RS232 Data Logging

lboucher

Hi All

I am hoping to get some pointers.
I am looking for a well built, easy to use RS232 data logger.
I am trying to collect a binary data stream from a Novatel GPS receiver.
I need it to handle automatic file name incrementing in case power is lost.
AKA Data.log, Data01.log, Data02.log etc....

I found this,
http://www.acumeninstruments.com/Products/SDR2-CF/index.shtml
Looks really good, but at $570 it seems a bit expensive.

Has anyone had experience with the parallax datalogger
Is reliable and easy and not require a microcontroller?

Is this a normal price for something like this, or is there some cheaper units out there?

Thoughts?
Thanks

Post Edited (lboucher) : 5/8/2009 4:18:29 AM GMT

Mike Green

1) You need to look at Parallax's datalogger's documentation. You'll see that it requires some kind of microcontroller. It's based on a chip from Vinculum which is a spinoff from FTDI which makes USB to serial adapter chips among other things. There are a few other companies that make similar dataloggers.

2) The extra couple of hundred $s are for the "looking really good" and the extra layer for the ready-to-go end-user datalogging including the automatic file name incrementing and the built-in RS232 interface. The Parallax device (and others) is a building block.

This sort of price difference is common between a finished, complete product and a building block that may be very complex and may actually contain much of the functionality of the complete device. That last bit of complexity to make the "finished product" can be very complex and expensive including support, certification, marketing, etc.

Post Edited (Mike Green) : 5/8/2009 3:01:54 PM GMT

Tubular

I raised this issue with 4D Systems as being a useful feature (logging NMEA GPS output wuthout requiring a micro). They agreed it would be useful but I don't think it is implemented just yet. You would need to package it, but that wouldn't be hard.

Sparkfun have some more finsihed modules for a few hundred $ (lots less than $570)

tubular

Tubular

here's the sparkfun one
www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8301

lboucher

Cool

Thanks for recommending that sight. Looks like a good one.

To clarify a bit, i already have·a Novatel unit (~$10,000 bucks) and I am running RT2 for very precise measurements.

But there RS232 datalogger

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8627

does look pretty good.



I am always torn between buidling it myself and spending so much to get already built units.

I am right at that quantity point where the cost might just barely be worth taking the time to build it myself.

(I am building 5 units now, maybe more in the future, not many more though.)




Post Edited (lboucher) : 5/9/2009 10:09:12 PM GMT