General Discussions
Driver 'signal strength'?

Brand new to VTSCADA but not SCADA platforms.... (I plan to sign up for either remote or in-person training ASAP).

I have a noisy alarm and rather than just bump the setpoint, I'd like to understand what the tag is reporting.

Here are the tag details as exported from the Record Details pop up box.

Name    Rockwell\Alarms\CommsLoss    
Area        
Description    PLC Loss of Comms    
Priority    Critical    
Type    LOW    
Value    0.891630304    
Setpoint    0.9    
Function    <    
Deadband    0    
Popup    No    
On Delay (s)    10    
Off Delay (s)    0    
Rearm Delay (s)    0    
Timestamp    31-Dec     2025 14:53:35
Ack Time    31-Dec     2025 14:53:48
Transaction    Active+Unacked+Notify+    
Event    Active    
Shelved    No    
Disabled    No    
Suppressed    No    
Alarm Database    System Alarm DB    
Workstation    VTSCADA

The question is why the value is so noisy, and how can a 'driver' return an analog value? Most of the time the value is just a fraction under the 0.9 setpoint, but it bumps over every few days for no clear reason.

The team here described it as 'signal strength', but the PLC is connected via Ethernet, and the network is sound - no other issues with other devices plugged into the same switch or on that fiber drop.

Is 'driver strength' a VTSCADA feature?

Any pointers would be gratefully accepted.

Beno.

Brand new to VTSCADA but not SCADA platforms.... (I plan to sign up for either remote or in-person training ASAP). I have a noisy alarm and rather than just bump the setpoint, I&#039;d like to understand what the tag is reporting. Here are the tag details as exported from the `Record Details` pop up box. ```` Name Rockwell\Alarms\CommsLoss Area Description PLC Loss of Comms Priority Critical Type LOW Value 0.891630304 Setpoint 0.9 Function &lt; Deadband 0 Popup No On Delay (s) 10 Off Delay (s) 0 Rearm Delay (s) 0 Timestamp 31-Dec 2025 14:53:35 Ack Time 31-Dec 2025 14:53:48 Transaction Active+Unacked+Notify+ Event Active Shelved No Disabled No Suppressed No Alarm Database System Alarm DB Workstation VTSCADA ```` The question is why the value is so noisy, and how can a &#039;driver&#039; return an analog value? Most of the time the value is just a fraction under the 0.9 setpoint, but it bumps over every few days for no clear reason. The team here described it as &#039;signal strength&#039;, but the PLC is connected via Ethernet, and the network is sound - no other issues with other devices plugged into the same switch or on that fiber drop. Is &#039;driver strength&#039; a VTSCADA feature? Any pointers would be gratefully accepted. Beno.

Typically, a Driver tag will have a 0 value and stay there. Driver errors are typically discrete values rather than analog values.

In your case, you have a tag called ComLoss which I expect is an alarm for an analog signal strength. Since the signal is 'noisy', need to add a suitable deadband and/or Rearm Delay to prevent the noise from moving over and under your setpoint to prevent the alarm from reactivating as often. Use the historian to determine a suitable deadband and add a Rearm Delay to prevent the alarm from reactivating for a period of time after activation.

Typically, a Driver tag will have a 0 value and stay there. Driver errors are typically discrete values rather than analog values. In your case, you have a tag called ComLoss which I expect is an alarm for an analog signal strength. Since the signal is &#039;noisy&#039;, need to add a suitable deadband and/or Rearm Delay to prevent the noise from moving over and under your setpoint to prevent the alarm from reactivating as often. Use the historian to determine a suitable deadband and add a Rearm Delay to prevent the alarm from reactivating for a period of time after activation.

Trihedral Engineering Ltd.

edited 1 day ago at 2:11 pm
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