System Setup and Application Examples
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      First-Time Setup: 8 Key Steps to Launch Your Data Acquisition System

      A practical guide to connecting, configuring, and starting your new DAQ hardware and software.

      Q.bloxx and Q.bloxx XL modules are delivered individually and should be installed as described in Step 1. Q.brixx XL and Q.raxx XL systems are pre-assembled with UART and address switches configured, so Step 1 can be skipped.

      ▶️Step 1: System Assembly (Q.bloxx Classic & XL Series Only)

      Accessories Required

      • Ethernet cable (CAT5e or better)

      • Electrical cable (18-22 AWG / 0.34-0.75 mm2)

      • Power supply (10-30 VDC)

      Installing the Modules

      After unpacking, determine a suitable installation location. All modules support 35 mm DIN rail mounting. Q.bloxx modules allow for both centralized and distributed setups, using star, daisy-chain, or mixed topologies.

      🔖Additional Documentation for Q.bloxx (Classic)

      🔖Additional Documentation for Q.bloxx XL

      Configuring UART and Module Address Settings

      Communication between the controller and modules is managed via Gantner Instruments’ proprietary Localbus protocol over RS-485. In a Localbus network, each module is assigned a unique address from 1 to 16. Address 0 is reserved exclusively for setup via programming tools connected to the bus.

      • For Q.bloxx (Classic) series systems, module address settings can be configured either via the DIP switches located in the socket or through the Setup Assistant software. Connection to the appropriate UART is established by physically wiring the modules to the corresponding UART port on the controller.
      • For Q.bloxx XL series systems, module address settings can be configured either via the DIP switch located in the socket or using the Setup Assistant software. The connection to the appropriate UART can be configured using the DIP switches located on the modules themselves.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      Connecting the Power Supply

      To power the DAQ system, an unregulated DC voltage between 10 V and 30 V is required.

      Power supplied to the controller is distributed to all connected modules. The controller itself requires approximately 12 W of power to operate. Each module requires approximately 2 W for Q.bloxx (Classic) modules and 3 W for Q.series XL modules, excluding the power required by any connected sensors.

      • The Q.station 101 controller is equipped with screw terminals for connecting an external power supply.
      • The Q.station X controller is supplied with a mating connector for this purpose.

      🔖Additional Documentation for Q.bloxx (Classic)

      🔖Additional Documentation for Q.bloxx XL / Q.brixx XL / Q.raxx XL

      ▶️Step 2: Installing the GI.bench DAQ Software

      Download the latest version of GI.bench from the Gantner Instruments website. Scroll down the page and click on Download GI.bench. Follow the instructions to obtain the download link for the installation executable.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      ▶️Step 3: Configuring the IP Address of the DAQ System

      To change the controller's network adapter settings, open GI.bench and launch Device Manager via the GI.service menu (right-click the GI.service icon in the system tray).

      Important

      • The controller's default IP address is 192.168.1.18 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

      • Ensure IPv6 is enabled on the host PC’s network adapter for GI.bench to detect the controller.

      • Configure the firewall to allow necessary read/write operations for uninterrupted communication.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      ▶️Step 4: Starting a New GI.bench Project

      GI.bench operates using offline projects, which include the DAQ system configuration, logger settings, and dashboard layouts. Projects are stored locally on the PC and can be opened and applied to the system at any time.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      Starting a new GI.bench project involves the following steps:

      1. GI.bench opens with a blank project by default. To import the controller configuration, click Read in the menu bar. If a warning appears due to newly connected modules, click Yes to update the configuration.

      2. After reading the controller configuration, select the data streams to include in your project. These streams transfer data from the controller to the PC for visualization and logging (requires a licensed version of GI.bench).

      3. Click Save in the menu bar to store the project under a new name on your PC.

      ▶️Step 5: Sensor Wiring and Variable Configuration

      Each physical input channel on the DAQ module is mapped to a configurable software variable, allowing you to define the desired value format. To edit a variable, double-click its node in the Project Settings view in GI.bench.

      🔖Additional Documentation for Sensor Wiring

      🔖Additional Documentation for Variable Configuration:

      For information on individual settings, GI.bench features context-sensitive help, which can be accessed by clicking the [?] button. This button is typically located in the info window (ℹ️) next to the relevant settings.

      To configure a variable, follow these main steps:

      1. In the General tab, specify the variable name, sensor type, electrical interface, and the physical connector terminal on the DAQ module. Click 'Support for sensor connector' to view the sensor wiring diagram.

      2. In the Scaling tab, configure the parameters to convert the raw measurement value into engineering units. See also: Scaling Raw Input Values to Engineering Units.

      3. If the measurement input supports multiple input ranges, these can be selected in the Value Handling tab. Always choose the smallest input range possible to achieve the highest signal resolution.

      4. In the Filter/Averaging tab, choose the digital filter method for the analog input, if applicable. See also: Understanding Digital Filtering for Analog Inputs.

      5. Use the Tare/Zero tab to configure how the input value is zeroed or tared. Tare compensates for unwanted offsets caused by external factors acting on the sensor.
        Zero resets the sensor output to zero when no load or influence is present.

      6. In the Format tab, adjust the Field length to set the maximum number of characters per value, and Precision to define the number of decimal places displayed.

      7. Once the main variable parameters are set, click Write to send the updated configuration to the controller. 

      ▶️Step 6: Configuring the Controller

      The controller performs real-time data processing and offers optional functionality for autonomous data acquisition. To modify its settings, double-click the Q.station node in the Project Settings view within GI.bench to open the settings menu.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      Essential configuration step

      1. In the settings menu, navigate to the Synchronization tab to configure the System Sample Rate and CPU Calculation Rate. The System Sample Rate defines the maximum measurement rate, while the CPU Calculation Rate sets the frequency for operations such as arithmetic calculations.

      2. To apply the updated configuration to the controller, click Write. GI.bench will also prompt you to save the project locally on your PC.

      Optional functionality

      1. Synchronizing a Q.station controller with an external time source

      2. Sending data logger files from the controller to an FTP server

      3. Data logging to a PC or Network Attached Storage (NAS)

      4. Sending data Logger files from a Q.station controller via email

      5. GPS receiver integration for time and position synchronization

      6. How to perform FFT and spectral analysis

      7. Controller arithmetic library

      ▶️Step 7: Setting Up Loggers to Write Data to a File

      Data loggers can be configured either directly on the controller for autonomous operation (writing to local storage, a USB flash drive, or an SD card) or within GI.bench (also referred to as a project logger) to store data directly on the PC. Multiple loggers can run in parallel, each logging different variables at different sampling rates into separate files. Logging modes include continuous, trigger-based, or event-based operation.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      For controller-based loggers, use the Write command to apply changes. For project loggers in GI.bench, the Save command is sufficient.

      ▶️Step 8: Starting Data Acquisition 

      For autonomous operation, on-device data acquisition starts automatically when the controller is powered on. For PC-based acquisition using the licensed version of GI.bench, open the Data Acquisition tab in GI.bench to initiate data streaming to the PC.

      🔖Additional Documentation

      Under normal conditions, the Acquisition indicator in the Data Acquisition tab should display "Running" and blink green. If this is not the case, and the values in the Channels view are not updating, it is likely due to a network communication issue between the controller and the PC.

      Loggers

      GI.bench loggers can be started and stopped from the menu bar in the Data Acquisition tab.
      • For continuous loggers, you can start or stop them individually, or control all loggers simultaneously.
      • For triggered or event-based loggers, clicking the start button will arm the logger. It will then wait for the defined trigger signal to begin recording.

      Dashboard

      1. Click on Dashboard (F5) to open a dashboard in a separate window. For a new project, the dashboard will appear as an empty canvas.

      2. Click the three-lines button to enter Edit Mode. This opens the Dashboard Designer window, where you can drag and drop charts and other elements onto the canvas.

      3. From the Streams section in the Dashboard Designer, drag and drop the desired variables onto charts or other elements.

      4. To exit Edit Mode, click the cross (X) button in the top-right corner again.

      Maintenance and Troubleshooting

      Software Update

      GI.bench update

      GI.bench updates are announced through our Product Newsletter. Sign up here to stay informed.

      Firmware update

      With each new GI.bench version, a corresponding controller firmware version is also released. Instructions on how to update the controller firmware can be found in this Knowledge Base article: How to Update the Firmware on a Controller.

      Troubleshooting

      To assist with troubleshooting, check the Project state or the Message center in GI.bench for any indications of potential errors.

      Project state 

      From the menu bar in GI.bench, click Project state. Expand the overview of the controller of interest to view more details on any warnings (orange) or errors (red).

      Message center

      Another useful source of troubleshooting information is the log messages available in the Message Center, which can be accessed via the GI.service menu in the Windows system tray. The Message Center allows you to filter messages by type (info, warning, or error), sender (controller), and timeframe.

      Support and Repair

      Technical support

      For technical support, please contact one of our Technical Support Engineers or submit a support ticket through the Gantner Instruments website. 

      Hardware repair

      A defective hardware product may be returned to Gantner Instruments for repair without prior authorization. However, any returned product must be accompanied by a Service Advice Note.

      Return address:
      Gantner Instruments GmbH
      Montafonerstrasse 4
      6780 Schruns
      Austria