[Techtoolslist] Wireless Enabled Fluke 9010A, Anyone?

Wed Sep 30 18:47:10 EDT 2015

That great to know thanks for sharing and also for waking up all the
Lurkers!

Hey everyone!

On Wednesday, 30 September 2015, Brad Gass <bradg at digitalplains.net> wrote:

> 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 <javascript:;>>
> To: "Technical Tools Mail List" <techtoolslist at flippers.com <javascript:;>
> >
> 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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Steve Larkins
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