Using a GPIB/RS232 converter with an Agilent 53181a

[bh-technologies]

Hello,

I am using an Agilent 53181A (frequency counter) in printer mode with RS232.

I want to use it in GPIB in order to communicate with it and make a real measurement.

I have bought the NI GPIB/RS232 converter, an want to pilot the counter in hyperterminal via an RS232 port.

I have configure it in C mode, but when I want to communicate with it in hyperterminal, an *IDN? command returns nothing.

Do you know what configuration I have to use ?

Thank you.

[Guillaume_H]

Hi,

Thank you for posting your questions on the National Instruments forums.

To help you in the best way, I will need some more information.

What Operating System are you using (Windows, Linux… ) ?

Have you tried to install Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)? If it is the case, is MAX able to see your instrument when you perform a “scan for instruments”?

Have you installed any kind of drivers on your computer, in order to establish a communication with your instrument? You can find various versions of the GPIB drivers, depending of your OS, on the following page:

GPIB Driver Versions for Microsoft Windows and DOS

Last, but not least, is your instrument able to communicate through SCPI protocol? It is usually the case, but you might want to verify. If it does not use SCPI, you will have to use, for instance, VISA functions to communicate with your instrument.

You can find more information on the communication via GPIB on the following tutorial :

GPIB Instrument Control Tutorial

I hope the above information will help you solve your problem.

Best regards,

[bh-technologies]

Bonjour,

Je pense qu'entre Francais, nous pouvons parler Francais.

Le PC utilisé fonctionne sous XP SP3, MAX déjà installé car nous utilisons une carte PCI 6521 et un module USB 6501. 

Concernant le scan avec MAX, il ne voit rien d'autre a part la 6501 et la 6521 ce qui doit etre normal car le convertisseur RS232/GPIB est connecté au PC par RS232. Il est cablé pour faire une conversion RS232<=>GPIB avec un seul appareil.

Le port série est configuré en 9600Bds 8N1, le compteur Agilent à la même configuration.

Lors de la configuration avec "NI GPIB-Serial converter wizzard" j'ai utilisé :

- Mode C

- 9600 8N1 sans controle de flux

- Termination mode : CR

- GPIB adress : 3 (primaire), 0 (secondaire)

- EOI : ON

Je voudrais simplement piloter le compteur Agilent 53181A en GPIB donc je pense que je peux envoyer les trames SCPI via hyperterminal vers le convertisseur GPIB/RS232 mais quand j'envoie *IDN? je n'ai rien en retour.

Ai-je fais une bétise ?