first post...

[Brian Scott Haskett]

Whoa... A virgin mailing list, I feel so priveleged! :)

OK- Let me introduce myself.  I am a CS major at UT, and am currently 
employed with IBM.  I worked for 4 years for Oceaneering International, 
specifically in the ROV devision.  (ROV = Remotely Operated Vehicle).  
The ROV's that we build were sub-sea robots, used mostly by the Navy and 
the oil industry, but some use by excavators (Space Shuttle Challenger).

So the purpose of the above information is to let you know that I have 
been around a lot of EE people, and I have helped build the electronics 
on these things.  As a CS student, I am specializing in software 
development in the area of engineering-type tools.  I'm good at 
programming, but I am lacking in the EE dept.  I feel 110% confident that 
I could program an EFI system, but I don't have a good understanding of 
the hardware involved.  I am familiar with A/D boards, however.

Rather than diving headfirst into a project to development my on EFI, I 
would like to start out by monitoring the vehicle's computer with a 
computer.  The best way for me to start out is probably to get an A/D 
board, and something that I will be able to use for a long time (IE- has 
enough functions so that I can do more with it as I learn).

So any suggestions on a *cheap* a/d board?  I went to the library this 
past summer and got info out of one of the EE mag's on making an A/D 
board, but it didn't look like it would do too well with a car.  Not 
enough input/outputs.

I have used Analog Devices boards, and GenPak boards.  I tried to contact 
Analog Devices recently, but never was able to find them.  GenPak is very 
expensive, and isn't really an option (unless they have some stuff that 
is cheaper than what we used at OI).

One more thing-  I have an '84 Z28, but for performance reasons, the 
computer now serves no purpose.  I'm trying to think of a way to take 
advantage of the hardware sitting in there, and can't think of anything.  

Sorry that this wasn't too much about EFI, but if I can get set up, then 
I`ll be plugging away!  I think that we can all learn a lot quicker if we 
share what we have, and I am willing to do some programming for the 
list.  If anybody has a programming need, and a number of people on the 
list would use it, I would be happy to contribute.

-Brian