GPIB Connection

[Plunk]

Hi! I'm quite new to LabVIEW, so I was hoping some of you lovely folk could help me out 🙂 I'm in the middle of a project that requires me to control an HP 33120A function generator using LabVIEW, mainly to trigger a burst square wave. However, when I connect the device to the computer using a GPIB cable, the computer doesn't even seem to recognize the device, and when I open the Instrument I/O Assistant, it doesn't appear on my list of Instruments available. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much!

[Dennis_Knutson]

Did you actually go into MAX and do a scan for instruments? This is part of the getting started routine when you use an NI GPIB device. The computer will not automatically detect anything connected. don't even think of using LabVIEW until the instrument is listed in MAX.

[Plunk]

I guess I should have mentioned that as weel - I did use MAX, and in the directory tree on the left, there isn't even a tab for GPIB devices under the Devices and Interfaces heading. Like I said, I'm new to all of this, so I've been working out of a "work book" sort of manual, and I'm just a little lost 😕

[Dennis_Knutson]

So you are either not using an NI GPIB device or you are and haven't installed the driver for it. What are all of the steps that you have done and provide details on the GPIB controller you have.

[Plunk]

Thanks so much for your help!

I have installed the driver from the NI website: using this page. I installed the second of those two links, for LabVIEW 7.1, and in the installationwizard I made sure to check that it was also compatible for LabVIEW 2009, which is what is on the computer I use. I plugged the device into the computer using the GPIB cable, and the port on the back of the computer, which reads "PCI-GPIB IEEE 488.2" I opened up MAX, and there are no GPIB systems in the Devices and Interfaces tab, so I refreshed a few times, still not there. I read some of the help topics, and tried to "create new" GPIB-VXI interface, but the wizard was confusing... I had no idea what to do with the "primary address," "secondary address," controller number, etc.

That's as far as I've gotten.

Again, thanks for your help!

[tbob]

What type of GPIB card are you using?  Is it an NI card?  Is it PXI or PCI?  Non-NI cards need to be configured with the vendor's software.  NI cards are much easier to use.  I once used a Keithley GPIB card and it was a pain to install.

[Plunk]

The card says "PCI-GPIB IEEE 488.2"

I guess that means it's not an NI card? How would I go about configuring it then?

[Dennis_Knutson]

If it's an NI card, it will say NI on it. Look for something silkscreened on the pcb. If there is no manufacturer's name on it, perhaps you can explain where and how you got the board in the first place.

Also, that link you posted has nothing at all to do with the driver for the GPIB card. If it's an NI card, you need this.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 06-04-2010 11:27 AM

[Plunk]

It does have the NI logo on it, now that I look at it again. The other problem is I didn't get it. I'm working in a lab for the summer, and they just kind of threw this all at me. Basically none of them want to figure it out, and I'm the bottom of the ladder so it all got dropped on me. I'm fine with it though, at this point I just want to figure this whole thing out.

[JÞB]

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Plunk wrote:
It does have the NI logo on it, now that I look at it again. The other problem is I didn't get it. I'm working in a lab for the summer, and they just kind of threw this all at me. Basically none of them want to figure it out, and I'm the bottom of the ladder so it all got dropped on me. I'm fine with it though, at this point I just want to figure this whole thing out.

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Well- you came to the right place.

Here is a link to the installation instructions.   Essentially there are some step you missed.  You seam to have LabVIEW installed but did you install device drivers? Make sure you have NI-VISA installed (check in MAX under the software tab-  Better yet post a screenshot AS PNG not JPG) then make sure you have NI-488.2 installed.  THEN put in the PCI-GPIB card and MAX will see everything.