FAQ's
- How do USB sensors work?
- Do the sensors need batteries?
- Do I need a datalogger?
- Are sensors automatically recognised?
- Can I plug more than one sensor into the computer?
- What is a USB hub?
- Will the sensors work on any computer?
- Can I log data remotely?
- Do I need Excel on my computer?
- Does it work with any Excel program?
- Do I need to do anything to Excel to make it work with the sensors?
- Can I use Excel as I do normally?
- Can I share data easily?
- Can anyone use the program in school?
- Can anyone use the program at home?
1. How do USB sensors work?
USB sensors are similar to any other datalogging sensors except that they produce a digital signal that is recognised directly by the computer. Standard sensors need to go through a datalogger to change the signal to digital (from analogue).
2. Do the sensors need batteries?
No, USB sensors take their power from the computer – so no more batteries!
3. Do I need a datalogger?
No – this unique system does away with a datalogger because of the direct USB sensors. Dataloggers and interfaces are required to change the analogue sensor signal to digital, the digital USB sensors mean you no longer need a datalogger or interface for this.
4. Are sensors automatically recognised?
Yes - simply, plug in the sensor and open the software or open the software and plug in a sensor – it makes no difference.
5. Can I plug more than one sensor into the computer?
Yes – you will need to use a 4-port USB hub allowing up to 4 sensors to be used simultaneously. Unfortunately Microsoft does not allow similar devices, ie in this case sensors, to be plugged into the different USB ports on your computer. The sensors are all "seen" as the same device, albeit they may record different parameters.
6. What is a USB hub?
This is a 2,3 or 4 port device that you plug into the computer. It then allows more devices, in this case, sensors to be plugged in. These are standard devices used for printers, cameras etc but the XLlogger hub is designed specifically for sensors.
7. Will the sensors work on any computer?
Yes, provided it is a Windows computer with Excel installed. We hope to develop Linux and Mac based systems in the future.
8. Can I log data remotely?
Using a laptop or mini notebook computer you can log data as you can if you were in the lab’ or classroom.
9. Do I need Excel on my computer?
Yes, the sensors feed data into Excel for graphing & analysis.
10. Does it work with any Excel program?
Yes, the program will work with any version of Excel from Excel 2000 onwards.
11. Do I need to do anything to Excel to make it work with the sensors?
No, provided you have installed XLlogger software – this makes your version of Excel read the sensors and offers a range of options for graphing & analysis.
12. Can I use Excel as I do normally?
Yes, all that XLlogger does is to capture the data and offer simple options for graphing & analysis. If you are an Excel user you can carry on as normal.
13. Can I share data easily?
Yes, simply save the data as a standard Excel file (file extension .xls) and copy to a memory stick, network space or email to colleagues. If you want to use an online spreadsheet system e.g. Editgrid, Zoho then you may need to save as a csv file and then upload to the web.
14. Can anyone one use the program in school?
Yes, provided you have bought a school site licence.
15. Can anyone one use the program at home?
Yes, provided you have bought a school site licence and the user is either a pupil or a member of staff at the school.
::
