ReDAQ Shape Software (MAQ20)

Dataforth does not currently have MAQ20 Toolbox for use with MATLAB, but communication between MATLAB and the MAQ20 is possible by way of one, or both of the following methods:

1.  MathWorks’ Industrial Communication Toolbox supports Modbus TCP/IP and serial RTU.  Use of this toolbox allows for easy communication with the MAQ20 by either ethernet or serial connection.
2. MATLAB supports calling Python libraries.  In combination with the free MAQ20 Python API, communication with the MAQ20 system can easily be accomplished by this method. MATLAB also offers a Python API which allows for MATLAB to be called as a computational engine from Python. 

No license is required to use a MAQ20 system as a stand-alone data logger. Logging to the internal Micro SD Card can be configured either in ReDAQ Shape or through direct Modbus writes to applicable register spaces of a MAQ20-COM module. If operating as a stand-alone data logger, the MAQ20 system should have no interactions with ReDAQ Shape. If ReDAQ Shape is not actively running or connected to the MAQ20 system, then no checks will be made in regards to licensing.

Burst scan mode is intended to be used for debugging and signal profiling purposes. It can not run continuously. Burst scan mode can capture samples to memory in magnitudes of microseconds, but it does not have the ability to read this data back from memory at this same rate.

To date there have been no occurrences of a MAQ20-COMx module being unable to be connected through an Ethernet connection as a result of an issue with the module's internal hardware/firmware. Connectivity issues can occur as a result of one, or a combination of the following factors: incorrect MAQ20-COMx settings, incorrect local network settings, incorrect host computer settings, network security settings, or IP address conflicts. When shipped from factory, MAQ20-COMx modules come with the following default connectivity settings pre-loaded in memory: IP Address: 192.168.128.100 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 Gateway: 127.0.0.1 TCP Port: 502 Assuming the above-listed default settings are not changed, reserve a static IP address of 192.168.128.100 through your local network configuration. Assigning this IP address statically will ensure that no other devices on the network will be able to claim the IP address that is intended to be used by the MAQ20-COMx module. If not using the default IP address, the statically reserved IP address on the local network MUST start with 192.168.xxx.xxx and MUST match the non-default IP address that was saved to MAQ20-COMx module memory located at start address 50. If you need to check the IP address saved at this register address you can connect to the MAQ20-COMx through a USB connection and use ReDAQ Shape to read the register address' contents. This functionality in ReDAQ Shape can be found by clicking the "Read / Write Modbus Registers" sub-tab located after clicking the main "Analyze" tab. No license for ReDAQ Shape is required to use this functionality. Please refer to the note at the bottom of this FAQ for the host computer requirements that MUST be met to allow for connectivity. Alternatively, the MAQ20-COMx module can be set up for Ethernet connection using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). To enable this functionality an IP address of 0.0.0.0 needs to be saved to the MAQ20-COMx's internal IP address register (Start address 50). You can write to this register through direct Modbus commands using the "Write Modbus Registers" feature located under the "Read / Write Modbus Registers" sub-tab in ReDAQ Shape. Changes to this address space will take effect upon power cycling the MAQ20 system. Once in DHCP mode, your local network will automatically assign an available IP address for the MAQ20-COMx module. You will need to access you local network configuration to determine what IP address was ultimately assigned to the MAQ20-COMx module. Once known, you can connect using the assigned IP address. NOTE: In all motioned configurations the host computer that will be used to connect to the MAQ20-COMx module through the Ethernet connection MUST have an IP address of the form 192.168.xxx.xx (I.e. any IP address starting with 192.168. that does not match the one saved at start address 50 of the MAQ20-COMx module). The host computer MUST also have a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0.

The gARP checkbox controls whether Gratuitous ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is implemented during a TCP sessions with the MAQ20. The term gratuitous in this case refers to the fact that such a request/response is not required according to ARP specification. An ARP packet broadcasted as part of an Gratuitous ARP scheme will contain the sender's IP and MAC address. Machines receiving the ARP packet will then update their ARP tables with the received packet's information. This feature is useful for preventing IP conflicts that can cause connectivity issues when communicating with a MAQ20 system over Ethernet.

The input to the MAQ20-JTC module is very sensitive. Movement of attached thermocouple wires can cause spikes in recorded data along with inherent noise present in different environments. Setting "Input Select" to the "Average" setting in ReDAQ Shape, or by direct Modbus commands can greatly reduce the variation in recorded channel data. Signal Averaging can be set on a per-channel basis by configuring the Average Weight parameter. Average Weight is calculated as 2^x where x = 0 to 15 and the default value is x =0 . The running Average is calculated as follows: Average = Average + ((Sampled Value - Average) / Average Weight)

There are two different versions of ReDAQ Shape software, Developer and User. The Developer version is fully functional with the capability of creating a project, configuring the tools, and setting up the parameters of MAQ20-COM and I/O modules. The User version can only run finished projects created using the Developer version and is for use in applications where a user does not have or should not have the ability to modify a project.

It's not possible to use a single license for multiple MAQ20-COM modules. Software licenses for the Developer and User versions of ReDAQ Shape are uniquely assigned based on the serial number of a purchased MAQ20-COM module. A single MAQ20-COM module can have at most two licenses associated with its serial number; one for Developer and one for User. The User license can only be used with the User Version of ReDAQ Shape and the Developer license can only be used with the Developer version of ReDAQ Shape.

While the MAQ20 was not designed with portability in mind, its compact size and modular design allows for easy transportation and portable usage. Many customers who use the MAQ20 in portable applications prefer to use a dedicated laptop to run ReDAQ Shape through a USB connection. This method of connection eliminates the hassle of setting up a dedicated network connection at each site. Alternatively, other users have taken advantage of the MAQ20's ability to log data directly to an internal Micro SD card without the need for a connected computer.

This usually has to do with the display language of the host PC being set to a language other than US English. If you are experiencing this error, please try setting the display language of your PC to "English (United States)" and then see if you are still experiencing issues. If this does not fix the problem, please contact Dataforth technical support.

ALL MAQ20 systems connected to ReDAQ Shape need a valid unlock code, or else the software will stop running after 30 minutes.

Applying custom channel names in ReDAQ Shape is for display purposes on the Acquire panel only, it does not change any information within the module. Because the SD card log takes place within the MAQ20-COMx module, separate from the Acquire panel, it is not possible to have your custom channel names from the Acquire panel in your SD card log.

Each type of unlock code is only compatible with its respective software version and associated MAQ20-COM module HW. Developer unlock codes will only work with Developer version of ReDAQ Shape and User unlock codes will only work with User versions of ReDAQ Shape.

ReDAQ Shape licenses are tied to the COM module of the system, so no, they cannot be transferred. However, projects created with a Developer license can be ran on other systems with a User license.

If you start a standard logging process (i.e. clicking "run" in ReDAQ Shape or "store" in IPEmotion), disconnecting your MAQ20 system from the PC will terminate the log. However, if you use the MAQ20s SD Card Logger, you can start a data log and disconnect the MAQ20 and it will continue to log data until it reaches the end of the log based on the parameters you have specified (number of samples, time interval, etc.)

Yes, it is possible to send a remote setpoint via Modbus/TCP to PID loop running in ReDAQ Shape by writing to the Modbus registers of the MAQ20 hardware. Please see the address map at the end of the MAQ20 PID Controller User Manual

Navigate to the "Plots, Xaxis, Yaxis" section in the bottom left corner. Click either the second or third down "..." icon. This will open either the X or Y axis editor respectively. Under "Appearance" there should be a parameter "Caption". You can type a new title for the axis in the column next to the word "caption".

ReDAQ Shape is ran externally from the MAQ20 system on a host PC running Windows OS, not on the MAQ20-COMx module.

Yes, the version available for download from our website can serve as a demo if you do not have an unlock code. The unlicensed software will run for 30 minutes with full functionality with no license. Once the 30 minutes is up, you can restart the program to reset the 30 minute time for as many times as you would like.

Data logged in the Analyze panel in ReDAQ Shape can be exported to a .txt file or Excel file. The SD Card Logger can generate .csv files as well.

Yes, refer to the address map of the module you are using which can be found at the end of that module's hardware user manual. There will be a register "Save to EEPROM." Writing the appropriate value as described in the address map to this register will save your module's current settings to EEPROM.