Need PC software solution

[mister_e]

Hi,
Is anyone know a pc software solution to record digital data?

Well to be more precise, i need to record an incomming datastream with an unknown length and rate. I have my scope wich do this but... for a on-the road job...

let me know. I could even do a VB software but i'll miss hours to do this once i'll be back home.

I figure there's a software that could record from Parrallel or serial port. Anyways, if you know something, let me know.

[NavMicroSystems]

Hi Steve,

what is the maximum sampling (or expected data) rate?

[Luciano]

Hi Steve,

I saw this low cost USB oscilloscope in the September issue
of the Elektor magazine.

BitScope Pocket Analyzer BS50U (USB Powered)
Retail price: 345 USD
100 MHz analog + 8 logic, 40 MS/s A/D, 32 kB buffer, 1 Mb/s, built-in AWG/PG.

http://www.bitscope.com
http://www.bitscope.com/download/files/BS50U.pdf
http://www.bitscope.net/store/?p=view&i=product+BS50U

Best regards,

Luciano

================================================
From the Elektor magazine website:

USB Oscilloscopes
A full-fledged alternative



http://www.elektor-electronics.co.uk...rt=52894&PN=On

In the past, a lot of space in hobby rooms and work stations was taken up by an instrument in a large case with a small screen, but now many of its functions can be performed using a PC. A small box can transform an ordinary PC into an oscilloscope with extensive functions, in many cases including several extra functions. Elektor Electronics subjected eleven of these ‘USB oscilloscopes’ to an extensive evaluation.
Scopes on test:

Handyscope HS4-50
Handyscope HS3-100
PicoScope 3205
Bitscope BS-310U
ETC M522
Penscope DAQ
Bitscope BS-50U
Swordfish PS40M10
Stingray DS1M12
Conrad DSO-220 USB
Parallax USB Oscilloscope


Hyperlinks
www.bitscope.com
www.conrad.de
www.etcsk.com
www.parallax.com
www.picotech.com
www.rk-system.com.pl
www.tiepie.nl
www.usb-instruments.com
www.cpc.co.uk
uk.farnell.com
www.imex.co.uk
www.rapidelectronics.co.uk
www.kalestead.co.uk
rswww.com
www.conrad.com
www.milinst.com

[mister_e]

Thanks Luciano,
This seems to be a great solution but still need an external module. At least it's not as expensive as any other scope. Anyways i keep it in mind and on my list.

@Ralph

Well i don't really know as now. In fact i know nothing about the signal to be recorded and reproduce. I thought about a sound-card recording but... Of course i can take my scope and use it on the road but i hate to have few ten thousand dollar on a 'on the road job'/ Maybe i'll have no other choice. IMHO SerialComm or Parrallel Port could be fast enough... maybe soundcard too.

Yeah i assume i should know more about but... my customer don't know much

Anyways, if you have any solution, i'm all ears.

Thanks again Luciano and Ralph.

Back in Canada soon! Maybe next week... in the snow... arrrgh!

[mister_e]

mmmpfff no ! no soundcard after all... assuming the rise/fall time caused by the input capacitor an all the a/d blahblah... not a good solution

Well one thing i know, is that its to replace a load of old unit based on first generation Z80. The customer already tried to grab the data with hyperterminal and other program on various baud rate, bit mode, parity or not, inverted or not... all of those test failed once they tried to send the same data as grab with these programs.
It's a home-brew system made in the 80's and the egineer who did it is dead, no traces of it, no code, no schematic, no nothing...

I guess it's a home made protocol. It's 2 wire communication : ground and signal, no clock, no balanced lines... so 4800 Bauds is certainely the fastest speed.... still a guess once again

[Luciano]

Hi Steve,

See this link. The cables schematics are on the same page.
(Download 1.36 MB).

Luciano


http://www.virtins.com

Virtins Sound Card Instrument

You may download it from the link below and evaluate it for 7 days free
of charge, after which the software will stop running if it is not authorized.

[NavMicroSystems]

Hi Steve,

here is yet another "SoundCardScope"
(Dual Channel Storage Oscilloscope)

it has some nice built in features like
* dual channel generator for sin, square, triangle and sawtooth waves
* fourier analysis

If you are concerned about the input impedance and capacitance of the soundcard, it shouldn't be much of a problem to build some probe with an OpAmp etc.

[mister_e]

Thanks guys. Those software sounds great to me. I have some software like that too but never played with. Once at home, i'll try the above and come back back with my comments.

Thanks again!

[NavMicroSystems]

Hi Steve,

I have read the ELEKTOR Article
(over here we call it DEFEKTOR) ;-)

And I have had a look at the different solutions they have "tested"

I think there are two that spring to eye in the < $500 range

* Swordfish PS40M10 (for a Pocket sized PnP solution for use in field)
(Nice and small solution at an acceptable price but limited features)

* BitScope BS-310U (as a "one for all" solution on your bench)
(Best value for money, but a bit "bulky" for a mobile solution, however smaller than an standalone scope)

If you are willing to spend a "bit" more money I can recommend the Fluke 123

[mister_e]

i already have the Fluke 124(same as 123 but 40MHZ)! NICE MACHINE indeed! BUT if i can skip the idea to have any external unit, just the laptop, this will be interesting.

It's a real pain to travel, pass the cutoms and all the blah blah at each airport.

BTW, thanks for all suggestion. I'll be back soon with my comments about the 'software only' solutions.