This tutorial was written along with this review that shows the connectivity features in action.


Tektronix's TDS2024B has a USB 'Device Port' on the back which allows the user to connect the scope to a computer or printer. It can be a handy feature, especially in automated environments. Test equipment is known for having poor user interfaces when it comes to connecting instruments, so this tutorial is intended to help out and encourage new users.


TDS2024B USB Functionality:

  1. Capture the current screen
  2. Capture the current waveform
  3. Save and load scope settings
  4. Capable of sending scope commands (but no user interface, requiring custom software to control the scope)


How to Install Software and Drivers:

  1. Download OpenChoice Desktop from Tek which includes TekVISA and drivers for most of their scopes (you must be logged in an given approval to download, which took about 5 minutes).
  2. Install OpenChoice Desktop (which runs a bunch of sub-routines - DO NOT let the computer reset itself; there are more steps that need to run)
  3. Reset the computer when the installation has totally finished.
  4. Turn on the scope, wait for it to boot, and plug the back USB-B scope connector into the computer's USB port
  5. If it automatically installs the scope as a 'pictbridge' device, that is an error. To fix, open the device manager, right click on the pictbridge device, select 'uninstall,' and then unplug and re-plug the USB connection.
  6. Confirm that it is recognized as 'USB test and measurement device'. Note that the 'Portable Devices' doesn't list 'Pictbridge'.



With the device properly installed, the OpenChoice Desktop software pops up whenever the unit is plugged in to the USB port, looking like this:


Still need more info? Check out page 69 of the 2024B User Manual.