply designs and reliability.
• Innovations in attenuators and amplifiers.
• User interface and operational features.
• Repair and maintenance insights.

Historical Context

The document provides a historical perspective on the evolution of Tektronix oscilloscopes, from early portable models to sophisticated multi-channel instruments. It captures the spirit of innovation and the impact these instruments had on scientific and engineering communities.

Target Audience

This publication is intended for electronics collectors, restorers, enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history and technology of Tektronix oscilloscopes.