The document is a comprehensive operator training manual for the ETDR PC Vision software, detailing installation instructions, communication setup, and operational features of the software used with the E20/20 TDR. It includes sections on uploading traces, editing setups, and managing cable lists, as well as support and warranty information. The manual serves as a guide to assist users in efficiently utilizing the software for data analysis and management.

1. January 24, 2012
Rev X – 11/2/2012
ETDR PC VisionTM
Operator Training

2. Table of Contents
Training Section Slide(s)
Overview 3
Locating and loading ETDR PC Vision 4- 6
Getting Started 7- 8
Initial Communications Setup 9-11
Get Trace tab and Graphic Plot 12-14
Chart’s Expanded Menus 15-22
Chart Zoom 23
Saved Traces tab 24-25
Setups tab 26-27
Cables tab 28-30
Contact Information and Q&A 31-32
2

3. ETDR PC Vision Software
Operates on: Windows 7®
, Windows XP®
or Vista®
Platforms
Upload TDR’s current trace or saved traces to the PC
Archive the traces on the PC or other memory media
No platform license – Load on any number of PC’s
Upload and Download Cable Lists to the E20/20 TDR
Upload and Download instrument setups to the E20/20 TDR
3

4. Locating ETDR PC Vision
ETDR PC Vision folder
ETDR PC Vision Software
Readme File
FTDI Drivers folder
Readme File:
Version number
Updates by version number
Helpful loading information
Operator Manual:
Detailed installation instructions
Operating Instructions
E20/20 TDR
October 29, 2012
ETDR PC VisionTM
Operator Manual,
Basic Guide, Quick Start Guide,
Application Notes,
& Training
Version 2012.9
4

5. Locating ETDR PC Vision
In the pull-down menu
Click on “Software”
ETDR PC Vision Zip File
ETDR PC Vision Software
Readme File
5
www.aeatechnology.com

6. Installing ETDR PC Vision
Installation from AEA Technology’s CD:
1. Place the CD in the CD-ROM Drive
2. Use Windows Explorer to locate the ETDR PC
Vision folder
3. Double click on the “Setup.exe” file to start the
installation
4. Follow the installer’s on screen instructions
Installation from a downloaded zip file:
1. Expand the directory contents of the zip file to a folder
(Attempting to install from the zip directory will fail)
2. Double click on the “Setup.exe” file to start the installation
3. Follow the installer’s on screen instructions
6

7. Getting Started with ETDR PC Vision
1. Turn on the E20/20 TDR and wait for the Measurement
Screen to appear (will not communicate if off or in menus).
2. Connect the TDR and PC using the supplied USB Cable
7
3. Double-click the icon on the desktop to open application

8. Getting Started with ETDR PC Vision
Searching for TDR
First attempt to
connect will fail.
This is normal.
See message
sequence below.
TDR not found
8

9. Initial Communications Setup
9
Click on the “COM Port Utilities” tab to set a COM Port/USB link
Step 1 – Follow the
check list to ensure
communications
setups are correct
Step 2 – Press the
“Rescan…” button
for the operating
system to assign a
new COM Port. If a
new COM Port does
NOT appear skip to
the next slide
Step 3 – With new COM Port, press the
“Connect Port/Poll TDR” button to
connect. A good connection will appear.

10. Initial Communications Setup
10
If all the check list
items are set correctly
and “Rescan for
Available COM Ports”
fails to reveal a port,
FTDI Drivers need to
be installed. Drivers
are located on the
enclosed CD and
instructions are in the
Operator Manual
Section 5.
FTDI Drivers are also available from:
www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

11. Initial Communications Setup
With FTDI Drivers installed, repeat first connection
steps (slides 8 and 9).
After that future connections will be automatic.
Note: If the same PC is used to connect to multiple TDRs, use “Rescan for
Available Com Ports” to assign a new COM Port to each TDR.
11

12. Get Trace Tab
12
Uploads and
graphs TDR’s
currently
displayed trace
Opens previously
saved trace on
the PC or other
storage media.
Usable without a
TDR connected

13. Graphic Plot of a Trace Graphic plot
with TDR
trace, Z Scale
(left), Range
(bottom) &
cursors.
Cursors’ data
& controls
with Delta
(differential
data)
13
525 ELM-8 DROP

14. Graphic Plot of a Trace
14
TDR trace data
(not user
changeable on
PC)
525 ELM-8 DROP Trace title as
uploaded
Trace title as
user modified
on PC

15. Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View
15
Opens a new chart from PC
drive or other storage media
Opens a “SaveAs” window
to save this chart
Export Graphics
Export to BMP, JPG, GIF, or
TIFF file format.

16. 16
Export Data
Export to Excel or Word as
.csv file: feet = 1920 data pts,
Meters = 2000 data pts.
Each Data pt = Index #,
Distance, & Impedance (Z).Print Graph Only
Print Graph and Data
Two Print optionsPlot Compare
Opens archived trace to overlay
with currently displayed trace
on the same graph
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

17. 17
Complete chart becomes
available on Clipboard to
paste into other applications
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

18. 18
Default=“Cursor Values displayed.”
Selecting “Maximize Plot” expands
the graph over cursor values.
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

19. 19
Save Settings As … Saves chart settings to a
file on the PC. Includes:
graph’s Range and Impedance
scale, background color, size,
etc.
Load Settings …
Recalls saved settings for
use with new uploaded
traces
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

20. 20
Chart Axes
Uncheck to manually adjust graph’s scales,
then click “Apply” to return to the chart.
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

21. 21
Opens Title Edit sub-window
for making changes.
65 characters fills the top of
the chart.
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

22. 22
Trace Colors Select color for: Main
Trace, and if selected for:
2nd
, Kinks Only, & All Faults
traces.
Data Points
Turns on Data
Point markers
along trace:
Feet=1920 pts
Meters=2000 pts
Show Data Point Values
Works with “Data
Points” &“Tool Tip”
X=Range
Y=Impedance (Z)
Tooltip
Mouse pointer will reveal
data point values
Micro Fault
Add “Kinks Only” and/or
“All Fault” traces to graph
Chart - Expanded Menu Bar View

23. Chart - Zoom
Step 1-Place
mouse at upper
left corner of
desired start,
press and hold
left click
Start
Stop
Step 2-Drag
mouse down &
right, and
release click at
desired stop
point
Un-Zoom
Place the mouse
pointer at the
lower right
corner of the
graph, click and
hold, drag to
upper left corner
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24. 24
Stored Traces Tab
Use this tab to:
1. Upload a list of stored
traces from the TDR.
2. Plot any selected trace.
3. Copy highlighted
traces to Clipboard for
pasting/printing/saving list.
4. Archive a highlighted
list of traces to save as
one file.
5. Delete one trace or a
highlighted list of traces
from the TDR’s memory.

25. Stored Traces Tab
525 ELM-8 DROP 75 85.0 10 OCT 2012 12:23PM
525 ELM-LRM 75 85.0 10 OCT 2012 11:40AM
525 ELM-TEL 100 67.5 10 OCT 2012 10:36AM
SPRG-ELM-HL 75 87.0 10 OCT 2012 10:12AM
MAIN-SPRG-HL 75 87.0 10 OCT 2012 9:21AM
13ST-4AVE-HL 75 87.0 9 OCT 2012 4:47PM
4AVE-HL2 75 87.0 9 OCT 2012 3:21PM
4AVE-HL 75 87.0 9 OCT 2012 1:54PM
1628-5AVE DROP 75 85.0 5 OCT 2012 5:17PM
1628-5AVE HL 75 87.0 5 OCT 2012 4:01PM
Press first to
upload a list
of TDR’s
stored traces
Direct save from
TDR’s memory
to PC folder
25
Deletes selected traces from the TDR’s memory.
Caution – There is NO UNDELETE
Use to plot a
selected trace

26. Setup Tab
26
Use this tab to:
1. Read the TDR’s current
Setups.
2. Edit the setups.
3. Write setups back to the
TDR or to a PC file to save.
4. Read setup files on the
PC and download them to
the TDR
NOTE: “System Time” is PC’s date/time.

27. Setup Tab
27
Step 1-Press
either button
to obtain
valid data
(gray data text
is not valid)
Step 2-Enter data or use box’s pull down menu to select change
Step 3-Press
desired button
to download
new setup to
the TDR or
save setup to a
file.

28. Cables Tab
28
Use the Cables tab to:
1. Read a Cable List
from either the TDR
or a PC file.
2. Edit the list in the
“Selected Cable
Values Description”
boxes.
3. Write a Cable List to
either the TDR or a
PC file.Note: Open memory slots are indicated by:
“Open nn”= number of remaining slots open.
“Open Z=10 & VF=5” (place holder values)

29. Cables Tab
Read or write
Cable
List from TDR
or from a
stored list on the
PC
Use these keys and “Selected Cable Values” to edit the list
Write the Cable
List to the TDR
or to a Cable List
file on the PC
29

30. Cables Tab – List Help
Four cable lists are loaded on the PC with ETDR PC Vision:
CATV – Hard-line, drops, and TIA Cat 2-6A types
Telco – 19-22AWG OSP, drops, and TIA Cat 2-6A types
Broadcast – Variety of 50 & 52 Ohm coax
VDV/RF – Variety of 50-75 Ohm coax & TIA Cat 2-6A types
If the “Read Cable List File” button does not automatically open
the folder with these cable lists refer to the Operator Manual
Section 5 “Default Location for Data Files…”
When a list is modified, save a copy on the PC as backup.
List files will be assigned the “.cbl” extention to ID them.
30

31. Maintenance, Service and Warranty
Basic Guide or Operator Manual, Maintenance, Service &
Warranty.
Warranty – One year against material & workmanship defects
Questions, By all means – Contact us:
AEA Technology, Inc.
5933 Sea Lion Place, Ste 112
Carlsbad, CA 92010
Tel: 800-258-7805 or +1-760-931-8979
Fax: +1-760-931-8969
www.aeatechnology.com
Email
Application Notes
Operating Manuals
TDR PC Vision
Data Sheets
See “User Troubleshooting Guide”
31
Quick Start Guide

32. Questions
on
ETDR PC Vision software?
Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP, Word, and Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft®
Corp.
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