Effective waveform recorder evaluation procedures

The evaluation of waveform recorders is a subject attracting considerable attention as waveform recorders continue to increase in capabilities without dramatic increase in costs. However, caution is required when developing evaluation procedures because of the potential of any evaluation procedure to overestimate the performance of a device. A system is described which is controlled by a Microvax II with instrumentation control through the IEEE-488 bus. Evaluation procedures are described with attention given to the pathological cases which can lead to significant misestimates of a digitizer's performance. These evaluation procedures are aimed at being consistent with the new Trial Waveform Digitizer Standard generated by the Waveform Measurements and Analysis committee appointed by the Instrumentation and Measurement Society of IEEE. This standard was recently accepted by the IEEE as a trial use standard through July 1991 and is available from the IEEE Service Center as IEEE Std. 1057.