Re: [Phys-L] timestamping instrumentation

[bernard cleyet <bernard@cleyet.org>]

> On 2021/Oct/21, at 20:47, John Denker via Phys-l <phys-l@mail.phys-l.org> wrote:
>
>
> On the other end of the performance spectrum you can do timestamping
> using any old laptop and just a serial port. A win32 example is
> here:

The emphasis is on the old for the app. described below:

> http://leapsecond.com/tools/pctsc.c <http://leapsecond.com/tools/pctsc.c>
>
> It has its limitations but it shows that a lowly serial port pin can
> be used as a trigger for time stamp recording. I use this for quick
> 'n dirty low rate Geiger measurements. For more precision and no
> dead time I use dedicated hardware for the counting & timing and the
> PC just for data logging.


Marek Dolleiser is likely the first person the write an app. using the sound card as an ADC for an MCA.  The reason I post is because one on its features is an MCS, which means it’ll count pulses time stamped in bins.  I haven’t used it, but I have used the MCA feature.  

Unfortunately, he’s disappeared, or at least his web site at the U. Sydney.  But it lives on:  

https://www.gammaspectacular.com/blue/software-downloads/pra-spectrometry-software <https://www.gammaspectacular.com/blue/software-downloads/pra-spectrometry-software>     

This is claimed to be his web site, and is obviously not.    However, largely an image of it.  

https://www.gammaspectacular.com/marek/pra/index.html <https://www.gammaspectacular.com/marek/pra/index.html>   

bc ….  is wrong!      

His home page as retired:    https://www.gammaspectacular.com/marek/index.html


Note:   he pointed out in his Sydney site that too new cards are “messed with”   so not suitable for the PRA.