ivi driver for e4440a PSA rejecting input values

[Wensu]

Hello, I am having difficulty with the IVI drivers for the Agilent E4440a PSA series Spectrum Analyzer.  When I try to use "agesa Configure Frequency Center Span.vi" to set the PSA frequency span, I receive this error:
Error -1074135024 occurred at agesa Configure Frequency Center Span.vi
Driver Status:  (Hex 0xBFFA0010) Invalid value for parameter or property.

I tried setting the frequency by using the "agesa Configure Frequency Start Stop.vi", but receive the same error.

This error occurs after the device has been initialized, therefore I have the correct VISA address and am communicating with the PSA.  I am entering frequency values within the PSA's range; specifically, with center frequency of 2 GHz and a span of 10 MHz.  Furthermore, the PSA has the most recent firmware and am using the correct IVI compliance package and the correct version of  NI VISA, as per the  "agesa" driver readme file. 

Other VIs, such as "agesa Measure TOI.vi" and "agesa Configure TOI Measurement.vi" do work, which is why this problem is so vexing.

Clearly I am doing something wrong, but have no idea where to look for a solution.  I would value any assistance very highly.

Thank you,
Victor

[Emilie S.]

Hi Victor:

Can you post a screen shot of your block diagram?  Also, what version of ICP, and VISA do you have?

Thanks,

Emilie S.

[Wensu]

Hello Emilie, good to hear from you again.

I have attached a screenshot of the VI.  I am running LabView 7 SE with ICP 2.2 and VISA 3.3.

Regards,
Victor

[Wensu]

Screenshot

[Wensu]

Oddly enough, If I change the center frequency and span values by a factor of 10, the VI times out, instead of complaining about the values themselves.  Upon which, if I change the values back to 2GHz center freq, and 10 MHz span, I get the "invalid input parameters" error again.  I'm going to try completely reinstalling Labview and the drivers and will repost if I get the same error after the reinstall.

Victor

[Wensu]

Same problem, but now have most recent versions of ICP (2.3) and VISA (3.4), and agesa IVI drivers.

Victor

[Emilie S.]

Hi Victor:

It looks like this should be just fine, but not having the instrument or any experience with it is really limiting me.  I will do some more research here to see if I can find anything out.  In the meantime, can you try other values and let me know if anything you put in here will work?

Thanks,

Emilie S.

[Wensu]

Hi Emilie,

Troubleshooting Steps:
Uninstalled and reinstalled Labview
Downloaded and installed latest versions of ICP and VISA
Re-downloaded agesa driver from ni.com
Tested SetPSAFreq.VI (shown in prev. posting) on a different, but identical Signal analyzer (E4440A)

The problems described in prev posting are independent of LabView installation, ICP and VISA version, and equipment.

It seems that this is either an XP issue or a problem with the agesa driver set.

I was able to work around the issue by bypassing the LabView vi wrapper of the dll function by doing the following:
right click on ivi logical name control "PSA Address" -> create -> property -> frequency -> Frequency Start (and Frequency Stop).

By initializing the ivi conneciton (using the agesa initialize.vi) using property nodes and then closing the ivi session, I was able to set the frequency limits as I needed to.

thanks for your efforts,
Victor Piper