The new A/D board just came in. Yes! The joy
is short lived as you look for a screwdriver to open the computer case.
Uh-oh, all three slots are full. So, open two more cases and trade ISA's
and PCI's around. Now three computers don't work - forgot about the
IRQ and DMA settings. Device mangler (aka device manager) tells you what
you already know - you got a conflict. If you are lucky the boards
have DIP switches and you can force them apart. If you are unlucky you
got plug-and-pray installation software, no control, and slightly
outdated. So, off to the net to find the updated drivers - serious regrets
about buying the 666 GB Kabul Associates disk drive. Real serious thoughts
about buying three new computers. So three new computers, insert
board ... Uh Oh ... PC configuration has changed and XP needs to
call it's real master...Grrr...
To install a serial data acquisition
system you plug a cable into the computer. Serial systems use
the computers standard operating system. Board based systems entangle themselves
(and you) by becoming part of the computers hardware and operating
system.; standard serial works across differing operating systems
since most systems support USB, RS232 and standard programming languages (basic,
C) to access the port in a simple way.
Last, but not least, a computer case is
about the worst place to put an A/D converter. Noise
levels are high, unpredictable, and uncontrollable. Computer manufacturers
go to great lengths to keep this noise from escaping and interfering with other electronic equipment.
