Connecting to NTP Server to Set Clocks and Synchronize Instruments

Models: SDS800X HD series, SDS1104X-E, SDS1204X-E

Although these oscilloscopes are without battery backed-up clocks and will lose the time and date settings when powered down, they do support date and time settings to set the internal clock which will allow information to be displayed and recorded with the time of day.

These oscilloscopes can be configured to update their internal clocks from an NTP server at power-on allowing the oscilloscope to be set automatically to a known standard time.

Subsequently, an oscilloscope screen capture can display correctly the time that an event was captured, sequence mode can save the actual time that each data frame (or segment) is aquired and viewed in History mode, and for the 4-channel SDS1000X-E series oscillscopes - which have a Datalogger function - the data can be recorded with a valid time stamp.

When multiple oscilloscopes are used in a measurement application, having synchronized clocks helps to correlate the events captured on each scope.

Screen captures and acquired sequence data are available on both model series. The SDS1004X-E models also include a datalogger ideal for slow changing data over very long periods of time.

 Click here for information on the Datalogger

Here are some differences between these two model series to keep in mind when choosing the oscilloscope for your application:

Getting Connected

• Connect the oscilloscope to the network and power it on.
• Press Utility, select Menu..., and choose System Settings from the menu. Then select Date/Time to display the dialog box.

• Check the box to Display Date and Time and note that default time and date appear at the lower right of the screen.

• Select NTP Setting Method
• Choose the NTP Server IP: (129.6.15.29)
• Press Sync

Typically, the oscilloscope will sync to the NTP in several seconds and display the message:

The NTP settings on the oscilloscope are remembered between power cycles. The correct time and date are set automatically when the oscilloscope boots up.

Getting Connected

• Connect the SDS 1xx4X-E to the network and power it on.
• Press Utility. Then press the Next Page key to display Page 3/4
• Press Date/Time key for DATE/TIME menu

• Press Display key to change status from Off to On. This will show Date and Time in the upper-right corner of the screen. Before NTP is configured, date is default value and time is referenced to power on.

• Press NTP key to display the NTP menu and adjust the Server IP address. Rotate the Intensity/Adjust knob to change value. Then press the knob to select the next part of the address.

• After setting the IP Address, press Sync The status message shown below appears at the bottom of the screen.

• Synchronization generally takes about 5 seconds. The status message below appears when synchronization is complete.

• Multiple NTP servers are available in the United States. For a list of NIST NTP servers follow link: NIST Internet Time Service. SDS1xx#4X-E Oscilloscopes are known to work with IP Address: 132.163.97.1.

• Note that Date and Time settings are not maintained when the instrument is powered off, but synchronization to the NTP server can be set to happen automatically when the instrument is powered on. 

       To synch to NTP at power on:

• From the Date/Time menu, press NTP key.
• Press Power On Sync key to change status from Off to On. Now the instrument is set to synchronize to an NTP server following power-up.
• (Optional) Press Periodic Sync key to change status from Off to On. This option invokes synchronization multiple times in one day. Synchronization can be set at intervals from 1 hour to 24 hours using the Adjust knob.

• To test, power cycle the instrument. The following message is displayed when this completes okay: