Tektronix 2213 Oscilloscope

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This guide contains no paid product placements.

The Tektronix 2213 oscilloscope is a 60 MHz dual-channel analog scope from Tektronix’s 2000-series of portable instruments, introduced in 1982. It shows voltage waveforms on a CRT and is still found on benches for basic signal work. This guide explains the Tektronix 2213 oscilloscope in plain terms: its bandwidth and rise time, vertical and horizontal ranges, input limits, and how the later 2213A differs, so you can judge whether an older analog scope suits your task.

Quick answer

The 2213 is a 60 MHz analog oscilloscope with two channels. Its bandwidth is 60 MHz at 20 mV/div and above, and 50 MHz at 2 to 10 mV/div. Its timebase runs from 0.05 us/div to 0.5 s/div. Its maximum DC input is 400 V, so it is not a substitute for a high-voltage probe or a mains meter. The sources we opened also show a difference in the top volts-per-division figure between the 2213 and the 2213A, so check your model label first.

How we chose these sources

We opened a manufacturer-format specification sheet for the Tektronix 2213 and 2215, hosted by Amabile Electronic Test, and read its tables directly from the PDF. We cross-checked the figures against the University of Toronto physics lab’s specification page, which covers the 2213A. The Tektronix service and operator manuals were listed on the TekWiki page, but we did not open them, so the figures below come from the spec sheet and the lab page.

Bandwidth and rise time

Bandwidth is measured at the minus 3 dB point. The Amabile specification sheet gives DC to 60 MHz at 20 mV/div to 10 V/div, with a rise time of 5.8 ns. At 2 mV/div to 10 mV/div, bandwidth drops to DC to 50 MHz, with a rise time of 7 ns. The sheet adds that the rise time is valid at all deflection factors from 50 ohm terminated sources. The rise time figure matters if you plan to look at fast edges, because a scope’s rise time sets a practical limit on what it can show without distortion.

The University of Toronto page for the 2213A lists a 7.0 ns rise time and DC to 50 MHz bandwidth with DC coupling, with AC coupling reaching down to 10 Hz and up to 60 MHz. Those figures match the lower-sensitivity end of the Amabile sheet.

Vertical deflection and input

• Deflection factor: 2 mV/div to 10 V/div in a 1-2-5 sequence, with stated accuracy of plus or minus 3 percent from 20 to 30 degrees C and plus or minus 4 percent from 0 to 50 degrees C. The Amabile sheet says the range is uncalibrated and continuously variable to at least 25 V/div between steps.
• Input impedance: 1 M ohm plus or minus 2 percent in parallel with about 30 pF.
• Maximum input: 400 V (DC plus peak AC) with DC coupling, and 800 V peak-to-peak AC at 1 kHz or less with AC coupling.
• Display modes: CH 1, CH 2, CH 2 added (normal and inverted), alternate and chopped, with a chopped rate of about 250 kHz.
• Common-mode rejection: at least 10:1 at 10 MHz for common-mode signals of 6 divisions or less.

The University of Toronto page lists the 2213A’s vertical sensitivity as 2 mV/div to 5 V/div, not 10 V/div. The two documents describe different models, so the difference is not a conflict in one unit’s figures, but it means the top range depends on which scope you have.

Horizontal timebase

On the 2213, Time Base A runs from 0.05 us/div to 0.5 s/div in a 1-2-5 sequence, and a 10X magnifier extends the fastest sweep to 5 ns/div. Uncalibrated continuous variation reaches at least 1.25 s/div. Accuracy is plus or minus 3 percent unmagnified and plus or minus 5 percent magnified from 20 to 30 degrees C, and plus or minus 4 percent and 6 percent across 0 to 50 degrees C. The 2213 has a delayed sweep with delay times of less than 0.5 us, 10 us and 0.2 ms. Time Base B is a feature of the 2215, not the 2213.

Triggering

The 2213 offers normal, automatic and TV-field trigger modes. Automatic mode runs the sweep without a trigger signal and triggers on signals down to 20 Hz. A trigger-holdoff control steadies repetitive complex waveforms. The sheet gives the internal trigger sensitivity as 0.4 division below 2 MHz, rising to 1.5 division at 60 MHz. External triggering needs about 50 mV peak-to-peak up to 2 MHz and about 250 mV peak-to-peak at 60 MHz.

The 2213A and what changed

The 2213A is the updated model, introduced in 1985. The University of Toronto page describes it with a 60 MHz rating, 50 MHz DC-coupled bandwidth and a switchable bandwidth limit of about 10 MHz on the vertical amplifier and trigger. If your scope is labeled 2213A, use that model’s figures. If the label says 2213 without the A, the Amabile sheet is the better guide.

Who the 2213 suits

The 2213 suits a hobbyist or repair technician who wants a simple analog scope for audio, power supply ripple and general waveform checks below about 50 MHz. It does not store waveforms, so you cannot capture a single event for later review. It also has no digital readout, so measurements come from reading the graticule. For measuring voltage, current and resistance with a handheld meter, see our guide to the best hand-held digital multimeters. If you need an AC and DC voltage reading on a power circuit rather than a waveform, our guide to the best digital volt meters covers that job.

Safety notes

Do not connect a scope probe directly to mains voltage. The 2213’s 400 V DC plus peak AC input limit is a hard maximum for the front-end input, not a safe working range for line voltage. Use a properly rated differential probe or an isolated meter for mains work, and follow the scope’s manual for probe settings. Keep the scope’s ground lead on a known reference, because a floating ground can damage the instrument and the device under test.

What we could not verify

We could not verify the 2213’s performance on a bench, because we had no unit to test. The sources we opened do not agree on the top volts-per-division figure, and we could not settle which figure applies to a given unit without its label. We did not open the Tektronix service or operator manual, so the manufacturer’s own figures for the 2213 may differ in small details from those quoted here. The University of Toronto page does not list input impedance or trigger details, so those come from the Amabile sheet only.

FAQ

What is the bandwidth of the Tektronix 2213?

60 MHz at 20 mV/div and above, and 50 MHz at 2 to 10 mV/div, according to the Amabile specification sheet.

Is the 2213 the same as the 2213A?

No. The 2213A is the updated model introduced in 1985, and the two differ in some specifications, including the top volts-per-division figure in the sources we read.

Can the 2213 measure mains voltage directly?

No. Its maximum input is 400 V DC plus peak AC, and mains work needs an isolated instrument or a rated probe.

Does the 2213 store waveforms?

No. It is an analog scope with a CRT display and no digital storage.

Sources

• Amabile Electronic Test, Tektronix 2213 and 2215 Oscilloscopes Specifications: https://www.amabileelectronictest.com/pdf/aet_pdf_311.pdf (opened 2026-10-29)
• University of Toronto Physics, Tektronix 2213A specification page: https://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/specs/tek2213a.html (opened 2026-10-29)