Agilent L4445A Switch Controller with National Instruments Switch Executive

[Brian_Leonard]

Hello,

I am trying to get the L4445A Switch driver to work in the National Instruments Switch Executive and cannot see the channels on the Y1151A modules I have plugged in. I installed all the ivi drivers via http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/edi ... id=1667733

I use Measurement and Automation Explorer and could see my L4454A under the devices. I then went to the IVI section and setup a driver session. In the general tab under driver setup I entered dmm = false, slot1=L4445. For the hardware tab, I setup the L4445A as a hardware asset. I then created a Logical name that used this driver session and then created a NI Switch Virtual Device that used this IVI switch. When the window opens, the only channels I see are abus1 through abus4. I do not see all the individual channels to my switches such as 1101. I am trying to control SP6T RF switches as well as SPDT RF switches. 

I tried dmm=false, slot1=Y1151A, dmm=false, slot1=L4445A and several other things in the driver setup and either no channels appear in the switch executive virtual device or I only see the abus channels. Any idea what I am doing wrong or will the L4445 not work in switch executive?

[Chris-G]

Hi Brian,

As long as it's IVI compliant, the L4445 should work with Switch Exec. Likewise, the readme for the driver states:

"National Instruments Switch Executive

If you intend to use the driver with NI Switch Executive, then you must use version 2.0 or greater of that product."

Also mentioned:

"If you are using National Instruments I/O libraries, use NI-VISA version 3.0.1 or later and NI-488.2 version 2.2 or later."

One thing to do is confirm that you have the correct driver and Switch Exec. versions.

It looks like you've problably already checked it out, but the Help file for the Agilent driver has an article devoted to using the supported switch modules with NI Switch Executive. Likewise, the NI Switch Executive Help file has an article outlining the steps for creating an appropriate third-party driver session here.

One thing to note is that if you have the instrument actually connected, you want to be sure that you have the driver session set as "Don't Simulate" in the "Simulate With" combo box. I've run into this issue several times -- an actual instrument doesn't work when this setting is set to something other than "Don't Simulate."

Hopefully this helps.

Chris

[Brian_Leonard]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the info and suggestions.  While doing this I verified all the driver versions and followed the instructions in the Agilent help file on setting up the device for IVI but no luck in Switch Executive.

I contacted Agilent and it appears they mistakenly listed the L4445A as supported in IVI and the Switch Executive.  Agilent is investigating but it may not be possible to get this type of product to work with IVI.  This is unfortunate as it would be great to have this type of product work with Switch Executive.

-Brian

[Chris-G]

Hi Brian,

Interesting. Yea to be honest, I noticed some inconsistencies in some of the documentation/readmes for the Agilent L4445A, so that would make a little more sense. Let me know if you find out any further information from Agilent -- I'd be interested to see what they end up saying.

Chris