OpenBCI GUI live stream lagging [resolved]

SamvbSamvb Sydney
edited October 2020 in Cyton

Hi,
I am using the Cyton board with dongle on a Mac laptop.
I am having lagging/freezing issues with the live stream which results in the clock freezing and lost samples.
I have tried turning off bluetooth and wifi on my phone and laptop however it does not seem to help.
Is there something I can do to prevent the live steam from lagging and freezing?
Thanks,
Sam

Comments

  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA

    Sam, can you try testing on another laptop (say Windows) to eliminate any issues with macOS?

    If this is just occasional lost packets, you can try to position the dongle closer to the Cyton, using a usb extension cord. Or just get it away from any metal surfaces (table top, cabinet, etc.) that might absorb the radio waves.

    Previously your Cyton was working? What changed?

    William

  • Hi William,
    I am running a series of tests investigating EEG data from the Cyton board and transcranial doppler ultrasound measures (taken from the temple of participants at a number of time points throughout each test). Unfortunately I do not have another laptop that I can use.

    The first few tests were uninterrupted, however I am now experinecing lagging/freezing from time to time. I can't think of anything I have changed since the first test.

    What kind of things can cause this kind of interefernce? could it be the presence of the ultrasound machine/probe placed against the participants temple? other wireless devices in the room? There are no other large metal surfaces in the room.

    Next time I will try to position my laptop further away from the ultrasound machine and closer to the participant.

    Thanks,
    Sam

  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA

    Please try the suggestion regarding usb extension cable. With this you can position dongle within a foot or less from the mainboard. Should increase signal strength and reduce packet loss. If you still see packet loss, then could be other electromagnetic EMF interference. Your ultrasound transducer likely puts out some of this that can potentially interfere with the Bluetooth signal. Another option with the usb cable, is to place both mainboard and dongle, in to say a box, photo here,

    https://openbci.com/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/2392/safety-housing-for-cyton-resolved

    And then place shielding around the box, say aluminum foil or screening.

    Other EMF emitters are phones, wireless, mains noise from conduits in walls / floors / ceiling, wall warts, power supplies, lighting, etc.

  • Hi William,
    Thanks for the advice. I will try a USB extension cable and will also look into the box idea

  • retiututretiutut Louisiana, USA
    edited October 2020

    @Samvb Can you please share a video recording of your screen so we can see exactly what this looks like? This would be very helpful. It could be as simple as using an existing GUI feature (Smoothing Button at the Top-Left of the GUI) or modifying the FTDI buffer.

  • Hi retiutut,
    I am using a USB extension cable and it seems to have fixed my problem. If it occurs again I will take a video recording and will share it here.
    Thanks,
    Sam

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