CED 5601 Messenger

The CED 5601 Messenger works with Spike2 to start sampling and mark events or states during data acquisition. It messages the program with codes representing the buttons pressed.

Controls and indicators

There are thirteen tactile buttons on a smooth, easily cleaned, acrylic membrane. Areas next to the buttons can be written on to provide user labelling.

• Four latched buttons remain active until pressed again.
• Eight instantaneous buttons mark brief events.
• One sampling start button initiates sampling.

Each button is illuminated when activated; the latched buttons remain illuminated while latched.

The unit connects via a three metre cable to the digital and event input ports on the rear panel of a 1401 interface. The event input is used to start sampling and may not be required in all cases. Both latched and instantaneous buttons send a code to the 1401, where it appears in a digital marker channel. The provided script example then decodes the values and converts them into text in a TextMark channel. Each received code can be matched to a user-defined message for display.

The script could be modified so that an action is the result of a button press rather than producing just text. For example, the unit can become as a remote control where a latched button is linked to the write to disk on/off function and an instantaneous button could optimise the displayed waveforms.

£1000