Automating Tests – Python & PyVISA
March 2, 2009Often in testing, it would be nice to have a way of automating mundane tasks on test equipment without having to dig too deep into proprietary code. Well, if your device has a GPIB/Serial/USB interface, you’re in luck. Using Python...
History Lesson
February 25, 2009Back in 1945, engineers running the Harvard Mark II (an early electromechanical computer at Harvard University) found an actual bug in their hardware – literally, a moth that got stuck in a relay was causing problems. Decades later, we’re...
802.15.4 Compliance for ZigBee Certification
February 20, 2009If you’re looking to get any platform, product, etc. ZigBee certified, you probably know that you need to check for 802.15.4 compliance before you move on to the higher layers. However did you know that ZigBee does not mandate the...
USB Qualification by Similarity
February 17, 2009If you’ve developed several similar USB products, you might be able to get them all USB certified with only one test. Simple changes like product packaging, model numbers, connector vendors/model number, etc. can often be certified with only a few...
Windows Logo Program – x64 Drivers
February 13, 2009Just a quick tip for anyone looking to have their Windows hardware WHQL’d (e.g., given a “Certified for Windows Vista” logo, etc.) – Microsoft has made 64-bit drivers MANDATORY. If you’ve designed a hardware product and you want to...
Website Compatibility Testing
February 13, 2009If you’re putting up a new website, it’s common practice to test your website with older versions of popular web browsers and your “required software” (e.g., Flash, Java, etc.) to make sure it is backward compatible. Even if your website...