The Tektronix TDS 500A and 600A series are digitizing oscilloscopes built around a 500 MHz analog bandwidth and engineered to keep pace with evolving needs in digital design, manufacturing test, R&D and telecommunication applications. The series comprises seven models — the TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A in the 500A line and the TDS 620A, 640A and 644A in the 600A line — sharing a common acquisition architecture while differing in channel count, sample rate and display type. Each instrument combines real-time sampling, deep record lengths and an extensive automated measurement set in a single benchtop package.

These oscilloscopes are intended for digital design and debug, analog design and debug, manufacture testing and research. As a class, a digitizing oscilloscope captures voltage waveforms over time and reconstructs them on screen, letting an engineer examine a signal's amplitude, timing and shape — the TDS series brings that capability to both bench and production environments.

ValueTronics supports every TDS-series order from our own 20,000 sq ft secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois, where we stock and hold our inventory. Every pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house by our technicians before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. That combination of held stock and hands-on used-unit verification is how we keep lead times short and condition predictable.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The TDS 500A and 600A series group seven digitizing oscilloscopes under a shared 500 MHz acquisition platform. Across the line, the instruments deliver the same analog bandwidth and 1 mV/div to 10 V/div sensitivity while differentiating on sample rate, channel count, record length and display technology — letting a buyer match acquisition speed and capture depth to the application without changing measurement workflow.

Within the family, the TDS 500A models (520A, 524A, 540A, 544A) carry deeper record lengths and acquisition features such as Peak Detect and Hi-Res, while the TDS 600A models (620A, 640A, 644A) provide higher sustained sample rates. The color-display variants — 524A, 544A and 644A — add color-graded persistence; the remaining models use a monochrome CRT.

Each pre-owned model in the series below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Select the specific TDS model that fits your channel-count, sample-rate and display requirements, and review that page for its pre-owned availability and configuration details.

The clearest differences across the series are channel count and sample rate. The TDS 520A, 524A and 620A provide two acquisition channels plus two auxiliary inputs, while the TDS 540A, 544A, 640A and 644A provide four full channels. Single-channel real-time sampling ranges from 500 MS/s on the 520A/524A to 1 GS/s on the 540A/544A and 2 GS/s on the 620A and 640A/644A, as detailed in the comparison table below.

Record length and triggering also separate the lines: the 500A models extend to 50,000 points versus 2,000 points on the 600A models, and edge triggering on the rear-panel auxiliary input is available on all models except the TDS 520A/524A. Display type — monochrome CRT versus the NuColor color display on the 524A/544A/644A — rounds out the model-to-model distinctions shown in the table.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

Accessories Supplied

• P6139A Passive Probe (10X, 8 pF, 500 MHz)

Product Core & Specifications

Important: Maximum input voltage: ±400 V (DC + peak AC), 1 MΩ or GND coupled; derate at 20 dB/decade above 1 MHz.

Important: External rear trigger input maximum input voltage is ±20 V (DC + AC peak), and is available on all models except TDS 520A/524A.

Important: FET probes (2 pF) are standard on the TDS 600A models; the P6139A passive probe is standard on the TDS 500A models.

Recommended pairing: the Tektronix AM503S simultaneous AC/DC current measurement system pairs with these oscilloscopes for clip-on current measurement (DC to 50 MHz with the A6302 probe; DC to 15 MHz with the A6303 probe).

About this Pre-Owned unit

This pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships and is backed by our pre-owned warranty. To confirm its exact condition, firmware revision, installed options, or included accessories for your application before ordering, contact our Test Architects.

• Backed by a ValueTronics warranty
• Functional verification included
• Standard Calibration Upgrade Options: No Calibration Required, NIST Traceable, Z540.1 or ISO 17025 with Data, Z540.3 Guardbanding with Data.
• Note that unnecessary accessories may not be included (contact Test Architect to confirm).

ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. New units ship factory-sealed, exactly as received from the manufacturer; every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. Our Test Architects can help you select the condition, calibration, and configuration that fit your application.

Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.