[sdiy] Electronics Workbench

[harry]

Its a high fly ball....

I got it.

Our company owns a copy and I've used it quite a bit.  Strong point is that
the
simulation is interactive.  So I can put it a switch or a pot and see what
will happen
under varying circumstances.

Weak point is mixed signal simulation. The Analog part works very well, but
it does
not interface well with the digital portion.  Some circuits that SHOULD work
(like
a comparator (analog) driving a flip flop (digital)... do not always trigger
properly.
Have to get out the soldering iron once that happens.

The Bode plot is nice, Oscilloscope is a little primitive for my taste, but
with some
circuit tricks you can help it out (like using a voltage suming block as a
differential
probe...).   I think its a good package overall.

BTW: schmitt trigger gates AREN'T. Try making a classic one gate oscillator
with one!

H^)  harry

Jim Patchell wrote:

>     I just got a flyer for electronics workbench.  It seems that they
> are having a sale.  The whole package (capture,simulator,pcb,router) for
> $600.  Now, I don't really need the PCB package, but the simulator would
> be nice (it is on sale for $300).  Now, is this thing worth $300?  It
> has been a long time since I have used spice (1975, on an IBM 360/75
> with punched cards of all things).  Do they have a good implementation?
> Limitations?  Inquiring minds want to know!
>
>     -Jim