#11: Tektronix Oscilloscope Triggering controls and their usage 

If there were Golden Globe awards for RU-vid content then this video would be my nomination. This channel is a treasure chest of concise and pertinent information delivered in the most professional and informative way possible. Many thanks to Mr Alan Wolke from the U.K.

5 year engineering degree, and I am just learning how oscilloscopes work now.... THANK YOU

This is one of the most concise and accurate explanations I've seen of these triggering features. I'm sending this to people who didn't have such good teachers.

Been using 'scopes for years and always wondered what the trigger AC/DC coupling was about. Thank you so much. I missed a few lectures back there somewhere in the mists of time. Really appreciate this channel.

I've had my 2246 for a while now and just twisted knobs and pushed buttons until the scope gave me a stable signal. Now I can twist knobs and push buttons with more confidence. Thanks so much for the time you put in these videos.

Just got an analog scope as a gift from my school since they were throwing It away really helpful video

Now that I have a working 465 scope I had to watch this video again. Very helpful at learning those trigger controls.

I just found this tutorial and I had just recently purchased an Oscope on eBay. The scope has these controls which I did not know how to use until now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Thanks for making this. I was playing with these controls the other day. Looking at the decay of a hand clap through a condenser mic. It's amazing how slow the time domain had to be set to see the whole thing. I'm learning much from you!

I never understood what the "hold" function did on my Philips scope. Perfect way to explain it. Thank you!

Same here done all the labs during Electrical & Electronic Eng degree course and forgot how triggering works! Thanks for this great explanation

Thank you very much for this! I recently saved a really sweet Tek 7904 from someone's basement and am trying to learn how to use it properly, and (coming from no EE background whatsoever) this is super helpful and explains a lot for me.

i really appreciate you going into the details about the different types of triggering. I was having a really hard time figuring out why I couldn't get 1 Hz waves to show up on my scope. I really appreciate you spelling out the 'low frequency' cutoff for the AC triggering. (Tektronix 2225)

Man, that is one CLEAN old Tek!

Excellent tutorial on the triggering functions. I'm going to go watch the rest of your scope videos now, as I'm reaquainting myself with a scope after being away from EE too long. I picked up an '87 2225 off eBay and I'm hooked!

Absolutely great video. Never understood triggering so clearly.

Thank you for sharing your experience with a CRT scope. While I do have and use digital scopes, it's important to me to still practice the foundational understanding of measurements. Your video helped me to better understand the various control aspects that I was not clear on, as well as (couple) the functions of the digital models.

Again, another exemplary refresher. Thanks! Tom

I just picked up a 466, my first analogue 'storage' Tek. This video is really helpful, my other scope is a basic model that does not have all these features.

Yes. This (among others you have) was the best scope tutorial I have ever seen as well. I would love a copy of the "Scopes for Dopes" video. I have thought I knew how to use a scope for about 12 years, but of course there is a veritable inifinity of measurements that can be made, that I have yet to learn how to make. Best 73.

Well done video, and gained some new knowledge about triggering. Thanks.

This video gave me a good idea on how the triger controls work on my tek 2245 Thank you

As a complete 'scope newbie, this was absolutely invaluable. Thanks very much indeed.

WOW thanks alot i been searching all over the internet for this!!!!. got my first oscilloscope an old trio kenwood 15mhz!!!, was fiddling around without knowing much.., after watching this it all makes sense thank you!!!!!!!!!

Electrical Engineers Make The BEST TEACHERS when it comes to Learning Electronics!!! I Should Know,,All I had Was Electrical Engineers Teach Me Electronics at College, They have an uncanny ability to teach at all Levels!! Thank You Alan for teaching at such a easy to understand level!!!

Well done. Good presentation. Thanks for sharing.

Great video! I had a tektronix 2246a giving to me by my uncle and I'm trying to figure this thing out... Your video helped a lot! Thanks

Great Alan, Another well explain scope controls, Even I may know what they are it was good to hear them again and pickup refresh The old memory lol.Your very easy to understand and very explainable to what you mean , and of course showing is even Better Trig Hold Learn . Good Job Alan Tks 73's dale

Great Video! Thank you so much! I'm happy I can apply this to my digital scope: I got the same controls :)

Very informative tutorial. Thanks !

Thanks you have the best vidoe out there. great job.

This, and the part about delayed timebase, taught me so much about using my ancient 454a, without having to work through the several hundred pages of instruction manual :)

Very very interesting video, really useful

Thank you for all your scope vids.

Best advanced tutorial! Awesome!

Good review of the basic controls.

Great video sir

This is very helpfull. You sound very intelligent and made alot of sense. Thank you very much.

Another Great Video,,,,Thanks Alan!!!!

Thank you for the video, really useful!

Love it just got a similar scope today it is a tektronix 465m ocillscope so far I like it

Very clear and helpful, just got a rehabbed and calibrated 2465 in the shop.

excellent material, thank you for that.

Great video Thank you very much

damn, I wish the scope I use at work was that clean!!! Great vid man, vary well explained.

Awesome video. Thanks again

Excellent video and very helpful Thanks.

Another great compact pracktical video for the young(old) players.

I love your videos and review them regularly. I was wondering if you have, or have ever used the Heathkit curve tracer. I would really like to see a video of that. Bob

@w2aew oh yes! I've always been curious about practical real-world applications of the x-y function on the timebase knob. I saw some in your other videos - but more demos please. Also, the rear of my 2465A have ch2 sig out, A gate out, step/auto ext switch, B gate out and ext. Z axis IN. These are a mystery to me. Would love vids about these! thx.

The time center button is closed and the T = 2 us. The trigger is set at automatic. I setted the coupling to ch1 instead of normal and I got a steady trigger. Thanks for your answer.

Well explained, thanks!

Nice. Im in my first year of EE and my first lab is on the oscilloscopeBK Precision 2121

This was super helpful. My Tek 5440 has lost its trigger function on the 5B42 timebase and diagnosing it seems impossible without at least understanding how and why each of the trigger controls work. Now if you could just guide me the my diagnosis too!

@w2aew ohhhhhhhh. Thanks! (I screwed around with knobs and stuff and fiked my trace). Also, knowing what BW limit does will come in really handy, I've needed that feature before and didn't know I had it.

That was really helpful. Thanks.

Thank you very much !

Definitely thumbs up, thanks!

Interesting and applicable

@w2aew Watched the Basics video. Pleased to finally meet you, Mr. Wolke!

Very Clear. Thank you

Best tutorial ever. If you ever make a Osciloscopes for Dummys DVD consider me a buyer

Good tutorial!

Thank you!

High end digital scopes have special triggering functions like to trigger on specific events like glitches, especific widths periods, intervals,logic patterns, etc, besides Yokogawas do you know of any other analog scope that can do that?

On the tektronix 465, is it normal for the trace to be pretty thick? (like about 3mm). Also, what does the astigmatism knob do?

very good just bought a used 466 textronix

@w2aew It has one 6121 that came with it and was looking for another. Maybe I can find one NOS but will probably get a new model passive probe from Tek. The Digital Storage portion is fun to usel. I just wish I could find the option 10 GPIB or even option 12 RS-232 serial interface. Tek had an old DOS serial comm program to pull data off of it in the support section. I'll probably be wishing for a long time on those options though. I joined a Tek users group too. Thanks.

I don't know the first thing about O'copes but I found your video very interesting and informative. I want to learn how to operate one. Does it take a long time to learn how to use one? There is one for sale just like the one on your video and I am interested in buying it. And hopefully I can learn how to use it so I can find out the problems on my stereo and reel to reels, one has the right channel that is out and the other does not record.Cheers/Rob

Awesome vid. Though, I'm confused as to why I'd use NORM triggering when displaying both channels in CHOP or ALT mode. Just picking whichever channel is being displayed at that time seems like it would just make the triggering random.

Thanks, nice video. I have a Tek 453 here that I am trying to learn how to use. Checking alignment on a signal generator soon. 73 Paul AA1SU

Thankx mahn!! really helpfull....

@w2aew sorry, (I'm a n00b) but what does the BW limit do? (I have been wondering that for a while now

Thinking about picking up a isolation transformer after seeing Dave Jones pointing out potential pitfalls of not using one. What do you think? In a previous comment your response gave me the impression that you rarely use one. I understand what a iso transformer does and how it works, I am just curious if you think its worth getting one to protect both yourself and your scope? Thanks, Ken

When using the Oscope ch#1 to measure waveforms on the circuit under test, mostly the probe will use the frequency of the waveform as the trigger? What other frequencies or pulse waveforms can you use as a trigger for circuits under test? For digital circuits in order for the oscilloscope to be in sync you have to use the clock frequency as the trigger. I'm not sure what other types of circuits under test would use different frequencies/waveforms or pulse waveforms in order for the oscilloscope to display stable waveforms. Can you think of what type of applications of circuits that use different triggering frequencies that the oscilloscope don't sync up unless you use the external trigger.

Hi, An example of this would be usefull. I undestand that the internal signal would adapt itself to the external one? EXT: Signals connected to the EXT Trigger input connectors are used for triggering. External ... must be time-related to the displayed signal for a stable display. It is usefull when the internal signal is too small... or unstable... From the manual.

Hey there w2aw, I did not see any comments for the "single sweep" mode. I did not see anything for it after you went through Auto and Normal. It was roughly around 11:20. Thank you very much

@w2aew Thanks. By the way, what are your thoughts on the job market for EEs now and the income they make ? I had a dilemma to study to be either EE or a ChemEng. But i chose this because of the wide span of options it has to offer.

I've always been curious about many of the controls that come with Tek scopes and the manuals just don't explain them as clearly as you do. Your digital SA video is good too but I'm suffering from info overload! Wish they weren't too expensive so I could have hands-on like you do. B^)

@nlimchua I would appreciate a video to show practical applications for the following controls: Add, Invert, GPIB(gen.purpose interface bus) and the purpose of a button on my 2465A that says, "INIT@50%". thx!

Thank you thank you thank you

Thank you very much. I wanted to ask your opinion about two scopes. I'll ask the shorter version of the question first. TDS3054 & TDS3034 which one is good enough for a repair shop? Long version: I found a TDS3034B for a very good price. It comes with four probes manuals. But I been looking for a TDS3054B Cuz I was told by others tds3054B is the scope I should get. But I don't have the knowledge yet to know if I need the capabilities or the extra bandwidth of a TDS3054 in the future repairs. Learning how to use scopes is an ongoing project right now. At the moment I have a 100MHz scope w/ 2 probes & component tester. I am trying to get a repair lab going in the shop to complement the field service work that I do full time. The boards I will work on are out of medical and dental equipment or really any boards... CNC machine pcbs,, sterilizers, x-ray boards, chair or table controllers....motor controls, some industrial PC boards..... I can get a tds3034B for 1/2 of what the TDS3054B are going now. Which scope do you think is best for the repair work without over doing it.

Do u have any videos on using single sweep and average mode simultaneously?

i have mine looking at 12.6V from a step down transformer hooked up to 120V (wall outlet) but its not a perfect sine wave. when i switch to measure the signal coming from the wall, its not a perfect sine wave either, what could be wrong?

Hi, I have a question on the grounding schemes in scopes. In case of an Analog scope is the scope ground connected to the safety ground? So if we try to measure an isolated load (without safety ground connection), is the load being grounded via the scope? I have many follow up questions related to the isolated scope and isolated probes etc. Would be great to see a video on this topic if you dont mind. I came across a webinar from Teledyne lecroy "Probing in Power Electronics What to Use and Why". They mentioned it is not safe to use passive probes in many applications.

Seems my old Tektronix 468 may have finally reached its end of days. I've had some minor issues with the buttons and knobs for the past year or so, but nothing insurmountable. Yesterday however, the old workhorse refused to boot-up. The fan came on, and the "beam find" dot indicates the CRT screen is working... but otherwise it appears dead. Any suggestions for a quick fix before I inter this fine machine in the oscilloscope grave yard? Could it just be a blown fuse or something? I apologize for my ignorance. I'm not really knowledgeable enough to attempt a proper diagnoses. Kinda feel like five-year old kid with a flat tire.

Excellent video - I always learn something new about using my scope. 73 de Mike N5JKY

I just came across your video series and I love them. I do have a question and it has to do with, in some videos where you are scoping small signals there’s an complete absence of high freq fuzz and genuine high freq interference, spikes, bursts and misc spuria flying through your scope’s display (i.e. cellphone, Wi-Fi - yours or a neighbor’s, cordless phone, active Bluetooth, etc.). When I’m scoping low-level signals on a device or proto board at home I have to contend with what’s “real” and what’s in the air. How do you avoid this airborne trash in your tutorial setups? I have a ~$300 dual-trace + storage Hantek scope and I see all kinds of annoying RFI/EMI stuff. Is it a matter of spending the bucks for something that’s much better as in quiet?

Excellent video. Great job! I have a digital Tek TDS1002B since 2008 and I'm happy with it. Recently I run into the opportunity of buying one of this used Tek 465 (not the B version) for $150. Is it worth buying and having it nowadays?

So if I understand correctly, what your saying is if both the scope and DUT (both grounded with a 3 prong plug) are plugged into the same grounded power strip for example, an isolation transformer is not needed because both are connected to a common ground?

Nicely done! 73...

Right now I have a Leader LBO-523 scope. Not a bad scope for one that I picked up a state surplus store 20+ years ago for $35. I would love to be a scope pilot behind a Tektronix 465. Is this, or what is your favorite scope for all practical purposes? Thanks for the great video!

enjoyed the video. I have the Tektronix 465B and I am in the process of calibrating it. The manual specifies the use of a time mark generator specifically the Tektronix 184. These are almost impossible to get hold of here in the UK, do you know a modern equivalent that I could use?any help from anybody would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

THANKS VERY MUCH

Me again, How about external triggering? Or the LINE triggering? How can a frequency trigger another frequency?

Very nice tutorial! But I still have one question: does that single trigger/sweep freezes the screen so that you can make some measurements later on? Like I want to capture and measure an overvoltage spike that is happening once, not periodical like that sinewave you had, how can I do that on an analog scope like yours?

Great vid, I finally learnt what the trig holdoff was :-) That makes me wish I could learn something else. On the Tek 465 (maybe nor the 465B?), there is a "Trig view push" button (the same one that can limit the bandwith if you PULL it) on the VERT MODE group. ...what is it supposed to do?

HOLA ME PODRIAS INFORMAR SI ES POSIBLE TENER LA INFORMACIÓN TRADUCIDA AL CASTELLANO

Does the Owon SDS7102 or another new oscilloscope facilitate the triggering process?