PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleBone

Discussion forum for the Picoscope 6 Linux software
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Gerry
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PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleBone

Post by Gerry »

Great news, PicoScope, now runs on the BeagleBone Black (low cost, high precision, and fully flexible test & measurement on a credit-card size computer!!!). Here are some captures of PicoScope 6 running on the Cortex-based development platform:
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To reduce the processor overhead the software is running in a no-frills mode with only the fundamental features available, but demonstrates that the platform has enough processing capacity to display the waveforms from the hardware scope in real time with seamless screen updates.

More importantly, if the Arm core can accommodate the display overhead then it can also accommodate the manipulation of the drivers, to customize the capture and retrieval of the signals under test. This means that one of the most powerful and popular, small form factor computing platforms, running the power user's choice of OS, can now acquire a vast range of analogue and digital signals with minimal resources using PicoScope.

PicoScope requires a complete installation of the mono libraries, but by default the BeagleBone Black comes with Debian 7 (Wheezy) installed, which is missing some of the required packages from the armhf repository. The Linux distribution needs to be upgraded to Debian 8 (Jessie) in order for the missing packages to be installed. In the following setup the Board was upgraded to Jessie, and the modified version of PicoScope installed:
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(see http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBon ... ccessories for suitable USB hub)

As an alternative, the Linux drivers when utilized directly give access to more features, and the programming manuals for your PicoScope model (on Windows) give you example code as a guide to working with the Linux drivers, and are on the website (http://www.picotech.com/document).

For further information please contact support@picotech.com
Gerry
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MikeJames
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by MikeJames »

This development is very interesting. Do you have a install for the Pico drivers (debian) for the Beaglebone Black dev-board?

Regards, Mike.

Gerry
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by Gerry »

Hi Mike,

Apologies for the delay. We have a number of options that we need to consider, and are currently establishing the support process and access to the drivers for this exciting development. We will give you an update in due course.

Best regards,

Gerry
Gerry
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pablorivera
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by pablorivera »

I installed Debian Jessie in a new Beagle Bone Black, and I follow all the instructions but there is no drivers for ARM processors in your repository http://labs.picotech.com/debian/ picoscope main
Where we can find them?
I have bought a picoscope device based on the connection capabilities of Beagle Bone ARM processor shown in this forum. We’ll really appreciate your help.

regards
Pablo

Gerry
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by Gerry »

******Beagle Bone Update******

The armhf build of drivers for running on Beagle Bone Black have now been released under Debian and are available for download here: http://www.picotech.com/support/topic14649.html

Users should be aware that, although we got PicoScope 6 running on the platform, it was running in a significantly feature reduced mode which severely restricts its useability. For this reason, support is provided for the drivers only as a Beta release for experienced software or system developers. For a full discussion of matters relating to this release see the comments in the link to the drivers.
Gerry
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FXBB
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by FXBB »

Hello,

the current version of Picoscope depends on picomono. Unfortunately there is no armhf build of picomono so it can't be installed on BeagleBone anymore.
Is there a solution for this?

Martyn
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Re: PicoScope oscilloscope software on BeagleBoard / BeagleB

Post by Martyn »

Not at the present time.

As mentioned in an earlier post our attempt to get a version of PicoScope running, although functional, offered very limited performance so was discontinued. You should be able to use the drivers and develop an application to target your specific needs.
Martyn
Technical Support Manager

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