The Tektronix TDS524A is a 500 MHz, 2-channel digital storage oscilloscope designed for high-performance waveform acquisition and analysis. Featuring standard Option 1M (50,000 points record length) and an integrated 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, it offers powerful triggering options, high-resolution vertical modes up to 12 bits, and comprehensive automatic measurements.
Specifications
General
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Interfaces | GPIB (IEEE-488.2) |
| Display | 7-inch NuColor liquid-crystal color shutter display |
Physical
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | 90 to 250 V AC RMS, 45 Hz to 440 Hz, <300 W |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to +50 °C |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 445 mm × 193 mm × 434 mm |
| Weight | 14.1 kg |
Vertical System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Analog Bandwidth | 500 MHz |
| Number of Channels | 2 plus 2 AUX channels |
| Vertical Resolution | 8 bits (>12 bits with HiRes; >11 bits with averaging) |
| Input Impedance | 1 MΩ in parallel with 10 pF, or 50 Ω |
| Input Coupling | AC, DC, GND |
| Input Sensitivity Range | 1 mV/div to 10 V/div |
| DC Gain Accuracy | ±1.5% (10 mV/div to 10 V/div); ±2.5% (1 mV/div to 9.9 mV/div) |
| Maximum Input Voltage (1 MΩ) | 400 V (DC + peak AC) at 10 kHz or less |
| Maximum Input Voltage (50 Ω) | 5 V RMS |
| Offset Range (1 mV/div to 99.5 mV/div) | ±1 V |
| Offset Range (100 mV/div to 995 mV/div) | ±10 V |
| Offset Range (1 V/div to 10 V/div) | ±100 V |
| Position Range | ±5 divisions |
| Hardware Bandwidth Limits | 20 MHz, 100 MHz |
| Input Capacitance | 10 pF ±3 pF |
| Channel-to-Channel Deskew Range | ±25 ns |
Horizontal System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Real-Time Sampling Rate | 500 MS/s |
| Maximum Record Length | 50,000 points per channel |
| Time Base Range | 500 ps/div to 10 s/div |
| Time Base Accuracy | ±25 ppm |
Trigger System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Trigger Sources | CH 1, CH 2, AUX 1, AUX 2, Line |
| Trigger Modes | Auto, Normal, Single |
| Trigger Coupling | DC, AC, HF Reject, LF Reject, Noise Reject |
| Trigger Holdoff Range | 250 ns to 12 s |
| Edge Triggering | Rising or falling slope on any channel or auxiliary input |
| Pulse Width Triggering | Trigger on positive or negative pulses from 2 ns to 1 s |
| Runt Triggering | Trigger on a pulse that crosses one threshold but fails to cross a second before crossing the first again |
| Setup/Hold Triggering | Trigger on violations of setup or hold times |
Acquisition System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Acquisition Modes | Sample, Envelope, Average, High Resolution (HiRes) |
| High Resolution Mode (HiRes) | Improves vertical resolution on low-frequency signals (e.g., 12 bits at 50 µs/div and slower) |
Waveform Measurements and Analysis
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Automatic Measurements | Period, Frequency, Rise Time, Fall Time, +Width, -Width, +Duty Cycle, -Duty Cycle, +Overshoot, -Overshoot, Peak-to-Peak, Amplitude, High, Low, Max, Min, Mean, Cycle Mean, RMS, Cycle RMS, Area, Cycle Area, Delay, Phase |
| Basic Math Functions | Add, subtract, multiply |
| Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) | Spectral magnitude with Hanning, Hamming, Blackman-Harris, Rectangular, Kaiser-Bessel windows (with Option 2F) |
Display and User Interface
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Color Grading / Intensity Modulation | Variable persistence monochrome display |
Processor and Storage
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Removable Storage Options | 3.5-inch 1.44 MB floppy disk drive |
Environmental Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature Range | -22 to +60 °C |
| Operating Humidity Range | Up to 95% RH at or below +30 °C; up to 45% RH up to +50 °C |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 4,572 m (15,000 ft) |
| Non-Operating Altitude | Up to 12,190 m (40,000 ft) |
Physical Characteristics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Benchtop |
Auxiliary Ports
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Probe Compensator Output Amplitude | 0.5 V (into ≥1 MΩ) |
| Probe Compensator Output Frequency | 1 kHz |
Storage & File System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Internal Setup Storage Capacity | 10 setups |
| Internal Reference Waveform Storage | 4 waveforms |
| Floppy Disk Drive Format | 3.5 in, 1.44 MB or 720 KB |
General Specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Warm-up Time | 20 minutes |
Inputs & Outputs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| External Video Output | 15-pin D-sub (VGA) connector |
| Probe Interface | TekProbe BNC (with power and encoding pins) |
| Trigger Output | TTL compatible, 50 Ω output impedance |
Accessories
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard Probes Included | 2× P6139A (10× passive, 500 MHz) |
Compliance & Safety
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Safety Certifications | UL 1244, CSA C22.2 No. 231, EN 61010-1 |
| EMC Compliance | FCC Part 15 Class A, EN 55011 Class A |
Environmental
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Vibration (Operating) | 0.31 g RMS, 5 Hz to 500 Hz |
| Vibration (Non-Operating) | 2.46 g RMS, 5 Hz to 500 Hz |
| Shock (Non-Operating) | 50 g (half-sine, 11 ms duration) |
Technology
Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO)
Applications
Electronic design, debug, and test