Connecting PCGU1000 and PCSU1000 to an old laptop

Instruments PC Generators
1

My old laptop Dell Inspiron 3200 is having just one USB 1.0 port.
Using Gembird USB Hub (based on Genesys Logic GL850A) I managed to load the PCGU1000 following this procedure:

  1. Starting the laptop without the hub
  2. Connecting the hub
  3. Connecting the PCSU1000 and PCGU1000 to the hub. THE POWER ADAPTER OF PCGU1000 IS NOT CONNECTED.
  4. Starting PCLab, after loading the scope open Function Generator. Getting the message to connect the power adapter.
  5. Closing PCLab, connecting the power adapter to PCGU1000 and starting PCLab again.
  6. Voila!

Complicated, but works!

I want to use the forum to make some remarks about PCGU1000:

  1. The inscription at the front panel is misleading - we do not have 10 Vp-p at 50 ohms load. Loading one of the outputs with 50 ohms halves the amplitude. Loading both outputs with 50 ohms is reducing the amplitude more.
  2. Connecting the two outputs in parallel (without any decoupling between them) is strange for me.

Now some suggestions:

  1. Include in the waveform library 10-fold sine, triangle and pulse signals. So you increase 10 times the frequency range of the generator. I tryed and it works fine.
  2. You may open the possibility to exchange *.lib files between PCGU1000 users through your forum.
  3. I would prefer the attenuated signal (-40 dB) to be available at output No.2 only, while at output No.1 the signal is not attenuated.
2

About the startup procedure (looks a little complicated…) : It is strange that it is needed to try to start the PCGU1000 without the power adaptor first?

Thank you for your comment concerning the PCGU1000.

The two outputs are parallel to ensure that you get absolutely same signal amplitude from both outputs regardless of the load.