Tektronix TDS700 Series Digital Oscilloscopes
10 models with full specifications from Tektronix.
The Tektronix TDS700 series—encompassing the standard, A, C, and D revisions—consists of high-performance digital oscilloscopes designed for electronic design, high-speed debugging, and telecom analysis. This family supports bandwidths ranging from 500 MHz up to 2 GHz, with 2-channel or 4-channel options. Equipped with advanced display technologies and flexible acquisition options, these instruments help engineers isolate rare anomalies and characterize complex signals. This guide explains the shared features and performance differences across the series to assist in selecting the correct model for specific measurement requirements.
- Bandwidth Range
- 500 MHz to 2 GHz
- Channel Options
- 2 or 4 analog channels
- Max Real-Time Sample Rate
- Up to 4 GS/s
- Standard Interfaces
- GPIB (IEEE-488.2)
Models in this series
| Model | Type | Display | Acquisition Modes | Input Impedance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS784D | Digital | Color CRT | FastFrame™ with Time Stamp | 1 MΩ ±0.5% || 10 pF, 50 Ω ±1% |
| TDS754D | Digital | Color NuColor LCS CRT | Sample, Envelope, Average, Peak Detect, Hi Res | 1 MΩ ±0.5% or 50 Ω ±1% |
| TDS744A | Digital | Color | Sample, Envelope, Average, High Resolution, Peak Detect, InstaVu | 1 MΩ or 50 Ω |
| TDS754C | Digital | 7-inch NuColor CRT | Sample, Envelope, Average, Peak Detect, Hi-Res, InstaVu | 1 MΩ ±0.5% || 10 pF ±2 pF, or 50 Ω ±1% |
| TDS784A | Digital | CRT display | Sample, Peak Detect, Hi‑Res, Average, Envelope | — |
| TDS794D | Digital | — | — | — |
| TDS784C | Digital | 7-inch NuColor liquid-crystal shutter color display, 640 × 480 resolution | Sample, Envelope, Average, Peak Detect, High Resolution (Hi-Res) | 1 MOhm in parallel with 10 pF, or 50 Ohm (selectable) |
| TDS754A | Digital | Color CRT (NuColor liquid crystal shutter display) | — | 1 MΩ or 50 Ω |
| TDS724D | *misc | 7-inch Color CRT (NuColor) | Sample, Envelope, Average, High Resolution, Peak Detect | 1 MΩ || 10 pF, or 50 Ω |
| TDS724A | *misc | 7-inch NuColor Liquid Crystal Shutter Color CRT, 640 × 480 pixels | Sample, Envelope, Average, Peak Detect, High Resolution, InstaVu | 1 MΩ in parallel with 10 pF, or 50 Ω |
Bandwidth and Channel Options
The series is divided into three performance tiers based on analog bandwidth. The 500 MHz tier includes the 2-channel Tektronix TDS724A and Tektronix TDS724D, alongside the 4-channel Tektronix TDS744A, Tektronix TDS754A, Tektronix TDS754C, and Tektronix TDS754D. These instruments offer a calculated rise time of 700 ps. The 1 GHz tier contains the 4-channel Tektronix TDS784A, Tektronix TDS784C, and Tektronix TDS784D, which reduce calculated rise times to 350 ps. At the top of the range is the 2 GHz, 4-channel Tektronix TDS794D, designed for higher-speed electronic characterization.
Sample Rates and Acquisition Modes
Real-time sampling performance varies depending on the active channel configuration. For instance, the Tektronix TDS784A, Tektronix TDS784C, and Tektronix TDS794D deliver a maximum real-time sample rate of 4 GS/s when using a single channel, which drops to 2 GS/s on two channels, and 1 GS/s across four channels. The Tektronix TDS754A provides up to 2 GS/s on one channel, 1 GS/s on two channels, and 500 MS/s when three or four channels are active. The 2-channel Tektronix TDS724D supports a maximum sample rate of 1 GS/s.
Waveform Capture and Display Technologies
Several models in this family use Tektronix's InstaVu acquisition technology to help isolate transient glitches. The Tektronix TDS724A, Tektronix TDS724D, Tektronix TDS754C, and Tektronix TDS754D achieve capture rates exceeding 400,000 waveforms per second in InstaVu mode. The Tektronix TDS784D supports capture rates of up to 200,000 waveforms per second. For multi-dimensional viewing, the Tektronix TDS794D utilizes Digital Phosphor Oscilloscope (DPO) technology. Color displays are standard, with many models featuring a 7-inch NuColor liquid crystal shutter color CRT.
Connectivity and Physical Specifications
For test system integration, all models include a standard GPIB interface. The Tektronix TDS744A and Tektronix TDS724D also feature built-in VGA video output. Optional serial and parallel interfaces are available via Option 13 on models like the Tektronix TDS724A, Tektronix TDS754A, and Tektronix TDS784C. For data storage, several models feature a 3.5-inch floppy drive, while the Tektronix TDS784D also offers compatibility with Iomega Zip and Zip Plus drives. Physically, the instruments consume a maximum of 300 W from a 90 to 250 V power supply.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the standard vertical resolution of the TDS700 series?
- The baseline analog-to-digital converter resolution is 8 bits. However, on models like the Tektronix TDS784C and Tektronix TDS784D, using averaging can extend resolution to over 11 bits, and High Resolution mode can increase it to over 13 bits.
- What are the hardware bandwidth limit options on these models?
- Most models in the series, such as the Tektronix TDS724D, Tektronix TDS754C, Tektronix TDS754D, and Tektronix TDS784D, feature selectable hardware bandwidth limit filters at 20 MHz and 250 MHz to reduce unwanted high-frequency noise.
- Do these oscilloscopes require a warm-up period?
- Yes, models including the Tektronix TDS724A, Tektronix TDS724D, Tektronix TDS754A, Tektronix TDS784C, and Tektronix TDS794D require a 20-minute warm-up period to meet their warranted performance specifications.