NIMAX connection with GPIB-USB-HS

[drewbriley]

I am attempting to try and communicate with a Newport Conerstone Monochromator (manual) through a GPIB-USB-HS USB to GBIB controller. I have used the GPIB-USB-HS controller with a SR860 lock-in amplifier and it works fine.

When I connect the GPIB-USB-HS to the monochromator the NI-MAX registers an instrument and it shows the Primary Address as 4 (which is the default according to page 57 of manual) but it doesn't find the model or the status. I also get the instrument did not respond to the *IDN? command error. This may not be unexpected as the device may not respond to this as page 57 in the manual lists a INFO? command which mimicks the IDN command.

Using the NI-488.2 Communicator and trying to send the command "INFO?[lf]" (or "INFO? [cr][lf]"). I get a timeout error, in both the write and read function. Same thing happens if I try to communicate using the VISA test pannel.

Included with the monochromator is a software known as monoterm. I am unable to connect to this program through the GPIB-USB-HS either.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling all the associated software to no avail. If anyone has any experience with these devices or has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

Cheers, Drew.

[Hopkins97]

Hi!

Are you getting an error in MAX at all?

What driver are you using for your GPIB controller?

I recommend looking at this Knowledge Base article if you're having trouble communicating with your device.

Cheers!

Jacob Hopkins

Technical Support Engineer 

[cstorey]

Hi Drew,

You're correct that instrument doesn't support the standard IEEE 488.2 commands like *IDN?.  It only supports a limited set of specific commands listed.  Can you try sending the querry..

INFO?\r\n  

Note the termination characters are ([cr] = \r and [lf] = \n).  

Craig