Connecting to Spectrum Analyzer via AT-GPIB?

[T. Martin]

I have installed an AT-GPIB following the exact steps in the installation guide (including the compatibility release), and the software/hardware diagnostics say that the device is working. The device is not listed in the Device Manager though, for some reason, and Add New Hardware does not list the AT-GPIB (only lists AT-GPIB/TNT). Well, I will just assume it is working correctly due to the diagnostics. (I included this information in case I am incorrect about it being an issue with LabView, and rather a hardware/driver issue, but I don't think it is)

I am running an Agilent 4593E Spectrum Analyzer. When I connect it to the GPIB card, LabView doesn't seem to recognize it. Perhaps I am using the Instrument I/O Assistant i
ncorrectly? Neither the GPIB card, nor the Spectrum Analyzer show up as an option in the "Select an instrument" field in the Instrument I/O Assistant.

~Travis

[TommyTestBoy]

Travis,

Can you see the instrument in MAX and communicate with it there? You should be able to find your GPIB card under Devices and Interfaces, and then select Scan For Instruments on the card. Then you can try to communicate with the instrument from there to test your setup.

If you are not able to see the instrument from MAX, then you may need to check your instrument configuration or its connection to the PC. If you can see it from MAX, but not from Instrument I/O Assistant, let me know and we can go from there.

-Tommy

[T. Martin]

I tried connecting to the instrument via MAX, and it works. The instrument is listed and I can run a basic query and get a response.

Using the I/O Assistant, though, running either the Select Instrument or Read and Parse steps results in a timeout. It seems that it doesn't want to receive data from the instrument.

[TommyTestBoy]

In order to do a Read, you most likely need to do a Write first. Some instruments continually output data over the bus, but that is rare. Try using a Query and Parse block and use "*idn?" or whatever identification query your instrument supports, and see if that works.