Abstract: A real-time, or synchronous, sensor data acquisition system acquires physical characteristics or properties associated with a structure or physical system using a plurality of sensors coupled in series to a single cable. The sensors may sense vibration, noise, temperature, acceleration, pressure, strain, force, etc. The sensors transmit data along the cable at greater than 100 dB dynamic range, with a bandwidth between about 5 to 20 KHz, and in a digital, single bit wide data stream. The sensors include modulators to code the data signals with distinct codes. A receiver has a demodulator to decode and separate the data signals.