Can I interface a Pocket PC with instruments using a GPIB-PCMCIA card?

[Edward Lin]

Currently, I am trying to interface a Compaq Pocket PC, iPAQ H3870, with some scientific instruments. I would like to be able to issue commands and gather data from the Pocket PC. Right now, I can create Visual Basic programs to issue the GPIB instrument commands on a computer, compile them, and transfer them to the Pocket PC to run them. But I need to connect the Pocket PC to the scientific instruments.
I was thinking of getting an expansion pack for the Pocket PC with a PC card slot, and then getting a GPIB-PCMCIA card, but then I realized that I would probably still need a way to connect the GPIB-PCMCIA cable to the Pocket PC or something? Would this in anyway work or would I have to try somethin
g else? I am not familiar with most of these devices, so my understanding of this is limited, so is it possible to accomplish this and if it is, what devices and cables would I need to do it? Thanks.

[wkboat]

Hey Edward,
If I have your configuration correct, you should be able to connect the cable that comes with the GPIB PCMCIA card directly to the GPIB card and in affect the Pocket PC expansion slot. (Cable Part Number: National Instruments P/N 182362-02, this is a 2 meter PCMCIA to GPIB Cable)

This has a special flat connector on one end for the PCMCIA Card. The other end is the standard 488 connector you would find on the back of most test/measurement equipment.

I believe there is also a serial port version of the GPIB PCMCIA cable. But I dont have that one, so I wont swear to it.

The other issue raised in your question is the DLL, or interface that you will be using. I havent developed in the Pockect PC environment, and truely havent looked for or at
any Pocket PC Libraries.
You may find yourself developing some interface LIBs.

But I will look around and forward what I find, if anything.