Can you adapt keysight probes to other scopes? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ballsystemlord
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 02:42:48 pm
content: Hello,Wishing for an active probe, I looked online and found that many of the ones in the used market are keysight / agilent probes.I understand that they have an interface that takes power from the scope, but can they work with a scope that has no special interface assuming you feed power to them?I've seen successes with getting such probes working with "unsupported" scopes before, like here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-1152a-active-probe-_smartprobe_-conversion-for-dsox3000-series-scopes/msg1029128/just not "dumb" scopes yet.Thanks!PS: I'm talking about scopes with a 1Mohm input. I know the fancy keysights will have a nice 50ohm input.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 05:41:21 pm
content: There used to be some adapters, but it's a walled garden now. You are expected to buy the same brand. Probe interface is proprietary, and they have EEPROMs with serial numbers to lock things down (and calibration data). Because probes make a lot more profit than scopes.

author: ballsystemlord
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 05:54:38 pm
content: Soooo maybe there's a list of (active) probes which are not a walled garden somewhere?Thanks

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 07:21:41 pm
content: One decent option is the old Tektronix Tekprobe probes, which are plentiful at 1/10th retail price on EBay. You can get a P6245 1.5GHz active probe for about $200.That's what I use on my Keysight scope (they have a special adapter for the old Tek probes) and have built a small collection of Tek active and differential probes.For use with any scope, you can get a Tek 1103 power supply to connect them. It provides the supply and offset for most Tekprobe probes and has a 50 Ohm connection to get to whatever your scope is. You can also find those on EBay for a fraction of the retail price. IIRC, there are a couple of DIY options as well (search on this forum).

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 08:21:38 pm
content: Quote from: ballsystemlord on January 21, 2025, 05:54:38 pmMicsig, for example. Testec. Picoscope sells also.There is at least 3 members on this forum selling different types of active probes as well.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2025, 10:15:34 pm
content: Quote from: LaurentR on January 21, 2025, 07:21:41 pmAn HP1142A probe supply is the HP equivalent. A lot of older probes had an external supply like that (or the 1103) and ended in a normal BNC connector. Note that some of those probes expect 50 ohm termination at the scope.

author: 44kgk1lkf6u
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 04:25:33 am
content: Quote from: ballsystemlord on January 21, 2025, 02:42:48 pmWhat is wrong with an in-line terminator?

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 03:15:37 pm
content: Quote from: LaurentR on January 21, 2025, 07:21:41 pmWe (R&S) also offer a special adapter for some Tek probeshttps://www.tequipment.net/Rohde-&-Schwarz/RT-Z2T/Oscilloscope-Probe-Accessories/

author: ballsystemlord
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2025, 06:40:42 pm
content: Quote from: 44kgk1lkf6u on January 23, 2025, 04:25:33 amNothing. I just wanted to be clear in case there are any "traps for young players".