DAQ-MX and PCI-6036 Card, 7.0 Labview

[The New-Guy]

I have a PCMIA-6036E card and I am using Labview 7.0.  I am recently converting from Traditional DAQ to DAQ-MX.

First thing is, does this card support DAQ-MX?  In MAX, it doesn't appear to, because the "communicating device"

stays grayed out.  Or maybe it is the version of MAX (3.0) that I use?  I have actually written the VI and am trying to

get something to at least blip.

I am trying a new application where I use AI, AO, DIO and Counter (for encoder).  I was told that if I didn't use DAQ-MX

then there would be timing issues with the counter.  I do not know the other benefits of DAQ-MX, or drawbacks for that

matter.  I've read all the documentation I can find (so-far) in the Knowledge-base and forum threads.

[Neil.Pate]

Hi,

I am quite sure the DAQcard 6036E is supported by DAQmx. I have successfully used this card with LabVIEW 7.1, with both traditional DAQ and DAQmx (there is nothing about LV7.0 that should stop you from using this).

Not quite sure what you mean by communication device greyed out. Perhaps its an issue with your drivers.

I would however recommend upgrading your DAQmx drivers to the latest off the NI website, try this url:  beware, large download!

The drivers will also install a new version of MAX for you. MAX is your friend. To get started I always try using the Test Panels within MAX, once that is working as expected I try it in LV using the Express VI, and then its quite easy to convert the express VI into something more usable for your application.

hope this helps

[The New-Guy]

I am going to do all that you suggest. 

I had also asked the "Why DAQ-MX" type questions.  Any input on these questions?

[Tom_W_[DE]]

Hi The New-G-

If you installed NI-DAQmx from the LabVIEW 7.0 Driver CD you may have installed a version which does not support PCMCIA DAQcards.  This support was officially added in NI-DAQmx 7.1.  NOTE:  The last version of NI-DAQmx to support LabVIEW 7.0 was NI-DAQmx 8.1; the NI-DAQmx 8.3 version linked above will not work.  Please upgrade to NI-DAQmx 8.1 and let us know if you continue to have device recognition problems.

To address your other questions- NI-DAQmx is superior to Traditional NI-DAQ for a variety of reasons.  The primary advantages are in ease-of-use (DAQ Assistant, Task and Virtual Channel configuration through MAX, etc) and performance (faster single-point performance, multi-threaded support).  On top of this, NI-DAQmx is the only driver that supports the newest NI measurement devices such as M Series, NI compactDAQ, PCIe/PXIe devices.  All in all, for new development you should always use NI-DAQmx wherever possible.

Hopefully this helps-

Message Edited by Tom W [DE] on 11-15-2006 04:13 PM