How do I communicate with the Tektronix TDS2024 using LabView 7.0 and the GIB

[WesChiu896]

I am trying to use labview to control my Tektronix TDS2024 using Labview 7.0. I have downloaded the IEEE 488.2 (GPIB) driver here: http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.download_page?p_id_guid=E3B19B3E9139659CE034080020E748...
for labview 7.0.

I am trying to just run the "getting started" example. When I press Run, i get the following error:

Error -1073807339 occurred at VISA Write in TKTDS1K2K Initialize.vi->Untitled 6

and the possible reason:

VISA:  (Hex 0xBFFF0015) Timeout expired before operation completed.

[Dennis_Knutson]

A timeout with a write points to some sort of hardware problem with the GPIB connection. In MAX, did you successfully do a scan for instruments and did the *IDN? query work there?

[WesChiu896]

No, I have not. How do I do that?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Assuming that you have an NI GPIB controller, this should all have been listed in the instructions you got with the board.

Anyway, open MAX (Measurement & Automation Explorer) and find your GPIB controller listed under Devices and Interfaces. right click on it and select Scan for Instruments.

[WesChiu896]

Ok, it was not found. I'll try reconnecting everything. Or could there be another problem elsewhere?

[Dennis_Knutson]

There could be a couple of reasons. You could have a bad cable. The instrument might not be set for GPIB (i.e it could be set for serial), the instrument could have a bad GPIB interface, the GPIB controller itself might be bad. If you have another instrument and a different cable, you can narrow it down some.