Using CEC GPIB PC<>488 Card with LabView

[Angus73]

Hello
I own a PC<>488 8-bit ISA card and I successfully used it many times with TestPoint.
I am now trying to use it with LabView, but I can't view it in MAX. Maybe the reason is that MAX shows NI-boards only? is there any other way (without using MAX, I mean) to use that board with labview?

I already downloaded and installed the LabView support drivers for my card, but this did not make it work.

I am using a win98 system, and the board correctly appears in Device Manager, and also works fine in TestPoint.

thanks in advance for your help
Andrea Vai

[Greg_McKaskle2]

> I am now trying to use it with LabView, but I can't view it in MAX.
> Maybe the reason is that MAX shows NI-boards only? is there any other
> way (without using MAX, I mean) to use that board with labview?
>
> I already downloaded and installed the LabView support drivers for my
> card, but this did not make it work.
>

What about it doesn't work? Max, and the GPIB icons built into LV work
with NI drivers, and NI drivers work with NI cards. If someone provides
a DLL, or better yet, VIs for talking to their card, that is the right
way to get it to work inside of LV.

Greg McKaskle

[Dennis_Knutson]

MAX is a utility program for NI cards only. In any case, MAX is not required for LabVIEW. To use LabVIEW with the CEC card, you cannot use the LabVIEW GPIB functions but must use the functions provided by CEC. If CEC provides a VISA driver, then you should be able to use the LabVIEW VISA functions.

[crelf]

G'Day Andrea,

I recently used a CEC488 without any problems, but you will have to install it's drivers manually (both low-level drivers and LabVIEW support). I have attached these drivers to this post (follow the order listed in the text file).

PS: Your card won't show up in MAX, but you'll be able to talk to it nonetheless...

PSS: CEC's wesite is www.cec488.com

cheers,
Christopher


Christopher G. Relf
Certified LabVIEW Developer

Christopher.Relf@mBox.com.au
International Voicemail & Fax: +61 2 8080 8132
Australian Voicemail & Fax: (02) 8080 8132

---
EULA
1) This is a private email, and although the views expressed within it may not be purely my own, unless specifically referenced I do not suggest they are necessarily associat
ed with anyone else including, but not limited to, my employer(s).
2) This email has NOT been scanned for virii - attached file(s), if any, are provided as is. By copying, detaching and/or opening attached files, you agree to indemnify the sender of such responsibility.
3) Because e-mail can be altered electronically, the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed.

[Angus73]

Thank you very much for your answers, they have been really useful to solve my problem.

Best regards
Andrea

[Meenu]

Hi Christopher,

I saw your reply about CEC 488 and Labview.  I am a beginner of Labview.  I have a PCI 488 GPIB card (from CEC).  This computer also has TESTPOINT and it works well.  I installed  Labview 8.2, NI-488.2.  When I tried to run GPIB.vi, it works and it can recognise the device  (HP 33120A) but when I tried to use simple VISA programms  (basic_gpib_write_and_read.vi) it is not working.  I installed the low level drivers for CEC, MAX cannot see the GPIB card (before MAX can see the GPIB card) still VISA is not working.  Very often the labview shows "no response" when I try to run the programm.

Please help me in this matter.

Thank you,

regards,
Meena

[Ted_H]

Hi Meena,

To use VISA with this card you will have to install VISA drivers specific for your card from the manufacturer.  I would recommend contacting the card manufacturer to see if they provide VISA drivers. Did you follow the instructions included in the zip file Christopher posted?  The drivers Christopher attached should allow you to use your card through LabVIEW. 

Ted

[tca-adam]

I have a CEC 488 USB interface and am going mad trying to get it to work.

If I communicate using GPIB commands, all is well, but if i change it to VISA commands, it doesn't work.

I get the following error:

Error -1073807343 occurred at Property Node (arg 1) in Norma - Load Config.vi:Instance:0->Norma - Load Config.vi

Possible reason(s):

VISA:  (Hex 0xBFFF0011) Insufficient location information or the device or resource is not present in the system.

Any clues with what my problem could be?

GPIB-488 Version 2.1

[Emerson]

Hello.

I had the same problem, and it was because i didnt have the proper driver, are you sure you have the correct one?

on the other hand. FINALLY!! is working! my 1986 gpib cec488 card is working!!. but.. i have a problem :S:S... any instrument conected to it.. gives me a error.. and checking in the manual the error seems to be a timeout connection...   any idea?

Thanks!

[tca-adam]

Which driver are you using? I have been trying the V2.1 from their website:  http://www.measurementcomputing.com/download.htm

Do you see the card in MAX? I don't !  With earlier versions of LabVIEW and the drivers, it used to work fine and I could see the card in MAX no problems.

It appears to me that it is a driver/software problem because with four identical laptops, three don't work and one works no problem.

I'll chase CEC to see if they have any thoughts.

Adam