[time-nuts] Prologix GPIB-USB vs. GPIB-LAN

[Chad Simpson]

Good points...  and pretty much in line with my thinking.  Based on the
comments here, I'm strongly leaning toward the LAN version now.  I'll
definitely have a closer look at the KE5FX toolkit, there are some very
interesting applications there.

Thanks everyone for your input.  Looks like I have a bit more homework to do
on the software end of things, but this has been very informative.

- Chad.


On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 7:50 AM, Esa Heikkinen <scifiscifi at sci.fi> wrote:

> If it's about "Ethernet vs. USB" queston I would always suggest Ethernet. -
> With any kind of equipment in question!
>
> Ethernet is simpy much better: you don't need device drivers, it works with
> longer cables (over 10 times longer than USB), it's routable, you can use it
> remotely (VPN), you can turn it wireless (WLAN) and because there are no
> need for drivers it's much more platform / OS independent than USB.
>
> USB is good for devices which can draw their power from USB port, like
> mices or keyboards. But it has many drawbacks: some USB devices won't work
> with Windows Vista. Some USB devices has stupid drivers which need to be
> installed for each USB port in the computer. I'm talking about the issue
> when you install a driver and later plug it into different USB port the
> system will ask you to isntall the driver again. Also, many USB devices
> based on some kind of USB-Serial chip (like FTDI) may have different
> COM-addresses for different USB ports and this leads to same kind of issue:
> it works only with one USB port witout changing some settings. In the worst
> case you must remember the corrent USB port for each device.
>
> With Ethernet it's not essential which port (or to which switch) you plug
> in your device, as long the switch you are using is a part of your local
> network (or there is VPN remote connection to your network).
>
> But... of course this in only my opinion. :-)
>
> I have used the Prologix (LAN version) with KE5FX GPIB toolkit. You can use
> it for capturing plots from oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers etc. and write
> some kind of command scripts for the instruments. Maybe it's not best
> possible software for Prologix but it it's free.
>
> --
> 73s!
> Esa
> OH4KJU
>
>
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