ECO Bench Test


Dual analog ECO test cable
  1. Insert the host program CD into the host computer. Copy all files to a desired location on the host computer's hard drive.
  2. Plug the test cable's (optional equipment) DB-9 connector into the host computer's serial port.
  3. Connect a 9V battery to the test cable.
  4. Connect the instrument to the test cable.
  5. Start the program by double-clicking ECOView.exe (or the shortcut). The screen below will appear.


  • Click the yellow Select COM Port button. Select the COM port and baud rate (19200 is standard) for meter-to-PC communication.

    You can also select the COM port and baud rate from the pull-down menus in the lower left corner of ECOView.

    Select the yellow Select Device File button, then choose the instrument-specific device file. The yellow button will disappear after the device file is loaded.

    You can also select Load Device File from the File pulldown menu at the top of the window.


    Fluorometers only: Once the device file is loaded, an additional fluorometer setup tab will appear. Important: ECO fluorometers ship with two device files (See sample device files ). Loading the “standard” device file will provide data in counts. The other provides processed data in µg/l (chlorophyll) or ppb (phycoerythrin, CDOM, and uranine).

    It's generally not necessary to change the other settings as they are factory-set. More on settings ...

    The ECO will begin collecting data when power is supplied to the meter.

    View Data

    Select the Raw Data tab and Start Data if necessary, then the Raw Data tab to view data in the host program.

    Put the fluorescent stick that ships with the meter (or the flat of your hand) directly in front of the sensor face. The signal value will increase toward saturation—
    5 V analog
    +/- 16,000 for FL meters|
    +/- 4100 for all other ECOs

    Select Plot Data tab. The X-axis represents sample counts and the Y-axis, data units. Click and drag to change the values on either axis. You can view either raw data or engineering units. Fluorometer measurements will be shown in raw counts if Raw Data is selected or µg/l (chlorophyll only) or ppb (parts per billion for all others if Engineering Units is selected.

    If Engineering Units is selected, the backscatter calculation pull-down menu control will allow you to select one of the following for BB meters:
    ·        Beta (117)—The total volume scattering
    ·            Beta-Particle—The volume scattering of particles only
    ·            bbp—Backscattering of particles
    ·            bb—Total backscattering.

    If Engineering Units is not selected, the backscatter calculation option is ignored and all BB data is plotted in raw counts.

    Note: If you have loaded the device file for a fluorometer, the backscatter pull-down menu will not appear.

    Refer to the ECOView user’s guide for details on selecting plot color and using the plot toolbar.

    Press the Stop Data button to stop data collection and return the meter to "ready" status.


    initial meter
    functionality check
    retrieve and
    upload data