I am an owner of PCS-500 scope and PCG-10 generator, and occasional user of PCS-1000. PC-Lab2000 is definetely wonderful software, and it is even copied by other PC-scope producers, but it has potential to improve.
Here is a brief list of suggested improvements:
Make the software (.exe) the same for PCS-500 and PCS-1000 if it is possible. Now PCS-500 version is reduced in functionality in comparison to PCS-1000 version. eg, screen size in PCS-500 version is very, VERY small (even for my 7-y.o. Fujitsu subnote with 800x600 LCD).
There is some unnecessary lack of functional symmetry in PC-Lab FFT analyser for LF (exact, <50MHz) and HF (sampled) signal analysis. If the user clearly understands the sampling algorithm and restrictions for HF repetitive signals (you can get interesting data with fluctuating signal too - spectrum analysis does not need repetitive signal and triggering, eg), why can’t he use FFT spectrum analyser?
Another Spectrum Analyser issues: i’d like to see the ability to manually set range start and end (also, in function generator). It would greatly reduce time to make repetitive measurements, especially while tuning filters, etc.
Ability to add external modules (and/or just formulas). I routinely make TDR measurements now, and it is rather awkward to move data to external program to calculate problem type and distance.
Thank you for your comments and nice that you like the Pc-Lab2000 software package.
All your suggestions to improve the program are good but some of those rather difficult to implement. Anyhow all of those will be considered as the new features of the future software versions.
The spectrum analyzer is disabled at 1GS/s ranges due to the possibility of false spectrum results due to bad triggering level setting or setting the triggering off.
Do you think that it is possible to get good FFT without the triggering at 1GS/s?
Could you please explain this idea more detailed.
Why couldn’t you just force triggering on? (or issue a warning/error message if the user attempts to use FFT in equivalent time sampling mode but does not have the trigger set.0 I can’t see any problems with FFT as long as you get a stable picture on the scope screen.
In the equivalent time sampling mode (1GS/s) the A/D converter is running at 50MHz.
I think that with some warning the FFT mode will be allowed in the 1GS/s mode too as womai suggested. This feature will be considered for the future release of the software.
Again, let me say first of all that this is fine software. There are, however, a few things:
The USB driver appears to interact unfortunately with a parallel-port PIC-PROG programmer.
It would be good if the 'scope mode could be extended to slower timebases. The transient recorder mode is not as useful (for me).
It would be good if differential mode could be faked in software; i.e. only allow one Y settings shared by both channels, and display the difference of the two. Alternatively, just allow a display of Y1+Y2 or Y1-Y2 without any other change.
… I forgot to mention, is that it would be really good if all functions could be handled by the keyboard, using single keys (perhaps it’s already so). I find when I’m holding a probe on with my right hand it’s really awkward to use the mouse left-handed to adjust the oscilloscope
Thank you for your comments.
Sorry about the problems to run the scope with the parallel-port PIC-PROG programmer. Strange that the USB driver is interacting the parallel port.
You do not select any parallel port connected Velleman oscilloscopes or generators at the PC-Lab2000SE startup?
Indeed, the slower timebases for the oscilloscope are requested. I think that in the future release of the software those will be added there.
About the differential mode: There in the Math menu you can select CH1+CH2 or CH1-CH2. Aren’t those usable for the differential mode?
Using the keyboard shortcuts is also good idea. I agree it may be difficult to use the mouse when doing measurements.
At the moment there are no shortcut keys for the voltage/time range setting etc. (yet).
You can change the Y-position and the trigger level with Page Up /Down keys and with arrow keys after selecting the scrollbar with mouse click.
You can also use the wheel mouse to fine adjust the Y-position of the trace or set the trigger level.
I would like to be able to use the X-Y mode at a low sample rate, allowing collection of the X-Y samples over a 3 to 30 second period. Application: sweep alignment of filters, with the X axis input being a slow, (interrupted), ramp and the Y axis input being the response of the filter to a very slowly changing input.
The PC-scope offers the unique capability to both display the slowly generated analog data and have it available in digital format for computations and documentation, but this is complicated by the normal high sample rate producing excess, redundant data. 1024 samples during a 3 to 30 second period would be sufficient & desirable.
For normal scope operation, slower sweeps with period from 1/30 sec to 30 seconds would be very useful, with sampling rates reduced to yield 1024 to 4096 samples per sweep.
In summary, I’m asking for the software improvements to use the pc scope as a super-storage scope for very low bandwidth applications.