my lab
in [Design]
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From: Jim Thompson on 11 Oct 2009 16:25 On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:55:00 -0400, Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless(a)electrooptical.net> wrote: >Jim Thompson wrote: >> On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:52:59 -0500, krw <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzz> wrote: >> >>> On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:33:18 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell" >>> <mike.terrell(a)earthlink.net> wrote: >>> >>>> Jim Thompson wrote: >>>>> On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:18:14 -0400, Phil Hobbs >>>>> <pcdhSpamMeSenseless(a)electrooptical.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Joerg wrote: >>>>>>> Phil Hobbs wrote: >>>>>>>> Joerg wrote: >>>>>>>>> a7yvm109gf5d1(a)netzero.com wrote: >>>>>>>>>> Well I got a HP 5316A universal counter, with the 1GHz channel and the >>>>>>>>>> OCXO. >>>>>>>>>> Very nice, I think. Although I suppose I still have the problem of not >>>>>>>>>> knowing exactly the frequency of the OCXO is, after all there are >>>>>>>>>> coarse and fine adjustments on the can... >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Well, there is WWV :-) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Eh, still, I'm pretty happy with the cheap stuff you can get with a >>>>>>>>>> bit of patience. >>>>>>>>>> I think that I will build a 10V "standard" from my AD588s, in a nice >>>>>>>>>> box. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> So, what kind of connectivity do you guys have in yuor lab? Is >>>>>>>>>> everything GPIB, USB, or some mix? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> A mix, and that's unavoidable. Older gear that is irreplaceable >>>>>>>>> (because they simply don't make some of the good stuff anymore) >>>>>>>>> inevitably comes with those dreaded HPIB garden hose connections. The >>>>>>>>> logic analyzer and some other gear I rarely use is from the RS232 >>>>>>>>> era. Modern gear like the DSO is USB. And I will absolutely not have >>>>>>>>> HPIB garden hoses here anymore. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> So, there is a Prologix HPIB/USB adaptor, an RS232/USB adaptor plus >>>>>>>>> the traditional USB spreader octopus. I raised the equipment rack by >>>>>>>>> 1-1/2" to make all that fit underneath, plus scope probes, chargers, >>>>>>>>> international outlets, a flat vise and whatever else is needed during >>>>>>>>> lab work. Nice thing is, a laptop can now talk to all the important >>>>>>>>> boxes. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I'm so used to GPIB that I'm probably not a good example. It's a >>>>>>>> great deal nicer than RS232, and given that it's been around so long, >>>>>>>> I don't have to worry much about OSes not supporting it in >>>>>>>> detail--unlike USB. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> GPIB is terrible. The topper happened a long time ago, after I had just >>>>>>> laid new carpet. Connector slipped off, the garden hose cable >>>>>>> ricocheted, hit my coffee mug which was half full ... *THWACK* ... flew >>>>>>> off and crashed onto new carpet. That was the end of GPIB for me. There >>>>>>> sure are better busses out there. I used to prefer RS232 but now >>>>>>> everything is USB. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> A nice Prologix GPIB-Ethernet is next on my list. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you have to use equipment at clients a lot and its legacy HP stuff >>>>>>> the USB version is very practical. Plug it in, hit print on the >>>>>>> analyzer, done. But Abdul (the Prologix designer) and I had to iron out >>>>>>> a bias problem before it liked HP legacy gear. >>>>>>> >>>>>> Spilling coffee is a criticism of a bus? GPIB can do about 1 MB/s when >>>>>> externally clocked, which is better than good enough for most things I >>>>>> need to do in the lab, and if I tighten the screws I can even keep my >>>>>> coffee and my carpet. ;) >>>>>> >>>>>> Cheers >>>>>> >>>>>> Phil Hobbs >>>>> Joerg is accident prone... always *PHUT*ing ;-) >>>> >>>> He always has one *PHUT* in the grave... >>> Very good! >> >> We need to have an SED get-together. If I hosted it, say in April, >> when AZ is absolutely delightful weather-wise, who would come? >> >> ...Jim Thompson > >I'm in. > >Cheers > >Phil Hobbs Noted. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
From: Jim Thompson on 11 Oct 2009 16:28 On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:58:40 -0500, krw <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzz> wrote: >On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:05:12 -0700, Jim Thompson ><To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)My-Web-Site.com> wrote: > >>On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:52:59 -0500, krw <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzz> wrote: >> >>>On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:33:18 -0400, "Michael A. Terrell" >>><mike.terrell(a)earthlink.net> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>>Jim Thompson wrote: >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:18:14 -0400, Phil Hobbs >>>>> <pcdhSpamMeSenseless(a)electrooptical.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >Joerg wrote: >>>>> >> Phil Hobbs wrote: >>>>> >>> Joerg wrote: >>>>> >>>> a7yvm109gf5d1(a)netzero.com wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Well I got a HP 5316A universal counter, with the 1GHz channel and the >>>>> >>>>> OCXO. >>>>> >>>>> Very nice, I think. Although I suppose I still have the problem of not >>>>> >>>>> knowing exactly the frequency of the OCXO is, after all there are >>>>> >>>>> coarse and fine adjustments on the can... >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> Well, there is WWV :-) >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Eh, still, I'm pretty happy with the cheap stuff you can get with a >>>>> >>>>> bit of patience. >>>>> >>>>> I think that I will build a 10V "standard" from my AD588s, in a nice >>>>> >>>>> box. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> So, what kind of connectivity do you guys have in yuor lab? Is >>>>> >>>>> everything GPIB, USB, or some mix? >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> A mix, and that's unavoidable. Older gear that is irreplaceable >>>>> >>>> (because they simply don't make some of the good stuff anymore) >>>>> >>>> inevitably comes with those dreaded HPIB garden hose connections. The >>>>> >>>> logic analyzer and some other gear I rarely use is from the RS232 >>>>> >>>> era. Modern gear like the DSO is USB. And I will absolutely not have >>>>> >>>> HPIB garden hoses here anymore. >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> So, there is a Prologix HPIB/USB adaptor, an RS232/USB adaptor plus >>>>> >>>> the traditional USB spreader octopus. I raised the equipment rack by >>>>> >>>> 1-1/2" to make all that fit underneath, plus scope probes, chargers, >>>>> >>>> international outlets, a flat vise and whatever else is needed during >>>>> >>>> lab work. Nice thing is, a laptop can now talk to all the important >>>>> >>>> boxes. >>>>> >>>> >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>> I'm so used to GPIB that I'm probably not a good example. It's a >>>>> >>> great deal nicer than RS232, and given that it's been around so long, >>>>> >>> I don't have to worry much about OSes not supporting it in >>>>> >>> detail--unlike USB. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> GPIB is terrible. The topper happened a long time ago, after I had just >>>>> >> laid new carpet. Connector slipped off, the garden hose cable >>>>> >> ricocheted, hit my coffee mug which was half full ... *THWACK* ... flew >>>>> >> off and crashed onto new carpet. That was the end of GPIB for me. There >>>>> >> sure are better busses out there. I used to prefer RS232 but now >>>>> >> everything is USB. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >>> A nice Prologix GPIB-Ethernet is next on my list. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> If you have to use equipment at clients a lot and its legacy HP stuff >>>>> >> the USB version is very practical. Plug it in, hit print on the >>>>> >> analyzer, done. But Abdul (the Prologix designer) and I had to iron out >>>>> >> a bias problem before it liked HP legacy gear. >>>>> >> >>>>> > >>>>> >Spilling coffee is a criticism of a bus? GPIB can do about 1 MB/s when >>>>> >externally clocked, which is better than good enough for most things I >>>>> >need to do in the lab, and if I tighten the screws I can even keep my >>>>> >coffee and my carpet. ;) >>>>> > >>>>> >Cheers >>>>> > >>>>> >Phil Hobbs >>>>> >>>>> Joerg is accident prone... always *PHUT*ing ;-) >>>> >>>> >>>> He always has one *PHUT* in the grave... >>> >>> Very good! >> >>We need to have an SED get-together. If I hosted it, say in April, >>when AZ is absolutely delightful weather-wise, who would come? > >I'd have to think about it. It's quite a trip to roast weenies. Only "weenies" I'd roast would be liberals ;-) We might possibly have "Brats"... more likely ribs and steaks. And kegs... for the youngsters, vino de casa for the adults ;-) ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
From: Joerg on 11 Oct 2009 17:09 John Larkin wrote: > On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:40:18 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> > wrote: > >> John Larkin wrote: >>> On Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:58:01 -0400, Phil Hobbs >>> <pcdhSpamMeSenseless(a)electrooptical.net> wrote: >>> >>>> John Larkin wrote: >> [...] >> >>>>> Longterm, gigabit (and whatever comes next) Ethernet is the only >>>>> reasonable instrument bus. >>>>> >>>>> John >>>>> >>>> Sure, unless you need timing coherence between instruments. >>> The IEEE-1588 protocol can sync boxes to within nanoseconds over >>> ethernet >>> >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_Time_Protocol >>> >>> >>>> Also there's all this nice stuff around that's GPIB & RS232. >>> It's also nice when an instrument has a web-page interface, and can be >>> telnet-ed to, without any PC plugin boards or drivers. Or distance >>> limits. >>> >> Hey, then you could sit there at Zeitgeist all day long and run it all >> via a 3G phone :-) >> > > I guess future instruments will be Twitter compatible. > Yeah, even IEEE fell for that. An engineer's organization, of all places. Pathetic. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: John Fields on 11 Oct 2009 18:04 On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:05:12 -0700, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)My-Web-Site.com> wrote: >We need to have an SED get-together. If I hosted it, say in April, >when AZ is absolutely delightful weather-wise, who would come? --- I would. :-) JF
From: Jim Thompson on 11 Oct 2009 18:38
On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:04:15 -0500, John Fields <jfields(a)austininstruments.com> wrote: >On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:05:12 -0700, Jim Thompson ><To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon(a)My-Web-Site.com> wrote: > > >>We need to have an SED get-together. If I hosted it, say in April, >>when AZ is absolutely delightful weather-wise, who would come? > >--- >I would. :-) > >JF Noted and added to the list. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, CTO | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | "The source of well-being in this country is employment." - Steve Wynn, On Fox News Sunday, 11 October 2009 |