PC-based instruments supplier Strategic Test has released PCI Express-based waveform digitizer boards. Twelve new digitizer cards are included in the UF2e-4600 series. Using multiple 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for true simultaneous sampling, the cards are available with a choice of maximum sampling rates from 200 ksamples per second (ksps) to 3 Msps and 2-, 4- or 8-channel configurations. This enables the user to select the most cost-effective solution, said the supplier. 32 Msamples of signal memory is provided standard, but can be expanded to 2 Gsamples through a proprietary on-board DIMM module, said Strategic Test. As with all ultra fast cards, the signals can be recorded to card memory and then off loaded, or continuously streamed gap-free to the PC host.

In total, eight different hardware options will be available for each card:
Onboard memory: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 megabytes

• Multiple recording (memory segmentation)
• Gated sampling (sampling clock controlled by external TTL signal)
• Time stamp (records time when trigger occurs)
• ABA dual time base
• Star Hub (synchronization of up to 5 or 16 cards, or 5 to 16 PC's)
• BaseXIO (adds 8 asynchronous digital I/O lines)
• Fast digital inputs (adds 2 or 4 synchronous digital inputs per analog input)

According to Strategic Test, software development kt's available include :

• Windows Vista and XP64, XP, 2000, NT and 98
• Linux drivers for RedHat, Suse, Fedora and Debian
• MATLAB
• LabVIEW
• Agilent-VEE
• LabWindows/CVI
• DASYLab

Prices start at $3190. The new digitizers are supplied with the free-of-charge SBench oscilloscope software that allows user to measure and analyze without programming. SBench is available for both Windows and Linux, said the supplier.