PicoScope 6.11.6 Beta for MacOSX

The new beta version of PicoScope 6 for MacOSX is available for download from https://www.picotech.com/downloads

Release notes

New Serial Decoding features

• Support for 8 new protocols ( now 16 in total ! )
  
  - Ethernet 10Base-T
  
  - Fast Ethernet 100Base-TX
  
  - PS/2
  
  - DMX-512
  
  - 1-Wire
  
  - ARINC-429
  
  - DCC
  
  - SENT (Fast & Slow)
  
  
• updated user interface
• significant decoding speed improvements
• added checksum calculations on most protocols

Hi.
I just downloaded this latest version, 6.11.6.31 and started it up on my MacBook.
And I did download and install the latest Mono first, (a staggering 560MB wow!) before i loaded and started Picoscope.
I'm not doing any serious work yet, but only playing with the wave form generator connected to the A input, to be able to test the new version.

The feature list yo provided makes me wonder if you belive you already have a fully functional user interface and that you just need to tune all the bells and whistles?
This is definitely not the case when I try to use it. I get the same sluggish, sometimes unpredictable, response to my input.

Is it only my computer and installation that behave like this, and that's the reason why I can't share your joy of testing an improved version of the software?
I would gladly provide feedback but I fear that it would not be appreciated as you already seem to have passed the basic user interface development stage, with which I'm struggling, and moved on to the hotter potatoes.

I'm running OSX 10.10.3 on a MBP having a few years on it's back, but still doing well.
CPU is 2,4Ghz I5 and has 16GB of RAM to use.
I'm using a 3203D over USB2 interface as my MBP has no other.

What do you suggest? Is it my computer that needs a fix or your SW? Do you want feedback, and in that case, how?
I'm really glad to see that you are working on the OSX-version, I really am, and I would be pleased if I could assist you in any way.

Brgds
/Roland

Hi Roland

I’m sorry to hear you’re having problems with the new build of PicoScope for Mac. We are aware of a few customers who are experiencing sluggish behaviour with the UI. We are currently investigating potential solutions.

I don’t think the spec of your system is the problem as it is similar to a test machine we have here. One thing that is concerning is the download size for Mono – we think it should only be around 197MB. The correct download location for the Mono MDK is http://www.mono-project.com/download/. Perhaps you could double check you have the correct package.

Feedback is always welcome (and I can assure you it is always read by a human). The best way to send this is via PicoScope itself (Choose Help | Send Feedback). As you are suffering UI responsiveness issues, an email sent to support@picotech.com will also do the trick.

Today was not very successful for me.
I decided to remove the old Mono installation, and Picoscope as well, and make a fresh install of both.
I followed your link and installed the Mono first. And it's 197MB to download, but it occupies 599,6MB on disk. That's where I got the number from.

Then I downloaded and installed Picoscope 6.11.6 again, but now it won't start at all. It's complaining that there is no Mono installed.
I check in the Mac system information and Mono is listed under installed Frameworks; it's there all right.
So I remove the Mono again (and it no longer show up in the Mac system info) and then reinstall it (and it's back in the Mac info).
But picoscope still won't start.

Where to go from here?
The version of the Mono that I installed is: MonoFramework-MDK-4.0.4.1.macos10.xamarin.x86

Thanks,
/Roland

PS
When I get it running again I will gladly post (constructive) feedback on my findings thru the channel you adviced.
DS

Edit:
I've now upgraded to OSX 10.11 (el Captain) and downloaded the newer MonoFW "MonoFramework-MDK-4.2.0.macos10.xamarin.x86". However, PS6 still can't be started directly with the app.
But, thank's to a comment by R. Schmidz in another thread, with a small "Automator script" it starts properly:
"export PATH=/usr/local/bin:${PATH}
/Applications/PicoScope6.app/Contents/MacOS/picoscope".
Meaning, I'm up and running again

Thank you for the feedback, and the information you sent via email

El Capitan install does not seem to work for PicoScope 3405DMSO. Main issue is the device is not found. I do run picoscope after the Mono install of MonoFramework-MDK-4.2.1.macos10.xamarin.x86.pkg.

picoscope comes up quickly, but then says I must use the Demo device. It doesn't find the USB3 or USB2 (tried both) devices. I did look for the device and it is there as follows:

Bus 020 Device 004: ID 05ac:0262 Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Bus 020 Device 003: ID 0a5c:4500 Broadcom Corp. BRCM20702 Hub
Bus 020 Device 006: ID 05ac:8289 Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Bus 020 Device 017: ID 0ce9:1211 0ce9 WestBridge Serial: 0000000004BE
Bus 000 Device 001: ID 05ac:LPTH Apple Inc. USB 3.0 Bus


The Bus 020 Device 017: ID 0ce9:1211 is the bridge to the picoscope. When I remove the device I get this:

Bus 020 Device 004: ID 05ac:0262 Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Bus 020 Device 003: ID 0a5c:4500 Broadcom Corp. BRCM20702 Hub
Bus 020 Device 006: ID 05ac:8289 Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Bus 000 Device 001: ID 05ac:LPTH Apple Inc. USB 3.0 Bus

Strange as the device is called WestBridge Serial: 0000000004BE

For USB2 it is similar, but of course a different ID.

Anyway, it doesn't work. I have not tried the device on anything else as it just arrived in the mail.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

It works for me with the 4.0.4.4 SR "hotfix" release on OS X 10.11 ("el capitan"). It doesn't work with the latest 4.2.1 release. Unfortunately, the UI is very sluggish with 4.0.4.4. It felt a lot less sluggish with 4.2.1 but a demo scope isn't much use.

Hopefully a future 4.2.x release will turn up soonish and be both functional and fast?

Hi. I installed the 4.0.4.4 hotfix. However, I am still getting the "Mono installation not found" error for the 2206A. Not being computer savvy, can someone please advise on the precise procedures to get the 4.0.4.4 working? Thanks a bunch!

Hi single_ended,

Please try the steps outlined in this post.

Thanks,

A new version has been released this morning: Picoscope 6.11.8.5 for Mac OS X. It addresses the issues with El Capitan startup. Also some fixes to the serial decoding interface was added and finally the second inactive apple menu was removed.

From now on releases will be made in pkg format, allowing correct permission setup and closer to native application behavior. Once downloaded, double-click the package file to initiate the installer to take you through the rest of the process. Installer isn't exactly asking where to install the files (default is /Applications). If you have used previous version and put them under different locations, installer may use any of those. If you struggle to find it, check the latest entries to the installer log: /var/log/install.log and look for line saying: Touched bundle /Path/to/PicoScope6.app

Hi mario_ & Hitesh,

This new version solve application launch from icon in application folder
(see details in https://www.picotech.com/support/topic19591.html)

but there is a regression with serial decoding
I used I2C serial decoding with V6.11.6.31, it was working.
and I2C serial decoding is now crashing with V6.11.8.5, I click on : Tools menu / serial decoding / select I2C / Add / select A&B for data & Clock, uncheck Table option / OK, and it crashes... and ask to send crash report to Apple.
first time, a windows ask me to install Xcode or only "developer command line...", I install "developer command line..." but there is no change, it is only for debugging app after crash for Apple (I didn't know before).
I remove V6.11.8.5 and re-install V6.11.6.31, I2C serial decoding works.

I hope this could be helpful for next update.
Phabyain.

Hi Phabyain,

Thank you for letting us know about the Serial Decoding issue.

This has been previously reported and fixed by our Development Team and should be available via the next release.

Regards,

Hi,
Just started using Picoscope for Mac (6.11.8.11) and I noticed that with my 2205A, I do not have the "resolution enhancement" and lowpass filtering options in the channel menu (only the axis scaling configurations), although they do exist in the demo mode.
Is there anything I should do to enable these features?

Thanks!
Ran

The PicoScope 6 versions for linux and Mac are beta, and do not have all the features of the Windows version.
Unfortunately this includes the "resolution enhancement" and lowpass filtering options.
We are moving towards having stable versions for both platforms.

AndrewA wrote:The PicoScope 6 versions for linux and Mac are beta, and do not have all the features of the Windows version.
Unfortunately this includes the "resolution enhancement" and lowpass filtering options.
We are moving towards having stable versions for both platforms.

Thanks,

I will try to wait patiently
Ran