Compatibility: The MCA8000A in native RS232 mode (not using the USB adapter) is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, both 32 and 64-bit. In this configuration the device is connected to a true RS232 port on a computer with the Amptek supplied null modem cable (very important!).
Windows 7/8/10 Note
If you are having difficulty using the MCA8000A with the USB adapter on Windows 7 and higher, please make sure that you have the latest version of ADMCA below and that you uninstall the USB driver and use the one in the package below.
Instructions
- Make sure the USB adapter is NOT plugged into the PC.
- Uninstall the current USB driver package from Programs and Features. If it is not in Programs and Features then plug in the USB adapter and go to Device Manager. Right click on the Prolific port and uninstall. Select to uninstall all software etc. if available. Restart the machine.
- Download this Prolif USB Driver Package
- Run the appropriate executable in the Prolific package you downloaded from above by right-clicking on the file and selecting Run as administrator. For Windwos 7 use the Windows 8/10 driver.
- Follow the instructions to install.
- Plug in the USB adapter and it should now load the correct driver.
- Use the latest version of ADMCA below.
- Make sure to check Windows Device Manager for the COM Port number assigned to the USB adapter. It must be between 1 and 9. If it is not then you must manually assign a COM Port to the USB adapter between 1 and 9 (usually by right clicking and finding the setting in an advanced menu). You then enter this number in the ADMCA software in View menu->Preferences->MCA tab.
ADMCA 2.0.0.6 Display and Acquisition Software
The ADMCA program is the main display and acquisition software. All users should download this software.
Click here for a description of the capabilities ADMCA.
There is no paper manual for the software. The manual is the help file. To install the software unzip the contents of the file to your computer. Then run the ADMCA executable in the ADMCA directory. The software cannot be run from a CD. It must be copied to your local drive and you must have read/write access to the directory.
admca_mca.zip (6 MB)
MCA8000A Application Programming Interface (API)
The MCA8000A can be controlled through an API interface using the PmcaDll.dll Dynamic Linked Library. There are Visual Basic, Visual C++, and LabWindows CVI examples of how to use the libraries. Read the Programmer’s guide enclosed before trying using them. MCA8000A units SN#3660 and higher are RS232 to USB converter compatible. Serial numbers below 3660 can be upgraded. This is a firmware change that must be done at the factory. New units will not be compatible with custom code written with the previous DLL. The new DLL can control all versions. Download the new version and view the document describing the small change that needs to be made to your code.
mcadll.zip (3MB)
Communication Protocol for Non-Windows Programming
The MCA8000A Communication protocol has been adapted by many people for platforms other than Windows. Because of this, Amptek includes the source code of the Windows DLL to facilitate the programmer’s task in adapting the MCA8000A to other operating systems. Between the DLL source code and the Data Transfer Protocol, the programmer should find it much easier to adapt the MCA8000A for use on other platforms.
Amptek does not support the source code of the dll.
DLL source code and documentation (300K).
MCA8000A Dlls compiled for Win CE Everex A-20 PalmPC (Executive Model)
Author: Jon Paschal, Applied Physics Institute, Western Kentucky University
Beta Testers: P. C. Womble, Applied Physics Institute, WKU and C. Campbell, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University.
Notes: Changes to be compatible with CE 2.0
- CE 2.0 doesn’t support the CHAR variable type, CE only supports the Unicode variant of this type which is wchar. So all references to char have to be replaced with wchar.
- CE 2.0 doesn’t support the use of the semaphore synchronization object. Any references to these have to be replaced with a counting mechanism and a waiting while loop.
- CE 2.0 doesn’t support the C runtime libraries completely. It instead only supports a small subset of them. Time and date functions used in request.cpp were not part of this subset so they have to be replaced with windows / MFC functions that work similarly.
Everex A-20 Source Code (116k)