GW Instek GDS-1000A User Manual
Digital Storage Oscilloscope
GDS-1000-U, GDS-1000A-U, GDS-3000 Series
Freewave Installation & User Guide
ISO-9001 CERTIFIED MANUFACTURER
This manual contains proprietary information, which is protected by
copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this manual may be
photocopied, reproduced or translated to another language without
prior written consent of Good Will company.
The information in this manual was correct at the time of printing.
However, Good Will continues to improve products and reserves the
rights to change specification, equipment, and maintenance
procedures at any time without notice.
Freewave is free for single non-commercial use. Commercial use of
the software is strictly prohibited without authorization from Good
Will company.
Use the software at your own risk. Good Will accepts no liability for
any damages, either as a direct or indirect consequence of the use of
this product.
Good Will Instrument Co., Ltd.
No. 7-1, Jhongsing Rd., Tucheng Dist., New Taipei City 236, Taiwan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Getting started ................................................. 5
Overview ............................................................................. 6
Types of Operations ............................................................ 7
Monitoring the Oscilloscope Display .................................... 7
Standard Memory Length Data Capture ................................ 8
Remote Controlling the Oscilloscope .................................. 11
Long Memory Length Data Capture .................................... 11
Installing Freewave ........................................ 13
Required Equipment .......................................................... 13
Install Microsoft .Net (full version 4.0 or later) and Visual
C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64) ............................ 14
Installation Steps .............................................................. 15
Installing the Software Package ........................................... 15
Connecting the Oscilloscope and Verifying Connectivity ... 19
Manually Installing the USB Driver ..................................... 21
Repairing/Uninstalling Freewave ....................................... 25
Monitoring the Oscilloscope .......................... 26
Viewing the Oscilloscope Display Contents ....................... 27
Viewing the Oscilloscope Virtual Panel ............................. 29
Taking a Snapshot of Display Contents .............................. 31
Taking a Video Clip of the Display Contents (GDS-1000-U
and GDS-1000A-U only) .................................................... 32
Printing Out Display Contents ........................................... 33
Short Memory Data Capture ........................... 34
Viewing Oscilloscope Waveforms ...................................... 34
Saving Waveform Data ...................................................... 39
Recalling Waveform Data ................................................... 40
Using the Commands .................................... 41
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Freewave Manual
Preparing a Command List ................................................ 41
Configuring and Running the Commands .......................... 44
Saving a Command List and its Result ............................... 46
Long Memory Data Capture (GDS-1000A-U Only)
...................................................................... 47
Viewing Long Memory Oscilloscope Waveforms ................ 47
Saving Waveform Data ....................................................... 50
Recalling Waveform Data ................................................... 51
4
Getting started
GETTING STARTED
Freewave supports the GDS-1000-U, GDS-1000A-U and GDS-3000
series oscilloscopes and is freely available to all customers.
Freewave can transfer full screen images, video, or waveform data
from an oscilloscope to a PC via a USB connection. The software
display is updated in real-time from the host oscilloscope. Images
and movie clips can also be saved onto the PC. Images can be
printed directly to a printer.
For data analysis, Freewave is able to capture raw waveform data
from the oscilloscope and display it on the PC screen. Waveforms
can be saved in CSV format to be reused in other applications.
Freewave can also record long memory or standard memory length
waveforms with the GDS-1000A-U series.
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Freewave Manual
Applicable
oscilloscope
GDS-1000-U
GDS-1000A-U
GDS-3000
Applicable OS
Windows XP (32 bit)
Windows Vista (32 bit)
Windows 7 (32 bit, 64 bit)
Main features
Updates the oscilloscope display in real-time,
allowing remote observation.
Virtual Panel operation
Records oscilloscope images.
Records video clips to a PC (GDS-1000-U and
GDS-1000A-U only)
Captures digital waveform data in CSV format.
CSV is viewable and editable in most
spreadsheet applications. (standard and long
record lengths)
Automatically loads remote commands,
supports command lists, running commands
and saving results to a PC.
Supports fast USB 2.0 connections and captures
the oscilloscope display in almost real-time.
Automatically recognizes the oscilloscope
hardware and configures the channel number
and remote control commands accordingly.
Prints out snapshots of the oscilloscope display.
Inverting the background color is also available.
Overview
6
Getting started
Types of Operations
Four types of operations are available in Freewave: Standard
memory length display monitoring, data capturing, and remote
controlling, long memory length data capturing.
Monitoring the Oscilloscope Display
The oscilloscope display contents appear in the Freewave screen in
real-time. You may store a snapshot image or video clip into the PC,
and invert the background color for better viewing. Snapshot images
can also be printed out. The oscilloscope monitor can be switched
between the Freewave screen and a simulated oscilloscope display.
When using the simulated display, all oscilloscope functions and
controls are available on a virtual oscilloscope panel.
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Freewave Manual
Standard Memory Length Data Capture
Standard memory length data can be directly transferred to the
Freewave screen. Up to 10 waveforms can be captured at any one
time for analysis. All waveforms can be zoomed and panned as well
as positioned vertically.
8
Getting started
Waveform data as well as the oscilloscope identification can be
stored as a Comma Separated Values (*.csv) file which can be
opened and edited by a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft
Excel.
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Freewave Manual
10
Getting started
Remote Controlling the Oscilloscope
Freewave automatically categorizes and lists the remote control
commands. To run the commands, users only have to pick and place
them on the list; no manual typing is required. The result can be
stored in CSV format.
Long Memory Length Data Capture
Freewave can take advantage of the long memory length of the
GDS-1000A-U series oscilloscopes. Waveform data can be arbitrarily
zoomed and panned with ease. Cursors can be placed on the screen
to accurately view measurements. Like the standard memory length
data capture, long memory data can be saved as a *.csv file to be
recalled at any time.
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Freewave Manual
12
Installing Freewave
Item
Requirements
Oscilloscope
GDS-1000-U
GDS-1000A-U
GDS-3000
PC
For 32 bit OS
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Microsoft .Net Framework version 2.0 or later
For 64 bit OS
Windows 7
Microsoft. Net Framework full version 4.0 or
later
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
Package
Freewave package
Version 3.12 or above.
USB driver
Version 1.03 or above
USB cable
USB 2.0, type A (PC) – type B (oscilloscope)
INSTALLING FREEWAVE
The installation process includes preparing the
necessary equipment, installing the software
package to the PC, and confirming the
connectivity.
Required Equipment
The following list shows the necessary hardware and software for
installing and running Freewave.
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Freewave Manual
1. Click on the Control panel>Add or remove program option. The list
of installed programs will appear. Check if Microsoft .NET is
installed.
2. If Microsoft .NET (full version 4.0 or later) is not appropriately
installed, download and install the latest versions from the
Microsoft website.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displayl
ang=en&id=17718
3. If Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64) is not
appropriately installed, download it from the Microsoft website.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1463
2
Install Required Software
Microsoft .Net (version 2.0 or later) is required to use some of the
Freewave functions for PCs with a 32 bit OS
Microsoft .Net (full version 4.0 or later) and Microsoft Visual C++
2010 Redistributable Package (x64) are required to use some of the
Freewave functions for PCs with a 64 bit OS
Microsoft .Net and Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
Package (x64) can both be downloaded for free from the
Microsoft website.
14
Installing Freewave
1. Unzip the software package into an installation directory.
2. Activate setup.exe. if a dialog box appears for the Microsoft .Net
(full version 4.0 or later) framework.
Installation Steps
Follow these steps to properly install Freewave:
Download and install the software package. Two versions of the
software package (32 bit and 64 bit) are provided. Please select
the appropriate version to download.
Connect the oscilloscope to the PC.
Verify the connection and operation.
Installing the Software Package
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Freewave Manual
3. When a dialog box appears for installing FreeWave, click the
Next button to proceed.
4. Select the directory in which Freewave is to be installed. Click
Next.
To change the directory, click on the Browse button and select
another directory from the directory map.
To calculate the occupied space, click on the Disk Cost button. A
separate dialog box will appear, showing the disk space required
for Freewave and the entire space in the drive.
To control the software accessibility, check “Everyone” or “Just
me”.
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