nrp-z22

[hperez]

Hi all,

  I am very new to labview, as I just installed it today.  I am trying to get a Rhode and Schwarz Power sensor NRP-Z22 to interface with labview.  I found some examples, installed ni-visa, but no luck running the examples.  I get a "instrument status error" when trying to run the program.  I have a feeling that the sensor is not seen correctly through the ni-visa, as when I try to run "Visa Interactive Control" the device does not show up.  Has anyone had any luck with getting this sensor seen in Labview 2009?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

hperez

[Dennis_Knutson]

You interface the instrument to your pc and not LabVIEW. What type of interface are you using? Is it GPIB and if so, are you using an NI GPIB card? If it is, did you do a scan for instruments in MAX (Measurement & Automation Explorer)? Is it the driver here?

[juergenstraub]

He hperez,

have you had a look at this document: http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/file_4397/rsnrpz_notes.pdf which can be find here: http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/en/service_and_support/Downloads/Drivers/?discontinued=all&type=25&dow...

The NRP-Toolkit is mandatory for using NRP-Z sensors on your PC: http://www2.rohde-schwarz.com/en/products/test_and_measurement/power_volt_meter/power_meters/NRPZ-|-Tools-|-67-|-984.html

Please note that a correct installation is necessary. This can be seen first of all in the device manager of windows, as you proparbly know it from other USB devices.

If this dosen't help you any further please feel free to contact the R&S customer support center.

Good luck! 🙂

Juergen

[hperez]

Thanks for the comments.  I did install the NRP toolkit, and I can see the power sensor on the computer.  I can run the program the virtual power meter program that comes with the sensor, so I believe the sensor is installed correctly.  I just can not see it in labview.  It has a USB interface.  I don't know if I should be seeing it in Measurement and Automation or not, but I do not see it.  I have installed the latest version of visa, I don't know if maybe it is not compatible with that version.  If anyone has had any luck getting this sensor to work in Labview, please let me know how you did it.  I will try and contact rhode and schwarz, and labview support today.

Thanks,

Hperez

[Dennis_Knutson]

In order for MAX to see the USB interface, you must have a driver from R&S that defines the port as a USBTMC (USB Test & Measurement Class) instrument. Do you have an inf file from R&S that does this? If you don't, then it is not a problem with VISA or LabVIEW. Until the instrument shows up in MAX, you cannot use VISA in LabVIEW.

[Ryan_T]

Hi hperez,

A third party USB instrument will not automatically show up in MAX.  You will need to follow this tutorial: USB Instrument Control Tutorial. Then you should be able to select the instrument in LabVIEW and control it through VISA.

[hperez]

I downloaded from R & S a driver for Labview 8.2.  Since I am using LAbview 2009, could this be the issue?  Or do I have to create a USB driver through the USB instrument control as well as this one? 

Thanks,

hperez

[Ryan_T]

Hi hperez,

Code made in LabVIEW 8.2 should work in LabVIEW 2009.  The main issue will be the completion of the tutorial I posted.  This will create an inf file that will allow you to use your USB instrument with NI VISA.

[Dennis_Knutson]

But following that tutorial will require you to create a driver from scratch and also obtain the low level USB RAW information from the vendor.

IF the vendor supports USBTMC, then that is what you must install and it will appear in MAX. That tutorial should be considered as a last possible option. There should be big red warnings on that page.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 04-29-2010 07:41 PM

[juergenstraub]

Hi hperez,

this discussion is leading you in the wrong way!

>I just can not see it in labview.

Please get started with the LabVIEW examples provided by R&S.  As you can see in the R&S examples you can adress the first/one sensor using the '*' (asterix) as VISA resource name of the example application.

There is no need to write a driver, which is quite hard in case of the NRP-Z, because of speed reasons the USBTMC protocol is not implemented. Please skip the idea of writing a instrument driver on your own!

So long.

juergen

Message Edited by juergenstraub on 04-30-2010 09:17 AM