GPIB Newbie

[Camera-man]

Some years ago, while I was still working, I obtained an hp 8903. I have recently discovered some rather nice software which I would like to use. http://www.pmillett.com/hp_8903_software.htm.

I have never used GPIB before and I am looking for an interface. I would like to use USB but the prices are way beyond the means of a retired person. I discovered a PCI card for sale on Ebay which is PCI-GPIB/TNT4882C with assembly number 183617K-01. This is card only without drivers. I see two software downloads on the NI site, NI-488.2 and NI-Visa, are these the drivers and which do I need (Windows 7 pro, kept un to date till support was dicontinued)

[Camera-man]

I have just found a NI GPIB-USB-HS interface on Ebay at a sane price and have bought it. However I still need the information I have requested.

[GovBob]

I'm no expert here but at minimum you would need NI 488.2 as a driver for your GPIB-USB-HS. I have several of these and if they are from NI (there is counterfeits out there) they work well for a USB interface. Usually I used to download NI-VISA and NI 488.2 to work with these and used NI-MAX to configure them. I'm not at all familiar with VEE but from a quick scan of the website you linked it looks like they configure the GPIB device with a different tool.

 To be honest with you I personally would do the whole thing in LabVIEW (there is a free hobbyist version) because that is what I'm familiar with. NI even has a LabVIEW driver for the 8903A and 8903B.

[Camera-man]

Thank you Govbob,

That is really helpful information. I had no idea that there was a free hobbyist version of Labview or that there were drivers for the 8903A.

I will certainly look into that.

The interface should arrive on Friday and I am popping over to a used-test-gear supplier near me next week, so I will ask if he has any GPIB cables lying around. With a bit of luck, if he has, he'll probably give me one for nothing, otherwise I will have to look an Ebay.

[Minions]

If you find that your USB to GPIB convertor doesn't work, I have successfully used the Prologix device for converting from USB to GPIB interface.  I wrote my own instructions here about setup and a provided a simple front end that will help talk to the GPIB instrument here.

Hope that helps.