Recommend good probes for Tek TDS 754A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 12:50:49 am
content: Hi, I recently picked up a tek TDS 754A for a really good price, but I only got a couple crappy probes with it. A no-name junker that won't pass probe cal and a Tek 6053b. When I tried to adjust the compensation on the no-name it didn't even do anything. I turned the screw about 20 turns and no effect at all. What are some decent probes I should be looking for? Is the 6053b OK, or is it a junker? I have been looking at the 6139a's on eBay.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:57:38 pm
content: The Tek P6139A is the correct probe for the job, it's the nicest probe I've used and, sadly, also the most expensive. They do come up for sale occasionally.If you don't need the full bandwidth of the scope, Testec do some very inexpensive probes which aren't bad - but a scope like that is wasted with them really.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 07:25:32 pm
content: Thanks for the recommendation and info Andy! I guess I'll just keep an eye out for some 6139's at a decent price.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 05:16:55 am
content: The P6139A it the most popular probe. They make the 6139B now. You can also try to find the P5050. Sometimes you can find a good deal on active probes such as P6205, P6243, or P6245 but you have to be careful to get them with the accessories and make sure the cables are good.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 07:27:14 am
content: I don't like the 6139B at all. It's bigger, the connection to the scope seems quite loose, and the ground ring at the tip is very narrow compared to the all-metal sleeve you get on the 6139A.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 09:07:44 pm
content: It looks like all the new Tektronix probes are less modular and there is more plastic molding involved. some of the B generation probes have even less bandwidth.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 09:27:28 pm
content: The TPP* series have some interesting specs: 4 pF loading, a 1 GHz high-Z passive probe, a 500 MHz 2x probe. They are TekVPI only, however. In general, I wouldn't expect too much innovation now that they've been bought by Danaher. Many accessories have been discontinued. For example, the 3.5 mm probes like the P6139a had alarge number of useful accessories. The accessory list for the P6139b is much shorter.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2013, 08:17:15 am
content: Good news! The scope I bought has a little bit of smearing/lines on the display after it warms up so the seller has offered to send me an 6139A probe with all accessories for free to make up for that. Awesome guy! I am working around the display issue with a $5 flatscreen I picked up at a garage sale today!

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2013, 08:43:36 pm
content: Heads up - there's some cheap 6139As on Ebay right now:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1pc-Tektronix-P6139A-500-MHz-Passive-Voltage-Probe-tested-/140709861514?_trksid=p3984.m2206&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D129%26meid%3D7682776459956243196%26pid%3D100052%26prg%3D1108%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D380469535406%26I've no idea what their condition is like, but at the price it might even be worth ordering a spare or two.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 01:57:46 am
content: Nice, thanks!

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2014, 12:32:23 am
content: Any reason to think a 6137 might work better than a 6139A with a Tektronix 2467B, or is the 6139A with it's higher bandwidth going to be clearly the better probe? Thanks