Frequently Asked Questions

THE NETWORK CONTROLLER AND STUDENT STATIONS

Question
Does each student station contain a floppy drive and memory that needs maintenance and regular upgrading?

Answer
No. MeasureNet student data stations were designed as “dumb terminals” with little processing power and no significant memory or floppy drive. This eliminated the need for upgrades and reduces station maintenance. Processor and memory in our network design resides in the central network controller. The expected life expectancy of student data stations in a wet lab environment is 10-15 years. Network software upgrades occur at the network controller via a PCMCIA card, not at individual stations. Remove the old card, insert the upgrade, and you’ve updated an entire 12-station network in a single stroke!

SPECTROSCOPY

Question
How is a MeasureNet spectrometer different than an Ocean Optics spectrometer?

Answer
MeasureNet is actually an OEM of Ocean Optics and uses an Ocean Optics monochrometer as a component in its shared diode-array spectrometer. It also currently uses Ocean Optics light sources and optical fibers for each of its visible and UV-vis devices.
Unlike Ocean Optics spectrometers, MeasureNet's shared adaptation is not tied to individual PCs. A single spectrometer is efficiently shared by up to 12-student pairs in a teaching laboratory. You would need 12 PC-based spectrometers and their associated PCs to perform similar emission or absorption measurements as efficiently.

Question
I have "Spectronic 20" spectrophotometers in my lab. How is the MeasureNet spectrometer different?

Answer
MeasureNet designed each of its 12-station networks to share a single, diode array visible or UV-vis spectrometer. Unlike traditional single-wavelength devices such as the "Spec 20" and its equivalents, a MeasureNet spectrometer is a scanning device with considerable range (visible 400-1000 nm, 1 nm resolution; UV-vis 200-850 nm; 1 nm resolution). It is capable of both emission and absorption measurement via a fiber optic cable.

Question
I have HP spectrometers in my labs. Aren't they the same as the MeasureNet spectrometer?

Answer
No. They are designed for individual use and require a PC as an interface. Unlike the MeasureNet spectrometer, such spectrometers are not designed for sharing. Most are incapable of emission measurement. As they also each require interfacing with a PC, there are regular PC maintenance and repurchase costs. A single networked MeasureNet shared spectrometer can perform the functions of up to 12 equivalent stand-alone PC-interfaced spectrometers.

Question
Performing kinetics experiments with a shared spectrometer could cause lengthy student queuing. How do we avoid this when using MeasureNet?

Answer
MeasureNet has introduced a new multi-function colorimeter. The instrument attaches to each station and can be used for kinetics experiments, as well as fluorescence and turbidity acquisitions. The colorimeter has a dual-beam design for reduced drift-rate and has factory-customizable LEDs at various wavelengths.  Learn More

PROBEWARE

Question
How is MeasureNet's drop counter different than other drop counters?

Answer
MeasureNet designed the fist infrared drop counter, introduced to MeasureNet users in 2002. Traditional drop counters used metal wires to count drops that were easily damaged during use. MeasureNet uses an infrared beam to count drops for improved productivity and accuracy when performing titrations. Its compact design is an industry standard, providing support for a temperature probe and pH electrode.

Some PC-based competitors have introduced similar drop counters after MeasureNet. But unlike the MeasureNet drop counter, alternate designs often need larger volume beakers and have exposed infrared cells that can deteriorate with exposure to acids and bases. Always compare design and manufactured quality!

DATA ANALYSIS

Question
Each 12-station MeasureNet Network comes with just a single PC. Isn't it awkward for students share this PC to perform data analysis?

Answer
It would be, but students don’t typically use the single PC provisioned for each network! The MeasureNet PC is intended to store data, interface with the shared printer, help instructors monitor experiments on the network, and serve as a distribution conduit for data shunted over LANs or to the MeasureNet web-based data storage site for later downloading and analysis. Students can perform needed analysis on the existing PC infrastructure of the department or campus.

Question
Aren't station data displays too small for analysis?

Answer
Yes. They provide only immediate visual feedback for collections. Printing the collected data will give the best resolution. Students also can use MeasureNet "print codes" to perform initial analysis on their data from the MeasureNet stations. Data sets can also be distributed to existing PCs in the department or student dorms/homes using the department's local area network or MeasureNet's web-based storage facility for further analysis.

OPERATIONAL COSTS

Question
Is a MeasureNet Network more costly compared to PC-based interfaces?

Answer
Not really. If a department is purchasing PCs, printers, and interfaces with probeware for a typical 24-student lab, the cost is roughly the same or often less than the purchase of MeasureNet.

Question
How much does a department typically save adopting MeasureNet versus PC-based interfaces?

Answer
Departments save between $50,000 to $70,000 over 10 years. This is based on maintenance, PC replacement, and electricity savings.

PC-BASED INTERFACES : LABWORKS

Question
Now that the company manufacturing Labworks interfaces is defunct and the units are no longer produced, can its probes be adapted for use with MeasureNet?

Answer
Typically, pH and ion-selective electrodes using coaxial connectors can be used with a MeasureNet System. Many digital balances with an RS-232 out and Spectronic 20 type instruments with voltage out can be adapted as well. Customers converting to MeasureNet, however, need to purchase MeasureNet-specific probes for other data acquisition activities.

More on PC-based Interfaces versus MeasureNet