Wireless modules synchronise multiple TiePie scopes

Author: EIS Release Date: Jul 24, 2023

Dutch test gear maker TiePie Engineering has introduced a module that can wirelessly time-synchronise and remotely access multiple instances of its PC oscilloscopes.

 

TiePie wireless module WCMI

‘Wireless multi instrument synchronization module’ WCMI-8 can synchronise series 5 and 6 of both the company’s WiFiScope and Handyscope instruments, at up to 400m range “combining them to a single instrument”, it said.

 

The 868MHz module is simply plugged into the the extension connector on the back of each scope, and its multi-channel oscilloscope’ software automatically detects how many instruments are equipped with a WCMI-8.

 

 

“All detected oscilloscopes, whether connected by wireless, WiFi, LAN or USB, are combined to one single oscilloscope with a total number of channels that equals the sum of the number of channels of the detected oscilloscopes,” said TiePie. “When a trigger occurs on one of the selected channels, all oscilloscopes will be triggered simultaneously and all signals will be synchronously visible on the display.”

 

 

 

TiePie WCMI module fitted

 

If one of the WCMI-8 modules is used in a connected system, at least one other WCMI-8 needs to be installed – they are sold in pairs as well as singles.

 

100Msample/s and 16bit resolution are supported. Clock synchronisation is claimed to be 1ppm or better, and typically ≤0.2ppm.

 

100Msample/s is the maximum sampling rate of the multi-instrument for 14bit signals, which drops to 6.25Msample/s for 16bit.

 

Trigger jitter depends on the scope used, but is between ≤ ±2 and ≤ ±8sample at or below 1Msample/s, and ≤ ±2 to ≤ ±8µs above.

 

A built-in RSSI meter allows the receiving signal strength of each module to be checked.

 

The complete list of applicable instruments is: WS6 DIFF, WS6 and WS5 WiFiScopes (some of which might require a firmware upgrade) and HS6 DIFF, HS6 and HS5 Handyscopes.