keithley communication

[echomice]

Hey, I have a keithley3706 multimeter which is going to measure around 50 sensors at the same time(include temperature sensors, pressure sensors and so on). the measure result from keithley is expected to show graphically on the control laptop in real-time , be saved in background. the Keithley is connected with an ethernet hub via RJ45. as a labview new learner, I dont know how to start the work. I read the examples and from  my understanding, a master-slave link should be built and the keithley can post data to laptop according to certain IP address. But this is quite vague and is there anyone here has done this communication before or maybe some suggestions?do I need anyother hardware for building this communication?

many thanks

[cymrieg]

echomice,

If I was you I would call Keithley Applications Dept. They will be able to get you up and running on Ethernet - that's assuming you want Ethernet. The 3706 also supports GPIB and USB. With GPIB you will obviously need a GPIB controller for the PC whereas for Ethernet and USB it is built into your PC you just need the correct cable.

Keithley has a native LABVIEW driver for the 3706 which the applications dept. can also help you with and maybe some suitable examples.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Read this tutorial on Ethernet connections. Then you should go to Keithley's site to download the driver. I would recomend the native LabVIEW driver instead of the IVI--C/IVI-COM but that is your decision to make. At the main Instrument Driver Network page, you will find links on what a driver is, types of drivers, and how to use a driver.

[echomice]

thanks for replying, very useful and appreciate it. Now I started from find the instrument on the network but havent known how to send command and receive data, I got the reference manual which is quite a thick manual~~

and unfortunitely there's no driver for keithley3706 on NI website. thanks for the suggestion and I will call the tech. supporting of keithley~~

[Dennis_Knutson]

I know there is no driver on NI's site - I gave you the link to a driver written by Keithley.

[echomice]

ja, I got the driver and some examples from the website of Keithley, now it works quite well. thanks