Skittish about USB DAQ

[Broken_Arrow]

Hi all,

I am considering using a USB DAQ device for the first time, perhaps the USB-6229. Any opinions on this device?  Speed is not important, but NRE is. I don't want to spend 2X or 3X the time writing the code (LabVIEW) when I can whip out code for a PCI card fairly quickly. Don't these USB devices make API calls all the time? Is there any example code out there?

I've done tons of RS232 DAQ with LabVIEW - is that skill transferable to USB DAQ?

I really like the fact that the USB device is not dedicated to one PC, and the terminal block right on the device will save hundreds of dollars compared to the PCI equivalent (cables + breakout boxes).

Thanks,

[Dennis_Knutson]

NI's USB DAQ devices are programmed exactly the same way as their PCI boards - with DAQmx. If you've used that, then you don't have to relearn anything. There are a lot of shipping examples of DAQmx if you've never used that before.

If you've done programming with RS-232 devices, that sort of experience would apply to GPIB, VXI, instruments as they would all use VISA and not DAQmx.

[Broken_Arrow]

Cool, I use DAQmx quite a lot. Sounds like fun, I'll take the plunge.
True, RS232 is VISA. I was just wondering if that's the way you talk to the USB stuff.
Thanks Dennis.