[Amps] RS-232 and stuff....

[David Kirkby]

thaxton at ptgroup.com wrote:
> Anyway you cut it....we're supposed to be techie's right...:)  I really don't 
> care what interface an amp, a scope, a phone has.  I've got the 
> adapters/cables to handle it.  When in doubt...you can most always find 
> an rs-232 port on equipment, and USB on newer gear. My IBM 
> thinkpad has ports for everything, usb, rs-232, firewire....it's even got a 
> parallel printer port...:) 
> 
> Don/N0FGK

I think this has been beaten into the ground somewhat. It's clear some 
like USB, its clear Agilent/Tektronix are using it, it is also clear a 
lot of professional kit (including some from Agilent) is not using it, 
preferring to stick to RS-232 and/or GPIB.

Adapters are fine in theory, but tend to need drivers, which tend to 
work on the latest version of Windoze, but perhaps won't work on Windoze 
(if it exists) in 15 years time. Then you might find it is hard to get 
an adapter.

RS-232 requires no software on the computer beyond a simple terminal 
program, Which means it could be used on DOS, Windoze, Linux, VMS. 
Whilst its a bit unlikely anyone would like to use DOS or VMS, the fact 
it works with old technologies as well as new, without requiring any 
drivers, probably means it is more future proof from a software point of 
view.

Personally I like GPIB and RS-232. If I need to (and I don't see why one 
would need to for such a simple thing as reading a few bits from an 
amp), I can write my own software quite easily.

No doubt this argument will be settled finally in about 15 years time. 
At that point, the optimum choice of interface will be easy to 
determine. Perhaps until then, there is not much more to add.

-- 
David Kirkby,
G8WRB

Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/