Release history

(See the Download and install section to download.)

wjUL - the Python package

• 2007-12-04 - released version 0.2.1 (fixes minor packaging bugs)
• 2007-11-26 - released version 0.1

mcclibhid - the Ubuntu package of Warren Jasper's code

• 2007-11-26 - released version 1.21-0ads4

Download and install

1. Install Warren Jasper's mcclibhid library. On Ubuntu Gutsy (7.10) i386, this is available at libmcclibhid_1.21-0ads4_i386.deb. You can test this program, and your USB1208FS device, by typing "testusb1208FS" at the command prompt. You should get a text-based menu system that allows you to blink the light, perform analog output and input.

2. Install the wjUL library. On Ubuntu Gutsy (7.10) i386, this is available at python-wjul_0.2.1-0ads1_all.deb. The source code, containing example programs, is python-wjul_0.2.1.orig.tar.gz.

Usage Notes

You may need to unplug and re-plug the USB device to get permissions to access it.

Simple Usage Example

Here is an example program (included with the source as examples/analog_input_scan.py). After downloading and installing wjUL, numpy, and matplotlib, run this Python script:

import wjUL.UL as UL
import numpy
import pylab

BoardNum = 0
Gain = UL.BIP5VOLTS

LowChan = 0
HighChan = 0

Count = 1000
Rate = 1000

Options = UL.CONVERTDATA
ADData = numpy.zeros((Count,), numpy.int16)
Rate = UL.cbAInScan(BoardNum, LowChan, HighChan, Count,
                    Rate, Gain, ADData, Options)

ADData_volts = [ UL.cbToEngUnits(BoardNum, Gain, adc_unit) for adc_unit in ADData]

time = numpy.arange( ADData.shape[0] )/float(Rate)

pylab.plot( time, ADData_volts )
pylab.xlabel( 'time (sec)')
pylab.ylabel( 'ADC input (V)')
pylab.show()

Work in Progress

I have only tested the analog input and output capabilities of the USB1208FS device. I do not expect other devices or components of this device to work, although I don't anticipate adding support would be particularly difficult.