User`s guide

Introduction

2.1

Connecting to the PC

The ADC-10, ADC-12, ADC-40 and ADC-42 can be connected to the PC in two ways:

directly to a printer port on the computer

to a USB port on the computer, via a Pico USB parallel port adapter.

Printer port operation

When you install the application software from the Pico CD, the computer will ask you

which port to use. You should select LPT1, LPT2 or LPT3.

To use the ADC, you should connect it to the printer port on your computer, either

directly or using a good quality extension cable.

USB parallel port operation

Please note that USB printer port interfaces are not suitable for use with Pico

products. If you wish to connect a Pico product to a USB port, you will need a Pico

USB Parallel Port adapter. You will also need Windows XP SP2 or Vista.

When you install the application software from the Pico CD:

When the computer asks you which port to use, select USB-PP1.

Once the USB driver software is installed, connect the Pico USB parallel port adapter

to your PC: the computer will automatically configure the drivers.

See streaming for more information about the advantages of operating via a Pico USB

parallel port.

Checking the installation

To check that the unit is working, start up the PicoScope program and then connect a

voltage source to the BNC connector. The ADC has the same connectors as an

oscilloscope, so you can use standard oscilloscope probes. Oscilloscope probes with

x10 facility require 1 megaohm input impedance and should therefore only be used

with the ADC-40 and ADC-42.

PicoScope should now display the voltage that you have connected. If you are using

scope probes, when you touch the scope probe tip with your finger, you should see a

small 50 Hz mains signal on the screen.

If you have connected the ADC to a parallel port other than the port specified when

you installed the software, you will need to go to the Setup panel and then change the

port number to the appropriate value (USB port numbers begin with USB-PPx. If you

have more than one USB parallel port, they will be numbered according to the order

they are plugged into the PC). You will need to exit and re-enter the software to

activate the change.