Re: Is a USB to GPIB dongle/convertor a difficult project ?

Robert Lacoste wrote:
"sciembrace" <sciembrace@xxxxxxxxx> a écrit dans le message de news: bde69cce57dd0b2bd8220c8624ce6894@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Probably it is not a difficult project- but, I don't think one can make one
that easily- NI has probably patented all of its hardware. But, then, I
don't know how prologix is able to make it.

Hi all,

Just for your information we have just developped and commercialized a new low cost USB/GPIB interface, nicknamed smart488 (well, more information at http://www.alciom.com/en/smart488.htm, but my goal here is not to promote it but to answer to the OP...). On the hardware side such a project is not that difficult. We haven't used a FTDI chip plus a microcontroller as Prologix did, but a single USB-enabled microcontroller (a Microchip 18F4550), which allows us to build a more compact device and to simplify advanced firmware features like firmware download through USB and no driver required on the PC side. However the firmware side for such a project is far more complex. GPIB basics are quite easy to understand as long as you buy the IEEE488 specs, but making such an interface compatible with a significant number of GPIB equipments is not that easy. If you develop such a product yourself take care of the EOI subtilities in particular...


No pun intended, Robert, but the Prologix over here seems to be cheaper than the the price your French distributor charges:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=549
versus
http://www.lextronic.fr/P3171-cordon-dinterface-usb--gpib.html

But I guess that's because the USD/Euro exchange rate has pretty much flipped around within a couple years. Is there a chance your adapter will be marketed in the US anytime soon?

For future versions you might want to consider a separate USB cable like on the Prologix. The main reason is that large analyzers must often be pushed close to the wall because of their depth. That requires a USB connector so you can insert one of those right angle adapters and then the USB cable. Otherwise there is a chance the USB cable will be bent at too sharp a radius or even hit the wall.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.
.