My Brand New Laboratory

[olsenn]

One of the best features of the Rigol multimeter is its datalogging capabilities. The  LabView based software, UltraView costs around $200, but if you install the 30-day trial that comes on the included cdrom, you can extend the trial indefinitely simply by setting your system time back. I use a program called "Runasdate" to automatically pass it a dummy value for system time at start up and it works great.

I will note though that the provided software for the Rigol function generator SUCKS!!! I have to save the arb waveform files to a usb key and transfer them over manually because the software doesn't detect the machine connected to my computer.

[SgtRock]

Dear Olsenn:

--Congratulations! Our editor has selected your laboratory for a full page spread in Laboratory Showroom Weekly. If you could send us your address and a schedule of the times when you will not, I mean will be home, we would like to send our photographers to case, I mean photograph your layout, er lab. By the way do you have a dog. Best Regards
Clear Ether

[Bored@Work]

I will note though that the provided software for the Rigol function generator SUCKS!!!

Careful, last time I wrote that the Rigol fanboys were all over me. How dare someone wants to load arbitrary waveforms in an arbitrary waveform generator ... You get the idea. Yes, it is a piece of shit, and Rigol "support" of course doesn't care.

I have to save the arb waveform files to a usb key and transfer them over manually because the software doesn't detect the machine connected to my computer.

It might help to first install old UltraWave versions one after the other.  UltraWave versions 00.01.02, 00.01.03, and 00.01.04 can be found at various places on the web, each one missing different pieces. That way we managed to get it occasionally working on one old computer, but other computers still refuse to work (Vista, Windows 7). And we installed NI-VISA in between. Not that I think UltraWave uses it, but the latest version claims it is needed.

[ciccio]

I agree, finding (what's left) of a screwdriver in ferric chloride is a pretty good indicator that your lab is too messy

Once a company for whom I did on-site maintenance service delivered a power amplifier with a screwdriver left inside (it did not rattle because it was safely sitting on a cable loom).
I must admit they were working in a hurry, but  10 minutes after the customer (a sound systems rental company) left their premises the technician searched for his screwdriver, and realized where it was, so I got a call to go as soon as possible to the town (150 km from me) where the had to install the sound system for a show and save the company's reputation...