OpenLogger Getting Started Guide

Welcome to the getting started guide for the OpenLogger. This guide walks through getting the OpenLogger set up to start logging data, from installing all required software, to calibrating the device and updating its firmware. At the end of this guide, the Digilent Agent and Waveforms Live will be running and configured to work with an OpenLogger connected to the local computer. This whole process will take approximately 10 minutes.

Set Up the Digilent Agent

The Digilent Agent is a service that runs in the system tray on Windows, Mac, and Linux and enables WaveForms Live to communicate with Digilent hardware. The Digilent Agent makes it easy to update the OpenLogger's firmware, configure its WiFi, and calibrate its instruments.
Download and install the Digilent Agent using the installers found on the Digilent Agent's Resource Center.

Important

The OpenLogger is not compatible with versions of the Digilent Agent older than 1.2.0. If an old version of the Digilent Agent is installed, please uninstall it, then install the newer version.

More details on the Digilent Agent and how to install it can be found on its Resource Center


Launch WaveForms Live and Connect the OpenLogger

WaveForms Live provides a browser-based instrumentation environment for managing devices and acquiring data. More information about WaveForms Live and how it interacts with the OpenLogger can be found on their Resource Centers (WaveForms Live, OpenLogger).

1.

Launch the Digilent Agent. The Digilent Agent must be running to allow Waveforms Live to communicate with the OpenLogger.

2.

Connect the OpenLogger to the computer via with a microUSB cable.

Note: It may take the several seconds for the computer to recognize the device the first time it is connected. Subsequent connections will be established faster.

3.

Launch WaveForms Live by navigating to waveformslive.com on a web browser. Alternatively, right click the Digilent Agent in the system tray and click Launch WaveForms Live - this will navigate to waveformslive.com in the default web browser if internet access is available, or a locally hosted version of WaveForms Live otherwise.

4.

In WaveForms Live, at the top of the screen, click the ADD A DEVICE button.

Add a device

5.

Choose the AGENT option to connect WaveForms Live to the OpenLogger.

Add via the Agent

6.

Click the 'plus' (+) button to add a new device via the Digilent Agent.

Add new device via the Agent

7.

Choose the suggested OpenLogger device that appears in the drop down box.

Choose the suggested OpenLogger


Update the OpenLogger's Firmware

Upon establishing a connection to the OpenLogger for the first time, WaveForms Live will check the device's firmware to see if needs to be updated. The firmware must be updated from the factory default before the OpenLogger can be used.

Note: After the first required update, described in this guide, an OpenLogger's firmware can be checked and updated through its Configuration Menu, found through the Device Manager in WaveForms Live.


1.

Click Update Firmware and follow the instructions to update the firmware on the OpenLogger.

2.

Review the Current Firmware Version on the device and the Latest Firmware Version available.

3.

Select the latest Available Firmware Version.

4.

At the bottom right corner of the screen, click Update to load the new firmware onto the device. The firmware update will take about 10 seconds to complete.

5.

With the update complete, click Done.


Calibrate the OpenLogger

Before being used for the first time, a new OpenLogger must first be calibrated. This process determines constants used to accurately calculate analog voltages for data points being logged, and stores these constants in non-volatile memory.

Note: After first-time calibration, described in this guide, a device can be recalibrated, if desired, through its Configuration Menu, found through the Device Manager in WaveForms Live.


1.

When the device is connected to WaveForms Live for the first time, a prompt to calibrate the OpenLogger will appear. Click OK.

Calibrate your device

2.

Connect the provided 2×18 flywires to the OpenLogger with the nub side facing towards the center of the OpenLogger.


3.

Connect the red wire on pin 6 (DC OUTPUT 1) to the solid orange wire on pin 35 (Analog Input 1). Take a look at the OpenLogger Pinout in the Reference Manual for details on which wire corresponds to which OpenLogger pin.

Connect the red and orange wires

4.

In WaveForms Live, click the Begin button to begin calibrating Analog Input 1.

Begin the calibration process

5.

Wait for the calibration initialization to complete.

Calibration progress bar

6.

Connect the solid blue pin 33 (Analog Input 2 to the same red wire previously used and click the Next button.

7.

After calibrating Analog Input 2, continue through the remaining 6 analog inputs (the pink, green, gray, purple, yellow, and brown wires) until calibration is complete. Once all analog inputs have been calibrated, click the DONE button.

Start step 2

8.

A final calibration complete screen will appear. Click the DONE button - see the image to the right.


9.

Click the DONE button at the bottom of the page to back out to the configuration screen.


10.

In the device configuration screen, click the back arrow at the top left of the page to return to the device selection screen.

Calibration complete


Next Steps

For more information on how to use the OpenLogger, take a look at some of the guides, tutorials, and projects available on the OpenLogger's Resource Center.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask on the Test and Measurement section of the Digilent Forums.