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I could not find any description of the Tektronix Tristar DSP.
I understand that the DSA series probably was not very popular, but as far I know it was widely used also on the TDSs.
Any suggestion for where to search?
Thanks

OK, the CRT socket wiring interference issue is fixed, and while I had everything opened up I did some fan cooling experiments.

I managed to fit a 3" diameter low (<5/8") profile DC fan in there between the main guts and the low voltage regulator board. I tried one that's thinner yet, but it was much noisier and less pressure (not enough blade) and didn't achieve enough flow to make much difference. This thicker one does the job. These are both 12V, but I set up to run at reduced voltage around 5-7V. I picked off the raw supply feeding the 5V regulator as the source, which is nearly 12V at current conditions. I ended up with a big 5.1V Zener 1N5338B to take it down to about 7V, where the noise is definitely audible, but not too bad, and the decent flow seems to give over 20 deg C improvement in temperature rise, so the cooling is now quite good even though the fan is quite far removed from the load.

I tried to maximize the clearance on the vacuum side of the fan for best compression inlet efficiency. The outlet blows against the LV regulator board and just makes a lot of turbulence in the whole back section, and enough air manages to get around the edges to the other side to help cool the inner heat sink surface, and out through various openings into the outside surface to help there too. It doesn't feel like a lot of flow outside, but it's way more than the convection alone. I can feel warm air coming out of the rear-facing plastic cover vents up to about an inch away. I could make it even cooler and quieter by squeezing some small duct work in there, but it's not worth the extra grief. It's effective enough even though most of the outlet air goes right around the fan back to the inlet.

I'm calling this conversion project done and satisfactory in operation. Apparently fully functional, not too hot, and not too noisy.

Ed

Go to H?kan‘s download web page. A version is listed immediately below the TEKCATS_11300 listed in the Obsolete Tektronix Softwares. I don’t know if it covers the DSA unit that you have.

Thanks John. BTW no scopes were harmed to make the frankie. The scope was entirely constructed from bits and pieces that were recovered from 502’s that were too far gone to salvage.

Bill, I paid a little more for my 556, but it is serial number 122 and has a P11 phosphor CRT. It works rather well and I’ve had it up to 126Mhz but like you say at a diminished amplitude. The R556 will do it as well, amazing pieces of engineering from a time we’ll never see again.
It’s our duty in my opinion to protect and preserve these scopes so future generations can enjoy them.

John, that 502 is amazing! Although I’d never cut up a Tektronix scope, I admire the ingenuity to make it.

Thank you for your comments. The 502 Frankenscope. Is a hybrid. It was made from a 502. The three plugins are from a 561A. They connect directly to the deflection plate pins on the 502 crt. I was able to test the theory using a 561a and a 502a. That worked but the Frankie was never made operational. The chassis has no room for the power supplies necessary for operation. I am still working on that one! But it is a fun project anyway.

Here is one I made a while back that might do the job.

I haven't 3D printed it, so check the notes and comments left by others.
I can make modifications if needed.





Regards,
Jared

When I wanted the 11300 version of TekCATS, I used to find that for the DSAs. Now I wish the DSA version but I cannot find it anymore... :)

Can someone help me finding it?

Thanks

I have a very mint 556. Bought it with the original manuals about 15 years ago for 25 bucks at a ham fest (cost me 35 for an 8608 driver tube to get it running right!)
I have lot of plugins for it including a 1L5 spectrum analyzer.

The 1L5 seems to have problems that I haven't yet solved.
Finally got a plug in extension cable so I can work on it.
I may be starting a thread looking for some help with that in the future.

It's an amazing scope! Even though it is rated a 50MHZ scope I've been able to display, at diminished amplitude, stable signals over 100MHz.

I also have a single bay 500 series that was gifted to me (544 maybe?) that is in mothballs at the moment waiting until I have the time to give it the TLC it needs.

These old Tek scopes are works of electronic art and it's great to see that they all aren't just ending up as land fill!

John H.
Cool use for your 535a!!
Always great to find alternative uses for them.

I have a McIntosh MR74 and a Pioneer TX7800 tuners that have scope outputs on them. I have a couple little 3" recurrent trace (5MHz maybe?) scopes that would be a perfect alternative to the silly money they ask for a McIntosh MPI-4 or the Pioneer SD1100 scopes (2K to 7K+)
Won't look as cool.... well, then it might depend on your definition of cool! But the price is right!
?

Bill Koski

BTW I see a guy on Ebay that has a 556 for sale @ $600 from Hungary. Local pick up only. Gee, can't understand why he's not willing to ship:)

I have several 500 series oscilloscopes, it all started with a 561A. Now I’ve got a 561B, four 575 Mod 122C’s,(with two spare CRT’s) two 547’s, (one needs a HV transformer) a 565, 556 and an R556 that needs a new front panel, late model, three 532’s, a 545, an RM503 and RM504, and the latest addition, a 310A. Then of course a slew of test equipment for the test equipment, to keep them up to spec. Like two Type 130 L-C meters, etc.

I do need a good front panel for the R556 late model, if you have one. Kinda large to ship, so I understand if you don’t want to.

Also of interest is a 75A power test set that I use with everything that comes into the shop, and an Engineering Power Supply that I might because it just looks neat and is apparently rare.

On a side note John, what is the 502 scope in your pictures that looks like it’s been modified to take 560 series plugins? I’d like to hear about that one.

Please,
has someone the 3D model for the foot used in 2465, 2430 etch? See the photo of the original part among the photos.
Thanks
Gianni

The following photos have been uploaded to the Reviving interest in Tektronix 500 and other Series Oscilloscopes ( /g/TekScopes/album?id=299466 ) photo album of the [email protected] group.

* IMG_1814.jpeg ( /g/TekScopes/photofromactivity?id=3868099 )

*By:* John Williams <books4you4@...>

Go for it John. Good luck.

I was glad to see some 500 interest. I have a 535a, 575, 503, a lack of plugins, and other tek stuff. I used 535a to try and see (barely) the Voyager in outer space slow scan ham radio broadcasts in real time as they came in from JPL amateurs.
I have let the units sit a long time in dehumidified basement. I shall try to slowly wake them up.
Your post has prodded me to do so before too late.

John

Sorry Charles. I have no handles. If you look at the photos (/g/TekScopes/album?id=299466 ) of my lab you can probably see many of my scopes don’t have handles. I will be keeping my eyes out though.

I have a 561A, a 561B, an RM561A _and_ a 564... but they all work :) I fixed them up back when Deane Kidd was the main source of NOS parts and they get occasional use to keep the electrolytics reformed.

Although the 561A and the 561B both have the dreaded HV transformer lossy potting problem :(

Meanwhile I could use a couple of carrying handles. Long shot, I know, the leather(?) is almost as old as I am...

-Charles

In the document, two terms that you should know; “real time” refers to analog scope (1130x) and “ET” refers to equivalent time digitizing scope (1140x). Assume that the compatibility with ET applies DSA60x.

At the time of this document (1985), we had only two major mainframe development projects, the RT and the ET. The DSA60x and 1180x got traction soon after.

The closest to such a document can be found on the last four pages of the 11000-Series Plug-in to Main Frame Interface.
It was the design requirement; however, not everything goes according to plan. The amplifier information is valid. Use caution for the rest of it.

Re: Tek 7000 module modifications for use in the Tek DSA602 /602a ?

Are there any comprehensive write-up's ( Blogs, or other ) about which Tek 7000 modules can be used
in the DSA 602 / 602a ;
& how to modify each of them specifically for this use ?

What a great project !!

thank you,
rick

Hi group. It seems there is not the interest I expected for small parts to finish repair, refurbishing, and restoring 500 series. My purpose in offering this was to provide very hard to find small items that could easily be sent through the post. Examples: cabinet latches, knobs, resistors, capacitors, hardware, switches, cords, cables, light shields, graticles, stuff like that. I have had interest expressed in all of my tubes, power transformers, crts, plugins and difficult items to pack and ship. I cannot deal in these types of things, that is the reason I quit selling on eBay. However if you need that last little special item to get your project finished I might be able to help you.