Multiple Serial Data Stream Timestamping

[gerwiz]

Hi There,

I am running a project where I have 2 RS232 data streams which are sending at around 8Hz. My problem is that I need to accurately timestamp these together, as the data arrives. I cannot do this with Windows XP, because it buffers the data, and I get varying timestamps which I can't easily relate to when the data arrived.

Is there an of the shelf microcontroller dev board or something similar I could use to do this - or special software.

Any advice would be appreciated,

Regards,
Gerry

[Jan Axelson]

Just about any microcontroller circuit with a real-time clock and serial port can send data with timestamps.

Here is a clock chip:

http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/2685

Jan