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(c) Spectrum Instrumentation GmbH
M2p PCIe Cards
Hardware Installation
Installing multiple boards synchronized by star-hub option
Hooking up the boards
Before mounting several synchronized boards for a multi channel
system into the PC you can hook up the cards with their synchro
-
nization cables first. If there is enough space in your computer’s
case (e.g. a big tower case) you can also mount the boards first
and hook them up afterwards. Spectrum ships the card carrying
the star-hub option together with the needed amount of synchroni
-
zation cables. All of them are matched to the same length, to
achieve a zero clock delay between the cards.
Only use the included flat ribbon cables.
All of the cards,
including the one that carries the star-
hub piggy-back module
, must be wired to the star-hub as the
figure is showing as an example for four synchronized boards.
It does not matter which of the available connectors on the star-
hub module you use for which board. The software driver will de
-
tect the types and order of the synchronized boards automatically.
All of the synchronization cables are secured against wrong plugging, but nonetheless you should
take care to have the pin 1 markers on the connector and on the cable on the same side, as the
figure on the right is showing.
Mounting the wired boards
Before installing the cards you first need to unscrew and remove the dedicated blind-brackets usually mounted to cover unused slots of your
PC. Please keep the screws in reach to fasten your Spectrum cards afterwards.
Spectrum M2p cards with the option „M2p.xxxx-SH6tm“ or „M2p.xxxx-SH16tm“ installed require two slots with ½ PCIe length, whilst M2p
cards with the option „M2p.xxxx-SH6ex“ or „M2p.xxxx-SH16ex“ installed require one single ¾ PCIe length PCIe slot.
Now insert the cards slowly into your computer. This is done best with one hand each at both fronts of the board.
While inserting the board take care not to tilt the retainer in the track. Please take especial care to not bend
the card in any direction while inserting it in the system. A bending of the card may damage the PCB totally
and is not covered by the standard warranty.
Please be very careful when inserting the cards in the slots, as most of the mainboards are mounted with
spacers and therefore might be damaged if they are exposed to high pressure.
Image 13: Installation of M2p Star-Hub synchronization cables
Image 14: Star-Hub connector pin-1 marker
Summary of Contents for M2p.59 Series
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