EEVblog #464 - Mailbag - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 10:58:50 pm
content: More mailbaghttp://ros.org/wiki/Robots/TurtleBothttp://hacklace.org/http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=ANALOG-DISCOVERY

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 11:14:41 pm
content: fuerte"Fwairtay" would probably be the closest you could get within the bounds of Australian English, though it's still a good distance from the proper Spanish. I like "ferty" though!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2013, 11:36:59 pm
content: The FT232H on that Digilent board is indeed serial only, but it can go quite fast, well beyond RS-232 speed (up to 12 Mbaud, according to the datasheet).

author: rfbroadband
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:01:24 am
content: attached the links to Agilent parts list webpage for the dual lead adapter and the mini grabberDual Lead Adapter : Agilent #0960-2923http://www.home.agilent.com/myagilent/faces/partDetail.jspx?_afrWindowId=wjnrzq8w5_46&_afrLoop=1654448071717000&imageStatus=YES&partNumber=0960-2923&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=z2r1lc3rf_49#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dwjnrzq8w5_46%26_afrLoop%3D1654448071717000%26imageStatus%3DYES%26partNumber%3D0960-2923%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dwjnrzq8w5_58Micro Grabber : Agilent # 10467-68701http://www.home.agilent.com/myagilent/faces/partDetail.jspx?partNumber=10467-68701&imageStatus=YES&_afrLoop=1654383659145000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=wjnrzq8w5_19#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dwjnrzq8w5_19%26_afrLoop%3D1654383659145000%26imageStatus%3DYES%26partNumber%3D10467-68701%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dwjnrzq8w5_31regardsOliver

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:19:12 am
content: Did you say you're running a t-shirt competition?A wet t-shirt competition?

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:31:55 am
content: picture of minigrabber shows 4 in the kit (if thats correct) makes them around $60 each, be very gentle with them dave.

author: rramirez
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:34:21 am
content: The Analog Discovery is an interesting product. I was able to pick one up at Newark for $89 with a discount coupon, but it looks like they will no longer be selling them at $99. I have been able to characterize crystal filters near the 10 MHz limit for the network analyzer and create nice Bode plots. Since Dave is reviewing in the future, I'll save my other comments for that vlog.Russ

author: davidmc
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:40:55 am
content: The FT232H has a 40MB/sec parallel data FIFO mode in addition to all its various serial options. See bullet point seven on their produce pagehttp://www.ftdichip.com/Products/ICs/FT232H.htm.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 12:55:25 am
content: Those little test clips are super cool! Lucky guy.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 01:01:20 am
content: Quote from: davidmc on April 30, 2013, 12:40:55 amNice! Guess I missed that.

author: PeteInTexas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 04:01:28 am
content: some guys have it easy...anniversary...electronics jewelry arrives in mailbag...

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 05:34:28 am
content: Quote from: rramirez on April 30, 2013, 12:34:21 amDigilent sells it at three different prices:$99 for US students159$ for academics (probably includes no-US students)199$ for the restTthe discount for US students only, not for any student, makes Digilent and Analog first class nationalistic assholes in my book.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 07:22:12 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on April 30, 2013, 05:34:28 amIts like DVD regions. Im sure someone will make some money on ebay reselling them (after convincing English major students to order some for him)

author: owlhawk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 03:54:19 pm
content: Interestingly, to get the $99 student price you have to be in a class thatrequiresusing it. I got one for one of my classes this year. Even buying it at the university bookstore, I had to fill out a form with my student id, course number, etc to verify that I was in the class before I could buy it.If you look it the component cost it is easy to see why though. ~$50 for the ADC in 750+ quantity, $12 for the DAC, plus the FPGA, FT232, case and cables, development costs... obviously it is heavily subsidized by both Analog and Xilinx. I'm guessing the requirements for student pricing are because they want to push schools to make it part of their curriculum. Random students buying it for their own use don't give the companies nearly as much benefit for their money as a school actually including it in classes.As far as the USB interface, I'm guessing they are using the FT232 chip in parallel mode as mentioned above. I have used it with 2 scope channels and 2 function generator channels running at the same time and it still updates very fast. The scope display responds pretty much as quickly as any of the real scopes I've used.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 04:13:57 pm
content: Those micro-grabbers are great, but kind of pricey don't you think? I wonder what they're like at high frequency...

author: mgregg
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 06:35:03 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 29, 2013, 10:58:50 pmDave, I wish I had a better fitting ROS shirt to send you. I like my shirts fitting better than that one I sent you as well. Wash it with the washer set to "nuclear" ,maybe it will shrink a bit for you.Hopefully it will then fit Segan a bit better.

author: Joules
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 08:30:39 pm
content: Another source for micro grabbers at a slightly more palatable price.http://catalog.e-z-hook.com/item/test-hooks/e-z-micro-hooks-single-hook-style/x2015Haven't got or even tried any, just happened on them whilst looking up details to make my own using hyperdermic syringe tube.

author: hairykiwi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 07:31:44 am
content: Thanks for the heads-up on MECHANO test probes Dave and OliverHere's the manufacturer's product page in English:http://www.mechano.co.jp/pdle2.htmlLooks like they do a really extensive range - including a number of GHz rated probes. Here's one spec'd at DC - 13.5GHz:http://www.mechano.co.jp/products-img/ngigae.htmlPics courtesy of the Mechano website:The FP-5 model Dave features in the Mailbag Monday blog is described in the product listing page as a Micro Test Clip .Here's the FP-5 product page (with specs):http://www.mechano.co.jp/products-img/pmc-cl.htmlAt the top of the FP-5 product page is some advice, (translated by google translate below)"Note: FP-5L, FP-5 is accessible to IC pin of 1.0 ~ 0.3mm pitch but, 0.4mm pitch below, please use the (FP-2S or) FP-7S."This model:http://www.mechano.co.jp/products-img/pmt.htmlLooks like it could be really useful for probing IC legs without risk of the probe shorting thewrongpins. Been there, done that, got the new Dev Kit.So that's all nice to know, butwho sells Mechano stuff? Google didn't find any distributor listing them.The closest other micro test clips I've used are the XKM made by EZ-HOOK, but I'd be really interested in finding a supplier of the MECHANO micro test clips.EZ-HOOK XKM (1.25" | 32mm shaft length)http://catalog.e-z-hook.com/item/test-hooks/e-z-micro-hooks-single-hook-style/xkm-1?Available from from DigiKey individually, (around USD 2.80 ea) or in a coloured (BBROYGBVGW) set:http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/XKM-S/461-1012-ND/528233

author: somlioy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2013, 04:49:29 pm
content: From their website:Quote

author: hairykiwi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2013, 10:16:40 am
content: Quote from: somlioy on May 03, 2013, 04:49:29 pmWell spotted somlioy, thanks.I see they also do free samples of ONE piece.It would also be useful if they'd send the entire collection to Dave for a full review.

author: tangent
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 08:36:39 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on April 29, 2013, 11:14:41 pmAnother attempt: FWER-tay. It means "hard" in Spanish. I don't know if it's because ROS is supposed to be hard to use, or hardened.