Do I Need a BenchVue License? Is BenchVue Included with My Instrument?
There are both free and licensed versions of BenchVue apps. Some apps are only available as licensed versions.
Table of Contents
Basic (free) Apps. 1
Licensed (for-pay) Apps. 2
License Types. 2
Key to abbreviations used in this document. 2
Basic (free) Apps
The following apps have no-cost versions called “Basic”. Basic versions are totally free – no license or activation or registration required. Just install the app and use it.
BenchVue Basic completely replaced BenchVue Included.
But there are two drawbacks to BenchVue Basic:
- The Basic version is one revision older than the current licensed version, so it may not have support for new instruments or recent bug fixes.
- There is no technical support (KeysightCare) included other than installation help.
List of Basic (free) Apps
- Digital Multimeter (DMM)
- Power Supply (PS)
- Oscilloscope (OSC)
- Function Generator (FG)
- Data Acquisition (DAQ)
- RF Power Meter (PM)
- Universal Counter (CNTR)
- Electronic Load (ELoad)
- USB Modular
Three apps are totally free and have no licensed versions:
- Serial Control (SRL)
- Power Analyzer (PA)
- Test Flow (TF)
Licensed (for-pay) Apps
All apps except the SRL, PA and TF have licensed versions and offer free trials.
The Signal Generator (SG), Network Analyzer (NA), and Spectrum Analyzer (SA) apps can be installed separately, but require the BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license.
License Types
Licensed apps use Keysight’s many choices:
- Fixed (Node-locked) - Can only be run on one PC
- Transportable – Can be moved from PC to PC by user
- USB Portable – Requires purchase of a USB dongle that can be moved from PC to PC, and installation of the dongle driver (“WibuKey”)
- Floating – Requires setup of a server PC to distribute licenses to any client PC that requests one
- Two types of license term:
- Perpetual – includes two parts:
- License for use, which never expires
- Renewable support subscription, which provides KeysightCare support and free updates during the subscription term. After that time, the license can continue to be used with software that was released before expiration of the subscription.
- Subscription license – License for use, and support subscription run concurrently until the end of the term. Includes KeysightCare support and free updates.
Model Numbers and Key to Abbreviations
The abbreviations are used in the software interfaces
- Digital Multimeter (DMM) - Model number BV0001B
- Function Generator (FG) - BV0002B
- Power Supply (PS) - BV0003B
- Oscilloscope (OSC) - BV0004B
- Data Acquisition (DAQ) - BV0006B
- Power Meter (PM) - BV0007B
- Universal Counter (CNTR) - BV0011B
- Electronic Load (ELoad) - BV0012B
- USB Modular products (Chassis, DAQ, DMM, FG, OSC, SMU, Switch) - BV0021B-25B
- Serial Control (SRL)
- Power Analyzer (PA)
- Test Flow (TF)
- Network Analyzer (NA) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- Spectrum Analyzer (SA) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- Signal Generator (SG) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- FieldFox (FF) - BV0010B
- Current Analyzer (CA) - BV0013B
- LCR Meter (LCR) - BV0014B
- Solar Array Simulator (SAS)
- Advanced Battery Test and Emulation
- Advanced Power Control and Analysis
