Oscilloscope probes

Tektronix made Oscilloscope probes in a number of standardized mechanical dimensions so that accessories like tips or hooks could be interchanged.

The standards include

• 6-32 probes (#6-32 UNC thread)
• Miniature modular probes (5 mm tip diameter)
• Compact modular probes (3.5 mm tip diameter)
• Subminiature modular probes (2.5 mm tip diameter)
• 4 mm
• SMD

From an electrical perspective, probes can be classified into passive and active probes, and further categorized into these categories.

The "ABCs of Probes" has been Tek's standard publication about probes over the years. It has been updated many times, adding newer models and deleting obsolete ones. Especially for Classic Tek lovers, the older versions (see list below) are still valuable.

See also

• Circuit Concepts: Oscilloscope Probe Circuits (published 1969, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published 1990, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published January 2004, Wrong image in Figure 1.11C, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published January 2005, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published December 2009, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published March 2013, PDF)
• Tektronix ABC's of Probes (published January 2016, PDF)
• Tek Scopes and Vertical Amplifiers to Tek Probes Cross-Reference (published 1990, PDF)