Novocontrol Alpha A- Frequency Analyzer Driver

[Pawan_Nanotech]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to make our own measurement program for measuring dielectric using 'Novocontrol Alpha A frequency analyzer' instrument.

The main hurdle is to make driver for this instrument because i could not be able to find driver for that.

So could any one please provide any basic labview driver for this instrumnet so that i can use it to make whole program.

I am looking to all labview developer or any user who are using this kind of instrument.

[Dennis_Knutson]

In case you don't get a driver, at http://www.ni.com/downloads/instrument-drivers/ there are links on how to create your own and contacts to developers that will do it for you.

[Pawan_Nanotech]

Dear Dennis_Knutson,

Thanks for your reply.

I had try to make the driver because i already made many device dependent command based driver for various instruments manufacturer like Keithley, HIOKI, Oxford instruments. But the problem is i could not being able to perform a proper sequences of commands for proper functioning of this Novocontrol instruments. Hence i am getting difficulty to talk properly with the instruments.

So please any one would have already made driver for this instruments can provide me to help for making whole measurement program.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Well, if you want help with the code you've written, attach it with details such as any error messages you might be getting. Include the programming manual. Contacting the vendor would be a logical step.

[Pawan_Nanotech]

Yes , it would be better but actually this instruments had bought so many years earlier such that i think company personnel wont be intertain with this problem.

Also this time i have made just small module to check weather the instrument responding or not on proper mentioned commands. So i have not that much any block diagram.

I am waiting for proper made labview driver.

[Dennis_Knutson]

So you aren't even going to try? It's listed on their web site so it should be supported no matter when you bought it.

Another option is to use their software. If it can use a GPIB controller from NI, then you can use I/O Trace/NI-Spy to capture the commands.

Since there has been zero posts on Novocontrol on the NI boards, it's a distinct possibility that no one here has used it so you might want to do more than just wait for someone to give you some code.

[Pawan_Nanotech]

Yes, ofcourse i will try any option to complete my job. On basis of your helpful information i will now try with company personnel to help for the job. Also you have discuss some NI I/O trace, here in the instrumnet already using Novocontrol made program for measurement by using GPIB card made from Nvocontrol. 

So how can i use already made software of Novocontrol to develop our labview program, i am not much aware with NI I/O Trace.

Please give some basic module to learn it if you have.

[Dennis_Knutson]

I/O Trace is a utility program available in MAX. It records all GPIB commands and responses. It only works with controllers from NI however so you are out of luck. If you are using that proprietary card, that would explain why you can't get anything to work with LabVIEW.