PicoScope 7 Software
Available on Windows, Mac and Linux
REMOTING PC DATA LOGGERS OPERATION
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Glovisol
- Advanced User
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2013 10:03 am
- Location: San Marzano Oliveto, Asti, Italy
REMOTING PC DATA LOGGERS OPERATION
USING INTERNET TO IMPLEMENT REMOTE OPERATION OF PICO DATA LOGGERS
There are cases where the quantities to be monitored and recorded are positioned in “difficult” locations and are best accessed by a remote connection.
There are two ways to solve this technical problem:
A. Place the DA unit (1012, 1016, DrDAQ, etc.) the sensors and the companion PC (Slave PC) in the remote location and operate the Slave from a Master PC.
B. Place the sensors in the remote location and remotely connect them to the DA unit, which is now directly USB connected to the Master PC.
In this post we shall examine one of the many different solutions possible with A.
The proposed solution uses Internet directly, thereby eliminating cables and cabling and allowing any distance between Slave and Master PC, from a few feet to the other side of the world : the two PC’s are connected to Internet and the Master fully controls the Slave by directly acting on the Slave’s Desktop. At today's generally available speeds, control from Master to Slave and Slave's response are instantaneous. No special software needs to be written and the system can be set up in a matter of minutes, thanks to the TV readily downloadable Application and their free interconnection system.
https://www.teamviewer.com/
This application is free for non-commercial, non industrial use(e.g. for testing the system). If found useful, then a one time payment for the service is due, according to a price list.
For distances up to a few hundred yards (and to quickly test the system) the best solution is to use (or, if not already available, set up) a WI-FI network which will allow internet sharing by the Master and Slave PCs. If the WI-FI network is already available, then the two PCs will be connected to internet and no additional hardware will be necessay. If not available, then the system pictured in the blocks diagram is very easy to implement by following the set-up instructions coming with the WI-FI Modem Router.
In the next post we shall examine System operation in detail.
There are cases where the quantities to be monitored and recorded are positioned in “difficult” locations and are best accessed by a remote connection.
There are two ways to solve this technical problem:
A. Place the DA unit (1012, 1016, DrDAQ, etc.) the sensors and the companion PC (Slave PC) in the remote location and operate the Slave from a Master PC.
B. Place the sensors in the remote location and remotely connect them to the DA unit, which is now directly USB connected to the Master PC.
In this post we shall examine one of the many different solutions possible with A.
The proposed solution uses Internet directly, thereby eliminating cables and cabling and allowing any distance between Slave and Master PC, from a few feet to the other side of the world : the two PC’s are connected to Internet and the Master fully controls the Slave by directly acting on the Slave’s Desktop. At today's generally available speeds, control from Master to Slave and Slave's response are instantaneous. No special software needs to be written and the system can be set up in a matter of minutes, thanks to the TV readily downloadable Application and their free interconnection system.
https://www.teamviewer.com/
This application is free for non-commercial, non industrial use(e.g. for testing the system). If found useful, then a one time payment for the service is due, according to a price list.
For distances up to a few hundred yards (and to quickly test the system) the best solution is to use (or, if not already available, set up) a WI-FI network which will allow internet sharing by the Master and Slave PCs. If the WI-FI network is already available, then the two PCs will be connected to internet and no additional hardware will be necessay. If not available, then the system pictured in the blocks diagram is very easy to implement by following the set-up instructions coming with the WI-FI Modem Router.
In the next post we shall examine System operation in detail.
- Overall System
- Picolog 1012 in remote operation
Last edited by Glovisol on Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Glovisol
- Advanced User
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2013 10:03 am
- Location: San Marzano Oliveto, Asti, Italy
Re: REMOTING PC DATA LOGGERS OPERATION
REMOTE SYSTEM DETAILS
The proposed system allows any mix-up of Windows Operating Systems. In this example a Master laptop with Windows 7 OP controls a Slave laptop with a Windows XP OP. But, once the TV software is installed on both PC's, then the reverse is also possible, e.g. the Master becomes the Slave as it will be shown in the next post.
Installation and operation of the TV application are very easy. Herewith a typical operating sequence.
NOTE: The text on the Application shown on the PC screens is in Italian only because my PCs are Italian localized. In English language localized PC the text will automatically appear in English.
The proposed system allows any mix-up of Windows Operating Systems. In this example a Master laptop with Windows 7 OP controls a Slave laptop with a Windows XP OP. But, once the TV software is installed on both PC's, then the reverse is also possible, e.g. the Master becomes the Slave as it will be shown in the next post.
Installation and operation of the TV application are very easy. Herewith a typical operating sequence.
NOTE: The text on the Application shown on the PC screens is in Italian only because my PCs are Italian localized. In English language localized PC the text will automatically appear in English.
- Attachments
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- W7 Master initial connect display
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- Slave initial connect display
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- PC's are now connected
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- Picolog starts opening
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- Picolog in operation & controlled by Master
Last edited by Glovisol on Thu Dec 31, 2015 1:58 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Glovisol
- Advanced User
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2013 10:03 am
- Location: San Marzano Oliveto, Asti, Italy
Re: REMOTING PC DATA LOGGERS OPERATION
ILLUSTRATION OF THE REVERSE CONNECTION
In this post the reverse connection is shown: the WXP laptop becomes the Master controlling the W7 PC Slave. Remote control of Picoscope is also shown, even if this feature should have a more limited interest.
In this post the reverse connection is shown: the WXP laptop becomes the Master controlling the W7 PC Slave. Remote control of Picoscope is also shown, even if this feature should have a more limited interest.
- Attachments
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- Initial XP Master desktop display
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- XP Master controlling Picolog on W7 Slave
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- Picoscope in remote operation
Last edited by Glovisol on Mon Jan 04, 2016 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Glovisol
- Advanced User
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2013 10:03 am
- Location: San Marzano Oliveto, Asti, Italy
Re: REMOTING PC DATA LOGGERS OPERATION
SYSTEM OPERATING AND SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
It is important to realise that the proposed System uses two wide open PCs operating in the Internet at large. The risk of intrusions, viruses and data stealing and/or corruption is ever present. It is therefore advisable to use PCs especially dedicated for this job, i.e. with HD's containing only application software, a powerful antivirus and firewall to the exclusion of sensitive data. On the same subject, care must be exercised when transferring collected data files to other PCs, lest these files might contain viruses collected on the way. It is the writer's experience that the use of an "aged" OP, such as Windows XP, is beneficial in this respect, as hackers tend to follow and devote their attentions to latest fashions in software.
The System is very robust with regards to Internet interruptions and/or mal-functions: once Picolog has been set and started, data is collected independent of Internet status.
If real time data transmission is not necessary, it is best to operate System interconnect, turn on Picolog and then switch interconnect off. Data will be collected and stored remotely, ready for download to the local PC at any convenient time: in this way on line time (and therefore risk) is minimized.
A notable advantage of the System, as compared to remoting of sensors (which will described in a future post) is that all the channels available on the DA Data Logger at the Slave PC, are immediately available on the Master PC and the accuracy of the collected data depends only on the accuracy of the Data Logger itself.
It is important to realise that the proposed System uses two wide open PCs operating in the Internet at large. The risk of intrusions, viruses and data stealing and/or corruption is ever present. It is therefore advisable to use PCs especially dedicated for this job, i.e. with HD's containing only application software, a powerful antivirus and firewall to the exclusion of sensitive data. On the same subject, care must be exercised when transferring collected data files to other PCs, lest these files might contain viruses collected on the way. It is the writer's experience that the use of an "aged" OP, such as Windows XP, is beneficial in this respect, as hackers tend to follow and devote their attentions to latest fashions in software.
The System is very robust with regards to Internet interruptions and/or mal-functions: once Picolog has been set and started, data is collected independent of Internet status.
If real time data transmission is not necessary, it is best to operate System interconnect, turn on Picolog and then switch interconnect off. Data will be collected and stored remotely, ready for download to the local PC at any convenient time: in this way on line time (and therefore risk) is minimized.
A notable advantage of the System, as compared to remoting of sensors (which will described in a future post) is that all the channels available on the DA Data Logger at the Slave PC, are immediately available on the Master PC and the accuracy of the collected data depends only on the accuracy of the Data Logger itself.