Pico Technical Support and Discussion Forum

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

Hi!

Lets say I want to record a 30 second 1kHz sine waveform continuously and be able to search and zoom in the waveform/data, what would be the best way?

I have been able to collect the data but it is very tiresome to click on the "block button" in order to search for info.

I would like to be able to use Picoscope as a recorder and have an overview iow. I want to display the whole 30 seconds on the screen at the same time, and from there be able to zoom in down to a single cycle.

Confusing or did I explain clear enough?

Also I wonder how I change the setting of "block mode" and "fast streming mode" in Picoscope. Do I have to change something in the program files or can I switch between different ways of collecting data easily with a press on a button (like when changing trigger or something like that).

I like the Picoscope a lot but I find the Manual being less clear and informative than I think could be possible.

Thanks!

/Peter

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

Clarification:

In the musicprogram Audacity I can do what I try to describe in my post above (recording and watching/zooming the whole 30s trace) but I need the precision and analysis power of Picoscope.

/Peter

ziko · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

Hi and thank you for your post.

This depends on the scope that you are using. To measure a 1KHz sine wave we recommend at least 5 times the sampling interval, ,depending on how good of a representation you may want 10 or 20 times that sampling interval.

In PicoScope 5 there are 2 modes of operation Block Mode (quicker than 200ms per div) and Streaming Mode (slower than 100ms per div). You can change the scope to be on block mode on 200ms and slower. To do this you need to go to

Settings->Options->Advanced->Slow Sampling (>100ms/div) Block mode

Also increase the "Maximum samples per scope trace" to 1000000. When you run it on say 5 seconds per div, it will take 50 seconds to capture the data onto the memory of the scope and then transfer it to the PC. You can then pause the capture and choose The zooming option next to the time base and scroll through the results.

In terms of fast streaming this mode is only available for the 3224/3 and 3424/3 using PicoScope 6 or if you want to write your own software.

Hope this helps.

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

Hi and thanks for the fast reply.

I have the 3224 and use Picoscope6 now. I'll have to read your post, digest and play around a little.

/Peter

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

What does the "3" in 3224/3 and 3424/3 means?

/Peter

ziko · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

Those are the automotive scopes, 3423 and 3223.

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

I have a PS3224 and use Picoscope 6 right now.

I want to be able to set the sampling speed at say 40kHz but still set the scope window at for example 1 second per div. I would like to se the scope paint the trace from 0s to 5s (or a minute or more) and then zoom in and scroll. If I set the scope for 1s/div now the sampling frequency is set much to low.

There's really no reason the way I see it that the presentaion of data on the screen should go hand in hand with sampling frequency.

Seems like it would be a simple thing for Picoscope to do but right now it seems impossible and I see this as an unecessary limitation.

Thanks!

/Peter

Autonerdz · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: Long times

Audio Guy,

I am an automotive guy and use the 3000 series automotive scopes and Pico 6. You should be able to do the following:

Set time base for 1s/div for a 10 second screen. Push the samples selection up as high as it will go. The scope should be in high speed streaming mode collecting 2 million samples per channel for a sample rate of 200KHz and a sampling interval of 5us. Check this in the properties tab.

For a 50 second screen (5s/div) this will be about 41KHz with a 24us sample interval.

Then zoom and scroll as desired.

Audioguy · Super User Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

Great, thanks I will try that! Smile

/Peter

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