I need help with wiltron 360b network analyzer controlling via GPIB-USB connection

[anhnguyen]

Hi,

My company has a wiltron/anritsu 360B VNA. My project is to find a way to control that VNA with a computer. I have downloaded NI-VISA, NI-488.2, LABVIEW and the driver for it. I would like any sugestion to get start.

Is it easier to use LABVIEW to control this VNA or I need to program it in C because LABVIEW is new to me?

Thank you,

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you are an experienced C programmer, then you could possibly get everything working in less time than it would take to learn LabVIEW. With an existing driver, though, you have a large head start over writing the same code in C. For learning what a LabVIEW driver is and how to use it, check out the links under the Learn topic at http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/. For learning the basics of LabVIEW, see http://www.ni.com/academic/lv_training/how_learn_lv.htm.

[anhnguyen]

Thank you for your help,

I understand that NI-488.2 is required for my GPIB-USB cable. If I make a program in C, do I need NI-VISA or NI-488.2 is all I need?

Sincerely,

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you want to just use the GPIB functions, then you do not need NI-VISA. If you want your application to be portable, then VISA is the way to go. With VISA, you could change to a non-NI controller and the program would still work. This would be assuming that the vendor of the different controller has a VISA driver for their board. VISA is also portable in the sense of using something other than GPIB. Many vendors offer isntruments with either GPIB, USB, serial, or Ethernet connections. With VISA, you could swap connection types without making any changes to the program.