Gretag Macbeth Spectophotometer - is it worth buying?

[TonyW]

I may have the opportunity to pick up a Gretag Macbeth system with iProfiler software at what appears to be a very low price, under $200! (looks like the attachment).  Not 100% sure of the unit name or version or what software version but from what I know it appears to be in first-class working condition.

Is it a worthwhile purchase for producing print profiles or is it too long in the tooth to be considered.

[digitaldog]

That's a Spectrolino with x/y tab;e a very good unit albeit SLOW and noisy. Based on the color, I suspect it's going to come with ProfileMaker Pro (purple indicated if memory serves, it's got a built in dongle for that). Does it actually work? Can you attach it to your current system (may need adaptors and software).
http://www.gain.com.tw/archives/Spectrolino_en.pdf

[TonyW]

That's a Spectrolino with x/y tab;e a very good unit albeit SLOW and noisy. Based on the color, I suspect it's going to come with ProfileMaker Pro (purple indicated if memory serves, it's got a built in dongle for that). Does it actually work? Can you attach it to your current system (may need adaptors and software).
http://www.gain.com.tw/archives/Spectrolino_en.pdf

Andrew, excellent information thank you.

I might be wrong here but I think it does come with ProfileMaker Pro version 3.5? - Windows 98!
I will be checking it out to see if it does actually work but it seems that it does - according to the seller!

At this time I do not know what is required to connect and if new software required exactly what will work and the cost I am on Windows 10

[digitaldog]

You'll have to download the software assuming you can find it, the dongle *should* be built into the hardware for it if memory serves but check. You'll need to hook it up serial port somehow if you have an old enough machine or can find some kind of adaptor for USB and software, again iffy.

[Rhossydd]

At this time I do not know what is required to connect and if new software required exactly what will work and the cost I am on Windows 10

Your best bet is to forget trying to run it on a modern W10 system, but break out an old W98/XP 32bit system with a normal RS232 serial port.
It's not particularly resource heavy, so you ought to be able to pick up an old system for peanuts.

Yes, if working, it's a very good spectro, but as Andrew says it's noisy and painfully slow compared to contemporary systems. Hence why running it on a dedicated old system makes sense.

If PMP 3.5 doesn't work and I'm not sure that the Spectralino necessarily had a built in dongle, you should probably manage to pass the data to Argyll to build a profile in.

[digitaldog]

Right, one could still use the hardware (but one still needs software: ColorPort, MeasureTool etc) to measure and save a CGATs file, build the profiles with something else.

[GWGill]

If PMP 3.5 doesn't work and I'm not sure that the Spectralino necessarily had a built in dongle, you should probably manage to pass the data to Argyll to build a profile in.

ArgyllCMS will directly drive this instrument. You can then use Hexagonal test charts :-)

[DP]

I may have the opportunity to pick up a Gretag Macbeth system

make sure the calibration tile is there and matches the S/N

[TonyW]

You'll have to download the software assuming you can find it, the dongle *should* be built into the hardware for it if memory serves but check. You'll need to hook it up serial port somehow if you have an old enough machine or can find some kind of adaptor for USB and software, again iffy.

Will make sure that I can run it - I think it pretty easy and cheap to get a USB to RS232 or even a USB to LPT 36-pin adapter

Your best bet is to forget trying to run it on a modern W10 system, but break out an old W98/XP 32bit system with a normal RS232 serial port.
It's not particularly resource heavy, so you ought to be able to pick up an old system for peanuts.

Yes, if working, it's a very good spectro, but as Andrew says it's noisy and painfully slow compared to contemporary systems. Hence why running it on a dedicated old system makes sense.

If PMP 3.5 doesn't work and I'm not sure that the Spectralino necessarily had a built in dongle, you should probably manage to pass the data to Argyll to build a profile in.

If I do decide to purchase then it does seem sensible to purchase a cheap dedicated system to run.  Although it looks like ArgyllCMS may offer salvation

ArgyllCMS will directly drive this instrument. You can then use Hexagonal test charts :-)

Excellent news thank you 

make sure the calibration tile is there and matches the S/N

Thanks for the heads up.

I will be checking the unit out with the current owner over the next week or so which will enable me to evaluate if working and usable for me.  I am not sure it will be that useful for him as he is printing to glass, metal, wax and other 'unusual' substrates and the unit really was an impulse buy.  I have found and downloaded the manuals for further study.

Many thanks to all who offered opinion and advice - much appreciated 

[Rhossydd]

I think it pretty easy and cheap to get a USB to RS232 or even a USB to LPT 36-pin adapter

Be warned that there reports that many of these adaptors(and their drivers) don't exactly follow the correct protocols. The Spectrascan is apparently rather fussy about such issues, so may not work going via some USB or parallel adaptors. All rather a lottery.

[DP]

Will make sure that I can run it - I think it pretty easy and cheap to get a USB to RS232 or even a USB to LPT 36-pin adapter

I have couple of spectrolinos and I am using this -> https://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-high-speed-usb-to-serial-adapter~USA19HS

[DP]

If I do decide to purchase

if it works just get it... you can always resell if for a profit !

[digitaldog]

I those old days, I ran my unit without issue using the Keyspan to USB too, it's still around in a drawer somewhere. This was many OS ago and the Keyspan needed it's own software (driver) too. So check that the driver is still supported with your OS.

[GWGill]

I those old days, I ran my unit without issue using the Keyspan to USB too, it's still around in a drawer somewhere. This was many OS ago and the Keyspan needed it's own software (driver) too. So check that the driver is still supported with your OS.

I had two keyspan adapters for testing instruments :- they both bricked themselves in an identical manner, basically loosing their firmware and reverting to an un-programmed state. Not recommended.

[Pat Herold]

Send me a message if you get it, and I can send you an X/Y scanning head alignment procedure you might need.

[TonyW]

Thanks, guys for the heads up about the Serial to USB ports I will be checking carefully.  Thank you Pat for your kind offer and your pdf link.  Once again all your input much appreciated 

At present my friend and coach who has the unit has not got it up and working as he needs an older system (Win 98?) using the ProfileMaker 3.* that came with it.  For the moment want to try and get it working as it came originally prior to looking at the ArgylCMS option.  The message comes up that it cannot find the dongle.  From this, I assume that the Spectrolino included the dongle internally and the software/drivers expected to find this when the system boots?

Hope to get a chance to look in depth at the unit in the next week or so

[Rhossydd]

  The message comes up that it cannot find the dongle.  From this, I assume that the Spectrolino included the dongle internally and the software/drivers expected to find this when the system boots?

There are several possibilities that could be causing this error and without knowing what's meant to be happening there are a lot of options.

If you're just trying to get PMP running without the Spectraliono on the system, it will be looking for a dedicated USB dongle (*which I assume you haven't got).

The Spectrolino may have a built in licence dongle, but would need to be showing up as a device present on the system. If not, you'll need to sort out the driver.

All the GMB dongles and licenced items I've used are plug and play, so you shouldn't have to go through boot cycles to find them, but USB>serial port adaptors might not be so accommodating.

[Klahne]

I had two keyspan adapters for testing instruments :- they both bricked themselves in an identical manner, basically loosing their firmware and reverting to an un-programmed state. Not recommended.

I use a Keyspan adapter to communicate, (nearly every day for years) with a Broncolor Grafit power pack.  I have model # USA-28XG with Keyspan 2.6 software and it runs fine with Mac OS 10.13.6  This particular model is discontinued but model # USA-19HS is still supported by Tripplite.  Their product page is:  https://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-high-speed-usb-to-serial-adapter~USA19HS  Tech support could not provide an ETA for a 64 bit driver version, required for Mac OS 10.15 (Catalina).

[GWGill]

I use a Keyspan adapter to communicate, (nearly every day for years) with a Broncolor Grafit power pack.

The two I had were #USA-19HS. They worked well until they didn't.

[Alexey.Danilchenko]

ArgyllCMS will directly drive this instrument. You can then use Hexagonal test charts :-)

I am using exacatly that (Spectroscan) from latest MacOS and Windows 10 via ArgyllCMS to profile my printer and it works a treat. In fact it's the only software that I managed to make work with Spectroscan on modern OS (thanks Graeme).

Noise wise and being slow is not really an issue - I just leave it running scanning large target in the evening whilst I do other things.