Create a combined instrument from two or more instruments

With the Multi Channel software, you are not limited to number of channels of one instrument. It is possible to combine two or more instruments to form a combined instrument. Once the instruments are combined, the resulting single instrument works just like a normal instrument. There is no limit to the number of channels in a combined instrument.

Combining is possible with the following instruments:

• Handyscope HS3 (from serial number 14266, older instruments need modification)
• Handyscope HS4
• Handyscope HS4 DIFF

The measuring systems of the individual instruments are coupled to each other by means of a special coupling cable which is placed on the extension connectors of the instruments. For more information regarding the special coupling cable, please contact TiePie engineering.

When the instruments are connected to the computer and the special coupling is connected to the extension connectors of the instruments, the Multi Channel software can be started. Initially, it will show the connected instruments individually.

To combine the instruments, open the Create combined instrument... dialog through the Instruments menu.

All connected instruments are listed in the dialog. Select the instruments that need to be combined and then press the OK button. The selected instruments will be combined to one larger combined instrument.

In the example above, a Handyscope HS3 and a Handyscope HS4 are combined to a six channel instrument. All six channels can be measured simultaneously, both in block mode and in streaming mode. Any of the channels can be used as trigger source:

Extra instruments can be added to an existing combined instrument. To do so, first connect the extra instrument(s) with the instruments already contained in the combination, by means of a coupling cable. Now the extra instrument(s) can be added to the combination by dragging them onto the combined instrument in the object tree.

When one or more instruments need to be removed from a combined instrument, right-click the combined instrument in the object tree. In the appearing popup menu, click Extract. This will bring up a dialog that allows selection of instruments that need to be extracted from the combined instrument. The extracted instruments will reappear as individual instrument in the object tree.

When multiple instruments with different maximum sampling frequencies are combined, the combined instrument will have a maximum sampling frequency equal to the lowest maximum frequency of the instruments that are combined.