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Patrick sent us the RS-274D files, but since what we really needed were extended gerbers, I ended up extracted them myself.

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That Ranger app was just no fun and if I can help someone avoid using it I will

Funny, I've always thought the same about Orcad and Pads, which are much more common And MUCH MUCH more expensive. Mind you, I have been using one variant or other of Ranger since about 1988, and I've got a really huge library of tested part definitions I've produced over the years. Bear in mind all the versions of the empeg were made with ranger 2!

It would be much easier if there was some common definition langauage for exporting/importing PCB layouts and schematics between packages, but 90% of the PCB cad companies out there would cut off their own legs to avoid this happening. Might allow people to change suppliers, you see

I can use Orcad, etc, just don't like them too much. And certainly can't afford them.

Pca

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Patrick sent us the RS-274D files, but since what we really needed were extended gerbers, I ended up extracted them myself.



Are you sure? I could have sworn I sent the RS-274X version. You should have mentioned it, it's easy to get the X variant out of ranger XL.

Yep, I'm sure although you offered to reformat in X. By the time the files came in I had already sorted it out most of the way anyway, so it was just easier not to bother you .

Orcad is very expensive indeed. I believe the new version starts at about $7500? Oh well. I just think Ranger is way different from Orcad. I totally understand about your part libraries. They can be a pain to get just right.

Stu

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Orcad is very expensive indeed. I believe the new version starts at about $7500? Oh well.

That is indeed expensive.

However, if you want to see ultra-crazy CAD software pricing, check out the price for single-seat licenses of IC Design software sometime.

Tools from Synopsys, Cadence, Magma, etc. tend to run over $50,000 per tool.
Even HSPICE isn't too cheap.

I have a friend who has a laptop with well over $200,000 worth of IC CAD software on it!

He tends to keep an eye on that laptop....

I don't know anything about even more limited-demand CAD markets.

But I have to conjecture that somewhere there must be one person that designs the software used to make chemical plants or oil refineries, and that she sells two licenses per year at a gatrillion dollars apiece.

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But I have to conjecture that somewhere there must be one person that designs the software used to make ... oil refineries, and that she sells two licenses per year at a gatrillion dollars apiece.

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I'm just fighting to get something useful out of this silly Ranger PCB/schematic program that I can use i.e. probably gerbers since Ranger seems unknown to every CAD/PCB package I have.

I didn't mean to sound defensive .

I spent several hours wrestling the gerbers from the Ranger files. I ended up having to talk to tech support at Seetrax before getting it to give me something I could use. It helped a lot to use Ranger XL by the way. Patrick sent us the RS-274D files, but since what we really needed were extended gerbers, I ended up extracted them myself. If you'd like the files that Alvin used to have these made, just PM me and I'll send them your way. That Ranger app was just no fun and if I can help someone avoid using it I will .

Stu

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A lot of the components on the receiver board seem to be related to the onboard 12V sourced PSU -- which is not actually needed or used.

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One never knows if the need for a 100 meter run will arise at some point.

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A lot of the components on the receiver board seem to be related to the onboard 12V sourced PSU -- which is not actually needed or used.

I thought about that, but decided it was best to let the flexibility of a dual power supplies remain. One never knows if the need for a 100 meter run will arise at some point. The cost added is probably around $15 - $20.

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Plus labour.

Included .

Stu

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We just need to find someone with their own 737 that needs an empeg install in the cockpit with the main unit in the tail...

What, you think MarkM designed them to be capable of 100 meter runs for no reason at all?

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One never knows if the need for a 100 meter run will arise at some point.

We just need to find someone with their own 737 that needs an empeg install in the cockpit with the main unit in the tail...

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I thought that I tested it for 100 feet, not meters.

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Ooh, so this is telling me that while the extender is probably going to work fine in my 959, setting it up in the 757 is probably a no-go.

Haha . MarkM may not have tested beyond 100 feet, but Patrick has. Patrick says he's tested it to 100 meters, and I think he said somewhere it might work up to 200 meters! Now who is going to put it to the test and see what the limit really is?

Stu

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Patrick says he's tested it to 100 meters, and I think he said somewhere it might work up to 200 meters! Now who is going to put it to the test and see what the limit really is?

Stu

Well, that's pretty obvious: the only guy here who we all *know* has (or will have soon) over 100m of ribbon cable is..

..lemmesee.. say, another 15 of these yet to be assembled/sold/shipped = 15 * 7m each = 105m of ribbon cable, Stu!

Cheer

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Well, that's pretty obvious: the only guy here who we all *know* has (or will have soon) over 100m of ribbon cable is..

..lemmesee.. say, another 15 of these yet to be assembled/sold/shipped = 15 * 7m each = 105m of ribbon cable, Stu!

I can do a 100 feet right now, but beyond that it's just pieces that have already been cut to 20 foot lengths. I'm trying to find 200 meter+ spool, so far I can't seem to find one longer than 100 feet and we already know that works .


Edit: I did locate a reasonably priced 100 meter spool. I might use that for the next batch and just for fun attach a connector to either end and fire up the extenders before cutting it up. Still, it would be more fun to try it on a 200 meter or more cable.

Stu

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This is too funny. Now I'm thinking of a neat picture at Qwest field with a ribbon cable running from one endzone to the other. That would be one for the empeg archives.