Wow!

I shall enjoy playing with that when I win it ;-)

I've got to run too. Talk to you all later.

@jan, I am way out of date then :)

@Max CU

Let me know if you are around on of these days, I like wine even more :-)

Max - Cool. The cat is now out of the bag.

@cfelton I have 4 to date, 2 with 0.8dev

EEEK!!! The Design West Givaway Blog just posted Check it out!!!

@jan five that I know of, two of my own.  Oh and I can't count
if you have 3, I have 2, and there was report of 1 other. 

@All: I hate to leave you -- but I'm working on two newsletters for other sites, so I'm going to have to run -- I really enjoyed today's chat -- I look forward to seeing you all next week...

PS Feel free to carry on chatting as long as you want -- I'll leave the lights on for you and I'll come back and lock up later :-)

@cfelton Do you mean 5 that you know in total, or 5 that you are involved with??

Got to get going as well -- 

Got 2 go. CU all later.

@Jan: 0.8-dev... deal!! I'will give you (and @cfelton) feedback in the next days. Have a good night!

Warren - I guess no one is totally safe from vandalaism. :-(

Tomii - I'm also studying the merits of high side vs low side current measurement.

@Garcia: ...my daughter is waiting for her bath

No problem -- just email me when you are free

Did anyone else miss this announcement? You'd think hackers wouldn't be messing up Python...

The python.org wikis for Python, Jython and the Python Software Foundation (PSF) were subject to a security breach and later attack which caused all of the wiki data to be destroyed on January 5 2013.

@jan "I have signed of 2 (two!) chips"

That is awesome!  I think we are up to 5 asics with heavy
myhdl involvement.  I haven't had issues with 0.8dev either.  
 

@All: See you all in the blogs' comments!!

@all -- I've used many different version control systems -- Liked Mercurial, but they all have holes somewhere in their construction --

@garcia 0.8-dev definitely, sorry about that :-)

@Jan: ...and we didn't even mention the comment section :-)

Perhaps that's best :-)

I very much look forward to meeting you in person one day -- perhaps over a few glasses of great Belgium beer

@Max: it's 8:00pm in Spain too and my daughter is waiting for her bath!! I'will mail you after dinner with the Python-to-HDL (and almost sure MyHDL based) filter tool details.

Tomii - I want both. I need to be able to cut power pretty quick for big spikes and reduce power for longer lasting overloads.

I put together a little circuiut a while back that was fast enough to cut off the PWM pule in the middle if the spike was too big, but I didn't get a reliable analog part of the circuit.

@william Mercurial is great - distributed version control is definitely the way to go. However, it seems git is "winning" (also thanks to github) - git is similar but more "loosely designed", incredibly powerful but sometimes scary!

@Jan: you want me to use 0.8-dev or default? I've been playing with 0.8-dev branch and it completely fulfill my needs...

@William, ever since discovering AccuRev, I haven't used any other version control system.  But AccuRev is not free, so not for all situations.

@Max  You forgot to mention that writing these blogs is the most fulfilling part of your day :-)

Of course, of course ;-) and we didn't even mention the comment section :-)

@all -- has anyone tried Mercurial for version control -- it is newer than SVN and keeps a local database and a server database synced (for speed and robustness)

@cfelton but I have signed of 2 (two!) chips with MyHDL 0.8dev - it works great! 

No, you're right of course.

@Duane:

Do you need instantaneous current, or average current on your motor driver?  Depending on what you want there's different way to go about it...

@Crusty: washing up calls

C U Next week -- have fun

@Jan Don't worry, you drove me to the information I needed!! All the stuff I'm going to implement is under GPL v2, and if I need to do some work over "toVHDL" method, I'll give you all the feedback.

@jan, I understand.  A couple of the issues that were recently 
brought up, are worth looking at before a release.  

@Max:

I did see that.  I'm betting there's a lot of OOB spurs...

@Jan: APP blogs also take time to write..

You forgot to mention that writing these blogs is the most fulfilling part of your day :-)

Crusty - I'm not familiar with a Norton OpAmp (but can be fairly quickly). Analog stuff is difficult for me, so I keep putting that circuit off. At some point, I'm going to have to bite the bullet and design it.

By All: washing up calls

@garcia Sorry I didn't respond to your mail - all license issues solved? It's just LGPL - meaning do what you want with it but share your improvements to MyHDL itself :-)

@tomii: I'm considering breaking some laws and trying to turn my OpalKelly board into a radio transmitter... 

Did you see Hamster's blog on turning an FPGA into an FM transmitter (all hail The Mighty Hamster)? Don;t do what he dis, which was to set it tranmitting SOS in Morse Code and then wander off to see how powerful the signal was...

Tomii - A 741 definitely won't work. Too slow, too noisey, dual supply, etc.

@Duane Plenty of rail to rail OpAmps available for that role I would have to look at Farnell to advise. Would A Norton OPAmp work for this?

@Duane:

Also, a 741 really wants a negative rail, too.

@Max indeed 7:51pm, we have just finished dinner!

@Duane:

I don't think a 741 has the bandwidth or slew rate you'd need (never mind it needs about 2V overhead).  Take a look through TI's device selector.

@Jan: Hi there -- it's wonderful to see you -- what's the time in Belgium (7:49pm?)

@cfelton I know I have to work urgently on a release - trouble is I am to busy designing chips with MyHDL (APP blogs also take time to write)

Currently, I'm looking for a good opAmp to use for current sense on my motor controls. I think I need single supply, rail to rail, so a 741 would be far from that.

I use Tortoise SVN (Freeware).  It puts a shell into the Windows interface.  It's not obvious, but once you learn it, it's pretty simple.  Did I mention it's free? 

I got turned on to it, as that's what the software and electrical engineering groups at work use.

@tomii -- in the us as long as the transmitter is in the right band and below 100mW it is legitimate

@garcia If you make some progress let me know, I can 
point you to some existing "beginnings" (that sounds weird)
and some folks that might be interested in helping. 

@tomii: You should be scared.  Very scared...

I am -- it's my natural state -- but I think that's because I'm married

@Tomii: I worked in designing mixed Analog/Digital communications ASICs ;-) By the way, I found my self with using SVN for control versioning some schematics about one month ago... and it doesn't seem obvious at first glance

Max - It must have been a good year for 741s. I used one just a few years ago and it still worked.

@All:

I'm considering breaking some laws and trying to turn my OpalKelly board into a radio transmitter...  I've been thinking about it, and I think it's likely very doable withou even adding components...  It's just the modulation that will be interesting...

@jandecaluwe "taking care" might be a little generous.  I have a
ton of fun with it and it is an important tool in my arsenal, so I try
to help where I can.

@Duane Tomil; I have been out of my depth my whole life

@Duane: I have some 741s in my parts bin from 1979.

Was that a good year for 741s?

@cfelton: No the pyfda, I don't think you will find, it was more of an idea with interested parties.

This is just the situation I'm just in... I offered myself as volunteer to an European research center and they asked me for developing the tool as GPL. My purpose is to reuse all the available free-software license compliant stuff (after informing the copyright holders, of course)

@cfelton: I was commenting on my ability to post links

The main thing is to remember to select the "Open in New Window" option -- I sometimes forget to use my right mouse button to force this, and if you forget than I lose the chat window and I have to reload it

This one:

Tomii - Hey, that's the camp I fall into. I'm already scared.

Hi all an hi chris - thanks for taking care of the MyHDL newsgroup while I'm doing other things :-)

I've made some really unusual stuff like a piezo electric fan that would run for days off of a 9V battery

@Duane:

I would suggest that nothing beyond idiocy is my strong suit.  However, I dabble in a lot of things.  You should be scared.  Very scared...

@Crusty:

I used a 555, a 741, and a power transistor (along with a handful of other stuff) to make a heater controller for someone's motorcycle jacket, once...

Tomii - Analog has never been my strong suite but I have periodically had need for it. Back then, I made an audio probe for listening for termites or other chomping insects inside of walls. That wasn't a 741 though.

@tomii: For thel ongest time, I was the only "Analog Hardware" person..

There's nothing to be ashamed about -- we still like you, just the way you are :-)

@Duane:

I have a signal conditioning board I made from them.  It was originally supposed to be powered by 2 9-volt batteries.  The power drain was so bad that I could watch the voltage decay in real time.  I ended up soldering in some linear regulators to provide +/- 9V...

@William (oops, my brain said 'william', my fingers typed 'warren')

@garcia No the pyfda, I don't think you will find, it was 
more of an idea with interested parties.  And doesn't 
have overlap (at least initial) with the features you 
are adding to ???

@rfindley: ...is there an online editing interface for bloggers?  Online preview would go a long way toward getting image sizes that fit well.

Sadly not -- just send me your blog soin Word. The max width we can support in-line is 480 pixels. But a lot of bloggers send in much bigger pics (sometimes 1600 pixel wide screenshots) -- in that case I put a small 480 pixel version in the blog with a "click here" link to open up a full-size version in a seperate window

@tomii -- being hardware in the software group I wrote a lot of built-in self test code for flight

@Tomil ; Yes the analogue smoke stack computer took about 200 mA

@Warren, I'm also an "other".  Software, digital, analog.  (level of expertise in that order)

@Tomii: I worked in designing mixed Analog/Digital communications ASICs ;-) By the way, I found my self with using SVN for control versioning some schematics about one month ago... and it doesn't seem obvious at first glance

I have some 741s in my parts bin from 1979.

I was commenting on my ability to post links

@William:

No flight code for me.  Plenty of test code, though. 

A swiss army knife, jack of all trades, master of none (maybe except for analog/power)

@Crusty:

Yes, 741's  count.  If you can find them, *and* you can afford the power budget.

@tomii -- I was one of the "Other" oh and I also have done flight code in C/Assy/C+

@tomil does 741 OPamp qualify

@Rfindley: I have two computers on my desk (with 4x28" screens) .. emails pinging all the time -- both my max.maxfield@umb.com and my max@clivemaxfield.com emails are good -- whichever you prefer ...

@Garcia:

Sorry, I don't understand...  (This is not unuusaly, BTW)

@William:

Was curious about answers to this week's poll.  For thel ongest time, I was the only "Analog Hardware" person..

@Tomii: are you done with a mixed-domain hardware one?

@Tomi -- I do analog, digital and power, and have done microwaves and rf also

@Warren: Think of the time to learn Python as an investment. You will find many ways to SAVE time by using Python! Spend 4 hours and you will begin reaping those Time Rewards very soon...

I agree -- also the propeller beanies in CapNet are programmed using Python, so that's another reason for me to learn

@Max, also, is there an online editing interface for bloggers?  Online preview would go a long way toward getting image sizes that fit well.

Oh and Java also

Hey, who's the other "Analog Hardware" guy?  Are you here?

@Warren @Max: Python is a really swiss-army modelling tool!! And I'think some mainstream test instruments are going to include python support for debug/tesbench purposes (I think Agilent ones, but no quite sure...).

@all -- how does one best lower the security foot-print of all these eda tools one uses to do an FPGA?  TCL, PERL, PYTHON all when installed can be used to hack your computer

@Max, should I mail blogs to your ubm.com, or clivemaxfield.com?  Any preference?

@cfelton: somewhere in the middle of this comment page

Cool Beans -- I'll check it out later

@rfindley: here was the most interesting circuit-board nail art:

http://tinyurl.com/akun4jy

WOW!!!

@Max: OK!

@Max- Think of the time to learn Python as an investment. You will find many ways to SAVE time by using Python! Spend 4 hours and you will begin reaping those Time Rewards very soon...

@crusty: If it's an atmel chip then you can programme it in Bascom as well

Like I need something *else* to learn

@Garcia: ...so it would be nice to share the generated know-how with the APP community...

It sounds like a series of blogs to me ... email me after the chat (max@CliveMaxfield.com) and let's chat...

@cfelton: I didn't know pyFDA. I will take a look just after the chat and will give you the feedback. Does pyFDA sports MyHDL's toVHDL/toVerilog & Icarus Verilog cosimulation?? -VHDL code itself is important for accomplishing the project goals-

@rfindly: BTW, first blog will be in your in-box tonight or tomorrow

Now I am aquiver in dread anticipation...

@ max : somewhere in the middle of this comment page
(slow learner I am)

@rfindley: ...you could tell MrsCrusty that electronics is better than going on an extended road tour with a group of bikers.

How did you know that riding big motorbikes aand taking road trips was one of Mrs Crusty's favorite pastimes?

@max 
http://www.programmableplanet.com/author.asp?section_id=2438&doc_id=252295&piddl_msgpage=3#msgs

half way down

@Max, here was the most interesting circuit-board nail art:

http://tinyurl.com/akun4jy

I wish I was feeling bit better -- Too much caffein and I require extra rest every now and then to make up for it

@Garcia: By the way, I've read somewhere that you are learning -or interested in learning- Python. Are you?

I have bought a good book -- I need to download a Pythin setup -- Jan told us where to go in one of his blogs (or comments) but I've forgotten where -- my problem at the moment is lack of time

@garcia, I ask because I have loosely worked with 
two Universities to create pyfda.  Little work thus far
try to spend my free-time (haahaahaa) on myhdl.

@Max If it's an atmel chip then you can programme it in Bascom as well

@garcia what is the OSS project name?

@Warren: Looking forward to the conference. Should be a fun time

I think it's going to be a blast. One thing I've been meaning to do for ages is pick up am Arduino and play with it ... I know, I know, I coudl have done thsi anytime ... but once again there never seems to be enough time.  But SparkFun is going to be giving a series of free 1-hour training sessions at Design West and students get to keep the Arduino-based board ... so I'm planning on attending (Click Here to see a blog I just posted on this)

@cfelton @Max: I've just been engaged as volunteer in a Python-to-HDL project (an Open/Free Source alternative to Matlab Finter Design and Analysis tool). I'm considering MyHDL as one of the core libraries for the project , so it would be nice to share the generated know-how with the APP community.

@Max, I'm rarely too busy for a quick browse on APP!  (BTW, first blog will be in your in-box tonight or tomorrow)

@rfindley I get my way by not eating my greens and crying a lot Retirement seems a bit like childhood

@rfindley  Amazing, using actual passives, that is being creative!

@Rfindley: After seeing the nail art, I googled others. 

And you are always telling me how busy you are! If you send me a lonk to the best ones, I might use them in a future blog...

@Crusty, you could tell MrsCrusty that electronics is better than going on an extended road tour with a group of bikers.

@cfelton: I couldn't resist the temptation of the member card :)

You are going to fit in well here :-)  I'll give you your card at Design West :-)

@Max: It's OK, don't worry (I know what you feel...) By the way, I've read somewhere that you are learning -or interested in learning- Python. Are you?

@garcia fun stuff, if you have any additions feel free 
to share with APP or myhdl community.  I have been 
having a blast with myhdl the last so many years and 
it has proven a indespensible tool at work.

@William: both my sister-in-law and mother glaze over on electronics related discussions

I have the same effect on my wife -- and it doesn;t even nee dto be electronics-related -- all I have to do is open my mouth .... and she's gone... :-)

@rfindley Mrs Crusty considers that elctronics in retirement to be just plain stipid

@Max- Doing well. Looking forward to the conference. Should be a fun time.

@Garcia: ...if the blog is going to serves us as database...

When I get a free moment (ha!), I'll take all thsi information and add it to an Excel Spreadsheet that anyone can download ... it's just finding the time that's the problem...

After seeing the nail art, I googled others.  The most interesting actually involved gluing small passives, and painting traced between.

@max I couldn't resist the temptation of the 
member card :)

@cfelton: so here you are. Thanks again for your MyHDL based DSP blogs... I've been playing around with your stuff all the week long!!

@rfindley  -- I know what you mean -- both my sister-in-law and mother glaze over on electronics related discussions

@Garcia: ...that nailed board are operative in some way?

It may have been BEFORE Crusty nailed it to the bench :-)

FYI Chris is linked in with Jan -- the creator of MyHDL and blogger here on APP.

Chris is going to be giving a talk on MyHDL at Design West, so it's wonderful that he's decided to become a member of APP

@Max: if the blog is going to serves us as database, maybe an only comment per member should be saved: there are a lot of post and is hard to find each one info

@rfindley @max The pic was "trending" under the twitter
#fpga hash tag, I thought it was creative of the students
and surprised at the excitement about their FPGA work
(or at least the perception of excitement).

@rfindley :...the "thought provoking image of the week" is the first thing I've ever seen that can get my sister-in-law to not glaze-over when I talk about electronics

That picture was provided by Chris (a.k.a. cfelton)

@Crusty: that nailed board are operative in some way? ;-)

@Max: Yes, it's amazing how many boards the APP members own!! I feel a bit "oldfashioned"... I hope may new Zedboards arrives in the next days

@tomii: ...I was suprised at how much lint & dog hair was in ther...

It scares me to think about all of the "stuff" that's hiding just out of sight -- things always look so nic eand shiny on the outside, but behind the scenes...

Speaking of drying (sort of), I just read this somewhat interesting article

Hi All

@Garcia Do boards nailed to the bench in frustration count?

@Max, the "thought provoking image of the week" is the first thing I've ever seen that can get my sister-in-law to not glaze-over when I talk about electronics.

Hi Warren -- how are things?

@Garcia: Thansk for suggesting we start a database of all the boards owned by APP Members -- have you seen all the comments to That Blog? Between us we have enough processing power to rule the world!

@rfindley:  Didn't find amything like that, but I was suprised at how much lint & dog hair was in there.  It is now no longer a fire hazard, I think.

@tomii, and I think a penny was responsible for the heater failure.  Got stuck in a coil of the heater, causing a point of rapid wear.

Hi Garcia

Hi Garcia

@Rfindley:

Exactly why I had to open this one up - burnt heater element.

Required a *LOT* of work just to get to the dryer, though (stackable units with a large piece of not really moveable equipment right next to it)

hello everyone!

Good evening, APP crew!

Hi Crusty

I posted a really cool blog to APP thsi morning -- but it's not been deployed on the site yet -- it's about the CapNet-realted Giveaway we'll be having at Design West

Evening All

@tomii, re:coins in drier.  I am running an old Maytag drier that is older than me by 3-5 years.  It has had one repair in its entire life (a heater filament replacement).  When I opened up the drier, I found only 7 cents after probably 30yrs of use.

Yes, the office next to me is demonstrating their 10 gallon brew kettle, priorities, priorities ...

Duane just emailed me to say he'll be about 30 mins late to thsi chat

Adam is still in Korea

I meant "Chris" not "Vhris"

Vhris (a.k.a. cfelton) told me earlier that he watches the chats, but he's too busy to comment - -so I asked him to make at leats one so I knew he was here :-)

I was amazed at how much loose change I found in the bottom of my dryer's housing yesterday...  Easily a buck's worth of pennies...

Hi Robin

Hi tomii

Hi folks!

@All:

Woo!  Not the 1st one here today!

Howdy, all!

@cfelton: one comment added

The others might find that a tad cryptic :-)

one comment added

Our weekly chat will commence at 12:00 p.m. my time (Central USA Time), which is 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and 6:00 p.m. UTC/GMT (you'll have to work out your local time from these clues -- or you can use this handy-dandy Time Zone Converter).

As always, we will be following our usual practice of leaping from topic to topic with the agility of young, fearless mountain goats, so make sure you're wearing appropriate clothing!