R7103

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix R7103 is a 1 GHz mainframe, the rack-mount version of the 7104. It takes 7000-series plug-ins, two vertical and one horizontal.

The scope employs a micro-channel plate CRT design to get good screen intensity at high sweep speeds with moderate acceleration voltage.

Many R7103s were used in nuclear instrumentation, i.a. because

[...] Waveforms as fast as 1 ns per division can now be recorded on high-quality films substantially resistant to unwanted radiation exposure.

[... The MCP] provides a gain in waveform brightness of several thousands. This level of brightness allows for a selection of film-processing combinations that are highly resistant to unwanted radiation.

Key Specifications

Bandwidth	1 GHz (with 7A29) — rise time < 350 ps
Fastest calibrated sweep	200 ps/Div (with 7B10)
Features	Micro channel plate CRT Readout 2 probe power connectors

Links

• R7103 "teardown" with lots of internal pictures

Patents that may apply to R7103

Page	Title	Inventors	Filing date	Grant date	Links
Patent US 4142128A	Box-shaped scan expansion lens for cathode ray tube	Conrad Odenthal	1977-04-18	1979-02-27	T7100 • T7101 • 7104 • R7103
Patent US 4132958A	Feedbeside correction circuit for an amplifier	John Addis • Bruce Hofer	1977-10-31	1979-01-02	R7103 • 7104 • 7A29 • 7F10

Prices

Mainframe only Year Catalog price In 2026 dollars 1985 $22,920 ~$70,300 1990 $30,200 ~$76,300

Mainframe + 7A29 + 7B10 Year Catalog price In 2026 dollars 1985 $28,155 ~$86,400 1990 $37,075 ~$93,700

Pictures

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  Channel switch

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Mighty Oak Nuclear Test Incident

"MIGHTY OAK was conducted on April 10, 1986, below the surface of Rainier Mesa in the T-tunnel complex. Containment of MIGHTY OAK was satisfactory in that there was no accidental release of radioactivity to the atmosphere whatsoever. However, the tunnel grout in the near-cavity region was not sufficiently constrained. Failure of this plug led to the subsequent failure of the mechanical closure systems and to the eventual flow of cavity gas, plug material, and other debris down the line-of-sight (LOS) pipe to the experiment chamber and the tunnel complex beyond."

The Mighty Oak containment failure in the tunnel reportedly destroyed 100+ oscilloscopes.

"All of the diagnostic equipment, and much of the construction equipment in the tunnel complex were lost as a result of heat damage and radiation contamination. At present, the loss of normally recoverable and reusable equipment is reported at approximately 32 million dollars."

($32M in 1986 is almost $95M in 2025 dollars.)

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  Tek R7103s in instrumentation racks for the Mighty Oak nuclear test

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  Tektronix R7103 oscilloscopes destroyed in the Mighty Oak nuclear test

Components

Some Parts Used in the R7103