SG504

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix SG504 is a leveled sinewave generator plug-in for the TM500 system.

Key Specifications

Frequency range	50 kHz or 6 MHz (Ref), 245 MHz to 550 MHz (Lo), 495 MHz to 1050 MHz (Hi)
Output amplitude	0.5 Vp-p to at least 4 Vp-p, flat to within ±4%
Monitor output	0.3 Vp-p into 50 Ω
FM input	±9 V into 50 kΩ (DC to 100 kHz) produces ±0.05% to ±0.4% deviation depending on frequency

Output Head

The SG504 is usually found on Ebay without the output head (015-0282-00). David Partridge did an excellent teardown and reverse engineering of the output head and sells kits to make new heads.

It's fairly easy to use that schematic to make a new level head that fits in a standard BNC Pomona box since its function is really just a 250 MHz to 1050 MHz temperature compensated power meter with 50 Ω feed-thru. See the pictures for an example.

As of April 2016, Ebay seller "ancelb" is selling SG504 leveling (output) heads that are specified to perform much better than the original Tektronix heads. See photo below.

There is an open source project to replace the output head at hackaday.io.

Prices

Year	1979	1980
Catalog Price	$2,295	$2,350
In 2023 Dollars	$9,700	$8,800

According to an internal memo, annual sales were estimated at 350 units in 1979.

Pictures

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  With output head (catalog picture)

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  Late Revision Front Panel with LED Frequency Readout

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  SG504 in TM515 with other TM500 gear

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  Service Note Fig.1

Output Head

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  Home-made output head

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  SG504 head being produced and sold on Ebay by seller "ancelb"