Test Connections - February 2013

We hope you enjoy this month's issue of Test Connections which includes new product updates and news events. Please send your comments or suggestions regarding this newsletter to marketing@MarvinTest.com. Geotest - Marvin Test Systems Enters 2013 Celebrating its 25th Anniversary 2013 marks the 25th anniversary for Geotest - Marvin Test Systems. In 1988, four young engineers founded Geotest for the purpose of developing PC - based, functional test solutions and products for the mil-aero, industrial, communications, and semiconductor markets. From the outset, the company has been singularly focused on providing innovative and cost effective test solutions that build on open standards including the PC, the Windows environment and the PXI standard. Today, as part of the Marvin Group, Geotest - Marvin Test Systems offers over 200 different PXI / PXIe products, preconfigured test systems, a range of software products including ATEasy, and specialized mil-aero test solutions for the flight line, intermediate-level, depot and factory. Read more Enhanced TS-217 Universal Launcher Test System and Electro-Optical Bench Delivered to Hill AFB Geotest-Marvin Test Systems recently delivered a TS-217 Universal Launcher Test System with an Electro-Optical Bench to Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah, providing test capability for laser guided weapons. The TS-217 which has been providing depot level test needs for Maverick launchers was upgraded to include electro-optical test capability for Paveway II while maintaining legacy test capabilities for existing launcher platforms.   Read more Geotest Introduces Customizable Switching and Control PXI Card Responding to users’ requests for a switching / control card which can be customized for specific applications, Geotest has introduced the GX6196, 6U PXI switch and control board that can be used to create custom switching, signal conditioning, or support specific UUT control interfaces. Read more Upcoming Events Get details about tradeshows and other current news about Geotest and our distributors. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming events. Read more

Looking to generate test applications faster? Open-architecture-based ATEasy is the answer. Download your no-cost 30-day trial today! Geotest has recently updated several software packages for Geotest products. Read on to learn more. Read the blog post here. Using MATLAB with ATEasy? MATLAB® is a high-level language and interactive environment which is used for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. Using an ATEasy driver (MATLAB.drv) as a wrapper for communicating with the MATLAB utility, you can access MATLAB’s many features as well as reuse existing test application code in ATEasy projects with only a few lines of code. Click here to learn more. Would you like to receive the Test Connections Newsletters on a regular basis? You can sign up at any time. Can't find what you're looking for? We'll build it for you. We also customize and adapt standard catalog products to meet your specific needs. Click here to request more information.

Geotest - Marvin Test Systems Enters 2013 Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

A short history of Geotest and product milestones: 1988 – Geotest is established by Geotek Industries with the purpose of developing functional test solutions for mil-aero customers. Shortly after the company is established, Geotest starts development of ATEasy with contribution from a major T&M supplier. Geotest  chooses to adopt Windows 2.0 as the operating system - correctly predicting that Windows will be the standard operating system for personal computers and widely accepted for test systems. 1991 – ATEasy 1.0 is released, based on Windows 3.0. Subsequent releases will be done over the next 20 years, with ATEasy now being an 8th generation product. 1992 – Geotest releases its first two PC-based switch cards. Today, 21 years after these products were introduced; they are still supported and are still available for purchase – a testament to our commitment to provide our customers with long term support and service. 1992 – Geotest receives a contract from the U.S. Army to develop a field tester for the Hellfire Launcher. Subsequent contracts are received in 1994 to support the AH-64A Apache and OH-58D Kiowa helicopters. This tester, the AN/TSM-205 becomes the U.S Army’s standard test set for these platforms and is deployed world-wide. 1994 – Geotest introduces the innovative, PC-based GTXI test platform which wins a Best in Test product award from Test & Measurement World magazine and is still being used worldwide in hundreds of test applications. 1997 – Geotest is acquired by the Marvin Group providing Geotest with extensive resources for investing in new products and technologies. During this same year, Geotest receives multiple orders for F-16 armament testers and also releases the next generation of GTXI products. 1999 – The T&M market is introduced to the PXI standard. Geotest, seeing the potential for this platform, re-allocates almost all of its engineering resources to PXI development. During this same year, Geotest receives its first order for the TS-201, a MIL-STD-1760 tester for the Longbow Apache. 2001 – Geotest releases a large number of PXI products in the market place – becoming one of the leading PXI suppliers. 2002 – Multiple test system orders are received for depot level as well as flight line test sets. Development begins on the MTS-206 for the Maverick Missile System. ATEasy 4.0 wins the Reader’s Choice Award from Evaluation Engineering. 2003 – Test system contracts are awarded to Geotest for the development of a PXI-based TOW missile system test set and for an additional F-16 test set. The innovative GX7100 3U/6U combo chassis is also introduced and is awarded a Best in Test product award from Test and Measurement World magazine. 2004 – U.S. Air Force places its first contract for the PXI-based MTS-206 flight line test set for Maverick Missile testing. Geotest will go on to build multiple variants of this tester that supports various fighter programs worldwide including the T-50, F-35 and A-10. A large range of 3U PXI products is also introduced, expanding Geotest’s overall PXI product portfolio. 2006 – Geotest adds additional features and capabilities to their PXI chassis product line by incorporating “Smart” features into each chassis – allowing users to monitor chassis temperature and voltages. Additional 3U PXI digital I/O products are added to the portfolio providing customers additional options for performance digital test applications. 2008 – Geotest introduces the cost-effective GX3500, a user programmable, FPGA card. Using license free design tools and offering the ability to add custom circuitry to the module, test engineers are now able to create advanced, application specific, custom instrumentation. Geotest also introduces the pre-configured GBATS functional test platform, offering customers a cost-effective platform for depot and bench top test. 2010 – Geotest introduces the most advanced 3U PXI digital instrument in the industry – the GX5295 which features 32, 100 MHz channels with a PMU per pin. Targeting the semiconductor segment, the GX5295 is eventually incorporated into Geotest’s semiconductor test system. Geotest also introduces the GX5960 digital subsystem which offers high performance, cost effective digital test solutions for mil-aero and government programs. 2011 – Geotest introduces the industry’s lowest cost PXI Semiconductor Test System - the TS-900. ATEasy 8.0 is also introduced and features support for testing multiple UUTS, allowing users to fully maximize their test system’s resources. Geotest also receives Lockheed – Martin’s STAR supplier award. 2012 – Geotest introduces the SmartCan MTS-3060 - an advanced armament test system, providing flight line test for conventional and smart weapons deployed on U.S. and international platforms. During this same year, Geotest introduces the TS-323 functional test platform which is targeted for the L200 / L300 market - addressing the need to support legacy test as well as future test requirements. Looking to the future, Geotest - Marvin Test Systems continues to focus on creating products and solutions that are differentiated by performance, features, and value. With 25 years of experience in the mil-aero, government, and industrial test markets, Geotest - Marvin Test Systems is well equipped to address your current and future test challenges. We look forward to providing you with affordable and reliable test solutions.

Enhanced TS-217 Universal Launcher Test System and Electro-Optical Bench Delivered to Hill AFB

Geotest’s TS-217 provides depot level test support for several launcher platforms including AMRAAM, Maverick, and Sidewinder as well as supporting the testing of Paveway subassemblies including power supplies and circuit cards. Based on requests from the USAF to expand the TS-217’s capabilities to include electro-optical test needs associated with Paveway II, Geotest enhanced the TS-217 and incorporated an optical test bench, providing test capabilities for Paveway II LRU and SRU components. The PXI-based design of the TS-217 allowed Geotest to provide the USAF with expanded depot test capabilities for supporting multiple launcher platforms with one test system. The PXI-based TS-217 is an I-level and Depot-level Universal Launcher test station supporting fighter aircraft launchers. As a universal, mixed-signal test set, the TS-217 can be configured to test a range of launcher armament products. It also offers optional support for MIL-STD-1760 munitions and the WMUX-194 interface for testing of F-16 Stores Management System (SMS) assemblies.

Geotest Introduces Customizable Switching and Control PXI Card

The GX6196 provides 96, DPST 2A relays, 8 digital I/O lines, and a serial digital interface. All of these resources are available via (5) inter-board connectors which interface to the user defined daughter / mezzanine board. The mezzanine board provides all connections to the unit under test (UUT) via two 78 pin D-sub connectors. By providing access and control to all 96 relays, users have the option to create custom relay configurations, custom switched load board configurations or even custom interface circuitry controlled by the module’s software function calls. For digital control of custom circuitry, the GX6196 offers (8) digital LVTTL I/O control lines as well as a 1 MHz serial bus interface which are accessible via an interboard connector. Control for all of these digital interfaces is also supported via the PXI bus, providing control for circuitry located on the user defined mezzanine board. The board is supplied with the GXSW library, a software package that includes a virtual instrument panel, and a Windows 32/64-bit DLL driver library and documentation. The virtual panel can be used to interactively program and control the instrument's relays and digital control interfaces from a window that displays the instrument’s current settings and status. In addition, interface files are provided to support access to programming tools and languages such as ATEasy, LabView, LabView/Real-Time, C/C++, Microsoft Visual Basic®, Delphi, and Pascal. An On-Line help file and PDF User's Guide provides documentation that includes instructions for installing, using and programming the board. A separate software package - GtLinux - provides support for Linux 32/64 operating systems. For those customers needing to design their mezzanine board, Geotest can supply the necessary CAD files for the mezzanine board. The figure below details the overall design layout of the mezzanine board. The assembled module is designed to fit into a single slot, 6U slots although the module can accommodate designs that require two or more slots. To read more about the GX6196, click here.

Upcoming Events

Geotest-Marvin Test Systems and our channel partners will be participating in a number of national and international tradeshows and events. Come visit us if you’re attending these shows:

AFA Warefare Symposium , February 20th - 22th
Orlando, FL
Mr. Steve Sargeant, Geotest’s CEO, and Mr. Michael Frey, Geotest’s Senior Business Development Manager, will present the SmartCan MTS-3060 and STAR products to top Air Force and industry leaders at the 29^th Annual AFA Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition. If you’re in the area and would like to schedule a meeting with Mr Sargeant or Mr. Frey, please email michaelf@geotestinc.com.

F-16 Symposium (OLR), March 18th - 20th
Orlando, FL
Mr. Michael Frey, Geotest’s Senior Business Development Manager, will attend the F-16 Symposium in Orlando, Florida from March 18th - 20th. Email michaelf@geotestinc.com for more information about this event.

ElectroTestExpo, March 26th
Hampshire, UK
Geotest will be participating at the upcoming ElectroTestExpo Show on March 26th, 2013. We would like to invite you to join T&M and ATE professionals for a series of PCB debug and test event held at one of the UK's iconic sporting venues - Hampshire County Cricket Club’s Rose Bowl.

Learn about the latest developments in board test technology from industry experts - products on display will include: Bench-top ATE, PXI systems, Oscilloscopes, Logic Analysers, JTAG Boundary-scan Testers and Programmers, DFT analysis tools, AOI systems, Flying-probe testers, Mass interconnect systems and more.

Victor Fernandes, Geotest’s European Sales Manager, will present “Integration of Software Technologies into a Test System”. To receive your complimentary exhibition pass and access to the free technical seminar program, click here to register.

SMT, April 16th - 18th
Nurberg, Germany
Please visit our local distributor, Prueftechnik Schneider & Koch, at this show. To find out more about this show, visit the show website: http://www.mesago.de

The PXI Show, May 15th
Silverstone, UK
Visit Geotest - Marvin Test Systems, Inc. at the PXI Show. This one-day event will focus exclusively on the PXI modular Test & Measurement platform. A consortium of T&M professionals are hosting this event, and will offer test managers and engineers a unique opportunity to experience a range of PXI products currently available from the industry's leading vendors. Victor Fernandes, Geotest’s European Sales Manager, will deliver the keynote address for this event. Click here to learn more about the PXI Show.

Channel Partners

Geotest Welcomes Testmation as South Korean Distributor

Testmation has joined Geotest’s international sales force to represent Geotest’s complete line of products, including PXI- & PC-based instrumentation, TS-900 Semiconductor test systems, ATEasy

software, and the legacy instrument replacement product line. Headquartered in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, Testmation offers modular test and measurement instruments, system configuration consulting, and integration services. Major integration projects have included depot service ATE for military electronics, semiconductor characterization, and high power electric device characterization. Read full press release.

PSI Solutions Partners with Geotest as Pacific North West Representative

Geotest has expaneded its national sales force by signing PSI Solutions as its factory representative for Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Headquartered in Federal Way, Washington, PSI Solutions will represent Geotest’s complete line of products, including PXI- & PC-based instrumentation, preconfigured systems, ATEasy software, and the legacy instrument replacement product line.

Greg Gohsman and Tad Papineau founded PSI Solutions in 1995 and have built the company into an award winning sales organization that is committed to providing superior sales coverage for test instrumentation, embedded component and imaging requirements of Pacific Northwest manufacturing and design companies. Read full press release.

Recently Updated Software

Geotest has released several software support packages for Geotest products. All of these updates can be downloaded from the Geotest website.

• GXAO, Version 1.30

         - Added support for GX1649.
         - Added C# examples.
         - Added support for Windows 8.
         - Revised LabView driver and example.
         - HW version 4.6.1 is included with this package, see the HW readme for new/change list.

• GTLinux, Version 1.5

         - Updated GXFPGA to version 2.1.
         - Updated GXSW to version 3.3 (added support for GX6196).
         - Updated GXAO to version 1.3 (added support for GX1649).
         - Updated GXCNT to version 3.2.
         - Updated GXPDO to version 3.0 (added support for GX3348).
         - Updated GXDMM to version 1.3.
         - Modified kernel driver for compatibility with kernel versions.

• GXFPGA, Version 2.1

         - Improved interrupt handling.
         - Added support for Stratix III EP3SL70F780C3N.
         - Fixed DMA operation: (read/write operations were reversed).
         - HW version 4.6.1 is included with this package, see the HW readme for new/change list.

• GXSW, Version 3.3

         - Added support for GX6196.
         - Added C# interface file and example.
         - GX6384:
           * Decreased driver relay switching time.
           * Fixed the firmware upgrade done via the panel introduced in version 3.01.
           * Using Firmware 0xC022 and above will speed up switching time.
         - Virtual panel:
           * Added a Switch Time Compatibility Mode checkbox to the About property page.
             See the GX6384 User's Guide "Virtual Panel About Page" section for more details.
         - HW version 4.6.1 is included with this package, see the HW readme for new/change list.

• HW, Version 4.6.1

         - Fixed issue with PXI Explorer on Windows 7.

• GTDIO, Version 5.0.64.1

         - GX5295 driver:
           * Fixed PMU operation : after setting a channel to PMU Force Voltage and running a vector, the channel would not measure the correct current.
         - GTDIO Panel:
           * Fixed measure tab: when using the GX5295 or GX5055,  occasionally the measurements in the panel Measure tab will flicker.
         - Documentation:
           * Updated Help file and Software User Guide.

• GTDIO, Version 5.0.64

         - DIOEASY-FIT
            * New import dialog features:
               - Pin remapping, supports assigning and ignoring of pins.
               - Input Sample Offset for EVCD/VCD files.
               - Changed 0 Cycle default to 10000 ps (10 ns) - faster execution, (0 is auto detect).
               - Updated dialog recalls last file and file type.
               - Supports profiles for storing repeated imports / settings.
               - Display conversion warnings and support clipboard copying of warnings
               - Improved import progress bar better reflects the import progress.
               - Added Abort button to stop the import process
         - GX529X:
            * Fixed initialization of a domain which occasionally would set slaves in pause mode.
            * Fixed writing of data to memories when width is set to 16 or 8 channels and the start step number is odd.
            * Optimized writing of data to a file.
            * Fixed occasional system hang condiition when reading from memories using a fast embedded controller (i7 and above)
         - GX5295:
            * Fixed DioGetChannelMode for Auxiliary channels.
            * Fixed DioPmuSetupForcedVoltage - function would check for the correct current range even if dwSetupMode was set to default.
            * Fixed DioMeasure function which would retrun an erroneous reading.
         - Panel:
            * Fixed occasional panel crashes when clicking away from the Measure tab using GX5295.
            * Fixed GX5050 Setup tab which displayed and incorrect error message.
         - Driver
            * Fixed converting or saving ASCII DIO files, board order was switched in Build 50 and above.
            * Added new API to remap channels (swap, move and copy) DioRemapChannel, see the DioSoftwareProgRef.pdf for details.
            * Fixed saving of DIO files created with Version 4.1 Build 58 and before. Files would not open properly in Version 4.1 Build 60.
            * Added support for LabView Real Time (DIO File API not supported in this version for LabView/Real-Time, use memory functions instead).
            * HW (Hardware Access Driver) version 4.6.1 is included.
            * Updated LabView driver and example for GX5295 (Real Time Compare).
         - DIOEasy
            * Added Remap dialog to Channel menu to allow swap, move or copy of channels.
            * Removed Move from Channel menu.
            * Rearranged dialogs and renamed all menu dialogs with Cancel button to Close button.
            * Improved zoom functionality, including Zoom Out to view the whole file and Zoom In to view a selected area.
            * Fixed converting or saving ASCII DIO files, board order was switched in Build 50 and above.
            * Fixed channel order.
            * Fixed saving of DIO files created with Version 4.1 Build 58 and before. Files would not open properly in Version 4.1 Build 60.
            * Spedup fill functions.
            * Updated GTDIO/DIOEasy Software User’s Guide.