Windows Install --------------- Assumptions ----------- This procedure describes how to install the Syscomp network analyser software onto a computer operating a Windows operating system. It assumes that you have the Syscomp WGM-101 waveform generator and the DSO-101 oscilloscope. It also assumes that you have installed the software for these units and have verified that they connect properly to their USB ports. Now you would like to install the network analyser software. Disclaimer ---------- The network analyser software is 'developmental' and 'unsupported' software. That is, it is supplied free and we have verified that it works on our computers, which run Windows XP. We are interested in hearing about bugs and install problems. However, we can't guarantee that we will fix bugs in this software in a timely fashion. Step 1: Install the Tcl/Tk Language ----------------------------------- To operate the network analyser software, you must have the Tcl/Tk program installed on your computer. (Tcl/Tk is not required to operate the oscilloscope or waveform generator when operated by their accompanying software. Those programs are packaged in such a way that they incorporate the necessary language features.) Download and install Tcl/Tk for windows from the ActiveState web site: www.activestate.com/Products/ActiveTcl Follow the installation instructions. At the conclusion of the installation procedure, you should have the Tcl/Tk programming language installed and visible as a desktop icon such as WISH84. Step 2: Download the network-analyser .zip file ----------------------------------------------- Using Windows Explorer, create a folder for the network analyser files, such as 'network-analyser'. I recommend not using an existing folder, keep these files in a separate folder. Download the network analyser .zip file to your desktop. Double-click on the .zip file and a directory will open, listing the files in the archive. Use edit->select all to select all the files. Drag them to your newly created directory 'network-analyser'. Step 3: Associate Tcl files with the WISH program ------------------------------------------------- In the 'network-analyser' directory, there should be among the other files one named 'main.tcl'. Right click on that file and select 'open with'. Ensure that this shows 'Wish Application' or something similar. If that is not the case, (a) select 'browse' (b) right click on the WISH84 icon, select 'properties', and determine its location. (c) copy that location into the browse dialogue. Step 4: Set up the port configuration files ------------------------------------------- In its current state, the network analyser program does not have the necessary buttons to select the appropriate USB-COM port. (By USB-COM port, I'm referring to the pseudo-COM ports established by the FTDI driver that communicates with the hardware). Instead, the program reads the 'waveport.cfg' and 'scopeport.cfg' files to determine which USB-COM ports to use. If you can run the WGM-101 waveform generator by double-clicking on its icon and it automatically connects to the harware via a USB port, then the 'waveport.cfg' file in that directory contains the name of the COM port it is using. (It's a simple text file so you can examine it by double-clicking on it.) Similarily, If you can also run the DSO-101 oscilloscope at the same time as the waveform generator by double-clicking on its icon, then the 'scopeport.cfg' file contains the name of the COM port that the scope is using. Copy these two 'waveport.cfg' and 'scopeport.cfg' files to the directory with the network analyser software and this will configure the network analyser to connect to the correct USB-COM ports. If this doesn't work, disconnect both the WGM-101 waveform generator and DSO-101 oscilloscope. Reconnect the waveform generator alone and run its software. Use the 'Hardware' selection to detect the appropriate USB port. Then select 'save and exit' to write the .cfg file. Then repeat this process with the oscilloscope. Now you should have useable .cfg files for both devices. Alternatively, you can examine the hardware connection setting for the waveform generator and oscilloscope when they are running correctly. Then hand edit the .cfg files in the network analyser directory to have the same information. Step 5: Run 'main.tcl' --------------------- Connect both the WGM-101 waveform generator and DSO-101 oscilloscope to their USB ports. Double click on 'main.tcl' and the network analyser should start. After a few seconds, both the 'scope status' and 'waveform status' should show a green background and 'connected'. Connect up some network to test to the generator and oscilloscope. An RC lowpass filter is one possibility. The signal from the generator drives the input to the filter and Channel A of the oscilloscope. The output from the filter goes to Channel B on the oscilloscope. Set the 'start frequency' for (say) 1/10 the corner frequency of the filter, and the 'end frequency' for (say) 10 times the corner frequency of the filter. Hit 'start' and the frequency sweep should commence. The sweep starts very slowly at low frequencies because the oscilloscope acquisition of a complete waveform takes some time. You should see the scope waveforms in the 'Oscilloscope Display' panel change shape as the frequency is increased. The 'Resolution' setting sets the frequency increment. As the sweep is taking place, you can see a readout of the hardware commands in the 'Console' window. Step 6: Capture the display ---------------------------- To capture the entire desktop, hit 'PrtSc' (print screen). To capture the currently active (top) window, hit 'Alt-PrtSc'. Then you can paste this image into 'Programs-Accessories-Paint' using the 'Edit-Paste' command. Use the paint 'Save As' command to save this in a suitable format, or direct this image to a printer using the 'Print' command.