Test and Measurement Technical Data

dS-NET basics

dS-NET is a proprietary, open protocol for controlling dScope Series III peripherals. On the back of the dScope Series III is a male d-sub 9 connector which is used for this purpose. This is a standard RS232 connection* (peripherals can also be controlled directly from a standard PC serial port.)

dS-NET uses 9600 baud, No Parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. Using multiple peripherals consists of daisy chaining them, one after the other (each peripheral has two connections, one for connecting to the master or previous peripheral and one for connecting to the next slave). They must then each be given a unique address using the DIP switches on the rear panel. Up to 64 devices can be connected in this way.

Control of peripherals is built into the user interface of the dScope. For example, using a dS-NET I/O Switcher, it is possible to perform a sweep with switcher channels as a sweep parameter. This could be used to measure 16 channels of a mixing console, all directly from the dScope with no other software required. Likewise, using a dS-NET VSIO Adapter, it is possible to analyse a digital audio board using I2S buses directly from the dScope interface. The peripherals are integrated into the software and behave as part of the dScope itself.

The details of the protocol are available here.

* The dS-NET port on the dScope Series III and dS-NET peripherals can be configured as either RS232 or RS485 using internal jumpers.