I would limit driver code to 488.1 stuff for the 8590 series; and so would probably not use the E2078 SICL library. If possible, use basic C to control the instrument. I gave up on VB, for other then making the user interface, in a previous life.
The SRQ message may indicate a service request is active and/or may have timed out. 1. Avoid programmatic control until you can tweak and verify both controller and instrument configuration (e.g., EOI, EOC, EOL, EOS, etc) using a tool similar to National's ibic. 2. read the status register after every I/O until basic comm and control is ok. 3. look at appendix A in http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/08590-90301.pdf 4. use very simple low-level development tools. 5. Verify the controller with ibfind gpib0 6. verify the controller's address with gpib0:ibpad 0 7. verify the bus with gpib0: ibrsc 1 gpib0: ibsic 8. verify instrument comm with gpib0: ibdev 0 x -> 'x' is the 8590 gpib address and then ibwrt "*idn?" It should be noted that the oldest computer you can find will probably result in the most favorable ambient EMI. The E2078 will probably be happy in an old PII machine. luck, Brian From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Grace Lin Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 9:15 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Driver for HP E2078A PCI GPIB Interface Dear Members, Does anyone know what is the driver, and how can I obtain it, for the above referenced GPIB interface? I found this card and its cable from our warehouse (which means no one uses it for a long time). The software came with this interface is the "HP I/O Libraries". Since my computer is a Pentium 4 with Window XP Pro (with SP 2), I downloaded the latest version of the "Agilent IO Libraries Suite 14.2" from the Agilent web site. My HP8591E spectrum analyzer showed "CMD ERR:IDN" and "SRQ 140" while I tried to communicate with it through the Interactive IO of the Connection Expert. If I "Send Commands To This Instrument" by clicking the "GBIB0::18::INSTR" under the "Instrument I/O on This PC", my spectrum analyzer showed no error message. The "Instrument Session History" under Interactive IO showed "*Connected to:GPIB0::18::INSTR". I guess the communication is OK but I cannot use "*IDN?" command (from 488.2). I think I have to obtain a correct version of driver. I try to use visual basic 6 (VB 6) to control the IEEE 488 devices. I haven't had any luck. If this is not a good version to VB 6, my employer has VB.NET and VB 2005, which can be installed in a day. It would be of great help that someone can provide me with a simple program (such as reset the device) to start with. Any comment is highly appreciated! Best regards, Grace Lin - This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected] Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas [email protected] Mike Cantwell [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: [email protected] David Heald: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________
