Reference software organizes circuit information. CyberCircuit, a Windows-based reference program, contains hundreds of analog and digital circuits, including power supplies, amplifiers, filters, timers, oscillators, and drivers. Descriptions, part values, and references are given for each circuit. The software also provides IC dimensions, interface pinouts, formulas, graphs, charts, and tables, as well as a powerful search function. CyberCircuit requires Windows 3.1 or greater. Introductory price is $39.95. PTM, Sauk Rapids, MN. (612) 253-0591.

ISA board spans 16 A/D channels. With an analog frequency response of 90 kHz, the dspDAQ plug-in ISA bus board performs high-speed data acquisition, anti-aliasing filtering, amplification, and DSP-based signal conditioning across 16 channels. An independent 16-bit A/D converter serves each channel, providing simultaneous sampling with no delays between successive channels. Each channel also has its own DSP. Data are stored to disk at rates of up to 1 MHz. From $5600. RC Electronics Inc, Santa Barbara, CA. (805) 685-7770.

Logic analyzer has high-speed color display. Color enhances the display of multichannel signal activity on the HP 54620C logic analyzer. You can specify different colors to apply to each of the display’s 16 channels. The HP 54620C, which troubleshoots 8-bit embedded-control products, handles 500M samples/sec and offers a variety of triggering choices. The analyzer costs $3995. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 9965.

Program ensures that PC boots. To protect against viruses and other problems that invade PC system information, Safety Disk backs up and restores information necessary to boot the PC, including CMOS RAM, BOOT SECTOR, PARTITION TABLE, IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and CONFIG.SYS files. If your PC doesn’t start, simply insert Safety Disk’s recovery diskette. It quickly replaces all damaged data with the correct information needed for a proper start-up and informs you of any changes in the system since it was last tested. Safety Disk costs $49.95. Hyperware, San Francisco, CA. (415) 882-1740.

Pocket-sized DMMs. The 3200 count autoranging DMM ($69) provides a bar graph display with function indication, data hold, overload protection, auto power off, and audible continuity. The UL-approved DMM has dc ranges from 300 mV to 450V with a basic accuracy of 0.7%. AC voltage ranges from 3 to 450V with a 2.3% accuracy. Resistance ranges are 300 to 30M ohm with a 2% accuracy. The 2000 count manual ranging DMM ($25) has the following ranges: dc 2 to 450V with 0.8% accuracy, ac 200 to 450V with 1.5% accuracy, ac current to 200 mA, and resistance from 2 to 2000 k ohm with 1% accuracy. The 3.4-oz meters measure 4.8×3×0.8 in. Extech Instruments Corp, Waltham, MA. (617) 890-7440.

Paperless recorder monitors up to six channels. The Data-Chart 3000, a paperless recorder and data-acquisition system, records from one to six analog inputs. A 5-in. LCD provides up to 12 channels of information (analog inputs plus computational channels), as well as touch-screen control of input signal scaling, recorder functions, and data analysis. Data is stored simultaneously in an internal buffer and on either a PC Card or 3.5-in. floppy disk. Universal input modules accept dc voltage, dc current, thermocouple, resistance temperature detector, and pulse signals. From $495. Monarch Instrument, Amherst, NH. (603) 883-3390.

Field-strength meter operates to 12 GHz. The Digi-Field digital field-strength meter has a frequency response from dc to 12 GHz. Model A offers a sensitivity of 150 nW at 100 MHz, Model B offers 2 nW, and Model C combines the sensitivity of Models A and B. The battery-powered Digi-Field has a 3½-digit display. You can use the device with its own movable telescoping antenna or with any external antenna. Model C costs $229. IC Engineering, Encino, CA. (818) 345-1692.

Multichannel counter/timer cards. Based on the AM9513 system-timing controller chip, the CIO-CTR10HD and CIO-CTR20HD plug-in counter/timer boards provide 10 and 20 counters, respectively. Each AM9513 controller provides five counters with 16-bit (65,536-count) registers, and daisy chaining allows the construction of 32-, 48-, 64-, or 80-bit counters. Boards are available with a standard 100-ppm or a high-accuracy, 50-ppm crystal. A high-density, 50-pin connector gives access to 10 complete sets of counter inputs and outputs, as well as gate, interrupt input, 5V supply, and ground pins. The CIO-CTR10HD and CIO-CTR20HD cost $219 and $319. ComputerBoards Inc, Mansfield, MA. (508) 261-1123.

Virtual instrument software automates analog I/O boards. Drivers for National Instruments’ LabView virtual instrument software support Datel’s PC/ISA bus families of analog I/O boards (PC-411/412, PC-414, and PC-430 series). LabView is an intuitive visual programming system that uses a Windows GUI. Preprogrammed software blocks appear as selectable icons representing sensor inputs, A/D converters, and data outputs. Math functions are similarly implemented. The LabView drivers, supplied on 3.5-in. MS-DOS diskettes, cost $50. Source code versions cost $150. Datel Inc, Mansfield, MA. (508) 339-3000.