User Manual

Product information10

The digital channels can also be used with our most popular features, such as triggering and serial decoding.

See Digital inputs for PicoScope 5000D Series MSO models for more information.

External trigger (Ext) input (non-MSO models only)

The Ext input can be used as a trigger source. Select it from the Trigger menu in the PicoScope software, or by

using a function call if you are writing your own software.

The Ext input uses dedicated circuitry, in combination with a software-configurable threshold, to detect a trigger

signal. This leaves the analog channels free for viewing signals. The input characteristics of the Ext input are

matched to a scope channel so that the supplied, compensated probes can be used with the Ext input to give high

vertical accuracy.

Where trigger timing accuracy is critical, we recommend using one of the main input channels as the trigger

source. These channels use accurate digital triggering (to one sample period) and have a vertical resolution of 1

LSB.

USB port

All models have a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port for connection to a PC. See Connectivity, power and installation for

more information.

Earth terminal

External noise may sometimes interfere with your measurements if the PicoScope is used with a computer which

does not have a ground connection. If this is the case, connect the earth terminal to an external ground point (for

example, on the system you are testing) to provide a ground reference for the oscilloscope.