Asynchronous broadcast to node 63 on 1394 bus

[sirluke]

I need to synchornize the acquisition between two cameras (AVT Guppy PRO) and I'd like to do it by software, broadcasting a one shot triggered acquisition to both cameras simultanously (within the same 1394 frame).

To do so I need to be able to write the camera registers using the broadcast address (node 63), how can I do in with IMAQmx? The write register only accepts the camera offset as an input, how can I specify the full 1394 64bit command (bus ID, node ID, register)?

Luca

[AntonisV]

Hello Luca, 

You can access the destination mode of your IEEE 1394 either from MAX or LabVIEW. 

The following article explains how you can achieve this with MAX:

How Can I Access the Multicast, Unicast or Broadcast Mode of my IEEE-1394 or GigE Camera in the Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/34DE7F5BAF86E6E9862575F40061E411?OpenDocument

It is also possible in LabVIEW by using a property node which can help you find a lot of other attributes too. (see attached).

Is this what were you looking for?

Let me know! 

[BlueCheese]

Hi Luca,

This is currently not possible.

I'm not even sure if the Windows 1394 driver (that IMAQdx is on top of) even allows this type of direct access to the broadcast address. The alternative would be to send a software trigger to one camera and have the first camera trigger the second via a cable connected between the two.

Eric

[sirluke]

I'm not using the standard window driver, but the AVT one, over which the IMAQmx stands.

I don't understand how it cannot be possible, since it's a matter of accessing the camera status registers on node ID 63, instead of the actual camera node ID.

Is the destination node accessible in any way, or is it embedded in the camera reference?

I wanted to avoid the hw trigger to save some wires.

Luca