Transferring 18KB of waveform data to Tektronix AFG320

[Gabeng]

I have to transfer waveform data (~1600pts, ~18KB as string) over GPIB to the arbitrary function generator AFG320 every 3sec.
Unfortunately, the beta instrument drivers released in June by NI do not provide full functionality. But they do the transfer in roughly 3sec (they have other disadvantages so I cannot use them).
The small vi I wrote just creates a string with the waveform data and sends it to the instrument. No matter which labview vi I use (GPIB, VISA, 488.2-send), the transfer takes up to 60sec.

How can I increase the transfer speed?
TIA.

[Rob Cole]

See if the instrument has a binary download function. If you are using an ASCII string then every byte is 2 characters long - that's 16 bits. If there is a binary format that you can use then every byte is 8 bits.
Make sure that you are tranferring data in blocks. If you send each byte/character seperately then it can be real slow. I have a waveform that I send to a signal generator that is 113520 points and I send it as a string 1024 characters at a time. I can send the whole waveform in around 4 seconds.
Hope this helps some.

Rob

[Gabeng]

My problem was solved now by a new release of IVI drivers for this instrument. You can now adjust both channels of the AFG separately (thanks to the NI staff who added this feature within a few days).

Ben.