RoadTest the Advantech PCIE-1816 - Part 1 Installation of Advantech PCIE-1816 DAQ card and DAQNavi software, and “getting started” steps
What I am planning to cover in this blog post: Product description, unpacking and exploring the contents, installing the Advantech PCIE-1816 DAQ card in the computer, installing the software, setting-up and configuring the DAQ card, testing the PCIE-1816 DAQ card using the testing utility supplied.
First I want to thank Element14 and Advantech for selecting me as one of the roadtesters for the Advantech PCIE-1816 DAQ card. I was happy when I received the package and I opened and explored the contents. Inside I found two boxes, one cable, and a memory stick.
One of the boxes contained the PCI-1816 DAQ card,
which came with an installation files and documents on a DVD.
The second box contained the ADAM-3968 low cost universal DIN-rail mounting screw terminal module with a 68-pin SCSI connector:
The bag contained a 68-pin SCSI-68 cable with part number PCL-10168H-1E printed on a label.
The 4 Gb memory stick contains the DAQ-Navi software for Windows and for Linux.
In the package I found also a registration card which has also information about extended warranty plans, 1-year, two-years, and 3-years.
Besides this card, I also found a startup manual for PCIE-1816/1816H DAQ cards:
I like that found on the inside pages a pin assignment table that I will post on the wall and which helps me as a quick reference for the location of the analog and digital signals, analog threshold trigger, digital trigger, scan and conversion clocks, analog outputs external reference, and digital counter controls.
The last page contains diagrams showing how to connect single-ended and differential analog inputs, analog outputs, and external conversion source.
The box included also stickers to be attached on the DAQ card bracket for easier identification in computers with multiple instruments installed.
I then continued with installing the PCIE-1816 DAQ card in my desktop computer. First I have identified an empty PCI-E slot and I removed the metallic tab that corresponded to that slot.
I then plugged the PCIE-1816 DAQ card in one of the PCIE slos:
I then closed the computer cover and I turned on the power.
Next I started the software installation by first inserting the DVD that came in the package, which took me to the driver installation screen:
Actually, both the driver and DAQNavi software are on this DVD, so I could choose to install only the driver or both the driver and DAQNavi. I decided to select “DAQNavi Windows All Products”, which took me to the installation of DAQNavi SDK, DAQNavi driver, Datalogger, Multimeter, and Updater.
Installation has started and a screen window showed me one by one all the software components that where installing.
This installation process took a while and I was happy in the end when I saw all the components with a green checkmark.
For first time users and people who need to learn how to use data acquisition cards there are multiple videos available on the DVD and which got installed with the software. These videos teach all the necessary skills needed to start using this PCIE-1816 DAQ card and to setup and perform advanced measurements and functions using multiple programming languages including C++, Visual Basic, and Matlab.
I then wanted to see if I installed correctly the PCIE-1816 DAQ card, and I started the Advantech Navigator from the startup menu. In the left side I found my PCIE-1816 DAQ card listed, and I also found a “Demo Device”, which is good to have in case anyone wants to explore the DAQNavi features before buying a DAQ card.
In my case I selected the PCIE-1816 card and on the right side screen I got a control panel with four waveform display graphs. There are five tabs at the top that select and configure each of the main functions of this card: Analog Inputs, Analog Outputs, Digital Inputs, Digital Outputs, and Counter.
I briefly went through these selections and configurations to make sure my the PCIE-1816 DAQ card is functions, and all my experiments proved that I have installed the card properly and that it functions correctly. Here is an example of the Analog Output panel:
This concludes the first of three blog posts I planned for this review/evaluation. I am happy that I received this product and I was able to install it and to check that it works. That’s it for now; I will come back and continue with my next steps in evaluations this PCIE-1816 DAQ card as soon as I get more work done.
Best Wishes,
Cosmin