diff --git a/script/device/Pixel.py b/script/device/Pixel.py
index f1e303a..29fe014 100644
--- a/script/device/Pixel.py
+++ b/script/device/Pixel.py
@@ -37,7 +37,22 @@ class Pixel(DeviceBase, Readable, Readable.IntegerType):
         self.PIX_EXP_START_TIME = 0      
         self._update_header_length()
         self.show()
+
+        if not self.is_connected():
+            print "The Pixel detector is not connected to Epics/Spec."
+            print  "Please disconnect in tvx and connect via the CCD/Pixel Epics widget."
+        else :
+            if self.get_error_code("X04SA-ES3-CCD:ERRCODE") != 0:
+                print "The pixel detector returned an error. It may not be properly"
+                print "connected. Please disconnect in tvx and disconnect and"
+                print "re-connect with the CCD/Pixel Epics widget."           
         
+    def is_connected(self):          
+        return caget(self.prefix + ":STAT1", 's') == "Connected"
+
+    def get_error_code(self):          
+        return caget(self.prefix + ":ERRCODE", 'i')
+
 
     def _update_header_length(self):
         format = self.get_image_format()