"Straydog" wrote in message
.com...
Are you talking about any PC _sound_card?

The fact that you even ask that shows how little you know about them.
However some like the Lynx compare pretty well to an AP test set within
their designed range, for a LOT less money.

A PC _sound_card? Meant for _audio_ frequency ranges?

Yes, amazing isn't it that is exactly what audio people want to measure, but
try 1Hz to 90kHz for some sound cards, with 0.001% N+D.

You think I'd rather have that than a decent DC to RF (X
mHz) oscilloscope 10 v/div down to 1-10 mv/div sensitivity?

**** just about any sound card can do that voltage range with a 20 cent
resistive divider. Shame you didn't mention the real problem, if you want a
high input impedance you need a high quality buffer amp. Of course those
simply measuring audio gear don't need it.

Time base
seconds/div to microseconds/div or less? And, can measure DC. Maybe if
you want to do some FFT or other DSP on an audio signal you can have the
soundcard. I'll pick the dedicated gear with specs that fit the ap.

Good for you, especially if your application is not audio. Funny though how
most dedicated test gear is connected to a PC data aquisition system these
days, at least in most metrology labs. The ability to make repeated
measurements unattended, with data manipulation, analysis and presentation
is something not many labs would be without anymore.

You mean you don't need to _assume_ the soundcard is working or you don't
need to worry about sw bugs or invalid process or tollerances or other
spec-dependent limitations? So, if the computer says "X" then it is
absolutely true, valid, straight from the horses mouth? No ands, ifs, or
buts? Do you know what the term "parasitic" means as it applies to chips?

Calibration standards apply to ANY test gear, analog or digital, PC based or
stand alone.
Anybody with knowledge of metrology understands how to make proper
measurements, those who don't believe their test gear's badge is all the
calibration that's necessary :-(

MrT.