Bob Ammerman wrote:
>
> I have been developing software, embedded and otherwise, for the last 25
> years. I have often tinkered with hardware (in fact I went to college as an
> EE), but have only gotten paid for doing so a few times.
>
> I am trying to build up a moderately complete hardware lab, at modest cost
> (<= $1000 total, I hope). I intend to focus on digital systems (up to maybe
> 40Mhz) , with some low-frequency (ie: less than RF) analog tossed in for
> flavoring.
>
> I'm hoping you Piclisters can tell me what I need to round out my lab.
>
> So far (largely thanks to eBay) I've got (or am awaiting shipment of) the
> following:
>
> A couple of DMMs.
>
> A Tek 465 dual trace 100MHz delayed sweep analog scope + 2 good probes.
>
> An HP1600A logic state analyzer.
>
> A couple of logic probes.
>
> A Picstart Plus.
>
> An EPROM burner.
>
> A UV eraser.
>
> A frequency counter.
>
> A triple output bench supply.
>
> A large 'protoboard'.
>
> A modest collection of discretes, transistors, diodes, SSI LS TTL, etc. Some
> of this stuff I've had for 20+ years!
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Bob Ammerman


Bob, since you're good with software, you could make one of these. I
made
a simple "buffer" box, mainly a couple of hex buffer chips in a black
box with 5v supply. They are terminated to terminal posts, as is the
5v and 12v also. The other side of the buffers is connected to a simple
parallel cable via 470 ohm resistors (which plugs into your PC).

You can attach any digital (and some others) circuit to the ins and
outs on the box, and then write a simple PC program to read the state
of the "in" buffers, and send signals/timing to the "out" buffers.

Basically it lets you attach your home-made PC software to any new
circuit under test. Need to drive a stepper motor? No prob.
Need to inject signals into a module and measure the output signals?
No prob. For someone who is good with software you can quickly
code up things like sample/hold cro, function generators, high
accuracy freq/period measurement, essentially you can build
some very useful devices with software not hardware.

I find this to be one of the most useful things I ever made,
lets me use my "quick and nasty" PC programming skills to
directly control/measure hardware. Well I think it's cool,
anyway. :o)

Roman

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