Tektronix
511
Provisional entry — research in progress
This page was generated automatically from cited public sources and hasn't completed the full research pass yet. Every specification shown carries its source; more detail is added as research completes.
The Tektronix 511 is a triggered-sweep oscilloscope. The Tektronix 511 was the world's first triggered oscilloscope, introduced in 1947. The Tektronix 511 was produced until 1953.[1]
What it is
The Tektronix 511 is a triggered-sweep oscilloscope. It was refined and developed by Tektronix and produced from 1947 to 1953.[1]
Tektronix was an American company best known for manufacturing electronics test and measurement devices such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and video and mobile test protocol equipment.[1]
How it works
The 511 uses triggered-sweep operation. Howard Vollum invented the world's first triggered oscilloscope in 1946, and the 511 was the refined development of that oscilloscope.[1]
Applications
The 511 belongs to the oscilloscope class of electronics test and measurement equipment.[1]
- oscilloscope measurement
What do the numbers mean?
Configuration & options3
Vintage & configurations
What replaced it?
Related models
- successorTektronix 513— The Model 511 was a triggered-sweep oscilloscope; the Model 513 introduced a true time-base.source[1]
Where are the manuals?
Generated from public-source data on file. Enter your email to access — nothing is published; details are routed privately.
Not publicly documented
Field notes
No research found yet — worked with this tool? Share what you know.
Frequently asked questions
What type of instrument is the Tektronix 511?
It is a triggered-sweep oscilloscope.[1]
Who developed the Tektronix 511?
It was refined and developed by Tektronix.[1]
When was the Tektronix 511 produced?
It was produced from 1947 to 1953.[1]
What broader equipment category does it belong to?
It belongs to the oscilloscope category within electronics test and measurement equipment.[1]
Not publicly documented
The following facts about the 511 are absent from this record as of this revision. First-hand knowledge or a citation closes a gap; every submission is reviewed before publication.
No publicly documented variants, configuration options, or revision breakpoints of the 511 are on record.
Answerable by: an OEM product catalog or an engineer who ordered or specified the tool
The control-system platform and OS era of the 511 are not on record.
Answerable by: an engineer who operated it or OEM installation records
No publicly documented failure modes or field errata for the 511 are on record.
Answerable by: a field service engineer, process engineer, or maintenance technician
The process node or technology generation of the 511 is not on record.
Answerable by: an OEM datasheet or a fab qualification report
No publicly documented compatible parts, consumables, or accessories for the 511 are on record.
Answerable by: an OEM parts catalog or a service engineer
No research found yet — worked with this tool? Share what you know.
Sources & citations
Sources (1)Every fact above is drawn from these public sources
- [1]en.wikipedia.org — en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
Last updated Sep 27, 2026.
Compare with similar tools
View all →The Sony/Tektronix 314 is a portable 10 MHz dual-trace CRT storage oscilloscope introduced in 1975.
The Tektronix 422 was one of the first models in Tektronix's 400 series of high-frequency full-function oscilloscopes.