R

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix Type R is a plug-in for 500-series scopes. It is designed to measure risetime of NPN and PNP transistors, but it also works well with FETs.

Type R can operate in grounded-emitter or grounded-base configurations. In the grounded-emitter configuration, it provides a variable collector voltage through a collector resistor which is used to sense the collector current. It provides a base bias voltage and a base pulse signal, fed to the base of the transistor through a resistor.

Type R was introduced in 1958, along with the 551, 533, and 543 mainframes, and the Type H plug-in. It is the first plug-in with transistors. It was dropped after 1966.

Key Specifications

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Prices

Year	Catalog price	In 2026 dollars
1959	$300	~$3,400

Internals

The base pulse is generated by a mercury switch and its rise time is specified to be less than 5 nanoseconds. Base and collector bias conditions can be set independently.

The collector signal is AC-coupled to an amplifier whose output is fed to the oscilloscope. The Type R has its own on-board low-voltage, high-current regulated power supplies which feature germanium power transistors.

Pictures

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  Type R plug-in with fixtures

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Late serial number Type R

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  Type R with 386-852

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  386-852, 386-853, 386-854, 386-855, 386-856, and 386-857 fixtures for use with Type R.

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Components

Some Parts Used in the R