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Device driver for Old HP Equipment?

Hi,

I have a really old RF signal Generator model: HP70340A plugged into HP7004A mainframe, I wasn't able to find the labview drivers for this equipment, any idea how can I go about requesting one from the experts?

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There might not be "LabVIEW Drivers" for this device.  Did you search the Web?  There are several articles about the 70340A, including a 1992 Device Driver listing from HP (how to use it is Not My Department, but if it can be compiled to a DLL, you should be able to call it from LabVIEW).  There may be other useful information Out There.

 

Bob Schor

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Check Agilent or Keysight.

 

HP split off the instrument division as Agilent that was latter renamed.

 

Ben

Retired Senior Automation Systems Architect with Data Science Automation LabVIEW Champion Knight of NI and Prepper LinkedIn Profile YouTube Channel
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There might not be a driver, but the instrument uses the SCPI language so it would be pretty easy to implement your own driver using VISA.  You can review all the supported commands in the manual available from Keysight - https://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5960-7096.pdf?id=1000000372-1:epsg:man

 

Most of the VIs you would need to implement would be as simple as the example Minions posted here - https://forums.ni.com/t5/Instrument-Control-GPIB-Serial/Agilent-34461A-controlled-with-Labview/m-p/3...

 

You might also try to use this Agilent PSG MXG Series Signal Generator

driver as a reference for your driver - http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=5975

 

Its for a newer signal generator that also uses SCPI, so I suspect a lot of commands might be the same.   If you are lucky some of those VIs will work for you without modification. The initialize VI will NOT work unless you make adjustments for the ID check and default settings.

 

What do you want to do with the instrument exactly?  If you specify that I can help track down the right commands. 

 

Craig

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Hi Craig,

Thanks for the pointers, I will look into your recommendations.  Basically all I want to do is set the power level, frequencies, and turn ON/OFF remotely.  I also sweep the Frequency and Power up/down depending on my testing.  I have done this with the MXG's (rental) however now I got hold of this old beast which have no dollar value so just looking to utilize it the best I can!

 

thanks again!

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 Yeah, those old RF sources will last forever, and being able to automate them will make them almost as good as the new ones...almost.

 

What you want shouldn't be too daunting a task, just a handful of SCPI commands should do the trick.  Post your code if you get stuck.

 

Craig

 

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