Communicate over GPIB to RS232 converter

[BMax]

Hi All!

I have following problem with using GPIB to RS232 converter:

The measurement software from an old mass spectrometer communicates via GPIB with the instruments. When one of this instruments (vacuum control unit) was broken, we have made a new one. But without GPIB-interface. The new unit is based on EATON PLC. The PLC has an RS232 interface, the measurement software needs GPIB, so I bought a GPIB to RS232 converter. I use the convertor in G-mode. The problem is that the software only sends an ibrd command after it addresses the unit by its primary and secondary address. The software sends no write before read. Then it waits for the string with states and measured values. It works if I write the string, the software needs, within time-out to the buffer of the converter.

Is it possible to detect a ibread-command on the RS232 side? So I can write the string with actual values to the converter buffer when the software needs it.

Or can I overwrite the buffer or delete it and write a new string, so that if the software wants to read from the device it gets the actual string?

Thank you in advance!

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

Since you were "building" your own new instrument, why didn't you just build it with a GPIB port?

[BMax]

It was an easiest and cheapest way for us to build the new instrument with EATON PLC.

The communication through the converter would be not problematically if the software would send an ibwrt with a command string before it reads from the device.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@BMax wrote:

It was an easiest and cheapest way for us to build the new instrument with EATON PLC.

The communication through the converter would be not problematically if the software would send an ibwrt with a command string before it reads from the device.

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Your new instrument needs to act like an GPIB instrument. That is what the mass spectrometer is expecting. What you want does not matter. It is that simple.

[BMax]

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Your new instrument needs to act like an GPIB instrument. ... It is that simple.

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That is what I want to realise.