rifocs test device

[wcl]

Does anyone know how to access a rifocs test device? I have a 781 rl test device that I need to access in order to get the return loss and insertion loss data. I'm having zero luck getting to the device. I have it connected via gpib card and cable. I can ping the device and tell if it is connected; just can do anything with it. I'm trying to connect to it via C#.

[Raj_V]

Hi wcl,

Does the rifocs instrument accept basic GPIB commands? If so, you can use the NI-488.2 driver in your C# application to send GPIB commands. How exactly do you ping the device at the moment? Have you attempted to use the SimpleReadWrite example under "C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-488.2\Examples\DotNET3.5\SimpleReadWrite\cs". This communicates with GPIB instruments. Perhaps a simple command such as "*IDN?" would be a good place to start.

[wcl]

Raj,

I'm trying the FindInstruments example and can ping the board and that is about it. It finds a connected device but that is as far as I get. I don't have SimpleReadWrite example under "C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-488.2\Examples\DotNET3.5\SimpleRead​Write\cs".

Can you send me a link where I can download that example?

Thanks

below is the code for the findinstruments

[Raj_V]

Hi wcl,

I'm attaching the simpleReadWrite example I used to communicate with GPIB instruments. Let me know if you are able to use this communicate with the device. These should also be available as part of your initial GPIB driver installation.

[wcl]

do you know where I can get the two required dlls (nationalinstruments.common and nationalinstruments.ni4882)?

[wcl]

i got the example u sent working;however when i write to the device it does nothing; when i read it returns: EXFO E.O. Engineering LTS-3903-BR23BL V2.3.3.1\n

if i write: hello

how do i read what i wrote to it?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Why would you expect the instrument to echo back what you wrote? Is there something in the manual that would lead you to expect that? Is 'hello' listed as a valid command in the manual? Have you tried sending one of the valid commands listed in the manual? Can you attach the manual and provide a list of the commands you have tried.

p.s. A good place to debug is in MAX. Right click on the instrument and select 'Communicate with Instrument' or use the VISA interactive control if that is the API you are using.

[wcl]

I've got two devices that I need to query for data: 1. Rifocs Test Device and 2. EXFO LTS-3900. As I understand there is no API for these devices and I'm trying to figure out if i can use the gpib card, which is connected to device, to get the data. I'm using c#. The most I can do is ping the card and show that a device is connected to it.

Ex:

rifocs, the primary address is a 7

exfo, the primary address is a 12

[Dennis_Knutson]

There has to be a list of commands that the instrument supports. Otherwise there is no point in having a GPIB interface. Without a programming manual, you are simply wasting your time. Can you at least provide a link to the vendor(s) web site?

You are now saying you have multiple GPIB instruments? Each with a separate cable and each with a unique and different GPIB address?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Found the EXFO. Getting manual information requires registration which I am not about to do. You should have already done this and checked on the availability of a manual.