TekVPI connector

TekVPI interface with 250 kΩ termination capability (notch in the upper right)

The TekVPI interface was introduced in 2006 (superseding the TekConnect interface) and is used in MSO/DPO2000/3000/4000/5000/7000 series scopes as well as the new 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-series MSOs.

It consists of a plain BNC connector that allows traditional BNC based connections such as from passive probes, with additional surrounding contact pads carrying power and data.

The VPI connector saw several additions/modifications with intrduction of new scopes:

• The MDO Series introduced a notch on the upper right side of the connector to key compatibility of the new 1 GHz TPP1000 probes and their 250 kΩ termination as well as the automatic probe compensation feature.
• With the introduction of the 4-, 5- and 6-series MSOs, the VPI interface was extended to include bottom row of digital logic analyzer inputs, as well as a USB interface to access the new file system that some probes like the TDP77 series now have.

Evolution of Tektronix probe interfaces (click to enlarge)

Instruments and probes using TekVPI include

• TDP3500
• TDP1500
• TPP0500
• TPP0250
• TCP0150
• TCP0030
• TAP1500
• TCP0020
• TPP1000
• TPP0502
• THDP0200
• TMDP0200
• THDP0100
• TDP0500
• TDP1000
• TPP0850
• TPA
• TPA-BNC