Gpib usb adaptor and NI PCMCIA-GPIB

[Husain111]

I would like to connect Keithley to my laptop and found two solutions: one is to used GPIB USB adaptor or to use NI PCMCIA-GPIB. The GPIB USB adaptors seems to be more modern  and does not require PCMCIA slot, which starts to disappear in new  laptops. Which one is better in performance, easier to setup, and cheaper to buy??

I shopped ebay for the GPIB USB adaptor and found significant differecencies in the price between the far east and the west. Also, some are manfucutered in Hungary and some in Malaysia. All these issues arise my suspestion from fake instrument. Any body with experince can offe my advise? 

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

Don't even bother with the NI PCMCIA-GPIB. There are no drivers for Windows 7. Someone had posted this a few months ago.

[Husain111]

Thank you nyc

Are there more than one model of the GPIB USB adaptor or only one. Is there altarnative for the NI one because it is very expensive.

Thank you

[crossrulz]

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Husain111 wrote: Is there altarnative for the NI one because it is very expensive.

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When I did some shopping a little while ago, pretty much all GPIB adapters were the same price.  I have had the fewest issues with the NI one, so I recommend just going with that one.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@Husain111 wrote:

Are there more than one model of the GPIB USB adaptor or only one.

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There is only one current model made by NI.

There is an older version which looks different and you can sometimes find it used on eBay. Don't buy it, because the drivers aren't current for it either.

The only other GPIB-USB adapter that I would consider buying would be the Agilent one.

[Husain111]

Thank you all

While I was searching I found this GPIB- USB adaptor from prologix (see the link below and attached image). It is much cheaper than NI one. But I am not sure about functionality. Is the NI one drive going to work with this one. My budget is tight and I have to go to one like this or used NI one. Also, I do not have expeince nor patince to face bugs and problems with uncommon adaptor. What are your recommindations??

http://prologix.biz/gpib-usb-controller.html?gclid=CKTwu-6FsrsCFcNF3godWSUAlQ

[Dennis_Knutson]

My recomendations on the prologix are in several threads. Do a search.

Even the prologix site says you must modify an existing instrument driver when you use their controller.It is not close to being a standard GPIB controller. Since you are a student and have plenty of free time, you are the perfect target for prologix. You will gain experience and patience if you decide to use it. 

[Husain111]

Thank you Dennis

I will go this time for NI one. I agree with you playing with prologix will give good experience and will stretch the ones patience. I am academic and working on research project and want to see the instrument work yesterday rather than today. I used to work in a place where the instrumentation work is ready for us. Now, I have to do everything my self. I love to play with instruments but the free time is not available any more.

Thanks again

[JasonSmith]

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@Husain111 wrote:

Thank you nyc

Are there more than one model of the GPIB USB adaptor or only one. Is there altarnative for the NI one because it is very expensive.

Thank you

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The GPIB-USB-HS is the only USB to GPIB interface currently manufactured and sold by National Instruments. The GPIB-USB, GPIB-USB-A, and GPIB-USB-B are all older interfaces. Of the NI products, I would only recommend the GPIB-USB-HS, as it will have better driver support than the others.

As for your question about the country of manufacture, NI has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Hungary, and Malaysia, so this should not be a concern.