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FAQ ( Vers. 0.1.3 - 23.06.2007 21.47 h )


Where can I look for terms that I don't know?
What can I do with QPxTool
What can I measure?
What can I measure on a CD?
What can I measure on a DVD?
No Media Information?

A first quality measurement on a CD.
A first quality measurement on a DVD
How can I interpret the scan results?

Why do I have to select cdrdao for burning with QPxTool settings?
How can I burn a GigaRec disc?
How can I use DVD+R(W) Simulation Mode?
How to create an AutoStrategy Database entry?

How can I update the Plextor firmware with pxfw?







Where can I look for terms that I don't know?

The glossar should explain all terms that you need to know. You will find the terms in alphabetical order.



What can I do with QPxTool?

With QPxTool you can measure the quality of CDs and DVDs, if your hardware supports these features (supported drives). Further you can take full advantage of the special Plextor writing features (like GigaRec, VariRec, PowerRec, AutoStrategy).



What can I measure with QPxTool?

These quality measurements are possible:
  • check for correctable and incorrectable errors (PI/Cx)
  • view the accuracy of the burned media (Jitter/Beta)
  • measure the possible read speed of the media (Transfer Rate)
  • compare with the standard of the official DVD specifications - only DVD-R(W)/+R(W) (Time Analyzer)


What can I measure on a CD?

On a CD you can:
  • measure correctable and incorrectable errors (C1, C2, CU))
  • view the accuracy of pits and lands on the CD (Jitter/Beta)
  • measure how fast the CD can be read (Transfer Rate)


What can I measure on a DVD?

On a DVD you can:
  • scan for correctable and incorrectable errors (PI, PIF)
  • view the accuracy of pits and lands on the DVD (Jitter/Beta)
  • measure how fast the DVD can be read (Transfer Rate)
  • compare with the standard of the official DVD specifications - not DVD-ROM (Time Analyzer)


A first quality measurement on CD.

O.K., let's make a first CD quality scan:
  • start qpxtool
  • insert a written CD into your Plextor drive
  • wait until your Plextor drive becomes ready (green light)
  • select your Plextor drive from the Device pull down menu on top
  • to tell QPxTool about your inserted CD, select "Update media info" in the Device menu on top
  • select the Media tab in the tab line of QPxTool
  • activate the check buttons at the bottom of the Media tab to select the requested quality scans
  • set the read speed from the Scan Speed pulldown menu on the right
  • use the "Run Tests" button on the right to start the scan
  • at the bottom beside the name of your drive, you can see what kind of test is currently running
  • select the relaying display tab in the tab line to see what's going on


A first quality measurement on DVD.

O.K., let's make a first DVD quality scan:
  • start qpxtool
  • insert a burned DVD into your Plextor DVD drive
  • wait until your Plextor DVD drive becomes ready (green light)
  • select your Plextor DVD drive from the Device pull down menu on top
  • to tell QPxTool about your inserted DVD, select "Update media info" in the Device menu on top
  • select the Media tab in the tab line of QPxTool
  • activate the check buttons at the bottom of the Media tab to select the requested quality scans
  • set the read speed from the Scan Speed pulldown menu on the right
  • use the "Run Tests" button on the right to start the scan
  • at the bottom beside the name of your DVD drive, you can see what kind of test is currently running
  • select the relaying display tab in the tab line to see what's going on


No Media Information?
  • check if you have selected the right drive in the Device pulldown menu
  • select "Update media Info" from the Device menu


How can I interpret the scan results?

PIE / PIF interpetation
The fewer errors there are, the lower the highest error value is and the more evenly the errors are distributed, the better is the result. A few isolated PIF spikes higher than 4 are usually no problem and can be ignored, however, good PIE results do not even come close to 280.

PI-test 01

PI-test 02
Here we see a good scan This one is not so good.
many errors from the middle to the end
Writing Speed should be reduced.



Beta / Jitter interpetation
A Beta scan (red) result is good if there are no stair-case shaped jumps. Also, the beta graph should stay between -5% and +15% (for DVDs) and between -8% and +8% for CDs. However, staircase like jumps are more problematic than beta values outside the given range. Jitter Scan (green) should also show no stair cases.

JB-test 01

JB-test 02
This one is getting better and better     A nightmare    



TA interpetation
A TA test result is better when the peaks are more clearly seperated from each other. Also, the peaks should have their maximum each one on its black line. However, this is not yet automaticall.

TA-test 01

TA-test 02






Why do I have to select cdrdao for CD burning with QPxTool settings?

The QPxTool settings will only keep alive if you use cdrdao as your burning application. cdrecord overwrites the QPxTool settings by default. Jörg Schilling is not interested to give us an interface, so that QPxTool can work with cdrecord: "just tell cdrecord what it should do, no other tools are necessary". Seems that someone is not completely informed about what Plextor drives are capable of.






How can I burn a GigaRec disc?

Now we write a CD-DA with GigaRec value 0.9. This should increase the compatibility, the quality and the expected live time of the data.
  • start QPxTool
  • select your drive
  • goto Device Control tab
  • activate GigaRec
  • select value 0.9
  • start k3b
  • in the burning dialog select cdrdao form the Writing app pulldown menu
  • go






How can I use DVD+R(W) Simulation Mode?

This is the way to use the DVD+R(W) Simulation Mode:
  • start k3b
  • select New Data DVD Project
  • select your files
  • press burn button
  • start qpxtool
  • activate Simulation Mode for the relating drive
  • press burn button in k3b






How to create an AutoStrategy Database entry?

With PX-755 and PX-760 you directly go to Plextor Tab and select create Strategy in the AutoStrategy DataBase dialog. PX-716 automatically creates a database entry, if you write the third time on the same brand of blank and if media code does not exists in FW database.





How can I update the Plextor firmware with pxfw?
  • pxfw /dev/hdX -if firmware.bin -u
  • pxfw /dev/srX -if firmware.bin -u