581

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 581 is a 100 MHz tube scope introduced in 1959 as a single time base version of the 585. It was designed by John Gates. Like all 580-series scopes, it uses 580-series plug-ins.

The 58x series were the first Tektronix scopes to use distributed deflection plates and the last to use distributed amplifiers for vertical deflection. At 100 MHz (down-rated to 95 MHz in 1962 and 85 MHz for the 581A) with the Type 80 plug-in and up to 85 MHz with the dual-channel Type 82, they were the highest-speed general purpose scopes of Tek's tube scope era (the 1 GHz 519 was specialized with no vertical amplifier).

The vertical signal path of the 581 is the same as that of the 585. It uses the T581 CRT. Type 581 scopes with serial numbers up to 510 use an all-tube trigger circuit. Starting at serial number 511, the 581 uses tunnel diode triggering.

A Type 581A was introduced in 1963, and it is specified to have a bandwidth of 85 MHz instead of 100 MHz. The somewhat relaxed bandwidth specification improved CRT production yield which had been a problem when the scope was specified to 100 MHz.

Key Specifications

Rise time	3.5 ns with Type 80 plugin and P80 probe
Timebase	50 ns/Div to 2 s/Div, 1−2−5, variable ×2.5, magnifier ×5, single sweep; X input
CRT	T581, distributed vertical deflection plates, 10 kV acceleration
Outputs	A Sawtooth, A Gate, B Gate, Calibrator (0.2 mV to 100 Vp-p, 1−2−5)

Pictures

581

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  early 581

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  wrinkle and chrome from early 581

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  TD trigger instead of 6DJ8 trigger

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  Selenium rectifier

581A

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  581A

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Schematics

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  early model 581 trigger using tubes

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  late model 581 trigger using tunnel diode

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  581 vertical output amp (distributed amplifier) driving CRT

Components

Some plug-ins / accessories compatible with 580-series scopes

Page	Manufacturer	Model	Description	Introduced	Discontinued
80	Tektronix	80	vertical amplifier	1959	(?)
81	Tektronix	Type 81	plug-in adapter	1960	1972
82	Tektronix	82	85 MHz dual-trace amplifier	1962	1972
84	Tektronix	84	calibration fixture	1962	(?)
86	Tektronix	86	vertical amplifier	1963	1972
TU-3	Tektronix		calibration fixture	(?)	(?)