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Tektronix Scope Frustration

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Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Fri Nov 10 2006, 11:36PM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

Some of you may know that I've been investigating some of the properties of SGTC's. As I looked into things I found that I needed some means of recording my waveforms such that I could print them and maybe do some analysis.

My budget was a major concern, so I started looking for a viable option, the Tektronix 2430A.
I also knew that the 2402 Tekmate would make everything possible by storing to diskette.

Well, I just recently bought the 2402 and I think I'm in no position to use it. Unfortunately I don't have a CGA monitor to view the 2402's extended diagnostic status. I downloaded all the software from Tektronix in an attempt to make my own setup disks, and I can't really get anywhere with that. Nor do I know if my scope is even communicating with the tekmate.
All the tekmate does is power up, then I'm pretty sure it goes through its self diagnostic, then it searches for the DOS diskette in the A drive.

My situation is I really don't have the money for a recent DSO, and I need to be able to process waveforms. I'm betting that I'm dead in the water with the 2402. So now my questions are:
1. Sell the Tekmate for whatever, or keep it for parts?
2. Should I spend $600 on a GPIB USB interface from Tektronix to make sure I get the software I need for waveform analysis, Matlab tools, and online support?
3. Forget about attempting this, save money and get a TDS series?

Thank's for your time.

...

Sat Nov 11 2006, 01:55AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

If you can do it over GPIB I would go for that. You can get an ISA gpib card (heck, and on old computer to go with it) for dirt cheap. A PCI gpib card is not all that bad (as low as $100 on ebay)... I have some cables and might be able to get you labview 6 if you ask nicely (and privately) 'Drivers' here If you don't want to make an account I have one. Don't worry that it needs labview 7, you can update for free

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Sat Nov 11 2006, 03:21AM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

I have a GPIB cable, I'm just not sure what to do right now.

I could probably make a shuttle or something, I have 2 video cards standing by, and a memory stick somewhere. I also have a copy of 98SE. I would need to make it pseudo portable, so I would get an LCD monitor. So I could do that.

I looked at NI.com with their USB $$$$$$ version because we do have a laptop here. So its sort of teetering on make the computer or buy the USB.

Thank you for offering. I need to wait a little bit and try to figure things out before I make a move. It's the money that's the problem at the moment.

I would prefer to run in an XP enviornment because then I wouldn't have to switch between computers, and I have my Matlab, Pspice, C++ on this one, and the laptop is pretty bare bones.
Also the USB is prefered because I can use that on the laptop of course, but I can use it on any computer that has the software loaded.

I need to take a step back for a bit and try to decide what direction to go.

Matt

...

Sat Nov 11 2006, 04:58AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

hmm, portable... That is a tricky one...

There is a $300 gpib-usb-a on ebay...

I should point out that that interface is not listed in the list of drivers with my current version of labview. I need to update anyway, will see if it shows up after an update.

If you don't need to use the included drivers for the scope you could use one of the $50 ones, but you will need to come up with your own vi's... Although since the syntax of the commands is the same it shouldn't be all that hard to get it working with the new one by replacing the gpib communication subvi's with rs232 ones (the cheepo controllers show up as a com port)...

You could also go the PCMIA-GPIB route ( $249 )

I would almost recommend getting an old thin client (you can get ones with an isa slot...) installing win2k and labview just to download the data and save it over a network... But that would take a considerable amount of effort...

I bet you could fit an old mobo (I have been using something a lot like this for my labview work) isa-bpib card, psu, cd-rom, and even mount a liitle screen in about the form factor of your scope...

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Sat Nov 11 2006, 10:17AM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

I've programmed in C++, Matlab, Basic and Assembly, so programming isn't an issue. What is an issue is understanding the object handles, and modifying code that someone else wrote to do something I need. That part is really hard for me to understand. As far as programming something like an interface goes, I'm not at that level yet either. I'm just going to have to rely on someone else's drivers.

Steve Conner

Sun Nov 12 2006, 01:31AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

You should be able to get CGA to display on a regular TV set or video monitor, it's the same 16kHz/60Hz refresh rates, and the old IBM CGA cards even had a composite video out socket.

When I got to the stage in my life where I needed a DSO to play with, I bought a Pico ADC212/100 on an end of line clearance deal.

It turned out to be a great scope for coiling, because you can hook it to a laptop, run it all off batteries, and even control it by VNC over wi-fi from another laptop, great for those floating HV measurements

PS: the 2402 takes the old 720K floppies, it won't be able to read modern 1.44M ones, maybe your problem is to do with that? You can put tape over one of the holes in a 1.44 disk and reformat it as a 720K, IIRC. I'm guessing it won't do anything until you make the DSO application disk for it to boot from.

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Sun Nov 12 2006, 03:29AM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

That's just it though, I put in a call to the place that has the 'certs' still on the equipment and they aren't sure about the software! The 2402 has their printed list of all of the disks and they're not sure. So the guy there is going to call around for me to see if anyone has the diskettes.

I changed the jumper locations in the mobo to accept 1.4Mb floppies.

I really doubt that this thing is going to come back to life. I'm not really sure how to write the autoexec.bat file because they just give me a snipit, and I need command.com.

I'm leaning toward buying the dongle so I can go to any pc or the laptop.

My dad is saying not to fool around anymore with chances, and to just spend a little extra to make sure I get everything I need.

...

Sun Nov 12 2006, 04:57AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

I noticed you haven't used labview yet... That could make things a little tricky if you want to do anything other than just hope that the vi they give you works for you...

Just so you know... Labview is a graphical programming language (ie, you don't have to use code). When you create a program (called a vi or virtual instrument) it creates 2 windows. One is the 'front panel' to which you can add a variety of premade indicator/dials/buttons/whatever. The other is the 'wires that connect all of the gauges', to which you literally draw connections between all of the premade modules. It takes a little while to get used to working with them (the best way to to google a tutorial using your version of labview and make one, then pick something hard to do and spend a few days figuring out how all of the loops and stuff work), but it can make quick work of complex programs. Or just make your frustrated because there isn't a set order it has to follow, everything just goes when it has enough data to do its thing

Oh, and sorry I forgot to reboot my computer to check if the update gave me the driver for the usb->gpib interface

I should point out that when buying GPIB hardware, it holds its value very well. You could probably buy that usb interface, use it for a year until you decide on a new scope/decide to get one the cheep ones/whatever, and then sell it for more than you paid for it

EDIT:

hmm, I downloaded the 90mb update (good thing we have 4mb/s internet over here), installed it, and it didn't have any effect

It should have let me use apps written for labview8, but still complains that I have 6.0.2

So, uh, use at your own risk... The list of avaible gpib interfaces didn't change either.

Carbon_Rod

Sun Nov 12 2006, 05:43AM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

Try this (includes software):

But NI has most of the new OS card drivers, and ask about student prices.
Cheers,

...

Sun Nov 12 2006, 07:06AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

You can get usb->gpib cards like that for $30 on ebay, but the problem is that the software isn't going to work with them...

You can go through and mess with the programs they give you, but if you have never used labview before and want it to JustWork...

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