can Tektronix TPP0500 probe be used with non-TEK oscilloscopes? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: analogRF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2019, 12:49:11 pm
content: I was looking at buying a TPP0500 or maybe TPP1000 passive probe but I only have siglent/ agilent infiniium/ and Lecroy wavepro oscilloscopesCan these probes be used on other non-TEK scopes?thanks

author: BrianH_Tektronix
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2019, 06:47:07 pm
content: The TPP0500 (10x 500MHz), TPP0502 (2x 500MHz), TPP1000 (10x 1GHz) are specially designed probes from Tektronix that interact with our pre-amplifier front end chipset. This enables you to auto-compensate (no need for an adjustment tool), and you only need to compensate it once per channel, and the calibration data is stored on the instrument. Plus you get industry leading low capacitance loading (3.9pF) and up to 1GHz system bandwidth at the tip of the probe. Honestly its the best passive probe on the market!!Because of its greatness and dependency on the pre-amp, it is only compatible with Tektronix oscilloscopes that have the VPI probe interface. This would be compatible on the:New instruments!3 Series MDO4 Series MSO5 Series MSO5 Series MSO Low Profile6 Series MSO6 Series Low Profile DigitizerOr legacy instruments...MDO3000MSO/DPO4000BMDO4000/B/CMSO/DPO5000/B

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2020, 07:44:50 am
content: sorry to necromongous this thread. but did a teardown of TPP0500 not so long ago, below is the pic. the TekVPI is barely fit pressed into my DS1054Z and surely can show some signals... it has 1 wire eeprom to store calibration/compensation data i guess. and i guess the probe can be used with normal dso without it. but 4pF impedance is the best you can get for passive probe up to 1GHz. i think TPP0500 can be upgraded to TPP1000 by just replacing the tip with the one used by TPP1000. also attached showing impedance on probe tip of Rigol RP2200 that came with DS1054Z and the TPP0500. fwiw..just found out this related and tear down post by Howardlong...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-probes-tpp0250-and-tpp0500b-whats-the-difference-teardown-time!/msg916426/#msg916426edit: maybe i posted too soon. compensation signal on DS1054Z with TP0500 is not so nice. (DS1Z_QuickPrint1.png) i think maybe because too much capacitance on the 100MHz BW DS1054Z input (13pF) checking with Lecroy SDA6000 scope, 1Vpp 5MHz compensation signal using AP-1M adapter to TP0500 (n1,n4 jpg, attenuation setting 1x, cant be set to 10X)... there is 15mV offset (translated to 20x15mV = 0.3V on proper 20X reading).. reference signal is using Lecroy AP020 active probe (using LPA-BNC adapter n10,n11 jpg)..conclusion: we'll need some tinkering to compensate this TP0500 probe if we want to use with another (esp lower BW) DSO. not sure with other high end DSO. fwiw...

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2020, 11:25:19 am
content: There was some speculation when it was first announced...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-2ghz-touchscreen-scope-from-tek-june-6th/msg1226965/#msg1226965But a more complete explanation here:https://www.tek.com/support/faqs/why-isnt-tpp1000-(tektronix-passive-probe-1ghz)-compatible-my-scopeSo its a semi active probe (or current mode if you prefer), with the active bit on the scope side.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2020, 12:57:30 pm
content: its still nearly 1/10X probe as i used and shown it on DS1054Z... its just DSO input must matched to it... or modding the probe tip to match lower end DSO. probe tip is printed resistive/capacitive elements on some roger material. so its a delicate job to add capacitance between tip end to the coax cable end at probe tip, and resulting in reduced probe BW. fwiw..

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2020, 09:24:08 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on March 28, 2020, 12:57:30 pmModify the termination to match the scope. It may not be possible to have it terminated for 1:10 attenuation cleanly, but most scopes will let you set scaling at 1:40 1:50 or 1:100 attenuation.

author: thmjpr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2020, 05:47:10 pm
content: Adding my own experience, bought TPP0502 from ebay thinking it might work (500Mhz 2:1), should have read this thread first! Not usable at low frequencies at all.Inside the board is identical to TPP1000. So the difference is in the tip as speculated in the thread below.TPP0502 tip resistance = 1.75MTPP1000 tip resistance = 9.73MLead resistance = 172RR1 - 100R2 - 50R3 - 3k12 (marked 3571)C1 - 2-7nF (?)C2 - 1pF (difficult to measure)C3 - 11pFhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/tektronix-probes-tpp0250-and-tpp0500b-whats-the-difference-teardown-time!/msg947270/#msg947270Anyone need one?