TDS540

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The Tektronix TDS540 is a 500 MHz, 1 GS/s quad-channel digital scope introduced in 1992.

Key Specifications

Bandwidth	500 MHz
Rise time	700 ps
Sample rate	1 GS/s (only 1 ch ) / 500 MS/s (only 2 ch) / 250 MS/s (all ch)
Time base	500 ps/div to 10 s/div
Deflection	1 mV/div to 10 V/div
Resolution	8 bits / 12 bits (HI-RES Mode)
Record length	500 to 15 k points ( Opt. 1M: 50 k points)
Input impedance	1 MΩ//10 pF / 50 Ω
Features	GPIB standard

Standard probes: Four P6139A

Options

• 05 - Video Trigger
• 13 - RS-232/Centronics Hardcopy Interface
• 1K - K420 Oscilloscope Cart without power strip
• 1M - 50k Memory Length
• 1R - Rackmount
• 23 - Add two each P6205 Active Probes
• 25 - Add four P6563A SMD probes
• 2F - ADVANCED DSP MATH

Internals

The TDS540 uses an amplifier IC, U1000, U1200, U1300, and U1400, part number 155-0378-00, which is a packaging of the M377. The TDS540B uses the TriStar DSP.

Software

• TDS540 V1.3 Field Adjustment Software (ZIP)
• TDS540 V1.4 Field Adjustment Software 063-0935-xx (ZIP)
• TDS540/540A V1.4 Field Adjustment Software (ZIP)
• TDS540/540A V1.6 Field Adjustment Software 063-1642-00 (ZIP)
• TDS540/540A V1.11 Field Adjustment Software (ZIP)
• TDS540B Field Adjustment Software 063-2601-00 (ZIP)
• TDS540C Field Adjustment Software 063-2774-01 (ZIP)
• TDS540C/540D V1.129 Field Adjustment Software (ZIP)
• TDS540C/540D V1.129 Field Adjustment Software 063-3289-01 (ZIP)
• See also TDS Series Software

Firmware

• TDS540 v2.16e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540A v3.8.3e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540B v4.1e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540C v5.0e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540C v5.1.1e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540C v5.2e Firmware (ZIP)
• TDS540C v5.3e Firmware (ZIP)

Prices

Year	Catalog price	In 2026 dollars
2000	$17,990	~$34,000

Repair issues

A common failure reason on early TDS-family scopes are surface-mounted capacitors leaking corrosive electrolyte.

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  Crusty solder joint of surface-mounted electrolytic capacitor. It is an alarm sign.

Pictures

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  SMD caps recapped Acquisition-Board "A10"

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  Option 05 Internal Parts

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  Option HD Internal Parts, 2.5" Disk Version

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  Option HD Internal Parts, PCMCIA Disk Version

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  Listing for the TDS540C from the Newark catalog in 2000

Part numbers of included PCB by TDS540

Part No	Description	Module numbers
672-1476-0x	Acquisition board	A10
672-2045-0x	Acquisition board (1M Option)	A10
671-1477-01/02	DRAM/CPU/Display board (1M Option)	A11
671-2002-01/02	DRAM/CPU/Display board	A11
614-0890-00	Front panel assembly	A12
614-0896-00/01	Front panel assembly	A12
671-1701-00/01	Firmware board	A13
671-1568-00	D1 Bus	A14
119-4092-0x	Attenuator assembly	A15
119-3371-0x	Power supply unit	A16
119-4415-0x	Power supply unit	A16
640-0071-00/01	CRT Display assembly	A20

Assembly part numbers

Assy	Description	TDS540 P/N	TDS540A P/N	TDS540B P/N	TDS540C P/N	TDS540D P/N
A10	Acquisition board	672-1476-0x	672-1408-xx	-	671-4039-01
A10	Acquisition board (1M Opt.)	-	-	-	671-4041-00
A11	DRAM/CPU/Display board	671-2002-01/02	671-2771-xx	-	671-4002-00
A11	DRAM/CPU/Display board	671-1477-01/02(1M Opt.)	-	-	671-4171-00
A12	Front panel assembly	-	614-2469-xx	-	614-0935-03
A12	Front panel assembly	-	-	-	614-0937-02
A13	Firmware board	671-1701-00/01	-	-	-
A14	D1 Bus	671-1568-00	671-2846-xx	-	671-2847-00
A14	D1 Bus (Opt. 05)	-	-	-	671-2848-00
A15	Attenuator assembly	119-4092-0x	-	-	-
A16	Power supply unit	119-3371-0x	-	-	620-0063-04
A16	Power supply unit	119-4415-0x	-	-	-
A20	CRT Display assembly	640-0071-00/01	640-0071-xx	640-0071-06	640-0071-06	-
A23	RS232/Centronics assembly	640-2437-00	640-2437-00	640-2437-00	640-2437-00	-

Components

Some Parts Used in the TDS540

Some Parts Used in the TDS540A

Part	Part Number(s)	Class	Description	Used in
155-0378-00	155-0378-00 • 155-0378-01	Monolithic integrated circuit	amplifier	TDS410 • TDS420 • TDS430 • TDS460 • TDS540 • TDS540A • TDS544 • TDS520 • TDS520A • TDS524A

Some Parts Used in the TDS540B

Some Parts Used in the TDS540D