1)  Download the source code or the binaries:
    Source code:  for linux: gmcounter.c

    Binaries: for linux:  gmcounter.out

2) If you downloaded the source code (in C) you may have to modify it for your
    application. Then compile it (under linux, type "gcc gmcounter.c"). Call the
    executable "gmcounter.out"
 

3) If in linux, drop into 'root'.  Enter the command "./gmcounter cua0" and it will run!

(note : Linux in linux,  cua0 is what is called com1 of DOS and also cua1 is what is called com2 in DOS, thus in the above example, the output of the circuit is connected to the 'com1' port of the PC)

The output of the program is a pulse number followed by a loop variable time that can be
scalled to real time using the command

"time ./gmcounter.c cua0 > pulsetimes.dat"

and waiting until it completes (1000 pulses). The pulsetimes.dat file will contain all the output and
you may compare the last loop variable time with the time returned from this command above to
calibrate the count rate.

SPECIAL NOTE: Beware of slow computers/cheap laptops! They will not catch all the pulses!
        On a computer that simply cannot poll the port often enough to see the pulses, one can
        still make the measurements BUT it will measure a corrected rate, reduced from the actual
        counter rate by the average loss rate at the computer. This will make comparing from  set up to
        set up more complicated. Just watch the meeter and the computer simultaneously on
        background counts...if the meter moces and the computer doesn't record it occasionally, your
        computer is polling the port too slowly.
 
 
 

ENJOY!