Slow USB signal aquisition for Tektronix TDS2012B

[dataaq]

I would like to monitor the Channel 1 signal in real-time from a Tektronix 2012B oscilloscope on my desktop computer.  The TDS2012B scope has a USB 2.0 output, and is compatible with LabView SignalExpress.  I have downloaded and installed LabView SignalExpress, and connected the scope to a USB 2.0 port on my computer. A message appeared saying that the driver was successfully installed, and SignalExpress autostarts and loads the TDS1000/2000 project.  I've unchecked "SignalExpress controls the instrument" and clicked "Run" to have it run continuously.  It is in "Monitor/Record" mode.

The scope is externally triggered by a function generator at 50Hz, and I would like to see this same repetition rate on my desktop.  Instead, I see a update rate of <0.5Hz (updates once every 2-3 seconds).  Is this performance to be expected, or could someone help me configure SignalExpress to update at 50Hz?

The one thing I tried was to go "Tools > Options > Execution > Signal View Update Rate" and changed it from 80 (ms) to 10 (ms), but this had no effect.  No other programs were running.

Here are some useful specs:

Desktop Computer:

Dell Optiplex 780

Windows 7 Enterprise, 32 bit

4 GB RAM, Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz 3.17 GHz

Oscilloscope:

Tektronix

TDS2012B

2 Channel Digital Storage Oscilloscope

100MHz 1GS/s

SignalExpress:

ver 2.5.1

EDIT:

This did not appear in my search for topics, but I noticed that there is a similar thread here:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/SignalExpress/SignalExpress-TE-Very-Slow-Getting-Signals/td-p/710984

The TDS2012B manual can be found here:

http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/madetails.lotr?ct=MA&cs=mur&ci=16272&lc=EN

[TaylorG]

Hi dataaq,

Thank you for your very detailed post!  I have looked a little further at this issue, and I did find another Discussion Forum post regarding this same topic.  Did you upgrade from LabVIEW SignalExpress Tektronix Edition to LabVIEW Signal Express 2.5?  I have attached a KnowledgeBase article that might shed some light on this issue.  I have also attached a link to the Discussion Forum where another user has seen similar issues in the past.  Please let me know if this helps!  Have a great day!

Upgrading SignalExpress Tektronix Edition to LabVIEW SignalExpress Results in Limited Functionality

Discussion Forum:

Loss of Tektronix functionality with Signal Express 2.0 vs. Tektronix Edition?

[danbeckett]

Did this ever get resolved? I'm having the same issue, very slow update rate

[USBarnes]

danbeckett,

I'm not sure if this was ever resolved, but it seems like a common issue. Do we know what the maximum data transfer rate is from the Tektronix? It may be worth contacting Tektronix to see if they have any ideas as well.

[jkarl]

Hello All,

I am using a TDS 2014 with GPIB and get the same very slow transfer rate as described in the previous posts.  I have used older tek scopes such as the TDS3034 and TDS3054 with 10k record length and got real time displays in LabVIEW V8.5 but I suspect that these models only will deliver very slow data transfer rates.

[prabhu_er]

Hello

I am also facing the same issue with tektronix tds2024c scope. reading one channel takes 250 milli second in my case, where my applcation needs to read 4 channel.Reading that may cause a reading rate of 4x250 thats one scond. Is there any solution for this issue

[WestOfEden]

Hey there,

Since this post is pretty old you might have more luck creating another post. However just to let you know I've searched to see if I could find any resolution to this issue internally but have not found one so far. I think it may be worthwhile to reach out to Tektronix to see if they are aware of the issue or have any recommendations.