Using GPIB to talk to HP4083A Switching Controller.

[BCLioness]

idn? gives the status of the front panel (C 0 0 0 ... ), IBIC shows me the 4083 at address 18 (not used on any other equipment). When I have the 4083 hooked up to the network, none of the equipment is listed on Measurement & Automation, although NI Spy shows it sees everything, including the 4083. Without the 4083, other equipment is listed fine. We cannot find the manual, an old program gives me a couple commands to try, but they have no response when I send them to the 4083. Agilent said that this equipment has been "Out of Support" since 1998. Any suggestions?

[ScottieB]

Hello,

Could you give me more details about your GPIB setup? How many instruments do you have on the bus? It sounds like the 4083 is "breaking" the GPIB bus where no other instruments can communicate on the bus when you have the 4083 connected, is this what you're seeing? What do you mean that NI-Spy shows that it can "see everything"?

As far as command set on the HP4083A, I don't have any resources that could help you. I briefly checked our instrument driver library (www.ni.com/idnet) and wasn't able to find anything for this particular instrument. If the command set is what you need, perhaps another contributor here can help you out with that.

If you feel that there are other issues on the GPIB, please give me the details from my questions above an
d we can work through them.

Scott B.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[BCLioness]

4 other instruments are on the bus, but I tried taking all them off and just having the 4083, and it didn't get listed in M&A. NI spy tracks the commands sent over the GPIB bus, it shows red color when there is an error. When I look at it after searching for instruments, it shows successful queries of all the equipment (including the 4083) but when it is done, the list does not show up on M&A. Even with just the 4083, NI Spy shows no errors, successful communication but then no list.

[ScottieB]

Hello,

This is pretty strange behavior. Could you please post your NI-Spy capture files as well as a screenshot of MAX showing that it doesn't find the 4083? It would be helpful to have a list of the instruments and their addresses as well. Finally, please give me the versions NI-488.2, MAX, and your operating system.

Thanks,
Scott

[BCLioness]

Hi there.
Here are answers to your questions:
NI Spy Version 2.0.0.16
MAX Version 3.0.2.3005
NI-488.2 Software Version 2.10
Measurement Studio Version 6.0
OS : Microsoft Windows XP
LabVIEW Version 7.0
Instrument List: Address 6: HP6642A Power Supply
Address 17: HP4275A LCR Meter
Address 18: HP4083A Switching
Controller.
Hope you can help, thanks for at least trying.
Lori

[ScottieB]

Hi Lori,

Your attachments are all showing "0 bytes", could you try them again?

Thanks,
Scott B.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[BCLioness]

Sorry about that, the site has been saying it's down for maintenance when I try to attach the files, I have been checking since Friday and it still isn't working ... is there something else I should try to get you these files?

[ScottieB]

The forums seem to be working okay, I wonder if there is a firewall issue. You can upload the files to ftp.ni.com in the Incoming folder. Zip them up and name them "BCLioness.zip" and post here when you have done that and I'll take a look at them. Sorry for all the trouble.

Scott

[BCLioness]

Here are the files. I was trying to send a jpg file that was huge, using the gif file worked. Thank You very much for you help and patience.

Lori

[BCLioness]

I have also posted the zipped file (BCLioness.zip) to the incoming folder of ftp.ni.com.

Lori.