I need help with "Understanding Signals kit" OPTAscope.

Bomar

I need help with "Understanding Signals kit" OPTAscope.· My kit is new.· I had no problem with Chapter 1 projects,·including the toggling of P14, showing up as expected on the OPTAscope Ver. 4 software screen·using·an XP op system.·
·
However, using chapter 6 Serial Async setup I am not able to display anything but·two, a blue·and a red, horizontal squiggly lines across·the scope screen.· By squiggly I mean that there appears to be a tiny signal on those lines, about 1mm high.· I have tried changing baud rates, and even substituted the·Bs2 stamp with a Bs2p·to no avail.· Would appreciate any suggestions on what other troubleshooting options I might have?· Using the OPTAscope async functions are important to me.

Thanks,
·
Robert
·
post scriptum:· I am not using OPTAscope Ver. 5 software due to the catalog warning that it would not work with all of the courses projects -- should I be using it?

phil kenny

Do you have a Basic Stamp 2 running the AysynchSerial.bs2 code?

If so, is the Debug window showing anything while you are using the
OPTAscope?

If the answers to both questions are yes, you may not have the trigger
channel or level set correctly or one of the scope leads may not be making
a good contact.

phil

Bomar

Thanks for your reply phil.· Yes, I have used Bs2 code·with the Bs2 stamp, and made the slight mods neccessary when I tried the Bs2p stamp, with the same results.· I have double checked all leads; in fact I have programs for both Toggle.bs2 and Async.bs2 paged in the editor at the same time, and make the switch in loading with the Toggle program working and the async not.· Also, the Debug window shows exactly what it is supposed to show.
One thing that I failed to mention is that it seems like everything is moving horizontally so fast that only occasionally·a proper looking bit pattern will quickly flash on the screen·and then disappear while it is moving past the field of view.· It is a little like the horizontal hold on an old TV is moving sideways.· As well as I can depict the bit pattern that flashes by is of the proper size and pattern.· It indicates that a horizontal hold on the OPTAscope, if there is such a thing,·is not working properly, however it does work with the Toggle.bs2 program -- although there is sideways floating of the bit pattern even on that program.· My problem is that I have not seen a proper looking demo of the OPTAscope to know what's normal and what is not.
BTW, you mentioned about the trigger channel being setup correctly.· I really am not sure about how to adjust the little triangles on each side of the screen.
Robert





Post Edited (Bomar) : 2/18/2008 4:50:58 AM GMT

phil kenny

I've attached a jpg image of how the controls should be set
while running AsynchSerial.BS2

Note the trigger settings:
Channel 1, rising, Mode normal, Single Acquisition

The blue triangle on the right side of the scope adjusts the trigger level.
Since the signal on channel 1 is a logic level going from 0 to + 5v,
set the trigger at + 2v by dragging the blue triangle up or down.

The red and blue triangles on the left hand side of the screen control
the zero reference level of the two traces.

If you set the horizontal sweep to 500 microseconds, you will capture
the signal once for each time you click on the RUN button.

phil

Post Edited (phil kenny) : 2/18/2008 8:37:29 AM GMT

Bomar

Phil,
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for solving the problem I spent 6 or 7 hours on yesterday and probably would have spent more today!· I can't believe that I didn't do a better job of comprehending the instructions.· How stupid not·to realize·the difference between the Red and Blue triangles when those colors are on every channel icon, and not know that I had the trigger level at the opposite level.···Probably my main problem·stemmed from jumping from Chapter #1 to chapter #6 because my main interest was async.
Wow!· I am so pleased that the OPTAscope does the job it does.
Phil, I was just as pleased with your attachment.· How did you mark the areas and how did you capture the picture?
Thanks again,
Robert

P.S.· My wife is also pleased that the grouch is gone.·

phil kenny

Glad to hear that it is working for you now.

It really is a good idea to go thru each activity, even if you _think_
you already know the subject. There's always something to learn.
For instance, little things like what those small triangles on the two
sides mean.

Setting the proper trigger conditions is key to getting any scope
to display useful info. Having the sweep speed set to show enough
detail is important, also.

To capture the computer screen, I use a program called HyperSnap 6.

Here's the link www.hyperionics.com/

All of the annotation could have been done within HyperSnap 6, but
being more accustomed to using Photoshop Elements, that's what was
actually used for this image.

After capturing the image, I opened Photoshop Elements 6 to highlight
the areas of interest. The annotation was put on separate layers.

phil

Post Edited (phil kenny) : 2/18/2008 6:44:11 PM GMT

Bomar

Ok! I have Photoshop CS. I'll look in to HyperSnap.

Thanks again,

Robert