GPIB-USB-A card is unable to transfer waveform data from Tektronix Wavewriter software to Tektronix AFG320

[Prasad R]

When we try downloading an arbitrary waveform drawn using Tektronix Wavewriter software (running on Win 2000 OS) to a Tektronix AFG320 (arbitrary function generator), we get an error "Error sending waveform to AFG". However, the same Tektronix wavewriter software is able to download the waveform to a Tektronix AFG320 using AT-GPIB-TNT card. Since we have already procured the GPIB-USB-A card, is there some way of getting this problem resolved?

[NI-488.2 master]

What version of the NI-488.2 Software for the USB-A do you have installed? Did the USB-A pass the Troubleshooting Wizard?

Try using NI-Spy to see what NI-488.2 call is failing so that you can provide more information. Calls that return errors will be highlighted in red in NI-Spy.

-Craig

[Prasad R]

Software versions are as follows:
NI 488.2 version 1.10
MAX 2.1.3.15
NI Spy 1.4

USB-A gets detected properly and there was nothing specific to troubleshoot.

When the Tektronix Wavewriter software is used to download an arbitrary waveform to the Tektronix AFG 320, the software posts an error dialog indicating "Error sending waveform to AFG300". However, NI-Spy does not capture any failures whatsoever.

I must mention here that if we use the MAX software to download specific commands to the AFG320, most of those get executed successfully. It is only the Wavewriter software that seems to have a problem with downloading waveforms.

Tektronix believes that this may have something to do with the fact that Wavewriter software is a 16-bit applicati
on whereas the GPIB-USB-A may not be supporting 16-bit applications. If this is true, when can we expect a driver for the GPIB-USB-A device that supports 16-bit applications too? If a specific time frame is known for its release then I will appreciate info on that. Thanks.

Dr. Prasad Ramanathan

[NI-488.2 master]

The NI-488.2 for the GPIB-USB-A version 1.1 did not support 16-bit applications. You are in luck, as NI-488.2 for Windows version 2.0 was just released and does support 16-bit applications on Windows 2000 and XP. Please note that NI-488.2 Version 2.0 does not support 16-bit applications on Windows 98/Me. You can download the software from:

ftp://ftp.ni.com/support/gpib/ni488220/drv-english/ni488220.exe

-Craig

[Prasad R]

Thank you very much. With the new version of the ni488.2 driver we are now able to have the Tektronix
Wavewriter software communicate with the Tektronix AFG320.