PC-Based Test Products

This handy extender set lets you use your legacy ISA bus cards in PCI bus-based computers. The Pro 700 extender kit comes with software for initialization and termination, waits and setups, input and output, interrupts, and self-tests. It also includes drivers for Windows 95, 98, NT, and MS-DOS. All drivers are compatible with Microsoft Visual C 5.0 and Visual Basic 5.0. CyberResearch, Branford, CT. 203-483-8815; www.cyberresearch.com.

Plugged into the PCI bus, the CompuScope 82G version 1.3 waveform digitizer delivers sampling rates of 2 Gsamples/s on one channel and 1 Gsample/s on two simultaneous channels. Multicard systems provide up to eight simultaneous channels at 2 Gsamples/s or 16 simultaneous channels at 1 Gsample/s. The board uses a bus mastering scheme that allows data transfers to PC memory at rates of up to 80 Mbytes/s. For even faster data transfers, a multiple-recording function captures data from multiple trigger events into onboard memory, storing 16 million samples. Price: $7995 to $11,995. Gage Applied, Lachine, QC, Canada. 514-633-7007; www.gage-applied.com.

Outfitted with enough trace memory to store 16 million events, the Ultra2320 SCSI protocol analyzer accommodates all SCSI speeds up to and including Ultra320, which enables data transmission between SCSI devices at speeds of up to 320 Mbytes/s. The analyzer also supports double transition data transfers, hardware cyclic redundancy checking, domain validation, packetized SCSI, QAS, and parallel protocol request. In addition to a stand-alone PCI card, the Ultra2320 comes in versions that are packaged in any of three computer systems: lunchbox, notebook companion, or mini-tower. Base price: $6900. Ancot, Menlo Park, CA. 650-322-5322; www.ancot.com.

Leveraging a PowerPC processor running at speeds of 233 MHz to 450 MHz, the V152 VXI Slot-0 controller is useful for ATE, aerospace, and aircraft testing where real-time response is critical. The single-width, C-sized VXI module offers memory options ranging from 64 Mbytes to 512 Mbytes of DRAM and includes a Fast Ethernet port for connecting to a host computer. Two PCI mezzanine (PMC) card options offer fast and wide SCSI and IEEE 488 interfaces as well as an RS-232 serial port. Price: $8000 to $27,000. KineticSystems, Lockport, IL. 800-328-2669; www.kscorp.com.

The GX1164 is a PXI-based board that furnishes four programmable resistor channels. You can program three of the channels from 1 Ω to 64 kΩ with 1-Ω resolution and the fourth channel from 10 Ω to 640 kΩ with 10-Ω resolution. Custom resistor ranges and resolutions are also available. An onboard EEPROM stores application-specific calibration data. Geotest-Marvin Test Systems, Irvine, CA. 949-263-2222; www.geotestinc.com.

The 16-channel DAP 5400a/626 data-acquisition board is equipped with eight analog-to-digital converters that sample simultaneously with 14-bit resolution at 1.25 Msamples/s each, for an aggregate throughput of 10 Msamples/s. Each board samples its 16 analog inputs in two groups of eight, with all eight inputs in each group sampled simultaneously. For applications requiring more channels, as many as five DAP boards can be synchronized to provide 40 simultaneous channels, a throughput of 50 Msamples/s, and onboard memory of 640 Mbytes. The DAP 5400a/626 comes with DAPL 2000, a multitasking real-time operating system for PC-based data acquisition and control. Price: $5995. Microstar Laboratories. Bellevue, WA. 425-453-2345; www.mstarlabs.com.

National Instruments' Sound and Vibration Toolset 2.0 for LabView 6.0 and higher adds frequency measurements, such as zoom FFT, peak search, and power-in-band, to simplify custom sound and vibration application development. The software performs simultaneous multichannel measurements and comes with more than 30 real-world LabView application examples to get you up and running quickly. National Instruments, Austin, TX. 512-794-0100; www.ni.com.

The CT-1200 from Interface Technology allows you to perform DC characterization on a variety of semiconductor devices. The characterization system menus are predefined for capacitors, resistors, diodes, bipolar transistors, and field effect transistors. The CT-1200's measurements are provided by the company's SM15, SM25, and SM120 source-measure instruments. The system includes a chassis with a firewire interface, two source-measure instruments, and a host PC. The system has five plug-in slots that can accommodate any combination of the three source-measure instruments, providing from two to eight source-measure channels. Interface Technology, Walnut, CA. 909-595-6030; www.interfacetech.com.

The Ultra 530.LPCI adapter from Sealevel Systems is a serial PCI interface with a single port. The low-profile adapter supports standard PC data rates and has a top speed of 921.6 kbits/s. A 128-byte FIFO buffer allows datacom applications to run error-free. Price: $169. Sealevel Systems, Liberty, SC. 864-843-4343; www.sealevel.com.

The VXI-5562 dual-channel register-based module provides continuous high-speed data transmission. Both channels provide programmable data, clock, and data gate or enable signals with user-selected RS-422 or LVDS transceivers. Both channels have 2-Mbyte buffers for storing data. The module's internal frequency synthesizer generates clock rates of up to 10 Mbits/s. The module can receive data continuously, or you can set it to detect 8, 16, 24, or 32-bit sync patterns. Price: $7800. ICS Electronics, Pleasanton, CA. 925-416-1000; www.icselect.com.

Advanced Linear Devices' 5¹/₂-digit digital voltmeter features a direct-connect interface to many standard LCD/VFD character display modules. Most DC input voltages can be converted, scaled, and displayed with a resolution of up to seven digits. The ALD MB203A stand-alone PCB module is designed for measurement applications that require a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter and an integral multiline character display driver interface. Price: $98. Advanced Linear Devices, Sunnyvale, CA. 408-747-1155; www.aldinc.com.

Two high-performance CompactPCI/PXI DMMs from Ascor provide users with speed, accuracy, and functionality. The Models 7040 and 7044 DMMs offer 1000 readings per second; DC and AC volts and current; 2-, 4-, and 6-wire ohms; true rms AC measurements; resistance and leakage measurements; and a 1-Hz to 300-kHz frequency counter. The DMMs also feature a 300-V isolation barrier. Ascor, Fremont, CA. 510-490-2300; www.ascor-inc.com.

IOtech's 2003 PC-Based Data Acquisition & Instrumentation Catalog contains more than 380 pages depicting the company's product line. In addition to over a dozen new Ethernet-based products, the publication describes portable, laboratory, and OEM data-acquisition equipment, including serial I/O modules, PCI boards, CompactPCI boards, and real-time spectrum-analysis software. IOtech, Cleveland, OH. 440-439-4091; www.iotech.com.

A catalog covering VME products from Janz Computer is now available from Saelig (North American agents for the company). The CPU section highlights Pentium- and MC68060-equipped boards, as well as intelligent MC68332-based I/O controllers and IEEE 1394 boards. The Industrial I/O section features boards with up to 96 inputs or outputs, plus 32 relay outputs. Specialty products include eight-channel serial I/O, prototyping, and CMOS memory boards, as well as mezzanine carriers for Janz I/O modules. Saelig Co., Fairport, NY. 585-425-3753; www.saelig.com.