can´t export the SampleClockTimebase signal

[crimolvic]

Hi fellows, I have the following configuration:

PXI 8105 controller
PXI 1031 Chassis
PXI 4461 DSA in slot 2 (master device)
PXI 4472b in slot 3 (slave device 1)

SW:
LabVIEW 8.2.1
DAQmx 8.5.0f5

I am trying to synchronize both devices by exporting the "SampleClockTimebase" and "SyncPulse" signals from the master (4461) device to the slave (4472b) device. As you can see in the figure 1 attached, I am doing this by letting DAQmx choose the proper lines.

When I run the vi, I have an error code -89120 which says that the line for the "SampleClockTimebase" cannot be found for the device from the Slot2 (i.e. the master device). So I went to see the connections diagram of the 4461 in MAX. As you can see in the figure 2, this diagram show that there is no chance to export the "SampleClockTimebase" signal. In the diagram, I don´t see any PXI_Star lines. I assume that something must be wrong, but I don´t know what can it be.

I have identified the controller and also the chassis in MAX.

Any ideas?

[crimolvic]

the same thing happens for the 4472b slave device, as you can see in the figure 3 attached here.

Can anyone please help me?

greetings

[crimolvic]

I found the following letter in NI site: http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/371830a.pdf

and also the following link: http://digital.ni.com/express.nsf/bycode/exphwr?opendocument&lang=en&node=seminar_US

I am quite sure that I have the new XJ4 top connector in my boards. So, if I understood right (from the last paragraph of the second link is clear to me) I will never be able to synchronize my DSA boards. The only chance is to have both boards with the old J2 upper connector... am I right with this?

I also have a PXI 6251 board in my chassis ( a 4-slot chassis), as I am also not able to export the PXI_Clk10 signal from my master device, I will not be able even to synchronize any of the DAS with the M-Series.

I don´t understand why NI sent me the boards with XJ4 connector instead of J2 if I ordered the complete PXI system, so it is obvious that I want to have all the capabilities from it.

What do you think about it? Do you know if my assumptions are right? can you think of any solution?

thanking in advance.
CJMV

[crimolvic]

Now I found the following document (http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/370156F34082C8AA862571D300671367) which seems to confirm what I thought: If the PXI 446x has a XJ4 connector (i.e. is an hybrid slot compatible board), you can´t synchronize it with a PXI-447x device.

So If you are planning to buy a PXI 446x and a PXI 447x in order to make a simultaneous synchronized acquisition, make sure that you order a standard PXI 446x (with a J2 connector on the top).

greetings.
CJMV

[crimolvic]

Hi again,

in the last link that I gave (http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/370156F34082C8AA862571D300671367), from the second paragraph of the Solution section, it is clear that the PXI Star connectivity is not present for hybrid slot compatible 446x devices. However, it is not clear if the Clk10 connectivity is also present or not. It only says (in the third paragraph) that the 447x devices doesn´t support this connectivity and thus, the synchronization between 446x hybrid slot compatible and 447x devices is not possible.

What if I want to synchronize a 446x hybrid-slot compatible device with an M-Series devices who DOES support the PXI_Clk10 connectivity? In the Figure 4 attached bellow, which is the continuation of Figure 1, you can see that the PXI_Clk10 connection is also not available for the 4461 hybrid-slot compatible device.

So, there is no possibility at all for synchronization with standard devices?

thanking in advance,
CJMV

[crimolvic]

I made a mistake in the last post, Figure 4 is the continuation of Figure 2, not Figure 1

thnx

[reddog]

With the hybrid-slot compatible 446x devices, you lose the ability to drive the star trigger lines when located in slot 2 of a chassis.  However, you can still receive signals on the dedicated star trigger line, and you can still receive and lock to the 10 MHz clock on the backplane of the chassis.  This means you can still synchronize the 4461 with your M Series device.  If you also need to synchronize with a 4472, you should contact your local sales representative to swap out your hybrid-slot compatible 4461 for one with a full J2 connector.

[crimolvic]

Hello Reddog,

Yes, I have also read that with the 4461 hybrid slot-compatible is possible to import the Clk10 signal. But when I try this, it gives me an error which says that this is not supported by the device. And if I check the device connections in MAX, as you can see in figure 4 of the previous post, I see that there is no route for this PXI1Slot2/PXI_Clk10 signal (indirect nor direct). Do you why could that be?

best regards,
CJMV

[reddog]

PXI_Clk10 can only be routed as the source of the reference clock for the device through the Reference Clock Source property in the Timing Property Node.  That is why it doesn't appear as a valid route in MAX since none of the destination terminals listed are valid destinations for the PXI_Clk10 signal.  Can you attach a code snippet of the code that is producing the error?  When I tried this using a simulated device, I was not able to reproduce the error.

[crimolvic]

Hi reddog,

I´ve searched for my vi with the error but I could not found it, so I made it again but this time I recieve no error, as you said it :). Probably I have made something wtong bu t I can't remember, thank you very much for your help and sorry for the waste of time.

No that the PXI_CLk10 subject is clear, and assuming that I have the 4461 hybrid slot-compatible, which would be in your opinion  the best choice to make measurements with the 3 devices as synchronized and simultaneous as possible?

Until now I am just giving a start trigger signal from the master (4461) device to the two slaves devices and that´s all.

Maybe it would be better to make the same thing and also to use the PXI_Clk10 as a source for the references clocks of the 4461 and 6251. and just leaving the 4472b on its own (as there is no possibility of synchronization between the 4461 hybrid slot and 4472b).

What would you do?

thanking in advance.
CJMV