Controls: Options Menu >> Frequency Counter >> Total
Macro: FcountMode=Tot

When this button is active the large Frequency Counter readout shows the total number of trigger events since the last Reset.

All events meeting the Trigger Slope, Level, and Hysteresis criteria on the selected Trigger Source channel are counted. This includes trigger events that cause a trace update, additional events within a trace, and events that are not shown because they arrive between trace updates. Normal trigger mode is usually best, though Auto and Auto Level may sometimes be useful.

Alternatively, Gen Sync may be used instead of one of the above Trigger modes, for example to count the total number of Generator tone bursts with Burst Sync (or Train Sync), or the number of sweeps with Sweep Sync.

Trigger Delay may be used to position the event as desired within the trace area; it has no effect on the Total.

For events that are bursts of tone or noise, you usually want to count only the start of each event, not every individual cycle or noise excursion within the event. Trigger Holdoff allows you to specify a "dead time" during which possible trigger events are ignored; if you set it to a value somewhat longer than the burst, then the trigger detector will be locked out for the duration of the burst after the initial starting event.

The Total count continues to accumulate even if you switch to Hertz or msec modes to view frequency or period, and will read correctly when you switch back.

Total mode can count events that are distinguished by a simple level threshold, such as a burst of noise. If you need to distinguish between bursts based upon their spectra, consider SpecTot mode.

See also Event Counting

• Back to Frequency Counter - Period Measurement (msec)
• Ahead to Frequency Counter - Spectral Event Counting (SpecTot)
• Daqarta Help Contents
• Daqarta Help Index
• Daqarta Downloads
• Daqarta Home Page
• Purchase Daqarta

Questions? Comments? Contact us!