March 18, 2009 - The Circuitgear CGR-101 from Audon Electronics is a PC-based instrument that provides the features of seven devices in one USB-powered compact box. The device offers the performance of a two-channel 10-bit 20MSa/sec 2MHz oscilloscope, a two-channel spectrum-analyser, and a 3MHz 8-bit arbitrary-waveform/standard-function generator with eight digital I/O lines. It also functions as a network analyser, a noise generator and a PWM output source.
Its open-source software runs with Windows, Linux and Mac OS.The CGR-101's oscilloscope capability provides a two-channel 10-bit -±0.25Vp-p to ±25Vp-p 2MHz basic scope, but with sophisticated marker measurements, triggering (normal, auto, single-shot and pre-trigger) with time-base adjustable from 50ns/division to 100ms/division.
With a 1k sample/channel data buffer, the user can even view pre-trigger signals.The CGR-101's two-channel FFT spectrum analyser feature offers marker measurements, and when used with the internal signal generator, displays Bode plots and performs vector network analysis, showing gain and phase values.The CGR-101's signal generator is an 8-bit 0.1Hz to 3MHz signal source, offering sine/square/triangle/ramp waveforms, as well as being capable of outputting arbitrary or preloaded waveforms such as ECGs. The user can enable the generator, connect its signal to a circuit and perform measurements with the oscilloscope and/or spectrum analyser.
The generator can also be set to function as a white noise source. A slider-controlled PWM generator is also provided, with mark-space ratio clearly displayed.The included visual interface software enables simple control and display of information. The oscilloscope, generator, and digital I/O are operated from a custom open-source Tcl/Tk software GUI included with the hardware.
As the software is open source, the code can be read and even added to or customised.The CGR-101 is also Labview compatible and can be controlled by any serial-port-driving software, such as Matlab or Visual Basic.
