10-25-2004, 05:45 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Graphic-DMM: Digital Multimeter on a CF Card
"The Graphic-DMM is a new concept in test equipment that allows a PDA, Notebook, Tablet-PC and all Systems equiped with a CF or PCMCIA slot to be turned into a dual channel Graphic Digital Multimeter with sophisticated analysis capabilities.....The Graphic-DMM contains 2 independent Digital Multimeters, connected to a Compact Flash type I interface. The DMMs are Galvanically isolated from the CF interface for saftety and the two channels also isolated from each other. Each channel has its own ADC and front-end circuitry..... The Graphic-DMM adds to the functionallity normally found on classic DMMs, in particular it allows sample rates from <1S/s up to 40kS/s on each channel and has a 1Mbit internal buffer (16kSamples pairs) allowing long data record depths and oscilloscope-like capabilities. Using host software it is possible to create a versatile instrument that can perform accurate DC measurements, display signal waveforms and allow triggering and data logging."
In the dim and distant past I seem to remember a debate about why you would want a CF slot on a PPC. Somehow, I feel that debate has been comprehensively settled today. ;-) You just *know* you want to turn your Pocket PC into a fully-functional, dual-channel digital Multimeter. Hacket-Technology (cool name) suggest that the Graphic-DMM could be used for education, in the automobile, petroleum, natural gas, or manufacturing industries etc. In addition to PDAs, with a suitable adaptor you can also use this card in just about any Desktop, Notebooks, Tablet. Two ready-to-work DMM applications are included, while optional Windows CE, Pocket PC, VB, VC LabVIEW and OEM custom applications are available. One fly in the ointment is the price, which is 615 Euros. Ouch. For far more details, see the Hacket-Technology website. If you ask nicely, they'll even send you the user guide. So, who's going to get one then? :wink:
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10-25-2004, 06:09 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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In my opinion, I think this sets aside a whole new budget for CF-enabled Pocket PCs for the engineering departments of major universities worldwide. But the price certainly is "above the clouds"...not that "university funding" can complain about anyway... 
When you compare the above image with the one below, it's little wonder which one appeals more. 
I can actually think of several universities here in Australia that would actually consider replacing their conventional multimeters with this new concept.
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10-25-2004, 06:55 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 140
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I keep thinking out loud: "Wouldn't a card this huge, just break of off it's CF-interface while using it ?"
Holy contraptions-madness batman ! 8)
__________________
Touch PRO & TyTN II .... doin' CE since 1997 :)
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10-25-2004, 07:05 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by moaske
I keep thinking out loud: "Wouldn't a card this huge, just break of off it's CF-interface while using it ?"
Holy contraptions-madness batman ! 8) |
I was thinking about this myself.
The possibilities of this are pretty great since I would think the processing power of the PDA is greater than the usual multimeter. Graphics capabilities would certainly kick-butt allowing for better/different information layout.
However, I don't think I would want to chance frying my PDA by connecting this thing to some high voltage/amp connection. The multimeter is probably better designed to handle 'accidents'.
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10-25-2004, 07:11 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
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Re: Graphic-DMM: Digital Multimeter on a CF Card
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
In the dim and distant past I seem to remember a debate about why you would want a CF slot on a PPC.
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Yeah I also have a little more distant memory of why the PC should need more than one floppy drive or later on when I thought that "The Little PC That Could" really wanted to be was a mainframe when it got a 5 meg hard drive.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
Somehow, I feel that debate has been comprehensively settled today. ;-)
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
You just *know* you want to turn your Pocket PC into a fully-functional, dual-channel digital Multimeter.
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I think I'll stick with my Fluke for the near future since they both look the same size :wink:.
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10-25-2004, 07:24 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DJ Apod
When you compare the above image with the one below, it's little wonder which one appeals more.
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That's my Fluke alright and it looks a little less fragile than one from Hacket-Technology but the same size. The idea is great but the execution is a little fragile as others have also noted.
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Originally Posted by DJ Apod
I can actually think of several universities here in Australia that would actually consider replacing their conventional multimeters with this new concept.
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The interface is cool and I know of tool makers like Snap-On that have CF card interfaces for their automobile computer testing products. While this particular configuration of the tester might last in a university settling I don't think that it will go to far in a garage type setting. Maybe having it connect through a cable like a GPS antenna or built into a sleeve (less portable between PDAs though) would work better.
Jeff-
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10-26-2004, 01:32 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 116
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Well I have a demo unit on the way for review so we shall see how it works out...im hopefull it will be as cool as I think it is.
--Bill
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10-26-2004, 09:15 AM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by MaximumPDA
Well I have a demo unit on the way for review so we shall see how it works out...im hopefull it will be as cool as I think it is.
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Excellent. Care to share your review thoughts with us when you are ready? :wink:
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10-26-2004, 01:57 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 481
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I've been looking for something like this ever since I got my first PDA (Palm Pilot Personal). Too bad about the price. Actually, I'd be satisfied (for a while) with a simple 0-5V ADC IC interfaced to the CF interface; anything to get an analog input into the reaches PocketPC programming tools.
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10-26-2004, 08:20 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 171
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Price
>> 615 Euros <<
Must have rethunk this a bit... my query to them returned "495 Euros"
still out of my "rationalization range"
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