Tektronix TLS216 - Really 2GS/s sampling rate on ALL 16 analog channels? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 07:00:19 pm
content: The Tektronix TLS216 is a 500 MHz oscilloscope with 16 analog channels.Does it really have a 2GS/s sampling rate on ALL 16 analog channels?That's seems quite remarkable! Wonder what hardware they used in there? 16 ADC modules?What about the bandwidth? Does that drop when you use several analog channels at the same time?If there is no limitation, neither on the bandwidth and the sampling rate, when using all 16 analog channels at the same time, this scope seems very impressive!So what's the catch behind this? It is real-time sampling right? And not equivalent time sampling, right?What am I missing here then?

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 07:21:58 pm
content: If you look at the overview secion ofproduct specificationsit clearly says2-GS/s Simultaneous Sampling on All Channelsand if you look at the specifications it says 16 channels, 16 samplers, 2GS/s. I guess, on its own,samplerscould mean sample and hold circuits which is then interfaced to one or more ADCs but in this case it doesn't - or so it appears.I've personally never seen that machine Before so thanks for pointing it out. Must have cost a fortune when it was introduced.....

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 08:17:56 pm
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on January 12, 2016, 07:00:19 pmYes.QuoteNo.Quote500-2000 point record lengthrequires special probesvertical sensitivity 50mV/div

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 09:11:29 pm
content: No BNC inputs.Maximum Input Voltage - Max nondestructive input ±25 V (DC + Peak AC)

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 09:39:54 pm
content: I guess it's an analog logic analyzer in that senseDoes it contain any kind of protocol decoding?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2016, 09:58:46 pm
content: No. It is way too old for that. Don't waste time or money on this piece of antique.

author: madao
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2019, 04:14:17 pm
content: I have here TLS216.Yes, it has 500Mhz Bandwidth., verified.But ,obviously, no potocool decoding.TLS216 is really sluggish by operation.16 ch and 2Gs/s at all channel, it is possible, because Tek has using four TDS640 acquisition chipset (one Chipset = 4 channel).But TDS640 has a big disadvantage: No peak dectet-acquisition, high WFM/s-Acquisition is impossible.Reason: TDS640 ADC is CCD-based, 2 Gs/s-CCD and 10Ms/s ADC. To much dead times.Many TLS216 has problem with bad SMD capacitor. My TLS216 is very late TLS216 with TDS700A-CPU Board without capacitor issues, but old firmware(V1.0.3e).RegardsMatt

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 02:03:30 am
content: Quote from: madao on December 14, 2019, 04:14:17 pmEarlier and later Tektronix CCD based DSOs did implement peak detection. It was missing in the early TDS based CCD models.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 01:18:29 pm
content: The SMD caps on teks from this series/vintage are notoriously shortlived. On the bright side: probes are pretty cheap

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 02:13:55 pm
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on December 15, 2019, 01:18:29 pmThat depends on the age of the device. If you have one from after '94 /95' the caps are OK. From the small sample of scopes I have had through my hands only the earlier models where affected.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 02:19:45 pm
content: That fan looks like it came out of a 300A TIG-welder or something, must be a noisy machine that TLS216

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 02:24:44 pm
content: Quote from: H.O on December 15, 2019, 02:19:45 pmIt isn't. The fans in these oscilloscopes seem to be a special low-RPM version. In later models Tektronix fitted a smaller (but still low noise) fan. Maybe the manufacturer of the fan was no longer interested in making the special version.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 03:32:29 pm
content: If you look at his picture, you'll find the small SMD elcos that cause the problem. Later model caps have tantalums instead I think.

author: madao
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 04:04:11 pm
content: No, my TLS216 has SMD eletrolytics, but it is good.Nippon Chemicon is manufactur of this electrolytics and has solved this problem in circa 1994. My TLS216 is from 1996. It has not issues with leaking SMD electrolytics. Same, nctnico says it. It confirm my experience.Quote from: nctnico on December 15, 2019, 02:13:55 pmFan runs really slow.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 07:13:27 pm
content: Quote from: Ice-Tea on December 15, 2019, 03:32:29 pmNo, ceramics but you can't replace all electrolytics with ceramics if you want to refurbish one of the TDS500/600/700 series scopes. The circuits are designed for electrolytics. Never ever replace electrolytics or ceramic with tantalum capacitors; chances are you reduce the life time because tantalums have constraints on di/dt.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 07:15:46 pm
content: Nah, I just replace them with new, longer life elcos..

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 07:32:18 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 15, 2019, 07:13:27 pmTantalum capacitors have di/dt limits however they are increased greatly with proper voltage derating so this is rarely a problem in bulk decoupling applications. I would not hesitate to use them and often have for *greater* reliability in the sense that I will not have to change a dried up aluminum electrolytic capacitor again.Replacing a bulk output capacitor would be much more problematical and in old equipment, hermetically sealed solid or wet tantalum capacitors were often used. Their construction differences give them much higher di/dt limits.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 07:57:36 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on December 15, 2019, 07:32:18 pmA reasonable quality electrolytic which isn't subjected to heat (either by large ripple currents or sitting next to a heat sink) has decades of life time. The only electrolytics I have replaced where damaged by heat. Tantalums OTOH tend to fail allover the place randomly. I never use tantalums in my designs for that reason. Either ceramic or electrolytics.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2019, 08:09:04 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 15, 2019, 07:57:36 pmModern tantalums are very reliable if properly derated and used within their surge current rating.I have replaced aluminum electrolytic capacitors in some modern designs which could only last not much longer than a year because of insufficient derating. Instead of using a much larger aluminum electrolytic, I selected a suitable tantalum part.