New Waveform Database, with Big Prizes for user submissions!

The latest beta release of PicoScope is now available. PicoScope 6 Automotive R6.9.9 installs alongside your standard PicoScope installation so as not to disturb your stable software.

What's new in this beta we hear you ask? Well...

New Waveform Library Browser

If there was ever a feature of PicoScope Automotive 6 that was worth shouting about, it has now arrived. The Automotive Waveform Library has now been released. I cannot remember how many times it would have been useful to have a comparison waveform for a circuit under test. Often this would involve sifting through your own library, or ringing round colleagues in the hope you might get lucky.

Well, thanks to the team at Pico the new Beta Version of PicoScope 6 Automotive 6.9 contains a feature called Waveform Library Browser found under the File menu. This new feature will enable you to search a global database of waveforms that have been uploaded by PicoScope users from around the world.

To access the Waveform Library you must have an automotive scope connected and have a valid user name and password for the Pico Automotive Forum.

Once logged into the Waveform Library Browser you will find numerous Search Options allowing you to locate a relevant waveform for a specific manufacturer or model.

You can also search for a waveform using just the engine code, allowing you to locate a waveform that may not have been saved under your search entry, but is applicable to other models or manufacturers, given the engine may be installed on numerous other vehicles or brands. With your search criteria filled in, click on the Search button.

From here you have the ability to preview the waveform by clicking the image, Open it in PicoScope, or Load it as a reference waveform to your existing capture. You will notice the green tick visible in the above screen capture: this indicates the waveform has been checked, and verified by a member of the Pico Automotive team.

The more good waveforms in the database the more useful it will be. If like many users you have built up a collection of waveforms on your own PC, now is the chance to give something back to the community and help fellow techs by uploading them to the database. Adding an existing waveform from your PC to the online waveform database is as simple as loading the waveform into PicoScope, checking details such as vehicle Make and Model are present, and selecting Save and Share.

Waveform Library Competition

To further encourage you to upload waveforms, all the waveforms uploaded to the database before midnight on July 31st will be entered into a draw for 10 chances to win a voucher worth GBP100/USD165/EUR121. This voucher can only be used when ordering direct from Pico Technology, and there is no cash alternative.

One of the most useful types of waveform is CAM vs CRANK. To encourage you to upload these waveforms 5 of the 10 vouchers will be awarded to people who have uploaded this type of waveform.

There is no limit to the number of waveforms you can upload, the more you upload the more chances you have to win but, if in the judges' opinion a waveform has been uploaded with no useful content simply to enter the competition, then the entry will be removed.

We are already showing 265 waveforms in the library and it is growing every day.

For more detail and guidance of the Waveform Library, please see Steve Smith's Waveform Library Browser thread on our Automotive forum for more information.

ScannerDanner Special: PicoScope Basics

Paul Danner (aka ScannerDanner) has created a Part 2 video for PicoScope basics. Below you will find links to both Part 1 and Part 2, with a brief description of each.

In the 40 minute PicoScope Basics Part 1 video, Paul covers setting your timebase, your voltage scale, plus discusses triggers and their options, and multi-channel triggering.

In the 30 minute PicoScope Basics Part 2 video, Paul covers the relationship between the Waveform buffer and the chosen sample rate, and the effect of changing your timebase.

New Product Release: 5 meter BNC to 4 mm Premium Test Leads

These are 5 m (16 feet) versions of the standard premium test leads. Our premium leads are colour-coded so that the colour of the lead in the engine bay matches the default colour of the on-screen waveform in PicoScope Automotive. The leads are fully screened along their whole length for minimum noise pick-up. The 5 m leads come with fixed 2.5 m ground extensions and are designed for technicians working on larger vehicles.

• TA199: Premium Test Lead: 5 m BNC to 4 mm Blue permanent ground
• TA200: Premium Test Lead: 5 m BNC to 4 mm Red permanent ground
• TA201: Premium Test Lead: 5 m BNC to 4 mm Green permanent ground
• TA202: Premium Test Lead: 5 m BNC to 4 mm Yellow permanent ground
• TA203: Premium Test Lead: 5 m BNC to 4 mm Black permanent ground

Please visit our website for more information: Test lead accessory page.

Forthcoming exhibitions and events

Simply Diagnostics Show - 2014: This year's Simply Diagnostics show, will be held over the weekend of July 12th - 13th 2014 at Advanced Diagnostics Ltd, in Nuneaton, Coventry. The show is dedicated to diagnostic equipment of all types. Technology has never been advancing at a faster pace and to keep you aware of the latest features and hot topics in the market we have 4 of best diagnostic trainers in the country giving short "Info bites" on the latest hot topics.

Frank Massey, Steve Carter and Mark Hawkins from Redline Automotive will be available all weekend and giving presentations on topics such as Euro 5 and Euro 6 diagnostics, voltage and current measurements, smoke technology and more.

Pico Technology's Philip Rutt will be attending the show, and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our products.

Attendance is by ticket only, so ensure you register to receive your ticket. Early arrivals get a breakfast roll!

July 12th - 13th 2014 Simply Diagnostics Show - 2014
Advanced Diagnostics Ltd, Coventry, England.