OS (e.g. Win10): Windows 10 Enterprise
PsychoPy version (e.g. 1.84.x): PsychoPy 2023.2.3
Standard Standalone? (y/n) Y
What are you trying to achieve?:
Trying to send triggers to from stimulus computer to acquisition computer (via Curry 7) using a Compumedics Neuroscan EEG system.
What did you try to make it work?:
Our old stimulus computer (32 bit machine) used with our NeuroScan EEG system has a printer port but we wanted to switch to a 64 bit machine to use PsychoPy. We brought in a new Dell computer (specs listed on this thread above) but it does not have a printer port. We have adapters in lab for standard USB 2.0 to printer port that we can use with existing Neuroscan cable and try but I’m concerned about timing and what port address to use in this case for PsychoPy? Alternative would be to get IT to mount a printer port to the machine?
USB-to-parallel port adapters (as well as USB-to-serial) have really poor timing. The issue is not the hardware – the hardware is plenty fast. The issue is the USB driver that comes with them. They tend to buffer data for efficiency, causing event markers that you send to sit in the buffer for a while (30+ milliseconds is not unusual).
If you don’t want to invest in something like c-pod (made by our company Cedrus) and you are using a desktop PC, another option is a parallel port adapter that plugs inside your PC. We tested one in the past and had very good timing with it.
Hello @habboud thanks for the reply. Could you provide an example link of the adapter you are referencing for comparison? I’m at a university so I can send in request and see if they’ll approve c pod if not go this route.
Thanks
It’s been at least 10 years since we last looked at these adapter cards. Currently, there is only one lonely PC in our office that accepts such cards! Everything else is either laptops or Apple iMacs running Windows. Sorry that I can’t assist.
If you’re going to search, start by finding out what type of card your specific Dell computer accepts.