compatibility of Agilent GPIB/USB adapter with NI

[DCU STUDENT]

Hi,

I have an Agilent GPIB / USB adapter 82357B, and I'm experiencing some problems for detecting my instruments in the laboratory when I try to use the labview software for capturing the data from the measurement instruments.

I installed the CD with the libraries the adapter has and through this software I can detect the instruments, however once that I open the Labview software from National instruments(NI) for capturing my data, I miss comunication with the devices in both programs, the Agilent one and in the MAX of NI.

I run across a document regarding tip on using Agilent GPIB solutions in National instruments's Labview environment. I have done all the document indicates, but It is not workingt, I experience the problem I outlined above for detecting the instruments.

I hope someone can help me with that.

Regards

[Dennis_Knutson]

Since you did not provide a link to this document, impossible to say what you did or did not do. Did the document tell you to enable tulip support? Did you install NI-VISA?

[DCU STUDENT]

The document I checked is the following: http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-3731EN.pdf , with the name "Tips on using Agilent GPIB Solutions in National Instrument’s LabVIEW Environment Application Note" , also in this other link: http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=GB&lc=eng&ckey=488498&nid=-34193.426029.02&id=.... I have done al steps indicated in the first document, which are the same than in document 2. Yes I enabled the passport for tulip.

Actually, In the computer where I'm trying to control the measurement instruments we have Labview program and NI adapter. That is how we have been working and we are able still to do so. So in the computer we have NI-VISA. Few weeks ago, we acquired the Agilent 82357B GPIB/USB cable adapter which brought its software. The NI-visa is the primary program and the Agilent libraries was placed in the computer as secondary, as it is suggested in documents listed above. At the moment, I have the N-VISA nad the Agilent-visa. If I have enabled the tulip in the NI-MAX and in the Agilent libraries software I enable the Agilent GPIB cards for 488 programs as shown in page 6 of the first document, I detect the cable and the measurement instrument with the Agilent connection expert, and then  I open the Labview program that I have for collecting the data from the measurements..in the Labview software I'm not able to see the device and then I lose connection in the Agilent software, in other words I miss the measurement instrument in both programs. If now I disable the Agilent GPIB cards for 488 programs option in the Agilent libraries (as shown in page 6 of doc 1), I still can see the instrument in the Agilent program and then I'm able to see my measurement instrument in the Labview program for collecting data and then I select the GPIB port of it. Also I can see that my measurement device is reay for transmit the data to computer, there is communication. However when I run the program for capturing the data, it is not capturing anything at all, only  a text document of zeros. If I change only the Agilent cable for the NI cable I can collect data normally.  I don't know what else to do at this stage.

[Dennis_Knutson]

So you are trying to use an Agilent controller on a pc that also has an NI controller?

[DCU STUDENT]

Yes I am. According to documents it is possible. But I don't know want else to do, since I have done what document indicated. I as mentioned in previous message, now I can see the measurement instrument with Labview and using the Agilent cable adapter, and I can stablish communication with device since that when I select the device in the labview program, a led in the instrument is ON, indicating communication. However when I try to capture the data on screen, there is not data at all.

[Alex.T]

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@DCU STUDENT wrote:

Yes I am. According to documents it is possible. But I don't know want else to do, since I have done what document indicated. I as mentioned in previous message, now I can see the measurement instrument with Labview and using the Agilent cable adapter, and I can stablish communication with device since that when I select the device in the labview program, a led in the instrument is ON, indicating communication. However when I try to capture the data on screen, there is not data at all.

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Hello DCU STUDENT,

It sounds like there may be some conflict between the NI VISA and Agilent drivers, which can occur between certain models; considering when you use the NI cable data can be collected when when you're using the Agilent you cannot. Please tell me what versions of both drivers you are using so I can determine whether or not there are any known incompatibilities between the two if you're still receiving the same error after following these instructions. 

• Can you also please go through this instrument troubleshooting guide to see if your installation matches the expected configuration of a functional device so we can confirm that your driver has been installed correctly from the previous guides.

• For a IEEE488 Agilent Device Card, as you mentioned that you have the NIVISATulip.dll enabled, for this GPIB configuration to work you must ensure that the 488 Programs must be activated with NI 488.2 (At the Enable Agilent GPIB cards option) through the Agilent Connection Expert.

You've mentioned that you've been able to establish a connection with the device and see communication transfer, yet you are getting no returned communication. Do you see a similar response when you view the device through the Measurement and Automation Explorer?

If it is possible, could you test your configuration with any other Agilent devices with your current configuration and see if the error persists?