Problem in communicating GPIB USB-HS with Solartron SI1260 + Novocontrol BDC

[mh.nateq@gmail.com]

Hello. I've been trying to control a NOVOCONTROL "Dielectric Broadband Converter" (BDC) and 1260 SOLARTRON "Impedance Analyzer" with a GPIB-USB-HS using NOVOCONTROl WinDETA v.3.7 software on Win ME.

On our previous system we were able to do this on Win ME with a GPIB-PCII board installed on an ISA slot, but the system is out of order now and we do not have access to another old mainboard having ISA slot, we are trying to do it with GPIB-USB-HS on another system. 

We installed NI-488.2 driver version 2.2 and Win ME recognizes GPIB-USB-HS properly.
Running the Measurement and Automation Explorer (fig 1 and fig 2), for both old and new systems three instruments/addresses  are detected as 4 (Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC) and 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer) and 13 (unknown).
These addresses match with what we see in the setting of WinDETA software in fig 3 and fig 4.

But when we run the test on the new system, the software cannot communicate with Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC (address 4) although the communication with 1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer (address 12) is okay as depicted in fig 5.

Anyone knows how to configure GPIB-USB-HS to solve it? is it necessary to install anything else or change a setting?

Thanks a lot 

[Albert.Geven]

HI

What could be a reason is the busspeed. Set it to 1 microsecond in MAX.

Maybe this helps. At least for older systems.

[Iwa6]

If it is difficult to replace it in the event of a failure like this time, we recommend changing to software that supports the current OS.
I don't know if it supports Windows 11, but at least there seems to be software that supports Windows 10.

https://www.novocontrol.de/php/windeta.php

Please consult your WinDETA distributor.

[mh.nateq@gmail.com]

Dear Albert,

The bus timing/speed can be a crucial factor but i do not know the details of the required settings.
What i can do is sending you the screenshots of the present settings and you may hopefully notice the necessary modifications and kindly let me know them:

1- GPIB-USB-HS configuration - SETTINGS tab

1- GPIB-USB-HS configuration - SETTINGS

2- GPIB-USB-HS configuration - ADVANCED tab

2- GPIB-USB-HS configuration - ADVANCED SETTINGS tab

3- EOS configuration of Instrument 0 with address 4 (the Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC)

COMMINUCATION with this devise is NOT accompanied by a BEEP 

3- EOS configuration of Instrument 0 with address 4 (the Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC)

4- QUERY result for Instrument 0 with address 4 (the Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC)

4- QUERY result for Instrument 0 with address 4 (the Dielectric Broadband Converter BDC)

5- EOS configuration of Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer)

COMMINUCATION with this devise is accompanied by a BEEP

5- EOS configuration of Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer)

6.1- QUERY result for Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer)

6.2- QUERY result for Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer) continued

6.1- QUERY result for Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer)6.2- QUERY result for Instrument 1 with address 12 (1260 SOLARTRON Impedance Analyzer) continued

7- EOS configuration of Instrument 0 with address 13

COMMINUCATION with this devise is accompanied by a BEEP

7- EOS configuration of Instrument 0 with address 13

8- QUERY result for Instrument 0 with address 13

8- QUERY result for Instrument 0 with address 13

9- Setting of the Dielectric Broadband Converter (BDC) in WINDETA software

9- Setting of Dielectric Broadband Converter (BDC) in WINDETA software

10- Front Screen of Dielectric Broadband Converter (BDC)
10- Front Screen of Dielectric Broadband Converter (BDC)

11- WINDETA error message

11- WINDETA error message

Thank you so much.

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

In the advanced tab of the GPIB interface itself. I would set the bus speed at 1 micro second and I would disable the automatic serial polling.

And then try again. The other instruments I can look at tomorrow.

[mh.nateq@gmail.com]

Dear Albert,

I just have three options for the Bus timing: 2 micro-seconds, 500 nanoseconds and 350 nanoseconds.

I set it as 2 micro-seconds.

For the parallel poll duration, the initial value is DEFAULT, and there are several options.

However it did solve the problem.

    

How about the I/O timeout? or the setting of the Dielectric Broadband Converter (BDC) in WINDETA software (fig 9) ?

Thank you very very much

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

The I/O timeout depends oon the operation going on and a normal default is 10 seconds but some solartron operations are longer.

You can set a correct timeout after testing. It simply dependson what isgoing on.

I have never used the other instrument, maybe someone else can shine a light on it.

Probably the auto serial poll interacted with another operation.

And the 2 micro seconds busspeed makes longer cables possible and older instruments happy.

Gladthat this helped.

[Henrik_Volkers]

Not all GPIB instruments understand *IDN? .. usually older ones...  and SCPI wasn't common or even known in the old days 😄

For Solartron/Schumberger:  I know of some intruments that need a GPIB activation command via GPIB.

(SI7081  need a OUTPUT=GP-IB=ON )

Carefully looking into the sections in the manual and analysing the printet code samples can help.