Using labview 8.5 to control HP 8753C by a GPIB-USB controller

[leishao87]

We just bought a used HP8753C network analyzer and began to use it. Since it only came with a GPIB port, we used an ICS GPIB-USB controller to connect it to a desktop which has Labview 8.5. We want to use Labview to collect the data from the HP8753C. Otherwise, we cannot get the data. I have installed the newest NI-488.2 and NI-VISA drivers. I downloaded them and unzipped them to instr.lib/hp8753c, and then installed. Is it correct?

The problem is:

1. I cannot find the network anlayzer in MAX, although the device manager says that the ICS GPIB controller is working properlly.

2. And I didn't find any 8753.vi examples online. I saw someone said "In LabVIEW, if you openfunctions palette»Intrument I/O»Intrument Drivers»HP8753 VIs»Application Example VI's, there are two examples that should help you a lot. There is an HP8753 Save/Recall State.vi in the getting started example that you can use." But, I cannot find them! Where are they? I am new to Labview, and I want to begin from some examples. Thanks.

[Dennis_Knutson]

No, installing NI-488.2 and NI-VISA is not at all correct. Note the 'NI' part of the driver names? You would need to install the 488 and VISA drivers from ICS. You cannot use MAX for non-NI hardware though if ICS supports tulip, you can enable support for that in MAX and it might (repeat might) work.

You need to get instructions from ICS on how to install their drivers so that they work with LabVIEW.

[leishao87]

Thank you, Dennis.

I have installed the 488 drivers for the ICS GBIB-USB controller, and downloaded the hp8753x drivers and unzipped to the instr.lib folder. I set the address of the GBIB controller to 21 which is used by HP (Agilent). And it seems the computer can communicate with the 8753C network analyzer now.

However, when I ran the HP8753 Instrument Preset.vi, it gave an error with number -1073807346, and if I ran the initialize. vi, it threw out an error of number -1073807343. What happened to it?

[Dennis_Knutson]

First, you never set the address of the controller to match an instument. Every connection has to have a unique address, You should find a basic 'gpib tutorial.

Second, in order to use the driver unmodified, ICS has to provide a VISA driver for their card. Their web page lists LabVIEW support but it requires registation and I have no idea what this really means. The industry standard is to use the VISA api but not all vendors support this. Sometimes, all a vendor will supply is set of low level functions which means you would have a lot of rewriting to do. The best place to ask about VISA support is ICS.

Can I ask why you chose ICS instead of NI?

Note: Just looked at their website again and it appears their driver uses 'NI style commands'. I think it means compatible with the NI GPIB functions, which no one uses anymore.

[leishao87]

ICS does not have a VISA driver. From its 488-USB manual, it says that "ICS's 488.2V3 Driver is also compatible with National Instruments' VISA and Agilent's VISA/SICL libraries." So, I just installed the NI-VISA.

The LabVIEW drivers on ISC's website is only a .vi in which I can send the Network Analyzer some command like *idn? to test the communication. I also got an error when I ran it.

ICS also provides a GPIB explorer, in which I send the network analyzer *idn?, it returns with "HEWLETT PACKARD,8753C,0,4.13". This means the GPIB controller works.

Some one bought an ISC GPIB controller several years ago, and we have been using it until now. I don't know why they chose it.

[leishao87]

I have enabled the tulip in the MAX under NI-VISA. But I noticed that there is an exclamatory mark on the LPT1 icon which is the alias of VISA on my system.

I have run those example VIs of 8753, and they always said VISA write in XXX error. I checked the NI-VISA readme and did not find anything noticeble. Any ideas what I need to solve this problems?

Thanks in advance.

[leishao87]

Sorry to have so many posts, but I am really worried about this.

Attached are three pics about the current problem. I think it is a problem with VISA. It's so strange that one of my labmates download a .vi of a power meter from Agilent's website and he is able to use Labview to control it and collect data right away. I don't know what happened to the VISA.

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

You probably have spent more dollars in time then a good NI GPIB card would have cost, and I'm sure you gonna spend more time.

In case ICS has a VISA driver, you probably overruled it by installing NIvisa.

Check at the working pc what is installed there and install only the same set in the same order as was done there.

If that does not work, buy a good card and start real work.

By the way I don't work for NI and get no money from them for this reply

[leishao87]

Yep. You are right. I should buy a NI GPIB-USB card. And I have overruled the exact computer which worked before, if there is indeed an overrule.