Does anyone have a driver for an HP 8648C signal generator?

[Shepherd]

I've found a driver for the HP 8648A, but it doesn't seem to work when I try to modify it for the 8648C. I have tried writing simple VI's to query the signal generator for it's identity and current status, but there is always an error in the VISA Write function. I have tried the same VI's on other instruments and they worked well, so I have no idea what the problem is. I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks

[keith fuller 401]

I use HP8648Cs extensively and have only needed to modify "HP8648A Initialise.vi" to refect its diferent Query ID response; otherwise everything else worked. What VISA error do you get?

Regards
Keith Fuller

[Shepherd]

Thanks for the quick response. The error I get from running the "HP8648A Initialise.vi" is:
"Error 1223 occurred at HP8648A Initialize.
Possible reasons:
LabVIEW: Instrument identification query failed. "
When I tried to use a vi I wrote for the HP8648C that simply asked what frequency it was set to, I would get this message:
"Error -1073807302 occurred at VISA Write in Simple Test.vi.
Possible reasons:
VISA: (Hex 0xBFFF003A) Unable to start operation because setup is invalid (due to attributes being set to an inconsistent state)."
I would greatly appreciate any insight you could provide.

Thanks again.

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

Is it only this instrument you are having problems with?

Have you tried using the LabVIEW<->GPIB.vi found in ..\LabVIEW\EXAMPLES\INSTR\smplgpib.llb. It using GPIB function calls instead of VISA. This will eliminate whether you have a GPIB card problem or just VISA problem.

Is it possible to attach your VISA Write in Simple Test.vi so that others might be in a better position to help you.

Ray Farmer

[keith fuller 401]

Attached is my modified version of HP8648A Initialise.vi - hope this helps!
Regards
Keith Fuller

[Shepherd]

Thanks for all your help. I tried your version, but still to no avail. I've tried pretty much everything I know to try, and I just can't get it to work. I just got off the phone with National instruments, and the applications engineer I spoke to seems to think I have some low-level configuration issues on my GPIB board. Hopefully, the information she e-mails to me will allow me to fix the problem.