---
title: "Set a hardware trigger for AMTI force plates"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/Nexus216/48300033/Set%20a%20hardware%20trigger%20for%20AMTI%20force%20plates"
format: markdown
---
In Nexus 2.16 and later, to set a hardware trigger for AMTI force plates, you must ensure that the AMTI amplifier that receives the sync signal is amplifier 1 in the AMTI Netforce software, as described in the following procedures.

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> ℹ️ **Note**  
> ℹ️ Device drivers for your force plates are installed when the force plates are initially set up. To enable the AMTI Netforce software and Vicon Nexus to recognize the drivers, you must update them when you first connect the force plates to the PC. To do this, follow the instructions in [Update the device drivers](#UpdateDeviceDrivers).   
> ℹ️ After you have updated the device drivers, you can proceed to [Set the AMTI hardware trigger](#SetHardwareTrigger).

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### Update the device drivers

When you first connect AMTI force plates to the PC, to enable the AMTI Netforce software and Vicon Nexus to recognize the force plates, you must update the relevant device drivers. To do this:

1. In the Windows Device Manager, right-click on the device that belongs to one of your force plates and click **Properties**.
2. On the **Driver** tab, click **Update Driver** and select **Browse my computer for drivers** (not the automatic search).
3. Locate the required drivers for your force plate and click **Next**.
  When Windows finishes updating the drivers, a message similar to the following is displayed:
4. Repeat this procedure for every AMTI force plate that is included in your system.

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### Set the AMTI hardware trigger

To set the AMTI hardware trigger, complete the following steps:

1. Ensure all AMTI amplifiers are connected to the PC and Nexus is closed.  
:info: **Note**: Ensure e<span style="color: #1d1c1d">ach amplifier is channeled through a single powered USB hub provided by AMTI.</span>  
<span style="color: #1d1c1d">If you are using a single force plate, go straight to </span>[<span style="color: #1d1c1d">Step 3</span>](#Step3)<span style="color: #1d1c1d">.</span>
2. <span style="color: #1d1c1d">If you are using multiple force plates, identify the correct amplifier to receive the sync signal as follows:</span>
  1. Open the AMTI NetForce software and from the **Setup** menu, select **Hardware Installation**.
  2. In the **Hardware Installation** dialog, check that all the force plates are displayed in the platform list and then click **Modify**.
  3. In the list of AMTI devices, find the first amplifier in the list and make a note of its serial number.
    Close the dialog by clicking **Done** and close the AMTI NetForce software.
  4. In the volume, find the amplifier you identified in the previous step (using its serial number).
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Connect the amplifier to one of the GPO ports (**Sync Outputs**) on the Lock, noting the port number on the Lock.
4. Open Nexus and wait for the force plate(s) to connect.
5. To find the required amplifier, display the advanced settings of each amp, identify the amp by its serial number and in the **Sync Inputs**, select the **Sync Port** that you noted previously.
6. In the System tree, select the **AMTI digital device common settings** node.
7. Go to **Properties** below and under **Device Collection**, change the **Synchronization mode** to **Hardware trigger**.  
If required, you can also set the force plate threshold (**Fz Threshold**).
  In the **System** tree above, the node for the force plate turns gray.
8. To reconnect the force plate, select the force plate node again, go to its **Properties** and under **Amplifier**, click **Blink**.
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The force plate now reconnects and in the **System** tree, its icon turns green.

> ✅ **Tip**  
> ✅ During initial setup of your system, to ensure all digital devices (force plates, EMGs, IMUs) are correctly synchronized, when you have connected them all to your system and configured them correctly, in **System Resources**, right-click on **Local Vicon System** and select **Resynchronize**. You can then 'Blink' the force plates as described in Step 11 above.