GPIB Talking to Old Instrument

[MartinMcD]

Hello,
I'm trying to talk to a torque read-out and control instrument via GPIB.  Unfortunately I can't get hold of the manual for the device.

Whenever I write to the device *IDN?, all I get back is FE FE, although there is no error.  I've attached the spy file below, please can anybody help me to get started? 

I've talked to and data logged from other instruments in the past using gpib commands over serial.

Thank you for any help you can offer,


Martin

[Dennis_Knutson]

You can't do anything without the manual. Your instrument is probably too old to even support the *IDN? command.

At the very least, you should provide the make an model of the instrument if you really want someone here to help. You can search the Instrument Driver Network yourself to see if a driver exists. There are also places that have copies of old manuals for sale. sorry, I don't have a link so you will have to google that.

[MartinMcD]

Thanks very much for the reply.  Out of interest to anyone reading the post with a similar problem, the device is a Vibro-Meter DCU 285.  However, I believe that Magtrol now own this part of the company.  I am trying to get hold of a manual from Magtrol, so I'll post it here if I manage to get hold of a copy.
I'm afraid I hadn't read up enough on the 488.2/488.1 business at the time of my post so I hadn't realised it's not a problem.

Thanks,

Martin

[MartinMcD]

Here is the manual for the DCU285 on the off chance that anybody needs it.

Thanks,

Martin

[smercurio_fc]

I'll take a look at this manual as soon as I flip my monitor upside down.

I found this note in the manual "interesting":

The IEEE 488 interface is still being developed at present. Sections concerning this interface will be included in the manual once the development is finished (scheduled for 1st quarter of 1996).

Hmm... Wonder if they actually ever finished it?