TDS784

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix TDS784 is a 1 GHz, 4 GS/s quad-channel digital storage scope.

There are four variants, all with the same specs but different hardware/software loads − TDS784A, B, C & D. Of these, the C and D models are the least problematic and most sought-after.

Specifications

Acquisition

• Sample rate: 1 channel @ 4 GS/s, 2 channels @ 2 GS/s, 3 or 4 channels @ 1 GS/s
• Analog bandwidth: 1 mV/div: 500 MHz, 2 mV/div: 600 MHz, 5 mV/div: 750 MHz, >= 10 mV/div: 1 GHz
• Resolution: 8 bit
• Record lengths: 50k samples per channel (500k with option 1M)
• Modes: sample, envelope, average, high-resolution, and peak-detect

Misc

• Display: color; Zoom
• Trigger modes Include: edge, logic, and pulse. Video trigger, with option 05 (NTSC, SECAM, PAL, HDTV, and FlexFormat)
• Storage: 1.44 Mbyte, 3.5 inch, DOS 3.3-or-later floppy disk. NVRAM storage for saving waveforms, hardcopies, and setups
• Units with option HD present (requires additional hardware) have a hard disk drive
• I/O: Full GPIB programmability
• Hardcopy output using GPIB, RS-232, or Centronics ports

Manuals

• TDS 410A, 420A, 460A, 520A, 524A, 540A, 544A, 620A, 640A, 644A, 684A, 744A & 784A Programmer Manual 070-8709-07 (PDF)
• TDS684A, 744A, 784A Performance Verification and Specifications 070-8990-04 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS684A, 744A, 784A User Manual 070-8991-02 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS 684A, 744A, and 784A Service Manual 070-8992-03 (PDF)
• TDS684A, 744A, 784A Reference 070-8999-02 (PDF)
• TDS 520B, 540B, 620B, 644B, 680B, 684B, 724A, 744A, and 784A Digitizing Oscilloscopes Performance Verification and Specifications 070-9384-01 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS520B, 540B, 620B, 644B, 680B, 684B, 724A, 744A, 784A Service Manual 070-9386-03 (PDF)
• TDS 500B, 600B, and 700A Digitizing Oscilloscopes 070-9719-00 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500C, 600B, 700C Reference 070-9861-00 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500C, 600B, 700C User Manual 070-9869-00 (PDF)
• TDS500C-600B-700C Technical Reference 070-9874-02 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500C, 600B, 700C Service Manual 070-9875-04 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500C, 600B, 700C User Manual Supplement 071-0090-01 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500D, 600C, 700D User Manual Supplement 071-0273-02 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500D, 600C, 700D User Manual Supplement EN/FR/DE/KR/JP 071-0273-03 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500C/D, 600C, 700C/D/L HDD Upgrade Manual 071-0442-02 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500D, 600C, 700D Reference 071-0504-00 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500D, 600C, 700D, 714L Service Manual 071-0627-02 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS500D, 600C, 700D, 714L Performance Verification and Specifications 071-0630-03 (PDF)
• Tektronix TDS700D Datasheet 55W_11336_4 (PDF)

Software

• Tektronix TDS300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 AWE Drivers 066008700 (ZIP)
• Tektronix TDS520C, 540C, 580C, 724C, 754C, 784C Custom Masks (ZIP)
• Tektronix Wavestar 2012.05.09.11.07.29 16456 EN (ZIP) (102Mb)

Options

• 05 - Video Trigger - Oscilloscope comes with tools that allow investigation of a range of NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and high definition TV signals.
• 1M - 4M acquisition length - Extends standard acquisition length from 50,000 points per channel to 130,000 samples on three or four channels, 250,000 samples on two channels, and 500,000 samples on one channel.
• 13 - RS-232C and Centronics hardcopy interfaces - Add RS-232-C and Centronics interface ports.
• 1F - Floppy disk drive - Add 3.5 inch, 1.44 MByte floppy disc drive.
• 2F - Advanced DSP math - Add advanced DSP math features such as FFT, integration, and differentiation.
• 2C - Communication Signal Analyzer - Oscilloscope comes configured for communications signal triggering and mask testing.
• 3C - P6701B with system calibration - Oscilloscope comes with a P6701B and calibrated short-wavelength optical reference receiver on channel 1.
• 4C - P6703B with system calibration - Oscilloscope comes with a P6703B and calibrated long-wavelength optical reference receiver on channel 1.
• 2M - 8M acquisition length - TDS 520D, 724D: To 2M samples on two channels and 4M on one channel. TDS 540D, 580D, 714L, 754D, 784D, 794D: To 2M samples on three or four channels, 4M on two channels, and 8M samples on one channel (Option includes a hard disk and is only available for the models listed above.)

Links

• Tek Forum threads:
  • Recovering the unit from a bricked state
  • Firmware updating
  • Backing up and restoring calibration data
• EEVBlog Forum Threads:
  • Conversion of 500 MHz TDS744A to 1 GHz TDS784A
  • EEVBlog Forum thread on TDS options and how to enable them
  • Firmware update via GPIB
• Simmconn Labs LCD replacement kits for CRT-based TDS O-scopes

Internals

For units with serial numbers prior to B04xxxx, the latest known firmware revision is 6.6e. For units with serial numbers B04xxxx and above, the last known version is 7.4e. Note that, due to differences in acquisition and CPU board hardware, release 7.4e will not work in the earlier revision units. Early revision units may have a CPU board P/N of 679-4172-00. The later revision is 679-4349-00.

It is also worth noting the TDS754 and TDS784 series are nearly identical, with the differences being in front-panel cosmetics and the presence (754) or absence (784) of a few capacitors on the acquisition board. The only other difference is the position of instrument ID jumpers, also on the acquisition board. In fact, it is entirely possible to convert a 754 to a 784 (see the 'Links' section).

Note that any kind of firmware updating of the 784 (and most other similar TDS scopes) requires very specific equipment, starting with an older computer (ISA slots required) running MS-DOS 5.x or later as well as Windows 98SE. To interface with the scope, you will need a National Instruments PC/GPIB-II ISA-based (8-bit) GPIB board or a National Instruments AT-GPIB (16-bit) board and appropriate drivers. The software required to do the update (Tektool or Tekfwtool) also runs under DOS (or a DOS box in Windows 98). Information on this tool can be found in the Links section in the thread describing firmware updates.

Actual calibration requires the above computer, the specific PC/GPIB-II card and drivers and an MS-DOS environment. You will also need an Analogic/Data Precision model 8200 DC voltage standard and a leveled sine-wave generator capable of going up to 1 GHz (if you're just doing a 754, you can get away with a 500 MHz top end). Naturally, Tek used the SG503 and SG504.

The reason for the specific model of voltage standard is because that's the model Tektronix wrote the calibration software for. During the calibration process, it issues automated commands specific to the Analogic.

Note that in the TDS700D series, the acquisition board variant is important — the CPU Board with Firmware 7.xx cannot be used together with the old acquisition board, and the CPU board with old Firmware 6.xx doesn't run with the new acquisition board. The fact that the CPU board has part number 671-4349-00 is by itself not a reliable indication of a compatible firmware version.

Finally, for those with a dimming CRT, Simmconn Labs has developed a color LCD panel kit to replace said CRT in most of the TDS series which use them.

Pictures

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