Problem with Newport's 1830-C Optical Power Meter and Labview.

[Ryan C]

I am using a Newport 1830-C Optical Power Meter and it works fine when I issue commands to it from the Measurement and Automation Explorer. I downloaded the Labview Drivers from both the Newport Site and the National Instruments Site and whenever I run the programs the power meter freezes and often gives me the error saying "GPIB Error on the 1830-C. Check the cables and the meter", or

"LabVIEW: Cannot add resource.
---
NI-488: GPIB bus error."

I made sure the address's are all set correctly (like I said before, it works fine in the Measurement and Automation Explorer command window), but it still will not work for me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Emilie S.]

Hi Ryan:

It looks like this error is showing up in frame 1 of the stacked sequence structure, however there is no way to tell why it is happening. If you cannot get these drivers to work I would recommend writing some VISA code in LabVIEW or using the Instrument I/O assistant for your communication. I have attached a simple VISA program to get you on your way.

I hope this helps out,

Emilie S.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[Ryan C]

thank you!

[Alwin W]

Our group recently got a Newport 1830-C and we ran into the exact same problem that Ryan mentioned when trying to use the "Converse with 1830-C.vi" driver.  We went through the driver and figured out the problem.  It's missing a 'read-done bit' polling module, so the data stream gets messed up after you send a command to the 1830-C.  We wrote a polling module and added it into the driver and it works just fine now.

If anyone needs or wants to see our updated driver, I have attached the updated 1830-C library.

[Ryan C]

I do no see the attachment but I am interested in looking at it. Thanks for the information by the way.

-Ryan

[Alwin W]

Sorry, I tried to attach it but it obviously didn't work.  Putting my file into the "Attachment" box isn't how it works?  (I'm completely new to the forums).

[edit] Ok, it worked this time. [/edit]

Message Edited by Alwin W on 07-07-2005 03:44 PM

[Ryan C]

ah thanks!

[J3000]

Is there anyone who still have problem with Newport's 1830-C Optical Power Meter?

I am using Alwin's updated driver. I have three Newport 1830-C, two of them are working fine under the new driver, but the third one is still showing the error.I can get several sets of data before it crashs. After the error shows up, if I scan instruments in Measurement and Automation, none of the devices (I have several other devices connected to this computer by GPIB) would show up. I have to unplug the GPIB to the power meter, and reconnect it. Then the Newport 1830-C would work for a while, then crash again.

Any ideas? Thank you very much

[Chris_R.]

Hi J3000,

You mentioned that you had 3 1830-C.  I am not familiar with this instrument, but are all three the same?  Do you see the problem with the same one each time or can you switch them out and see the same problem.  I just want to see if the problem is with the instrument itself or not.  Instead of disconnecting the instrument from the GPIB and reconnecting, try turning the instrument off and on again and see if that works.  Often, this should clear out instruments if they are locked for some reason.  Try this and let us know what you find.

Have a great day!

[J3000]

Chris,

The three 1830-C are the same, and the settings are the same. I saw the problem with the same one each time.

Yes, turning the instrument off and on again clears out the instrument.

Thank you very much.

J3000