TINA Customer service is amazing!  (SPICE program) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 12:19:47 pm
content: I purchased TINA last year because I find many of the other interfaces less than intuitive (for me). While the website is very old school (like mine), I decided to give it a whirl for $30 or so (student price). I also bought their example package.This is great for independent learners.Directly related to my title is the fact that I replaced my computer last year and went to use it (I also use MultiSim) and found my license disappeared. Likely failed due to protection against multiple installs.Emailed on Sunday, resolution on Monday!I highly recommend this for those of us without IT support or site licensed software.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 01:32:46 pm
content: .. I wanted to get TINA, but didn't manage to get past customer servicesOne of the reasons I wanted it was what looked like a good set of youTube tutorials.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 06:24:03 pm
content: Quote from: armandine2 on March 10, 2025, 01:32:46 pmI just went here:https://www.designsoftware.com/orders/order.php,selected the academic tab and ordered. No contact with CS unless I have an issue.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 06:49:12 pm
content: Isn't that just 100 nodes or so? It's worth bearing in mind, that some models (for instance some op-amps) will consume a large chunk of those nodes. There's a chance you may well hit the limit with just a 2-op-amp circuit.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 08:40:59 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on March 11, 2025, 06:49:12 pmTheir site is a bit confusing. But yes, it is limited to 100 "pads" which suits me at the moment. I do have Multisim 14 for when I grow up. No idea what a "pad" is. I should probably ask. Will look in the program to see if it is defined.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2025, 12:10:40 pm
content: I got a response within a day, but I have been busy so did not have tome to post.YES 100 pads = 100 nodes.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2025, 10:17:14 pm
content: 100 nodes doesn't sound like much, especially given all the internal ones inside models, or is it just those on the schematic?What does it offer you which Tina-TI doesn't? I have a copy of Tina-TI installed, but hardly ever use it, because I detest the GUI and the SPICE engine doesn't appear to be anything special. Each to their own I suppose.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2025, 10:39:21 pm
content: I have both LTSpice, Tina (Student 100 node version) and Tina-TILTSPice is great for models pre-written for Analog Devices chips, but I find the user interface a pain.I have used Tina Student version for many years and upgraded it to later versions a few times. I find the user interface really nice to use. The free Tina-TI is quite limited, from memory to Texas Instruments models.Each to their own, but like the OP I have found support really good and the product is easy to use.SJ

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 11:39:00 am
content: ... I have an old TINA in a drawer - might be easier to resurrect that than download a student version today

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 11:45:28 am
content: Quote from: armandine2 on March 14, 2025, 11:39:00 amYou can download an up to date demo version of Tina for free fromhttps://www.tina.com/That floppy disk version is well out of date and is only a demo version too.I am not sure what limitations there are with the demo version, equally you can download the free Tina-TI to play with a fully working version (but even more limited than the Student one from memory). With the latter, I think you have to register with Texas Instruments, but that is not hard. I have just found this from a Texas document... their free version is very restricted:Tina-TI is a free, yet powerful, circuit simulator from DesignSoft and TI. Thissimulator accommodates up to 2 TI analog IC’s and a wide pallet of passive andactive devices. There is a maximum node count of 20. Note however, this countdoes not include the TI analog IC connectionsSJ

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 12:35:04 pm
content: ... this confirmed my sense that their customer services are probably not so amazing - but the wishing and hoping continues.I would be interested in their student version - and would like to hear from anyone in the UK who has successfully downloaded that - recently.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 01:02:59 pm
content: I would be interested in their student version - and would like to hear from anyone in the UK who has successfully downloaded that - recently.——////——You place an order/upgrade, once the order is accepted they email you a registration code and a link to download the program.I upgraded mine last Christmas. I have upgraded to the latest version several times without any problems, and also changed laptops which requires the registration changing, again with no issues. I am in the UK, but don’t see what difference it makes.SJ

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2025, 10:42:13 pm
content: Quote from: Solder_Junkie on March 13, 2025, 10:39:21 pmI have the opposite experiance: LTSpice's user interface is fast to use and TINA's is a pain. I accept it's personal preference, but bear in mind there's difference between being easy to learn and quick to use and flexible once learned.