INTERFACE AND COMPUTER QUESTIONS

RAM-10000 Systems

Q. I have a RAM-10000 instrument that is controlled by the ADAC-4801 card or the Data Translation DT2801A according to the manual.

A. The original RAM-10000 systems were designed to operate with a Data Translation DT-2801A data acquisition card; they were also compatible with ADAC's version, the ADAC-4801A. Both these cards had 16 lines of digital input/output (I/O), a multiplexed 8-channel differential input, a 12-bit analog-to-digital A/D converter, and a 12-bit digital to analog (D/A) converter. However, both acquisition cards are significantly more costly than the ADAC-5525 card for similar functions. Information on the Data Translation DT-2801A card can be found at the following link: http://www.datatranslation.com/products/dahwdetail.asp?Family=DT2801+ Series. The manual for the DT2801 card can be found at http://www.datatranslation.com/images/pdfs/dt2801.pdf. Currently, ADAC Corp. has considers the ADAC-4801A board obsolete and has deleted it from their website. If your ADAC-4801A card requires replacement, you can purchase the DT- 2801 card from Data Translation or contact RITEC about the costs associated with changing the RAM-10000 interface card so that it is compatible with the revision 4.0 of the ADAC-5525 card. Based on the current pricing, replacing the RAM-10000 interface card will be cheaper than the DT-2801 card.

Q. I get a error message about not finding PCLAB when I try to run the control program. How can I eliminate this error message?

A. The original RAM-10000 software was designed to operate with the Data Translation DT-2801A board and its driver, PCLAB. Both the autoexec.bat and config.sys files need to be changed as outlined in Appendix A of the original RAM-10000 manual or in the application note, "Installation of the ADAC-4801 board" at the following link: http://www.RitecInc.com/appnotes/4801installation.pdf. It appears that Data Translation has discontinued the PCLAB driver or that it is no longer available from their website or FTP site. Please contact RITEC for further information.

Q. I have an older RAM-10000 system and have lost the original software diskette. How can I get replacement software?

A. The software section of the website has several versions available for download. These versions are for use with the ADAC-5525 card. They are configured for use with the standard low-power systems covering the frequency ranges of 0.05 MHz to 5 MHz, 0.25 MHz to 17.5 MHz with output power levels of 1.5 KW and 1 to 40 MHz with output power levels of 100 W and for high-power systems covering the frequency range of 0.05-0.5 MHz, 0.5-5 MHz and 0.25-7 MHz with output powers of 5KW. The software section of the website can be found through the following link: http://www.RitecInc.com/software/.

Q. I have a GA-10000 gated amplifier system, which has an interface so that it can be controlled by the computer. How may I obtain software?

A. The software section of the website has several versions available for download. These versions are for use with the ADAC-5525 card. They are configured for use with the standard low-power systems covering the frequency ranges of 0.05 MHz to 5 MHz, 0.25 MHz to 17.5 MHz with output power levels of 1.5 KW and 1 to 40 MHz with output power levels of 100 W and for high-power systems covering the frequency range of 0.05-0.5 MHz, 0.5-5 MHz and 0.25-7 MHz with output powers of 5KW. The software section of the website can be found through the following link: http://www.RitecInc.com/software/.