I N T R O D U C T I O N

 

 

Congratulations! You have purchased one of the finest SPL meters ever produced for measuring the Sound Pressure Level inside of a vehicle.

 

This manual covers the installation of the Term-LAB software and hardware components. You must install all of the software components prior to attaching or installing any of the hardware components to your computer.

 

A complete installation will progress as follows…

 

  1. Software Installation
    1. Install the Instacal configuration utility.
    2. Install the Term-LAB application.
    3. Install the Term-LAB key drivers

 

  1. Hardware Installation
    1. Insert the Term-LAB key.
    2. Insert the Term-LAB data acquisition card.
    3. Configure the Term-LAB data acquisition card.

 

3.      System Assembly

 

4.      Sensor Configuration

 

Section 1 - Software Installation

 

The Term-LAB software may be installed on Windows XP and Windows 2000 systems. We strongly suggest that you upgrade your system to Windows XP as this will ensure that your system has current driver files.

 

There are three separate software components that must be installed. Please install these components in the order outlined below.

 

 

Installing From CD

 

Insert the Term-LAB CD into the CDROM. If the auto-run feature on your computer is enabled, a window showing the contents of the CD should open automatically. (If auto-run is not enabled, use Explorer to navigate to the CD drive and double-click on the drive letter to open a window showing the contents of the CD.)

 

1-a Install Instacal

 

1.      Find the folder named, “Instacal” on the Term-LAB CD. Double-click on this folder to view its contents. Locate the file named, “Setup.exe”.

2.      Double-click on the file named, “Setup.exe”. This will launch the Instacal setup program.

3.      If you are using Windows 98 or Windows ME, you may be presented with an “Installation Options” dialog box. If this is the case, please select the 32-bit version of Instacal.

4.      Follow the on-screen instructions.

5.      Please allow the setup program to update your Autoexec.bat and System.ini files.

6.      After the installation is complete, you must restart your computer.

 

1-b Install Term-LAB

 

IMPORTANT! Some older versions of Windows will not work with Term-LAB unless the ATL.DLL file is updated. If you are running Windows 98 (excluding Windows 98 SE and Windows ME), then you will need to perform steps A-C prior to installing Term-LAB.

 

Do not perform steps A-C unless you are using an older version of Windows 98.

 

A.     Find the folder named, “Utilities\Win98\ATL Update” on the Term-LAB CD. Double-click on this folder to view its contents. Locate the file named, “UPDATEATL.BAT”.

B.     Double-click on the file named, “UPDATEATL.BAT”. This will update the ATL.DLL file on your computer.

C.    Restart your computer.

 

Install Term-LAB

 

1.      Find the folder named, “Termlab” on the Term-LAB CD. Double-click on this folder to view its contents. Locate the file named, “Setup.exe”.

2.      Double-click on the file named, “Setup.exe”. This will launch the Term-LAB setup program.

3.      Follow the on-screen instructions.

 

1-c Install Term-LAB Key Drivers

 

1.      Double-click on the folder named, “Drivers”. You will see a file named, “Drivers.exe”.

2.      Double-click on the file named, “Drivers.exe”. This will launch the Drivers setup program.

3.      Follow the on-screen instructions.

4.      After the installation is complete, you must restart your computer.

 

Section 2 - Hardware Installation 

 

2-a Term-LAB Key

 

The Term-LAB Key is required for program operation. The Term-LAB program will only run while this key is inserted into the USB port of your computer.

 

1.      Insert the Term-LAB Key into the USB port you wish to use. Windows should automatically detect the key and install the necessary drivers.

2.      The key has a built-in LED. Proper operation of the key is indicated when the LED stays illuminated continuously. If the LED is flashing, either the USB port is not active or the Term-LAB Key driver is not installed.

 

2-b Data Acquisition Card

 

There are two versions of Term-LAB Data Acquisition cards. Please follow the instructions pertaining to the card you are using.

 

PC-CARD (Laptop Version)

 

The Term-LAB PC card is completely plug-and-play. There are no switches or jumpers to set prior to installation in your computer. Configuration is controlled by your systems’ PCMCIA Card and Socket Services.

 

1.      Remove the PC-CARD from its protective carrying case.

2.      Carefully insert the PC-CARD into one of the PCMCIA slots on your laptop computer. (Normally, the label on the card should be facing UP when the card is inserted into the computer.) There is a small, triangle-shaped arrow on the label that indicates which end of the card should be inserted into the computer.

3.      A dialog box will pop up on your monitor indicating that new hardware has been detected.

 

PCI CARD (Desktop Version)

 

The PCI version of the Term-LAB Data Acquisition card is shipped in an antistatic container to prevent the board from being damaged by an electrostatic discharge. To avoid such damage, follow the steps below when unpacking and handling your board.

 

1.      Before opening the antistatic container, ground yourself with a wrist-grounding strap or by holding onto a grounded object.

2.      Touch the antistatic container to the computer chassis before removing the board from the container.

3.      Remove the board from the container. Never touch the exposed pins or circuit connections on the board.

 

Installing the PCI Card

 

The Term-LAB PCI card is completely plug-and-play. There are no switches or jumpers to set. Configuration is controlled by your system’s BIOS. To install your board, follow the steps below.

 

1.      Turn your computer off, open it up, and insert your board into any available PCI slot.

2.      Close your computer and turn it on.

3.      After Windows starts, a dialog box will pop up on your monitor indicating that new hardware has been detected.

 

2-c Configuring The Term-LAB Data Acquisition Card

 

All of the hardware configuration options on your Term-LAB data acquisition card are software controlled. The Instacal utility is used to configure the card.

 

1.      Run Instacal. (Select Start / Programs / Termlab / Instacal)

2.      The first time you run the Instacal utility, the program will detect your Term-LAB Data Acquisition card. Allow the program to add the card to the configuration file.

3.      Highlight the Term-LAB card by clicking on it once.

4.      From the Instacal pull-down menu, select Install / Configure.

5.      Select, “8 Differential” for the number of channels. Leave all of the other settings alone.

6.      Click, “OK”.

7.      Exit Instacal.

 

Section 3 – System Assembly

 

  1. Carefully unpack the Term-LAB system.
  2. Attach the Term-LAB power supply to the power jack on the back of the white Interface Box. The two power LED’s on the front panel should illuminate.
  3. Attach the 50-pin plug on the ribbon cable to the 50-pin connector on the back of the interface box. This cable is “keyed” and will only fit one way. (The cable that comes with the desktop version has 2 plugs. Use the plug labeled, “Pins 1-50”.)
  4. Plug the other end of the ribbon cable into the Term-LAB data acquisition card in the computer. (On the laptop version, match the white dot on the cable’s plug with the white dot on the receptacle in the PC-CARD. The desktop version utilizes a 100-pin high-density connector with a “D” configuration, which will only fit one way.) Use caution when inserting and removing cables from the system. Never “wiggle” the plug from side-to-side. Please note that cables and connectors are NOT covered by warranty. You must be careful or you will damage the cable, connector, or bend a pin if the cable is grossly misaligned.
  5. Attach the SPL Sensors to the Term-LAB Interface Box with the included flat cables. Attach the first sensor to the input labeled Sensor 1, the second sensor to the input labeled Sensor 2, and so on.

 

This completes the Term-LAB Assembly.

 

Section 4 - Sensor Configuration

 

The Term-LAB software includes default configuration files for all available input devices. Each configuration file provides detailed information about the input device being used. After installing Term-LAB, you must edit the default configuration files and specify the sensitivity values (K-Factor) for the input devices included with your system.

 

  1. Run Term-LAB. (From the Start Menu, select Start / Programs / Termlab / Termlab.)
  2. Click on the Hardware Tab at the top of the screen.
  3. Press the “Edit” button next to the input device you would like to configure.
  4. Enter the “K-Factor” value specified below for the sensor being edited.
  5. Repeat this process for each input device in your system.

 

Sensor 1  ­­­­­____________         Sensor 2        ­­­­­____________

 

Sensor 3  ­­­­­____________         Sensor 4        ­­­­­____________

 

Please do not omit the Sensor Configuration process or your SPL readings will be inaccurate.

 

Program Operation

 

Term-LAB operation is simple and straightforward.

 

From the Start Menu, select Start / Programs / Termlab / Termlab. This will launch the Term-LAB application.

 

Simple SPL Measurements

 

To start the SPL measurement process, select the first “Mode” button (SPL Mode). Next, press the “Start Button”. The meter will start acquiring data and updating the screen once per second. To stop the metering process, simply press the “Stop” button. Please note that other program operations are inhibited while metering is taking place.

 

Display Options

 

Pressing the “Display Options” button will bring up a configuration panel that may be used to configure the various displays, ranges, and resolutions of the Term-LAB meter.

 

General

 

This tab includes slider controls that affect the “Top” scale of various displays as well as the “dB/Div” for each of these displays.

 

The “Numeric Data” button opens a dialog box that contains very specific information about each channel. (This panel may remain open while measurements are taking place.)

 

Channel A (Channel B, Channel C, Channel D)

 

These tabs control the measurement and display characteristics for each of Term-LAB’s channels.

 

Enabled – This checkbox turns the channel on and off.

 

Input Selector – These buttons are used to select the input device you wish to measure.

 

SPL Readout – The “Enabled” checkbox enables or disables the digital SPL readout on the screen. The 3-1/2 and 4-1/2 Digits radio buttons are used to select the resolution that you would like to have displayed on the SPL readout. 3-1/2 will display SPL’s to 1/10th of a dB and 4-1/2 will display SPL’s to 1/100th of a dB.

 

Bargraph Meter – The “Enabled” checkbox enables or disables the bargraph meter on the screen. You may need to disable the bargraph meter on screens with low resolution, or when you have more than two channels active at one time.

 

Spectrum Analyzer – The “Enabled” checkbox enables or disables the Spectrum Analyzer on the screen.

 

SPL Stripchart – The “Enabled” checkbox enables or disables the SPL Stripchart on the screen. The “SPL History” checkbox enables or disables the scrolling capability of the SPL Stripchart.

 

Oscilloscope – The “Enabled” checkbox enables or disables the Oscilloscope on the screen. The “Input Waveform” and “Windowed Waveform” is used to tell the oscilloscope which waveform to monitor. The “Waveform History” checkbox is used to enable or disable the scrolling capability of the Oscilloscope. The Zoom drop down box is used to select the amount of zoom that is applied to the Oscilloscopes display (horizontal only).

 

Peak Hold

 

The “Peak Hold” feature is available on the main control panel whenever the system is in SPL mode.

 

Enable – This checkbox enables or disables Peak Hold. When Peak Hold is enabled, the meter will hold the highest measured SPL, waveform display on the Oscilloscope, and frequency spectrum on the Spectrum Analyzer. The held these displays will not change unless a new SPL exceeds the level of the currently held SPL.

 

Reset Button – This button is used to reset the Peak Hold display.

 

Auto Reset – This checkbox enables or disables the Peak Hold Auto Reset Feature. When enabled, the meter will automatically reset the Peak Hold display based on the Interval value displayed in the Interval check box (in seconds).

 

Sensor Placement

 

The SPL sensor(s) should be attached to the inside surface of the windshield of the contestant’s vehicle. Make sure that the surface where the sensor will be placed is clean. For competition purposes, use a standard mic jig to position the sensor in the normal measuring location. (The “crosshair” in the center of the sensor’s label will aid in this process.)

 

To remove the sensor, gently lift one edge of each suction cup to release the vacuum.

 

Each Term-LAB sensor comes with a spare suction cup. If you need to replace a suction cup, simply unscrew the suction cup from the sensor assembly and then screw the new one into place. Do not over-tighten the suction cup or you could cause the barbed stud to puncture the surface of the suction cup. The suction cup should be snug but not overly tight.

 

Finding Your Peak Frequency

 

Every competition vehicle has a frequency where a maximum SPL will be achieved. This frequency can vary due to local atmospheric conditions. (These conditions are affected by temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and elevation.) To maximize your score at a particular event, it is important that you identify the frequency you should use during competition under the current atmospheric conditions.

 

  1. Press the SPL “Mode” button. (Under the digital timer.)
  2. Press the “Display Options” button.
  3. Select the “General” tab and then press the “Numeric Data” button. Move the Numeric Data window to an area of the screen that won’t interfere with operation of Term-LAB. Close the “Display Options” window.
  4. Select the “Peak Hold” option for the digital readout.
  5. Using the dB Jams V6 Competition CD, select one of the 10 Hz sweeps that encompasses your normal competition frequency.
  6. Press the “Start” button on the SPL meter.
  7. Play the test sweep at a fairly high volume.
  8. After the sweep has completed, the RTA and the Numeric Data fields will indicate the frequency where your highest SPL occurred. This is the frequency you should use when competing.