SignalExpr​ess TE Very Slow Getting Signals

Question

Hello,
  I have LabView SignalExpress 2.5.1 with Tektronix Edition 2.5.0 and a TDS 2004B connected via USB. The software is the 30 day trial with a few days left.
  When I simply start a new project, and add a step to aquire a signal, then run the step, it takes a very long time to get the signal! I timed it at about 7 or 8 seconds! I was under the impression that you can do logging and get samples quite fast so I think this is very slow. Has anyone else had this problem or know of a solution?
  I had an older version of SIgnalExpress installed a while ago when I first got the scope and I dont remember it being so slow. Is this a bug in the new version?
  Also, when the software is run, it takes control of the scope. If i uncheck the "SignalExpress controls instrument" in the step options, I can then change the setup using the scope controls which is fine. However, the display does not show a real time signal. It just shows a sort of greyed out version of the last aquired signal, and it says "Acq Complete" in red at the top. Cant I get the scope to run as normal so I can see real time signals and just grab a sample when I run the step in the software?
Cheers,
  Carl

Answer 1

Nicholas,
  Thank you for your reply. When I create a project and choose the TDS200B series it automatically adds a step, but yes it is the same as going add step->tektronix->aquire signals->tek TDS1000/2000.
  I ran the program this morning, and by default it runs on a continuous loop with the one step. It takes 7-8 seconds to start, but then I realize it takes about 2 seconds to update with a new screen of data. When I was doing it yesterday, I was using the Run Once button where it takes 7-8 seconds to do get one lot of data. Why does it take so long for the Run once and for the first iteration if it loops? And is 2 seconds per "data grab" normal? I thought it would be quite fast.
When I hit run once, it says "running once" for about 3 seconds at the bottom of the task list, then it says "Waiting for trigger" for about 1 second then it says "running once" again for about 3 seconds. The scope is continually being triggered however as I have the probe attached to the 1kHz 5V output on the scope.
As for the record length, I have the "SignalExpress controls instrument" disabled so these options do not take effect. However if I enable them the record length is disabled. This is because I have a TDS2004B which has a fixed record length which is 2500.
Cheers,
  Carl