Create a combined instrument from two or more instruments

Each individual WiFiScope and/or Handyscope is connected to the computer, using its own USB cable. The measuring systems of the individual instruments are coupled to each other by means of TP-C50H Coupling cable CMIs which are placed on the AUX IO and/or CMI connectors of the instruments. Between each two instruments a TP-C50H Coupling cable CMI is used. When the instruments are combined using the TP-C50H Coupling cable CMI, they will share the same sampling clock and trigger signals, making it possible to perform fully synchronized measurements on all channels simultaneously.

Combining the instruments is done fully automatically. When the instruments are connected to the computer via their own USB cables and the TP-C50H Coupling cable CMIs are connected to the AUX IO or CMI connectors of the instruments, the Multi Channel oscilloscope software can be started. It will automatically detect which instruments are connected to each other and combine them to one larger combined instrument.

Extra instruments can be added to an existing combined instrument. To add one or more CMI instruments to an existing combined instrument, close the software, connect the new instruments to the combined instrument using additional TP-C50H Coupling cable CMIs and start the Multi Channel oscilloscope software again. The new, larger combined instrument will be detected and opened.

To remove one or more CMI instruments from an existing combined instrument, close the software, disconnect the required instruments from the combined instrument and start the Multi Channel oscilloscope software again. The new, smaller combined instrument will be detected and opened.

Each individual instrument is connected to the computer, using its own USB cable. 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 this special coupling cable, please contact TiePie engineering.

When the instruments are connected to the computer using their own USB cables and the special coupling cable is connected to the extension connectors of the instruments, the Multi Channel oscilloscope software can be started. Initially, it will show the connected instruments individually.

To combine the instruments, open the Manage instruments... dialog through the Instruments menu.

All connected instruments are listed in the dialog. Select the instruments that need to be combined by clicking them with the mouse with the Ctrl key pressed and then press the Combine button . The selected instruments will be combined to one larger combined instrument.

All units in a combined instrument measure simultaneously: they are started at the same moment, stopped at the same moment and they respond to the same trigger. The units do however each use their own sample clock, that is not shared.

In the example above, two Handyscope HS4s are combined to an eight channel instrument. All eight 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 add an instrument to the combined instrument, first split the combined instrument in the software. To split the instrument, open the Manage instruments dialog, select the combined instrument by clicking it with the mouse and click the Separate button . Then connect the extra instrument(s) with the instruments already contained in the combination, by means of a coupling cable. Refresh the content of the Manage instruments dialog using the Refresh button . Finally select all instruments that need to be combined by clicking them with the mouse with the Ctrl key pressed and then press the Combine button .

When one or more instruments need to be removed from a combined instrument, first split the combined instrument in the software. To split the instrument, open the Manage instruments dialog, select the combined instrument by clicking it with the mouse and click the Separate button . Then disconnect the instrument(s) that need to be removed from the combination. Refresh the content of the Manage instruments dialog using the Refresh button . Finally select all instruments that need to be combined by clicking them with the mouse with the Ctrl key pressed and then press the Combine button .