Force-A Multiplex Operating instructions

Multiplex use
During measurements, you can
display these 4 usual signal/indices
on the touch screen :
Check Multiplex every day you measure with
the blue (and red for Mx 330) standard : use
the sheet ‘Multiplex checking’.
You must avoid saturation in single signals.
FRF_R, FRF_G, FRF_B, FRF_UV must not :
- exceed 4300
- be under 20
You have to adapt the « measurement range » to:
1/ diameter of the aperture of Multiplex.
2/ level of chlorophyll of the plant you are measuring
3/ in field or in greenhouse measurements
For more explanations, see MxUserGuide_Firmware.pptx.
Slide 6 : Cfg screen.
Mx 330: use black
glove to measure

Multiplex readings in fields
For both measurement mode (one shot and continuous), 3 principles to respect:
- measure leaves with the same physiological age
- try to be as close as possible to the leaves
- try to cover as much as possible the aperture of the Mx with leaves

Multiplex readings on fruits
To be sure of the quality of the signals, use the measurement
area well adapted to the plant you measure : 4 / 6 or 8 cm
aperture diameter.
NOOK
You must always keep the same distance from the fruit.
The good distance is : the fruit against the Multiplex.
OK NO
Be careful with the pedicel
of a fruit.
It is rich in chlorophyll, it
influences the reading.

Multiplex Use
OK
You can use Mx whatever the weather,
except under rain.
You must not measure with the
Multiplex turned towards the sun.
NO NO
NO
Avoid fluorescent light if you
measure in the laboratory.

Multiplex Use
Other things to check regularly :
- Wash the measurement area and the plastic protection upon optics with
alcohol or water as soon as these parts are dirty.
- Look at FRF_R during measurement. Be sure it is < 4300 and > 20.
- Compile measurements in the air and on the blue standard every day in a
dedicated file.
- Try to do the same plot at the same time every day, in case of measurement
of kinetics.
- User effect is possible. Try to always dedicate one Mx to the same user.
- Don’t exceed 100 files on the SD card. Transfer and delete files regularly .
- Use the 512 Mo SD card provided with the Multiplex.

Multiplex®firmware

Main screen
7
Del.
Cfg >
10:15
press
button
to measure
alt p s 1 0
1 AH
When you switch on the Multiplex, this screen is displayed.
Measurement can be performed by pressing one of the two trigger buttons on the handle.

Main screen
8
Del.
Cfg >
10:15
FRF_R ANTH_RG
SFR_R FLAV
0.2568
2.675
1523 0.2156
alt p s 1 1
1 AH
Access to « alt
screen »: to come
back on previous ‘p’
‘s’ or ‘file name’
Access to « Cfg
screen »: to settle
different settings
Access to « Del
screen »: to delete
last reading
=> 4 levels to classify your measurements
.csv file column: population sample reading .csv file name
Battery level Time
One signal with its value.
You can display all the signals saved by Multiplex, if you press
successively here.
When GPS is on, this
symbol is displayed.
‘population’ / ‘sample’ / ‘file name’ are long press buttons (2 sec) :
you can increment the rank by pressing the respective buttons.

Main screen
9
A file name is YYMMDDXX.csv, defined as :
- YY : year
- MM : month
- DD : day
- XX : two letters which correspond to the file name
(bottom-right edge of the main screen)
A new file is created each time you :
- switch on the Multiplex,
- press the file name button,
When a new file is created :
- there are incrementation of the 2nd letter of the file name
-‘p’ and ‘s’ rank are back to 1
-‘reading’ rank is back to 0.
The reading rank in each file is not limited.
Save regularly the files on a computer and delete them from the SD card.
All datas are saved on the sd card, into a .csv file.

Cfg screen
10
<--
GPS
Mode 1 Ext.
Int.
main -->
Off Internal GPS
(antenna provided
with Multiplex) : You
have to connect it
on Mx if you want to
use the GPS mode.
External GPS : if
you want to use
your own GPS
Another screen allow
you to set the Baud
rate (4800, 9600,…)
On / Off : Display if
the GPS is on or
off.
Mode 1 : To switch on GPS, press this button and wait few seconds (only outdoors).
For each measurement, GPS datas are saved on .csv file.
Mode 2 : it appears when ‘measurement mode’ is ‘contin.’
In this mode, only 2 GPS coordonnates are saved, at the beginning and
the end of the continuous measurement
Acquisition speed of ‘continuous’ mode : Mode 1 = 2 Hz / Mode 2 = 20 Hz.
Mode 2
If the GPS is connected, the
date and time are updated.