(1) PICKERING INTERFACES Switching matrix relays heft 60–W loads eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “Pickering Interfaces’s latest Model 40–581 2–pole single–slot 3U–sized PXI (PCI Extensions for Instrumentation) matrix module can be configured as a 2–pole 33 x 8 matrix. It can be used in hot–switching or cold–switching applications where two signals must be switched simultaneously.”
Readers say:
» "I rated 5 for the technical significance of this product because of compactness and the design itself."
» "It is very good device to monitor and track multi interface connections in the testing and production environments."
» "The one potential problem I see with it is the apparent lack of a Unix, Linux, or similar open–source driver. Keep in mind that Windows is far from being the solution to every problem. I would encourage Pickering to look into providing open–source drivers or support."
» "The best of it is its high density."
» "Very nice tools – especially windows application and self diagnostic mode."
» "What is the frequency range (I assume low, because it is not mentioned), isolation between crosspoints?"
» "Might be using it when new test chips come back from fab."
» "Self test capability is a nice feature."
» "This looks like a great little product for switching – could have a ton of great uses."
» "Article was completely informative to make a business decision."
» "It appears to be the cutting edge of this type of technology and I feel it will surpass all expectations."
» "Excellent product for Broadband and ADSL product line testings."
» "While the electromechanical nature of the switching may seem outdated, The voltage range and isolation that goes with the em switches can have great application in reconfigurable sensor arrays and excitation/ stimulation systems where the voltage levels are too much for solid state."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) AMHERST SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES PC software lets you share oscilloscope screens eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “Most engineers and technicians don’t use the same oscilloscope every day. I’d be willing to bet that most of you interact a lot with your co–workers, partners, and even your customers––but these folks probably use a different oscilloscope than what you use.
Nonetheless, most scope users have the need to correlate, compare, and analyze the differences between waveforms and measurement results.”
Readers say:
» "They continue to lack Jitter acceptance."
» "Good device to confirm the integrity of the signal connection."
» "Would like to try this."
» "This would be extremely helpful when working with offsite people. We usually take screen shots (bit maps) to share but a lot of information is lost and you can not zoom in for details."
» "This is what I need in organizing my data."
» "Good choice."
» "Possible use around the lab. When the need comes up, I will look further."
» "Need to look into this. Looks slick. Will send to my development team to look at."
» "ASA is not on top of their game and tech support leaves much to be desired."
» "Would be worth a try."
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) TEKTRONIX Serial data analyzer reveals time– and frequency–domain behavior eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “TDR (time–domain reflectometry) sends a signal down an interconnect path, and then analyzes the transmission and reflections in order to characterize the link. TDR has been used for years to find faults in cables, and more recently, to characterize chip–level and chip–package interconnects.
In Tektronix’s application, TDR can conduct failure analyses and tests of packages, boards, and chips, where reflected signals reveal information about the location of opens, shorts, or other problems.”
Readers say:
» "This will allow me to get rid of my cumbersome VNA!"
» "Excellent sampling scope with high speed data."
» "This would have been helpful in tracking down some issues we've had..."
» "Nice features, but too expensive for what it does."
» "Slick, modular, good screen menus."
» "Will be good for PC device developers."
» "We are constantly developing new technology for our control circuits this would be a vital asset for us."
USABILITY RANK: 3
(4) AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES Protocol exerciser, analyzer puts PCIe 2.0 through its paces eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “The world of multi–lane packetized serial data transmission is bounding ahead at a breathtaking pace. Achieving interoperability is daunting, especially when trying to guarantee backwards compatibility to PCI Express 1.x, but the biggest challenge in migrating to PCI Express 2.0 is the doubling of speed.”
Readers say:
» "Pricey!"
» "High performance up to 5 Ghz."
» "PCIe 2.0 a challenge in testing. Oscope option needed with xpoint switch."
» "We have two in the lab...it functions well..."
» "A whole solution!"
» "Ok, pricey though."
USABILITY RANK: 5
(5) ANRITSU Nomadic spectrum analyzer promises lower wireless cost–of–test eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “Anritsu Company’s frequency–synthesized (but low phase–noise) MS2717A Economy Spectrum Analyzer, with its options for making WCDMA/HSDPA measurements and WCDMA de–modulation analysis, looks like it will fill the bill for a variety of RF measurement tasks, both on the bench and in the field. It can even be firmware upgraded––over the Web, of course.”
Readers say:
» "Good product up to 7.1 GHz."
» "can we get one under $1200.00? :-)"
» "Very nice, considering the price and specifications."
» "Great price for its capability!"
» "Good graph."
» "Effective."
» "Worth looking at."
USABILITY RANK: 4
(6) XITRON TECHNOLOGIES $2500 power analyzer packs LCD graphics, connectivity eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “This power analyzer from XiTRON Technologies, Inc. provides both accuracy and range, attributes needed to ensure compliance with Energy Star or standby power testing. Not mentioned in the company’s press release (on the left) is that fact that it’s operable at DC as well as all frequencies between 20–milliHz through 200–kHz.”
Readers say:
» "High capture of waveforms, good resolution."
» "can this be used for UL test verification on line conducted noise?"
» "Looks like a proto–type product."
» "looks like a hand–made product."
» "Easy to use."
» "Easy to collect data."
» "Good but need triggering on anomalies and data–logging to remote PC."
USABILITY RANK: 6
(7) LECROY Second–gen analyzer dissects 5–Gbit/s PCI Express through Windows eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “This second–generation PETracer Gen2 Summit now analyzes PCI Express bus packets at data rates up to 5–Gbits/s/lane. It will handily analyze PCI Express Spec 2.0 traffic, and accommodate data rates of both 2.5–Gbits/s as well as 5–Gbits.
It affords full data capture on bi–directional lane widths, using 8–Gbytes of trace memory (4–Gbytes of buffer for each direction).”
Readers say:
» "It is a good device to verify the prototype and the product."
» "PCIe testing a challenge. Alway's liked LeCroy. Now they have teamed up with CATC for this device."
» "Want to know more."
USABILITY RANK: 8
(8) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Dual–core embedded processing makes PXI Express data–acq scream eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “These PXI Express PXIe–6259 and PXIe–6251 M Series data–acq (DAQ) modules, the PXIe–PCIe8371 and PXIe–PCIe8372 chasses, and the related 2–GHz and 3–GHz Intel dual–core–based controllers, make it relatively easy to migrate PCI and PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) applications to higher bandwidth.”
Readers say:
» "Good device to track data."
» "We're using the 6229 now, I don't want to rewrite all of my vi's for a new daq."
» "Could be very useful depending on price."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(9) MICROSTAR LABORATORIES Building–block PCI plug–in simultaneously samples on gobs of channels eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “Here’s news of a less–than–$4000 PCI bus building block board–level product that can be used to configure high channel–count systems that can sample gobs of inputs simultaneously. Microstar Laboratories, Inc., maker of DAP (data acquisition processor) boards and systems, announces its DAP 5380a/526.”
Readers say:
» "Good testing device."
» "Does it work with labview?"
» "It looks good for multichannel data capture."
» "A linux driver would be useful. The sampling rate is too slow for most of our applications."
USABILITY RANK: 10
(10) CORELIS Speedy JTAG controller is PCI Express–based eeProductCenter’s Alex Mendelsohn says: “Meeting the needs of developers embedding IEEE–1149.1 testability, Corelis’s less–than–$10,000 PCIe–1149.1 boundary–scan controller product abounds with proprietary techniques and technologies, not the least of which is PCIe (PCI Express) speed and plug–and–play operation. These features, and lots more, combine to let the system operate at up to its sustained 80–MHz rate.”
Readers say:
» "Typical interface connection."
» "What is the point of a PCIe JTAG controller? JTAG does not run fast enough to need this bandwidth and a user needs to open up his box to install this card. There is plenty of bandwidth on USB for a JTAG interface and no slots are used in my system."
» "More likely to use the PCI version than the PCIe version."
» "The ability to check for shorts before smoking a board is a nice feature."
» "speedy JTAG is useful for developers but, PC add-on is not my preference."
» "Not cost effective!"
» "Multi-channel will be better."
