Clock and Trigger Synchronization of M2i and M4i series

Both card families can't be synchronized with the star-hub as this option only matches one card family. However external clock and trigger connections allows to even synchronize the M2i and the M4i world in most cases.

Clock Synchronization

A direct connection of clock output of a M2i series card to a M4i reference clock input works fine. M2i clock output can drive AC coupled 50 Ω termination clock input of the M4i series. The maximum output swing is in the region of 1.2 V which is well in the specification of a maximum of 3.0 V. One would need an adapter cable from SMB to SMA to connect both cards.

The M2i card generates a sampling clock at the clock output. That restricts the minimum sampling clock of the M2i card to 10 MHz as the M4i series can handle a reference clock input of ≥10 MHz only. A slower M2i card can't be synchronized with the M4i series with direct connection.

It is best adviced to set the relation between both sampling clocks to a whole-number to avoid any phase problems between the cards. Please also check whether the M4i sampling clock has any further restrictions.

This synchronization will only Digitizers or AWGs as the M2i digitial I/O cards don't have a clock output capable of driving the M4i load nor do they have a dedicated clock output. In here the clock signal is part of the digital multi-pin connector.

Trigger Synchronization

Trigger synchronization can be done on the same way. Connecting the trigger output of the M2i series to the trigger input of the M4i series. Again a SMB to SMA connection cable is needed here.

Obviously the trigger accuracy is defined by the slower card.

SBench 6

SBench 6 can only handle one set of cards in one software instance. To run synchronization of M2i and M4i with SBench 6 it is necessary to run two independent SBench 6 instances on the machine. A single Professional + a single Multi license is sufficient for this.