543

The Tektronix Type 543 (rack mount RM43) is an all-tube 30 MHz scope introduced in 1958. It takes letter-series and 1-series plug-ins. It is similar to a 545, but without the second, delayed timebase. Instead, it has a range of horizontal magnifiers from ×2 to ×100.

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30 MHz scope

Produced from 1958 to 1973

Manuals

How to Adjust the Vertical Amplifier and Delay Line of a 540-Series Oscilloscope (PDF, OCR)

Tektronix 543 Factory Calibration Manual (PDF, OCR)

(All manuals in PDF format unless noted otherwise)

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

While the 545 has two non-calibrated X-input sensitivities, the 543 has an X input with calibrated deflection sensitivity of 0.1 V/cm, 1 V/cm, or 10 V/cm.

Key Specifications

	— 543 —
Bandwidth	DC to 30 MHz (≤ 3 dB) with Type K plug-in
Rise time	0.012 μs
Screen Area	4 cm × 10 cm
	— 543B —
Bandwidth	DC to 33 MHz (≤ 3 dB) with Type 1A1 plug-in
Rise time	0.010 μs
Screen Area	6 cm × 10 cm
	— all —
Line Voltage	108/115/122/216/230/244 V_AC ±10%, selected via primary voltage selector and voltage range selector switches, 50 Hz to 60 Hz
Thermal Protection	Automatic resetting thermal cutout, in case internal temperature exceeds safe operating level
Power Consumption	530 W with Type CA plug-in
Cooling	AC Fan
Trigger Modes	AC/DC/AC LF Reject, and HF Sync
Anode Potential	10 kV
Construction	Aluminum alloy chassis. Anodized front panel
Weight	27.8 kg (61.5 lbs)

Internals

The 543 has the same six-stage balanced distributed amplifier (twelve 6DK6 tubes) as the 545, driving a lumped L/C delay line just before the deflection plates.

Total acceleration voltage on the CRT is 10 kV. The CRT power supply uses five 5642 HV tube diodes. The standard CRT for the 543 is the T65 with P2 phosphor, part number 154-175.

The 543B is a tube/transistor hybrid scope. The vertical amplifier has a 6DJ8 cathode follower stage followed by two transistor/tube cascode stages with a 186 Ω delay line in-between. The standard CRT for the 543B is part number 154-0478-00, also known as the T5470-31-2. There is a rackmount version, Type RM543B.

Question: Does a model 543A exist? Yes, but 543A specification are needed.