GPIB interface to Motorola 68488

[packetchaser]

I have an older piece of Wavetek test equipment (circa 1988) and I need to interface a GPIB to it.  Since all of this is pretty new to me, I'll try to stumble through without making too much of a fool of myself.

Any help will be appreciated.

The  onboard interface chip is a MC68488.  Now I need a GPIB to "talk" to it.  I've seen all sorts of devices on-line and on e-bay, but don't know really what to look for.  My pc can use either ISA or PCI cards, and I suppose I will have to resign myself to writing some code.  DOS won't work here...so that leaves me probably with C++ or VB5 or VB6.

Fluke bought Wavetek about 6 years ago, and then sold off everything over a 1 or 2 year period.  Not help from Fluke, so I am on my own.  BTW - the boatanchor in question is a Wavetek 288 Function Generator.

I have searched in vain to find a ready-to-go GPIB and software/driver package.  I thought I had struck gold on one web site, but the reseller wouldn't break up the set.

I am REALLY out of my league here, so any and all help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Packetchaser

[Dennis_Knutson]

The first thing to do is to verify that you have the programming manual for the instrument. Until you have that, there is no point in buying a GPIB controller to communicate with it. Each instrument (especially a very old one like that), has a unique set of commands and you need a list of those to read and write to it. If you have that, then you need a GPIB controller for the pc. There are a variety of options. You can see what NI has to offer at http://www.ni.com/gpib/

On the above page, there are some links that will help you get started with GPIB communication. With the controller, you will also get a driver and example programs for different programming languages. Good luck.

[packetchaser]

I have the wavetek manual.  They have a page listed as the Command Set, so I suppose this is what I need to work with.

Any thing else you have to offer on this subject will be appreciated.

Thanks