| Version | 6.6.57 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Pico Technology |
| Release date | Apr 11, 2013 |
| Date added | Apr 11, 2013 |
| Os requirements | Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows, Windows 7, Windows XP |
| Requirements | None |
| Total downloads | 10,173 |
| Downloads per week | 1 |
| Price | Free |
Description
PicoScope gives you a complete test and measurement lab in one easy-to-use application. With PicoScope and a PicoScope USB Oscilloscope you get an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, and signal/waveform generator all in one. With PicoScope's ability to continuously stream data you can even use your oscilloscope for data acquisition. Oscilloscope--turn your PC into a powerful oscilloscope. XY oscilloscope--plot one channel again another. Digital persistence--spot glitches the easy way. Math channels--invert, add, subtract, multiply, and divide channels, or create your own functions.
Review
Pico Technologies manufactures oscilloscopes and other scientific instruments that not only interface with PCs but also interact with them, multiplying their capabilities. PicoScope 6 is their free software suite. It's designed to control the company's devices, combining data acquisition with processing power and storage capacity to create a complete desktop testing and measurement lab in one free application.
PicoScope's installer tries to connect to a supported device, which we lacked. However, the program offers numerous demo modes that simulate various devices and modes, which are accessible through the Connect Device wizard on a list that includes a checkbox option to hide demo or show the demos. The oscilloscope interface's toolbars include both familiar controls like back-and-forth arrows and zoom tools as well as many instrument-specific controls. Right-clicking the main window called up a menu letting us quickly configure Channels, X-Axis, Grid Layout, and other settings. A small lightning bolt icon activates the Auto Setup tool, which automatically configures the best parameters for particular uses. Under the Tools menu, we could configure Custom Probes, Math Channels, Reference Waveforms, and access the program's Preferences. We could also configure Alarms, a very handy feature.
Since we lacked one of Pico's instruments, we couldn't collect and run real-time data through PicoScope 6, nor did we have any other company's oscilloscopes to test PicoScope's compatibility. We were impressed with the freeware's capabilities to manage instruments and data, though, and certainly it serves as a cost-free way for researchers, engineers, technicians, and other potential customers to check out Pico's tech, not to mention for Pico to get its tech checked out.
