The Tektronix 1720 is a dedicated vectorscope instrument, a pivotal tool in the broadcast television and professional video production industry for precise color signal analysis. Unlike oscilloscopes that display voltage over time, this specialized device graphically represents the chrominance portion of a video signal on a polar coordinate display, providing an immediate visual assessment of hue and saturation. It is engineered to ensure strict compliance with broadcast colorimetry standards, allowing engineers and colorists to verify color fidelity, check phase relationships between color difference signals, and diagnose issues such as incorrect hue or illegal color levels. Its primary application lies in quality control environments, including transmission facilities, production control rooms, and post-production suites, where maintaining signal integrity from source to broadcast is paramount.

The instrument features a high-resolution cathode ray tube (CRT) display that presents the classic vectorscope graticule, with targets for critical color points like red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow. This allows operators to instantly see if the color burst, flesh tones, or any other color information falls within the correct angular position (hue) and distance from the center (saturation). Advanced models within this series incorporate sophisticated triggering and filtering options to stabilize composite, component, or serial digital video signals for accurate analysis. It provides critical measurements for both standard definition analog formats, serving as a benchmark for signal quality before digital conversion or transmission.

Built to the rigorous standards of industrial test and measurement equipment, the Tektronix 1720 is designed for continuous operation in rack-mounted installations. It offers a range of input connectivity options to interface with various signal types common in a broadcast plant. The front panel provides intuitive controls for display intensity, gain scaling, and filter selection, enabling detailed examination of the color signal under various conditions. As a dedicated hardware unit, it delivers real-time, glitch-free monitoring without the latency or processing overhead sometimes associated with software-based analysis tools, making it a trusted reference for critical color decisions in live and pre-recorded video environments.