Reading frequency of encoder pulses with cRIO hardware

[GreenRiver]

I have a encoder that sends a pulse out depending on location (max for our system is a few hundread Hz).  I would like to count these pulses to determine a speed of the system.  I have a cRio and using scan mode (no FPGA programming ability).  Would the 9401 do this, the scan mode literature says that any 8 channel DIO could be used as a counter.  I would like to use the other channels as normal digital outputs too.  I have a 9403 (I thought I could do the same with that) but it seems that I cannot use this as a counter in scan mode.

Thanks for the help

[GerdW · Accepted solution]

Hi River,

one limitation of the ScanEngine, that always bugged me, is you can only choose one option for the whole module. So you can use your 9401 module either as DO or as CTR - there is no mixing possible.

So your options are to use the 9401 only for counters - or to buy the FPGA license upgrade…