View source for TM500 system

The '''Tektronix TM500''' is a modular test equipment system offering a variety of plug-in modules that fit [[TM500 and TM5000 mainframes|a dedicated series of mainframes]] with one to six module slots.  The plugins are not compatible with other Tektronix lines such as oscilloscopes.  

The '''TM5000''' series, [[introduced in 1982]], added a [[GPIB interface]] on the mainframe to control intelligent plugins.  TM500 series modules work in TM5000 series mainframes but not necessarily vice versa (see ref. below).

In addition to the modules that appeared in Tek catalogs over the years, there were probably a hundred or more that Tektronix designed and used in-house on their production lines for test and calibration of their products. These in-house units usually have an [[:Category:Calibration fixtures|067-xxxx-xx number]].

There were also several other companies that made plugins that fit into the TM500/TM5000 mainframes. The most common non-Tek plugins seem to come from [[Pulse Instruments]], [[Spectracom]], [[General Optronics]], [[Lasertron]], [[Metrotek]], [[Xetron]], [[Ball Efratom]], [[Digital Audio Corporation]] and [[Ballantine]].  

==Mainframes and plug-ins==
* [[TM500 and TM5000 mainframes]]
* [[TM500 and TM5000 plug-ins]]

==Pinouts==
* [[TM500 Series plug-in interface]]
* [[TM5000 Series plug-in interface]]
* [[TM500 Series Rear Interface Data Book]]

==See also==
* [[Media:A-3183.pdf|TM500 Modular Test and Measurement Instruments Catalog]]
* [[Media:75W-6786-4.pdf|Modular Instruments Selection Guide]]
* [https://vintagetek.org/tm500-products/ TM500/5000 Products] @ vintagetek.org
* [[List of TM500 and TM5000 equipment]]
* [[TM500 and TM5000 pass transistors]]

==Links==
* [http://philippe.demerliac.free.fr/Tek.htm Plugin hacking] and [http://philippe.demerliac.free.fr/TekLab.htm homebuilt plugins] (French)
* TekWeek 1982: [https://vintagetek.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NAB_TW_04021982.pdf Tektronix taking new products to NAB] convention in Dallas, TX
{{Documents|Link=TM500 system}}
{{Documents|Link=TM5000 system}}

==Instruments==
===TM500 Series===
====Tektronix====
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====3rd party====
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===TM5000 Series===
====Tektronix====
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[[Category:TM500/TM5000 system]]
[[Category:Introduced in 1972]]