[Techtoolslist] Wireless Enabled Fluke 9010A, Anyone?

[Brad Gass]

One more thing... 

If you drop the Fluke serial interface on the floor, you may want to check the crystal to be sure it hasn't been converted into a maraca. 

Important tip. 


From: "bradg" <bradg at digitalplains.net> 
To: jrr at flippers.com, "Technical Tools Mail List" <techtoolslist at flippers.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 3:42:04 PM 
Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] Wireless Enabled Fluke 9010A, Anyone? 

John and all - I can add a lot more detail now, actually. But, more pictures and PCB drawings will take me a little longer to package up, I'm a bit busy at this point in the fall! But, it's actually pretty simple to accomplish really... 

This is a Wi-Fi to serial bridge that works under Windows 7, and presumably Windows XP (although haven't tested). I've not tested any newer version of Windows, but would probably setup and run a Windows 7 or XP VM to ensure it still worked on newer OS'es when that time comes. 

The end result is a modified Lantronix xPico Wi-Fi Arduino shield on a PCB carrier board that is piggybacked onto the factory Fluke RS232 interface. Slightly downsized picture attached (sorry, John). 

I initially tried to accomplish this using a WizNet WizFi250H module - mostly because it was a formfactor I could prototype a PCB with. I was familiar with the Lantronix products, and looked at the xPico options (essentially module versions of their device servers - which work fine with the Fluke), but the high density Hirose mezzanine connector was a concern (rightly so actually). 

Well, after a couple routed prototype PCB's using the WizNet module, struggles with their software, and compatibility issues with my shop WiFi (Ubiquiti UAP), I gave up and started looking at Lantronix again. The Lantronix solution was a little more expensive, but at this point I wanted something that "just worked". I also wanted an all internal solution, I didn't want to have to deal with the external device server, cable, and power cube - and simply be able to pick up the Fluke and go to whatever bench I needed it at. 

The Lantronix xPico modules are only available as an SMT module, or a packaged module with the Hirose mezzanine connector. I couldn't be certain I could actually solder the SMT module properly using my home equipment, so I opted to look at the connectorized module. But, I sourced an Arduino xPico shield kit first to be sure it was going to work in the application - and it did. 

On closer inspection, the shield PCB was a size that would work inside the Fluke, and not need a ton of extra effort to support - in fact, it was a drop-in electrically, all the needed peripheral components were already there. It became mostly an exercise in mechanical design and packaging. 

I removed the factory antenna, the Arduino headers, then designed an adapter PCB that sits between the shield and the Fluke interface board routing power, ground, transmit, and receive between the two. I also designed a small "shelf" board that is attached to the shield PCB using vacated header pin locations, holding a 2.4GHz patch antenna. 

Warning to DIY'ers - I strongly suggest not de-mating the xPico module from the shield PCB. The Hirose connector is incredibly fragile and fussy to align, and even Lantronix (or, their CM) has had difficulty getting everything lined up and the stiff plastic retainer clip attached. When disassembled, the Hirose connector on my test shield fell apart (both shield and module sides) and was damaged beyond use. The connector was visibly misaligned on the shield PCB, and appeared to have been forced together during assembly. The shield PCB pictured was the second shield unit, and was de-mated (still damaged, but useable), and used without the retainer clip. I secured it to the shield PCB with a little epoxy instead. 

On my second retrofit (not pictured), I did not de-mate the module, instead using a hot knife to cut the retainer clip plastic over the antenna connector in order to swap in the patch antenna. Afterward, I dabbed a little RTV from the clip to the module on either side to keep things held in place. 

On the Fluke interface board side, the two optocouplers that provide the galvanic serial port isolation were removed, and the shield/adapter PCB stack attached to the Fluke interface board where the opto's were. I also removed the power isolation transformer that was no longer needed, to eliminate any unnecessary switching RF noise - that wouldn't be strictly necessary, only improving the RF environment a bit. 

Done - power is supplied by the Fluke, everything is internal, and it works exactly like a wired connection to FIDE once configured. 

I've been using the 64-bit FIDE workaround from William Stillwell (thank you!) with this setup, and although I haven't put a lot of time in at the bench, no problems so far when using it. I will add that you need to be sure that the COM Port Redirector software is configured to use a port between 1 and 4 for FIDE to work (or at least I did). I didn't investigate much further, but it appears that FIDE may expect to find the Fluke only in that range of COM ports. 


--Brad 


From: "John Robertson" <jrr at flippers.com> 
To: "Technical Tools Mail List" <techtoolslist at flippers.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 2:34:08 PM 
Subject: Re: [Techtoolslist] Wireless Enabled Fluke 9010A, Anyone? 

On 09/30/2015 12:17 PM, Brad Gass wrote: 
> Is anyone interested in (internally) wireless enabling their Fluke 9010A for communication with FIDE? It requires the factory Fluke RS232 interface, and will disable the use of the wired DB25 (although it is a reversible modification if you ever wanted to). 
> 
> If there is some interest, in the coming weeks I can put together some details on how I made the modifications to my two 9010A's. It does take a little time and some soldering, but makes for a tidy, self contained setup - I'm almost always glad to eliminate some copper spaghetti from the bench when I can. With enough interest, I may consider running some of the adapter PCB's I designed for myself and offer to others who are interested. 
> 
> --Brad 
> _______________________________________________ 

Hi Brad, 

I for one am interested! This may also work for the 9100!! 

Also, you may want to get together with Piero Andreini and have him add 
it to his USB board... see postings "Fluke 9010A - RS-232 & USB 
interface!!" from 2014 

John :-#)# 

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