Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

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EvanShultz
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Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi all,

First a bit of background: I am a new PicoScope user. I've had a pair of TC-08 USB for a while and they're great. So when I had a use for a 2-channel scope and signal generator I picked up a PS 2203. Unfortunately, I didn't ask the right questions before purchasing and it doesn't appear the scope will do all I hoped. Or else it does and I haven't figured it out. I wouldn't mind being wrong :)

I am hoping to perform all of the following at once:
1. Use the AWG as a sine source to both channels of a 2-channel audio amplifier.
2. View both amplifier channels using both scope channels.
3. Log the voltage at the scope inputs. I'd prefer to log the measurement data such as Vrms, but I'll accept any format I can get. Bonus points if I can also log the frequency.

The test will be a long-term test, typically in the range of 30-90 minutes. I want to be able to select the logging interval. So the logged data will ideally look like the output from PicoLog, something like (based from 6.1.1.1.1 of psw6-en.pdf):
Time, Channel A, Freq A, Channel B, Freq B
(s), (V), (Hz), (V), (Hz)
0, 5.511, 50.002, 1.215, 50.112
1, 4.724, 50.007, 2.130, 50.121
2, 5.552, 49.998, 2.212, 50.109

I can easily accomplish #1 and #2 with PicoScope 6, but not #3. I can accomplish #3 with PicoLog, but then I don't get #1 or #2.

I could do all that I want with another PS 2203, or my PS 2203 and my PicoLog 1012, but I much prefer only a single piece of hardware. Especially since I know the PS 2203 has all the capabilities I want, and the limitation may be the inability to use those capabilities at the same time.

I know the PS 2203 can do all 3 functions, I just can't get it to all happen all at the same time. I just want to extend the existing functionality of PicoScope 6 by adding a "write scope data to file at user-defined intervals" feature.

If this isn't currently possible with PicoScope 6, that's too bad because I've written a little software but I'm not a code guru. I looked at the SDK in VS 2008 Express, but ps2000.vbp just grabs a small number of samples. Am I missing what I can do with the SDK?

Perhaps what I want to do is already possible and I'm just not seeing it. Thanks in advance for any help!
Last edited by EvanShultz on Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

PeterF
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by PeterF »

Hi,
PicoScope6 can capture and calculate the parameters you require but it does not save such "Measurements" in a spreadsheet style as PicoLog does. If you add a measurement to PicoScope6, the parameter is presented in a text box on the graph. If the data is then saved and later re-loaded back into PicoScope6, the measurements are still there but can, if wished, be deleted, modified or added to just as if the trace was "live". Thus data can be viewed but it is not saved separately to a file on it's own. Vrms & frequency, for instance, can be measured for any part of the capture but results must be tabulated by hand.
To log results exactly as you wish, you do need to use an additional PicoLog 1012 running PicoLog software.
Regards,
PeterF.

EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi Peter,

Thank you for the reply.

Yes, I have been using measurements with great success. It will give me the data that I'm looking for, but I can't record that data. I should have mentioned that.

Saving the waveform, as you mention, won't work because I need to see the waveform as the data is being written to an external file. Even if I could record 30+ minutes of data on the PicoScope 6 screen at one time, so I could save all that data, I couldn't see the structure of the scope's input waveform (typically 1kHz sine wave) for the entire recording session.

Is there any plan to add data logging functionality to PicoScope 6? Or any plan to allow both PicoScope and PicoLog to address the same piece of hardware (probably not)? If the answer the the latter question is "no", am I correct that writing my own code will be of no value since I can't talk to the PS 2203 while PicoScope 6 is connected to it?

Robin
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by Robin »

Hi

You are correct. If you were to write your own software, you would not be able to access the scope if PicoScope 6 (or any other software) is accessing it.

Robin

EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi Robin,

Thank you for the reply. That's what I was afraid of.

So then currently there's no way to do what I want using PicoScope 6? Can this be added as a feature request to a future version of PicoScope 6?

Robin
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by Robin »

Hi

It is on the to-do list for PicoScope 6, but we are currently working on other features and I don't know when it will be available.

Your only option currently is to write your own software.

Sorry I can't be more help!

Robin

EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Digging up an old post...

Has this feature made it into PicoScope? I just gave the current PS6 (6.5.64.0) a spin, and I don't see this capability added.

Currently, I'm using a PS 2203 as an AWG and to view the both scope channels, then a PicoLog 1012 and record the data from the DUT. As you can see from my original post, that fulfills all 3 of the functions I need to perform, but it takes 2 instruments and is kludgey compared to being able to log from within PicoScope while I use the AWG and scope functions.

Is this possible with PS6 as it stands now? Is there a custom app that will do it?

Is my only current solution to write my own PicoScope-like clone and also add logging to it, since I can't address the PS 2203 if it's talking to PS6? Clearly, that's awfully tough to justify.

ziko
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by ziko »

Hi the latest Picoscope 6 will have longer time bases up to 1000 seconds per division.

Kind regards
Ziko

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EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi Ziko,

From my original post, I will typically need to capture 30-90 minutes worth of data. While 10 divisions at 1000sec/div is 166.7 mins, I won't be able to see any waveform details with such a long time/div.

I need to see the current waveform (~200uS/div), and at the same time log data (ideally measurements) for 30-90 minutes. Unless I'm misunderstanding you, I can't do that with the current version of PicoScope 6.

If I currently can't do what I'm asking for, could you kindly let me know if logging while using both the scope and AWG is on the PicoScope roadmap?

EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Bump. Anyone??

ziko
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by ziko »

Good call for the bump!

This depends on what sample rate you are looking at. For example at 200s/div giving you 33 mins you can get a sample rate of approximately 1kS/s.

What sample rate are you looking for? Is this what you mean by 200us/div?

Kind regards
Ziko

Technical Specialist

EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi Ziko,

Yes, the display must be set at 200us/div in order to see the waveform, a 1-5kHz sine wave, in real time.

On top of being able to see the waveform, I'd like to log waveform data. So even if I slowed the time/div to give me the maximum 33 min of record length, I wouldn't be able to log this data cycle-by-cycle, for instance, so I can see trends in the waveform.

I would like to both view waveforms and log data. While using the AWG. If this isn't possible, which I gather is the case, is this feature being considered for a future PicoScope release?

ziko
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by ziko »

Hi yes this is not achievable using our software, you would have to write your own software to do so really. The device can operate in fast streaming mode which would give you a high enough sample rate to do this. In our software the maximum you can continuously stream is approximately 1kS/s. We have some basic programming examples and a programmers guide, detailing all the function calls from our website below:

http://www.picotech.com/software.html

The other mode of operation is block mode where it samples to the memory of the device and transfers to the PC which can be fully utilised in our software, however you would need another product with a much much larger memory.

Kind regards
Ziko

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EvanShultz
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by EvanShultz »

Hi Ziko,

So what you're saying is that my only course of action is to write my own PicoScope with logging capability? Since that's such a big job as to be virtually unfeasible, I'll leave it to the experts (Pico Tech) and hope it's in the pipeline.

Can you let me know if adding logging capability is on the roadmap for PicoScope? If not, is it possible to request this feature?

ziko
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Re: Can I log data from PS 2203 while running PicoScope 6?

Post by ziko »

Hi what you are asking for is relatively high speed logging, we are adding long timebases, but the sample rate would drop with the long timebases. Currently we have no immediate plans to include high sample rates on long timebases.

Your 5kHz Sinewave would have to be sampled at 50kS/s or more which should be achievable if you were writing your own sofware, depending on your programming experience it may or may not be easy. But it will defenitely not be as complicated as writing Picoscope 6.
Ziko

Technical Specialist

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