Magnova oscilloscope

[Tomki]

I have to explicitly use single shot to get only one single waveform (which can be annoying when wanting to do several single shots in series, you always have to rearm manually).

The Magnova is quite sensitive and I see it pick up things my previous scopes couldn't see at all.

Besides History mode, you might also want to consider the footswitch accessory. It has some nice presets to help in these situations, and I'm sure they'd be open to suggestions for more if you can think of something else.

Thanks,
Josh

You can use the footswitch for any keyboard shortcut! it emulates F12 key

[KungFuJosh]

I am part German. 

[nctnico]

I am part German. 

You had Bratwurst today??   

[KungFuJosh]

You had Bratwurst today??   

I'm not that German, just part German. 

[egonotto]

Hello,

in Germany, there is a saying: “Da brat mir doch einer einen Storch” (Someone fry me a stork). The part about the bratwurst is rather a mistake.

Best regards
egonotto

[KungFuJosh]

Here's verification of the waveform update rate using two different counters. The Magnova tells the truth.

[KungFuJosh]

I sent measurements to digitaldeckcovers.com and they made me a nice vinyl dust cover for the Magnova. The cutout is for the VESA mount, but it would probably be fine with the stand too. Or maybe skip the cutout for the stand.

Thanks,
Josh

[Martin72]

Cool 

[Tomki]

I sent measurements to digitaldeckcovers.com and they made me a nice vinyl dust cover for the Magnova. The cutout is for the VESA mount, but it would probably be fine with the stand too. Or maybe skip the cutout for the stand.

Thanks,
Josh

Nice idea 🤣🤣

[KungFuJosh]

I sent measurements to digitaldeckcovers.com and they made me a nice vinyl dust cover for the Magnova. The cutout is for the VESA mount, but it would probably be fine with the stand too. Or maybe skip the cutout for the stand.

Thanks,
Josh

Nice idea 🤣🤣

I cover everything.

I have a cover they made for my SDS2000X Plus, which was a little large but I still used it on my SDS2000X HD. Mixing consoles, midi controllers, amp heads, etc. They cover them for me. I think mostly because I like to keep things protected, and I really don't like dusting. 

[KungFuJosh]

My workbench is an active bench, where I do a lot of different types of repairs, so I didn't love the Magnova sticking out of the rack when not in use.

I went for the simple solution, and recessed the rack ears 76mm. Much safer now.

The Magnova can still telescope well beyond what I'd normally use, so it's perfect.

Thanks,
Josh

[Tomki]

Some of us put covers over everything, others store everything in cases, some do both 

[axantas]

Some of us put covers over everything, others store everything in cases, some do both 

Sometimes it is about how you value something. And sometimes it is worth to have a look at, how others value something.

[KungFuJosh]

Some of us put covers over everything, others store everything in cases, some do both 

Some of us do both of those things and use 3mm thick acrylic to protect things.

[KungFuJosh]

I think I'm about done with the first version of the driver definition to use the Magnova with TestController. It will require the next version of the Magnova's firmware (some SCPI commands exist for features not available yet), and the next version of TestController (I'm currently using V2.86 beta version of TC - V2.86 is the minimum version required).

I focused on all the features I thought would be useful remotely, so I skipped FFT, Bode, and Decode, which are better managed from the scope...and eventually the web console when it's ready.

In addition to what you can see in the attached screenshots, you can take remote screenshots of the Magnova using the Other button on the main window of TestController.

I'll likely add to the driver for future versions when new features/SCPI stuff is added to the Magnova.

Thanks,
Josh

[Martin72]

You've done an impressive job with it, no question about it.

[KungFuJosh]

Thanks! I even impressed myself. 

[Andre77]

Wow, thank you so much, Josh, for all the effort and time you put into integrating Magnova into the TestController software. Really great work!

[FloBX]

Hi everyone,

today we are releasing Magnova firmware version 1.6.9:

New functionality:

• Added frequency modulation (FM) capabilities to function generator module (BMO-AWG).
• Added Noise waveform type as well as optional Noise overlay capability (BMO-AWG).
• Added support for Arbitrary waveform types (BMO-AWG).
• Added library of pre-defined Arbitrary waveform types, including graphical previews (BMO-AWG).
• Added (graphical) editor for generation of custom arbitrary waveform types. Custom arbitrary waveforms may also be saved and loaded here (BMO-AWG).
• Added configurable Amplitude Scale for function generator waveform setup (BMO-AWG).
• Added optional automatic Measurements functionality for Bode Plot channels.
• Added configurable Frequency Scale for FFT functionality, now allowing logarithmic scale to be selected.
• Added indicator for current zoom view time scale to control section.
• Added SCPI command that enables readout of current device control state.

Optimizations:

• Optimized burst behavior and removed former corresponding frequency limitation (BMO-AWG).
  
• Applied various improvements and optimizations with respect to behavior and control of the function generator module (BMO-AWG).
• Highly increased waveform export performance with respect to internal, remote (network) and portable (USB) storage devices.
• Optimized structure of displayed grid for detail level "fine".
• Various improvements and optimizations.

Bugfixes:

• Fixed phase modulation (PM) deviation angle being set to only half of the desired value (BMO-AWG).
• Fixed Bode Plot measurement channel "None" being selectable with potential selection leading to the device shutting down.
• Fixed Bode Plot Save/Load not considering probe parameters.
• Fixed incorrect device behavior with respect to specific SCPI commands.
• Fixed rare issue that could lead to inputs of physical device controls (buttons and rotary knobs) not being considered without a device restart.
• Fixed deviation (Dev) statistics of automatic measurements remaining reset for specific averaging scenarios.
• Fixed device crashing when attempting to save data of inactive channels.
• Fixed several minor bugs.

We’ve also put together a short video demonstrating these changes in action:


Looking back over the past months, we want to once again express our sincere appreciation for all the feedback and suggestions we’ve received. Your input helps us make the Magnova better with every step. Most importantly, it shows that we’re heading in the right direction — with much more to come.

Please do not hesitate to contact Batronix support if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards
Florian
Batronix

[Andre77]

I would prefer the "Zoom" mode button to not only show the magnification (20.0x), but also the actual time step per division (in this case 5ms). That would make it much more intuitive to see the time scales you are looking at.

Thanks for your suggestion! We’ve just added the time-per-division display in the zoom view with the latest update — so you can now see the actual time scale directly, without having to calculate it.

[KungFuJosh]

Now that the new firmware is released, I have a release candidate (V1.48) for the TestController driver definition for use with the Magnova.

ETA: Attachment updated to V1.49.

If you don't already have TestController, download it here: https://lygte-info.dk/pic/Projects/TestController/TestController.zip
The features in my driver file require a minimum version of V2.8.6 of TestController, which you will probably need to download separately here: https://lygte-info.dk/pic/Projects/TestController/TestController.jar

You will have a Devices folder installed when you setup TestController. It will either go to your Documents folder, or stay in the TestController folder depending on how you set it up (and whatever OS you're on).
Copy the attached text file into the Devices folder.
Then load V2.8.6 or later of TestController, and switch to the Load devices tab. Select Batronix Magnova from the device list, and specify your IP address. Then you should be able to click Reconnect and the Magnova should be detected.

From the main Commands tab, Popups gives you a lot of options for displaying information after Setup is complete.
Open the Setup popup dialog to configure the Magnova and select Measurement options. Explore this, there's a TON of stuff.
The Other popup menu button (below Setup) has a button for screenshots; you can right-click the screenshot image to save locally.

Minimum Magnova firmware is the latest V1.6.9.

Please read the notes in the beginning of the file. Included is the mention of a performance related bug:
If you update Measurement Types with the "Current Values" tab open, it might cause TestController to crash.
This is a tricky performance bug with TestController, and hopefully we'll resolve it soon. It won't likely affect the driver file for the Magnova either way. In any case, you can switch to the main Commands tab, then adjust all the Measurement options in the Setup popup, and then switch back to Current Values if you want to monitor something there.
To view the Chart, you will need to enable logging on the Commands tab, set the Scales for chart on that tab, and then view the Chart tab.

If you're unfamiliar with TestController, you can get help and more info in the TestController thread.

An insane amount of work went into this, and while I've tested everything, it's possible I may have missed something. If you see something odd besides the aforementioned performance bug, please let me know. That being said, please mess around plenty first. There's a learning curve to using TestController as it has a TON of features, and this driver I made for it is one of the craziest available.

I will update this with newer versions after new features are added to the Magnova in future firmwares.

Thanks,
Josh

[jusaca]

Thanks for your suggestion! We’ve just added the time-per-division display in the zoom view with the latest update — so you can now see the actual time scale directly, without having to calculate it.

Really awesome how fast you guys react to suggestions with new updates, thanks a lot for implementing this =)

[Gadolinium]

today we are releasing Magnova firmware version 1.6.9

Those are some really nice updates 
The speed increase when saving data to the network (something that I was concerned with when I first tested the magnova) increased dramatically. With a SMB Share on a windows machine speeds are about 50-60 MB/s now.

I have been playing around with the SCPI commands a bit and the setup of everything is working very well. Only thing I could not find yet is a way to start the bode-measurement with an SCPI command. Am I missing something?

SCPI commands for configuring the save options or simply one that executes a quicksave would also be very nice to have. For example when using the scope for data acquisition of a DUT in a climate chamber - I am controlling the climate chamber over a script anyways, so the same could trigger a new measurement at certain temperature points and trigger the quicksave of data to a network share withouth having to deal with the data during the measurement.

Due to it's nature of beeing a silent scope that bothers no one in the office or at home, it would be the ideal candidate for long term remote data capture tasks. I know it is not specifically made for this, but dual use is always nice. So it would be nice to be able to configure and start everything by SCPI commands.

Currently installing testcontroller to try Josh's driver for the magnova, that looks awesome 

Best regards,
Gado

[KungFuJosh]

I have been playing around with the SCPI commands a bit and the setup of everything is working very well. Only thing I could not find yet is a way to start the bode-measurement with an SCPI command. Am I missing something?

Good question.

SCPI commands for configuring the save options or simply one that executes a quicksave would also be very nice to have. For example when using the scope for data acquisition of a DUT in a climate chamber - I am controlling the climate chamber over a script anyways, so the same could trigger a new measurement at certain temperature points and trigger the quicksave of data to a network share withouth having to deal with the data during the measurement.

Due to it's nature of beeing a silent scope that bothers no one in the office or at home, it would be the ideal candidate for long term remote data capture tasks. I know it is not specifically made for this, but dual use is always nice. So it would be nice to be able to configure and start everything by SCPI commands.

Currently installing testcontroller to try Josh's driver for the magnova, that looks awesome 

Tell me more about your usage for remote Bode plot. I left it out thinking it probably wouldn't be used much remotely. If your use case is compelling, and others might like the function, I could add it in a later version of the TestController driver.

Thanks,
Josh

[Gadolinium]

Temperature drift measurements of precise analog stuff is a case where i would want to start it externally. So that you could once again have the scope working together with a climate chamber and for example characterize -3dB of a filter over temperature.
But this is probably a usecase that not many encounter in day to day life, so questionable if it is necessary in TestController. Having the SCPI command would be enough so that automation freaks like me would be happy