280

The Tektronix Type 280 Trigger Countdown Unit takes in a signal with repetition rate 50 MHz and 5 GHz and puts out a pulse train with repetition rate in the 15 to 45 MHz range.

The main purpose of the 280 is to extend the frequency range of the the trigger circuitry in sampling scopes. For example, consider a scope with a 3T77 and a 3S2 with S2 sampling heads. The S2 has response to at least 4 GHz but the 3T77 is only rated to trigger up to 300 MHz, so the setup cannot, for example, be used to observe a 2 GHz sinewave.

By using a Type 280, the 2 GHz sinewave can be fed to the Type 280, which will produce 15 to 45 MHz pulses whose leading edges are synchronized with the a particular trigger point in the 2 GHz signal. These lower frequency pulses can be fed to the 3T77, which will easily trigger.

The main concern with a setup like this is jitter. The 3T77 is rated at 50 ps jitter. The presence of the 280 does nothing to help the jitter of 3T77, so that becomes the limiting factor. Assuming that for a clear display, the triggering jitter must be less than 10% of the period of the observed signal, this gives a minimum signal period of 500 ps (2 GHz).

So the 280 extends the top of frequency range of the system from 300 MHz to 2 GHz. This was very useful with a 661 with a 4S2A and a 5T1.

The 5T1's maximum triggering frequency is 1 GHz and it has 30 ps of jitter. The 4S2A's frequency response extends to 3.5 GHz. Without the 280, the maximum sinewave frequency that can be observed is 1 GHz. With the 280 it is 3.5 GHz.

Later timing plug-ins like the 5T3 include built-in synchronizing circuits that eliminate the need for the countdown units such as the 280.

• Tektronix 280 Manual (PDF)

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