USB function generators?

Gents,

Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk this
dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:

http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778

Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the computer
like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However, unlike many
others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in machine, stress
and vibration testing which I need to do at times.

What do thee think?

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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

Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Gents,
>
>Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk this
>dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
>generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>
>http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>
>Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the computer
>like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However, unlike many
>others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in machine, stress
>and vibration testing which I need to do at times.
>
>What do thee think?

USB isolators are probably not expensive.

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.)
--------------------------------------------------------------

Nico Coesel wrote:
> Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Gents,
>>
>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk this
>> dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
>> generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>
>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>>
>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the computer
>> like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However, unlike many
>> others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in machine, stress
>> and vibration testing which I need to do at times.
>>
>> What do thee think?
>
> USB isolators are probably not expensive.
>

In this case it would be a bit more challenging because the thing is
also supplied via the USB jack. I could fix that, but ideally I'd like
something I can plug in and it just works.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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

"Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Nico Coesel wrote:
>> Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> Gents,
>>>
>>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk
>>> this dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
>>> generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>>
>>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>>>
>>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the
>>> computer like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However,
>>> unlike many others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in
>>> machine, stress and vibration testing which I need to do at times.
>>>
>>> What do thee think?
>>
>> USB isolators are probably not expensive.
>>
>
> In this case it would be a bit more challenging because the thing is
> also supplied via the USB jack. I could fix that, but ideally I'd like
> something I can plug in and it just works.
>

We bought a few of the Keterex boxes. They work well.
<http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keterex/KXUSB-150/?qs=%2fRwqiB95gejWb5h7F1VyFQ%3d%3d>

Cheers

Martin Riddle wrote:
> "Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Nico Coesel wrote:
>>> Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Gents,
>>>>
>>>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk
>>>> this dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
>>>> generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>>>>
>>>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the
>>>> computer like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However,
>>>> unlike many others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in
>>>> machine, stress and vibration testing which I need to do at times.
>>>>
>>>> What do thee think?
>>> USB isolators are probably not expensive.
>>>
>> In this case it would be a bit more challenging because the thing is
>> also supplied via the USB jack. I could fix that, but ideally I'd like
>> something I can plug in and it just works.
>>
>
> We bought a few of the Keterex boxes. They work well.
> <http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keterex/KXUSB-150/?qs=%2fRwqiB95gejWb5h7F1VyFQ%3d%3d>
>

That could work, if it's happy with 400mA. Unfortunately a lot of stuff
these days exceeds even the max load of 500mA, in particular disk drives.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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

"Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Martin Riddle wrote:
>> "Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Nico Coesel wrote:
>>>> Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Gents,
>>>>>
>>>>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk
>>>>> this dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for
>>>>> USB-based generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>>>>>
>>>>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the
>>>>> computer like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However,
>>>>> unlike many others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used
>>>>> in machine, stress and vibration testing which I need to do at
>>>>> times.
>>>>>
>>>>> What do thee think?
>>>> USB isolators are probably not expensive.
>>>>
>>> In this case it would be a bit more challenging because the thing is
>>> also supplied via the USB jack. I could fix that, but ideally I'd
>>> like something I can plug in and it just works.
>>>
>>
>> We bought a few of the Keterex boxes. They work well.
>> <http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keterex/KXUSB-150/?qs=%2fRwqiB95gejWb5h7F1VyFQ%3d%3d>
>>
>
> That could work, if it's happy with 400mA. Unfortunately a lot of
> stuff these days exceeds even the max load of 500mA, in particular
> disk drives.
>

I couldn’t say if it actually sources 400ma since our USB devices have
their own power source.

On another note, My laptop's USB port cannot supply power to 2 2.5"
drives at once, nasty head movement occurs.

Cheers

Martin Riddle wrote:
> "Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Martin Riddle wrote:
>>> "Joerg" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Nico Coesel wrote:
>>>>> Joerg <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Gents,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk
>>>>>> this dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for
>>>>>> USB-based generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...oducts_id=2778
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the
>>>>>> computer like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However,
>>>>>> unlike many others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used
>>>>>> in machine, stress and vibration testing which I need to do at
>>>>>> times.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What do thee think?
>>>>> USB isolators are probably not expensive.
>>>>>
>>>> In this case it would be a bit more challenging because the thing is
>>>> also supplied via the USB jack. I could fix that, but ideally I'd
>>>> like something I can plug in and it just works.
>>>>
>>> We bought a few of the Keterex boxes. They work well.
>>> <http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keterex/KXUSB-150/?qs=%2fRwqiB95gejWb5h7F1VyFQ%3d%3d>
>>>
>> That could work, if it's happy with 400mA. Unfortunately a lot of
>> stuff these days exceeds even the max load of 500mA, in particular
>> disk drives.
>>
>
> I couldn’t say if it actually sources 400ma since our USB devices have
> their own power source.
>

I think that's what the Keterex datasheet says.


> On another note, My laptop's USB port cannot supply power to 2 2.5"
> drives at once, nasty head movement occurs.
>

Well, that's the other problem. I've usually already got some lab stuff
hanging on the laptop and while this is a ruggedized computer there will
be a limit. The Velleman datasheet isn't exactly forthcoming with data
like that.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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

Analog devices have a USB isolator IC, but you still need power isolation.

Joe

"Joe G (Home)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4be4c068$0$22779$(E-Mail Removed) u...
> Analog devices have a USB isolator IC, but you still need power
> isolation.
>
> Joe
>

That’s what is in the Keterex box.

Cheers

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On May 7, 2:13=A0pm, Joerg <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Gents,
>>
>> Unless it rains on Sunday and I have some time I might just junk this
>> dreaded Wavetek Model 23 generator. Looked around for USB-based
>> generators and found a nice li'l scope/gen combo:
>>
>> http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...ucts_id=3D2778
>>
>> Not a lot of info, seems it has no galvanic isolation from the computer
>> like some others <knuckles turning white ...>. However, unlike many
>> others it does go down to 5 millihertz so can be used in machine, stress
>> and vibration testing which I need to do at times.
>>
>> What do thee think?
>>
>> --
>> Regards, Joerg
>>
>> http://www.analogconsultants.com/
>>
>> "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
>> Use another domain or send PM.
>
>USB is always a driver hassle. I try to buy USB devices that also work
>in Linux, so if the company goes bust, you can at least run the box
>under linux.
>
>$300 would get you a nice function generator at a ham swap meet. My
>PM5191 was $125 in a freakin' store (RA Surplus, now defunct) years
>ago. You can't get much money for low bandwidth generators these days.

Well... a good HP3314A still sells for a couple of hundred. More
recent Agilent generators fetch even more. AFAIK those are USB and/or
ethernet controllable.

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.)
--------------------------------------------------------------