PCI-GPIB compatible with Genrad 1687-B Megahertz LC Digibridge?

[EvanHeidtmann]

I am trying to use a Genrad 1687-B Megahertz LC Digibridge with a recently purchased NI PCI-GPIB card.

The Digibridge works normally from the front panel. The GPIB card and the cable work normally with another GPIB instrument.

However, the "Measurement and Automation Explorer" does not detect the instrument. When I "Scan for Instruments", the pretty animation displays for a while and then the scan fails because it did not find any instruments.

Is there possibly an incompatability between this instrument and the newer GPIB specification? The instrument documentation mentions IEEE 488-1978 (not 488.1 or 488.2).

[Collin M]

I doubt that your instrument is incompatible with the newer GPIB specification. Do you get any indication of an error on the instrument following a Scan for Instruments? Do you know what the instrument's GPIB address is? It must be a different address than the GPIB controller. The address of the GPIB controller is probably 0.

[Brian_Beal]

MAX should find this instrument, although it won't know what it is. It will come back as an instrument at some address. I'm not sure about the 1687, but other Genrad and Quadtech instruments require that you set the GPIB interface up manually. You must enable it and set it to talker/listener.