Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

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Chris Stamford-Burrows
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Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by Chris Stamford-Burrows »

I have used Belkin successfully to network PicoScope also. Belkin F5L009 delivers data from a number of USB sources on a network cable to laptop.

But I have not been able to get the Black Box IC254A 4-port remote system to work with PicoScope. IC254A works as required with all other USB devices. It has a High speed capability of 480 Mb/s. IC254A differs from Belkin in that USB is converted to Ethernet at the device end, and back from Ethernet to USB at the laptop end.

When we connect to PicoScope 3424 via IC254A the laptop identifies the new devices as a 3000 series PicoScope. But when we start PicoScope6 software (6.2.1.12 and more recent versions) we get the Windows request to look for a driver.
If we connect the PicoScope direct to a USB port, it works fine.

Can anyone comment on why this might be?

PeterF
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by PeterF »

Hi,
We have not tested that product yet but it could be a problem with "latency", the time between sending and receiving, being too long. Here is a report on some experiments we did a year or so ago with a similar devce:-
www.picotech.com/support/kb/kbfiles/CAT5USB.pdf
PeterF.

Chris Stamford-Burrows
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by Chris Stamford-Burrows »

Thanks for the information.
Can you tell us why it is important to keep latency short when using PicoScope like this. Or is it the ethernet protocol which is failing when period betwnn transmit and receive is too long?

Regards

Chris

PeterF
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by PeterF »

Hi,
It may or may not be latency that was causing the problem with our earlier experiment but that is what we concluded at the time.
Here is a link to a note we have about using the Belkin hub, please take a look and see if you agree with what we found with that:-
http://www.picotech.com/support/kb/kbfi ... USBHub.pdf
Are the problems you are getting with the Black Box IC254A similar to the two stage enumeration on the Belkin?
Regards,
PeterF.

Chris Stamford-Burrows
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by Chris Stamford-Burrows »

Hi
Yes - the notes you have made regarding Belkin connection are very familiar. We have have established a similar routine for getting the connection started.

But the BlackBox problem looks different. When we connect PicoScope hardware to a USB port we get the Windows message from icon on bottom right hand side of the screen, saying that PicoScope 3000 has been connected.

But when we start the PicoScope6 software, we get the Windows Hardware Wizard, and while pressing Next we reach what seems to be a hang-up.

However, we can try again with the added insight from your Belkin notes, and let you know what happens.

If it seems useful can we send our BlackBox hardware to PicoTech in UK for testing, or are you swamped with this kind of work?

PeterF
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by PeterF »

Hi,
If we needed to test, we would probably buy our own as import/export is a pain!
Regards,
PeterF.

Chris Stamford-Burrows
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Re: Networking PicoScope with Black Box device

Post by Chris Stamford-Burrows »

Hi
With referenece to connecting to BlackBox - and with reference to your document with Belkin -
When we get the New Hardware Wizard with PicoScope in a new USB slot, we find it take 3 - 4 minutes until we get a warning message, prior to Hardware Installation.

We do not recollect it being this slow during the first USB connection.

We assume that the driver software is being downloaded from PicoScope, and is maybe being slowed down by security software. Do you know what is happening there?

The temptation has been to abort the 'downloading after a very long minute!'. So - we'll try again with BlacBox and wait !!!

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