Hi all,
I've been working for a while on a python script for capturing screenshots from vintage instruments and would appreciate the community's feedback and help.
Here's a few samples to start with:



86 devices are supported, but don't get too excited because 1) it's easy to reach this number with some instruments having many variants (like the HP85xx series of spectrum analyzers) and 2) not all devices have been tested, and I even boldly assumed that if it works for one instrument of a series then it works for all of them. You will notice that all instruments are from HP at the moment but there should be nothing preventing us from supporting devices from other manufacturers.
HP-53310A Modulation domain analyzer
HP-8990A and 8991A Peak power analyzers [untested]
HP-8992A Digital video power analyzer [untested]
HP-5450/1xA/B Digital oscilloscopes (54501A, 54503A, 54504A, 54505A/B, 54506B, 54510A/B, 54512B) [untested]
HP-5452/4xA Oscilloscopes (54520A, 54522A, 54540A, 54542A)
HP-54600 Oscilloscopes (54600A, 54601A, 54602A, 54600B, 54601B, 54602B, 54603B, 54610B, 54615B, 54616B, 54645A, 54645D)
HP-54620A Logic analyzer [untested]
HP-83475B Lightwave communication analyzer [untested]
HP-5461/2xA/D Oscilloscopes (54621A/D, 54622A/D, 54624A, 54641A/D, 54642A/D)
HP-4395A and HP-4396B Spectrum / network / impedance analyzers
HP-4286A RF LCR meter [untested]
HP-4291A/B Impedance / material analyzer [untested]
HP-4294A Precision impedance analyzer [untested]
HP-4352B VCO/PLL analyzer
HP-859xE Spectrum analyzers (8591E, 8593E, 8594E, 8595E, 8596E)
HP-859xEM EMC analyzers (8591EM, 8593EM, 8594EM, 8595EM, 8596EM)
HP-859xL Spectrum analyzers (8590L, 8592L)
HP-856xE Spectrum analyzers (8560E, 8561E, 8562E, 8563E, 8564E, 8565E)
HP-E444x PSA Signal analyzers (E4440A, E4443B, E4445A, E4446B, E4447A, E4448A) [
tested]
HP-E440/1x ESA Spectrum analyzers (E4401B, E4402B, E4403B, E4404B, E4405B, E4407B, E4408B, E4411B) [
tested]
HP-E4406A VSA Signal analyzer [untested]
HP-894xx Signal analyzers (89441A, 89440A, 89410A, 89441V, 89450A, 89451A) [untested]
The script is 100% python and is based on pyvisa, so if you're interested in giving it a spin you will need a working pyvisa setup. ImageMagick is the only other dependency. Visashot has been tested on Linux and Windows, but I don't have a Windows machine myself so support for this platform may be a little spotty.
Please consider contributing, for example by:
- testing with your instruments
- sharing sexy screenshots
- helping to support more devices
- testing on other platforms (mac?)
Project page for download and more information:
https://damien.douxchamps.net/elec/visashot/Developer site:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/visashot/ (yeah, I know SF is old skool...)
A
mailing list is also available to facilitate testing and development discussions.
Cheers!