hp4194 gpib problem

[gmart3434]

NI newbie here.  I have a HP4194A with GPIB interface.  I seem to be able to send commands to it, but any query or read operation just sends back a timeout error or wrong syntax error.  I have used MAX to reconfigure all the comm settings but nothing seems to work.  MAX recognizes the instrument address, even when changed via the actual instrument switches, but does not give an actual instrument ID, just random gibberish.

Also does anyone have a complete front panel vi for this instrument?  I DL one but it seems buggy and not well-designed.

Message Edited by gmart3434 on 11-03-2006 08:13 AM

[Brian_Beal]

What commands are you sending?  What query are you performing.  Which VI did you download?

[gmart3434]

when using VISA ASST.

read sto .......returns ❤️

*IDN?  returns VISA ERROR CODE: 0xBFFF0015  (-1073807339)

SYST:ERR  returns VI_ERROR_RSRC_NFOUND: no matching resources found.  0xBFFF0011

agilent interactive i/o gives same errors

NI-488.2 Communicator gives iberr=EAB0 for every command i have tried.  config eos all settings change nothing, just same error.

all work on same gpib interface with E3634a instrument and give data strings and id

I DL 4194 Example.zip unzipped it to a folder where i got all the sub vi's

also i tend to get warning text when opening the vi's from this zip file saying The vi expected to be at <instrlib>\Agilent 4194\Agilent 4194.lvlib was loaded from desktop\new folder Agilent 4194.lvlib

also at some point i needed to install the vi? (this is a bit hazy) and had to identify where Convert Array to SS.vi and View Historical Plots.vi were.  But I have done this on more than one occasion and it only asks for one or the other but not both files each time i do this.  as you can see i'm a bit lost at this point.

[Brian_Beal]

A few caveats:

1. Just because it is an HP doesn't mean it shares the same command set.

2. The 4194A is not an IEEE 488.2 compliant instrument.  It will not respond to those queries. 

3. You need to either use the driver you downloaded, or look at the manual and send individual commands.

You get that warning message because you unzipped the drivers onto your desktop instead of the instrument library folder.

What measurements are you trying to take?  I have done quite a bit of work the the 4194A.

[gmart3434]

we are studying thin films.  need capacitance and loss values.  sweep freq from 100khz-?mhz

record ~ every minute export to excel

also need to get data with bias voltage being adjusted from 0-? volts between sweeps.

[Brian_Beal]

Take a look here: http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=140&message.id=16588&query.id=249886#M16588 .  You will have to modify it to do what you want, but it is functional.

[AlexIppich]

Hello Brian,

I realize, that I am replying to a rather old post, but this looks like my best chance to get an answer.

I am using an old HP 4194A analyzer that is connected via HPIB to an old MS-DOS PC. Since I only have this old GPIB card and we do not want to spend money, I can not upgrade to Labview or anything more current.

My problem is, I am very used to sending commands to HP/Agilent tools via HPIB. And I also was typically successful in getting back data (queries). However for this particular tool, I miss some query commands. I can set the cursor to a particular location and read back the y-value with MKRA?.

But now, I am setting the cursor to max and want to read back the x-value (frequency). What is the query command for this?

Thanks and best regards,

alex

[Brian_Beal]

Alex-

MKR should get you Y data, and MKRA should get you X data.  I am not positive of that since I don't have a manual, but I think that's the way it works.

Brian

[Davidson_D]

Can anyone locate me the manual for this instrument [HP4194A].

Actually the one i got from the Agilent site is old enough that i see a bunch of commands and i couldn't find how to use it.

I have the driver downloaded from here

I am expecting some explanation for all available commands especially the reading back of configured values.

Thanks in Advance.

Thanks,

Davidson

[Adam G]

Hello Davidson,

I found this manual for your device. We are not going to be able to provide too much help in finding other manuals if this is not the one you are looking for. I would suggest talking to Agilent to see if they have the manual you are looking for. Have a great day!

Best Regards,

Adam G