HP Prime DataStreamer App (or interfacing to world data)

[#1]

I noticed (a long time ago but just now getting to it) that the black "HP Prime Graphing Calculator Quick Start Guide" that comes with the Prime discusses the DataStreamer App on p.40(english).  It mentions "It works with the HP StreamSmart 410 streamer and many of the scientific sensors available from Fourier Systems."

It seems like the StreamSmart 410 is an old product.  I haven't even been able to find used units for sale on-line hardly anywhere (and especially by places I would trust).  I was wondering if HP may be planning on reproducing this product, or something similar or compatible, in the future?  And I don't know if that product would be enough as is for lab use.

I have several lab instruments that I would love to interface to the Prime.  All are older RS-232 interfaces.  My suggestion could be be a software addition that could eventually get me there as well as fit other applications.  If it had a "Socket API" module that programmers could use to connect, talk to and pass data between it and USB attachments, that would be a general solutions.

If the USB hardare of the Prime can act as a host, then it could probably connect directly to USB interfaced instruments.  Or with USB-RS232 adapters, which are available on the market now, it could also go directly to the older instruments.  Or with USB-Ethernet adapters available, it could talk to networked instruments.

If the USB hardware can only be a slave, then at least a program could use the socket API to talk to instruments via an intermediate host -- either through a software socket of the connectivity kit or even just a intermediate host like an arduino board perhaps.

Perhaps if HP would look at this and even at usbnet (IP over USB) and create and API for Prime programmers, then we would have a real chance to talk to any instrument.  At least if I can get to a network, I could at least connect instruments to the network with X-to-Ethernet adapters and then get the Prime to the network.  The nice ting about this is it could be possible to have multiple instruments connected at the same time (collect data from multiple sources) if the socket API of the Prime would support multiple sockets.

With reading data from one or more instruments, and being able to programmatically interact with the data, I could use many of the built-in functions of the Prime, such as statistics, FFT and the color graphics, to make great displays for old equipment (though RS-232 seems to have dropped out of main stream, I have found that it is still used in many places today!).

[#2]

Perhaps on the side, it would be nice to be able to import/export data between the Prime and the PC it is attached to (perhaps a connectivity function) in various formats.  At least be able to go between comma/space delimited text files on the PC to/from lists or matrices on the Prime.

Some times I can produce data from some process (I/O or simulated) on the PC and perhaps want to process it on the Prime, or integrate it with other data on the Prime (or data on the Prime integrated with data on the PC).

I mention all this just as a suggestion for a more symetric Prime.  However, perhaps maybe  realistically perhaps not necessary.  If I have collected data that resides from the PC (from some sensors), I probably have enough tools on the PC to analyze it.  But the last time I checked, FFT did not exist on my PC's spreadsheet program.

[Harrypusen]

Hi,

If you got Excel (at least from 2010 version) you can enable FFT.

First you must enable the ToolPak if you have not already done so. Click File tab and choose "Options." Click "Add-Ins," highlight "Excel Add-ins," and press "Go", tick "Analysis ToolPak" and then press the "OK" button.
There is help for how to use the functions within
Then again you may not use Windows

Cheers, Terje

[Maké]

Hi!, davetheguru:

You can see, this example ... http://online.sfsu.edu/jtai/downloads/ENGR%20302/Excel.FFT.pdf

[#5]

Thanks for the suggestions.  

Unfortunately (relative to the thread) I do not use Excel.  I use OpenOffice which does not have FFT add in (yet).

[dbbotkin]

I have the DataStream 410 and need a replacement battery. What is the part number and where can I get one? Would someone be so kind as to post a picture of the battery and its connector?