Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency increase/decrease
buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the chart of commands, it
says that the GPIB command for increase is UP and the GPIB command for
decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command sequence to
read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?

* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?

Many thanks.

Cheers,
John - KD5YI

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency increase/decrease
buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the chart of commands, it
says that the GPIB command for increase is UP and the GPIB command for
decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command sequence
to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and
the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency increase/decrease
buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the chart of commands, it
says that the GPIB command for increase is UP and the GPIB command for
decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command sequence to
read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and the
designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to commands, I
spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than gibberish from three
different instruments with no success. I may have to roll my own controller,
but first I have to understand GPIB.

Thanks for the link, but I already have the manuals. It is the operator's
manual that I referred to above when I pointed out what I think is a
contradiction.

73,
John

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the
chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase is UP
and the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether
these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command
sequence to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and
the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may have
to roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the logic
threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the internal
pull-ups of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the
chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase is UP and
the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether these are
valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command sequence
to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and
the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may have to
roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the logic
threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the internal pull-ups
of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg


I'm glad you got them to fix it because I ordered a Prologix one yesterday.
I think I should have gotten the Prologix to begin with because I need to
write my own software to do things and the Softmark was not set up for that.

73,
John

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

John KD5YI wrote:

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In
the chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase
is UP and the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know
whether these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command
sequence to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug
and the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may
have to roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the
logic threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the internal
pull-ups of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg


I'm glad you got them to fix it because I ordered a Prologix one
yesterday. I think I should have gotten the Prologix to begin with
because I need to write my own software to do things and the Softmark
was not set up for that.


If you run into issues and think it's related to the Prologix design
just write to the designer (Abdul). He is very responsive and actually
the firmware you are getting with the new one will reflect the Vt change
he and I found necessary. All others with older versions can just
download the new firmware from the Prologix site.

I guess you've already found this site but just in case others here have
not, this is a great tool set for GPIB:

http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm

--
73, Joerg

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

In article ,
Joerg wrote:

If you run into issues and think it's related to the Prologix design
just write to the designer (Abdul). He is very responsive and actually
the firmware you are getting with the new one will reflect the Vt change
he and I found necessary. All others with older versions can just
download the new firmware from the Prologix site.

Except for those of us with the first-generation Prologix product,
alas. It has a different architecture, and (as far as I can tell) no
upgrade path available.

It works reasonably well with my Tek scope, as long as I'm careful
with the command sequences and don't ask the scope to send any data
back in binary mode.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the
chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase is UP
and the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether
these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command
sequence to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and
the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may have
to roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the logic
threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the internal
pull-ups of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg


I'm glad you got them to fix it because I ordered a Prologix one
yesterday. I think I should have gotten the Prologix to begin with
because I need to write my own software to do things and the Softmark was
not set up for that.


If you run into issues and think it's related to the Prologix design just
write to the designer (Abdul). He is very responsive and actually the
firmware you are getting with the new one will reflect the Vt change he
and I found necessary. All others with older versions can just download
the new firmware from the Prologix site.

I guess you've already found this site but just in case others here have
not, this is a great tool set for GPIB:

http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm

--
73, Joerg


I got it today and it works very well. I had it talking and listening to all
three of the GPIB-capable instruments I have in less than an hour.

Thanks for the link.

73,
John

Need help with GPIB on HP 3586
 

John KD5YI wrote:

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In
the chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase
is UP and the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know
whether these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command
sequence to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all
the manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug
and the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may
have to roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the
logic threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the
internal pull-ups of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg


I'm glad you got them to fix it because I ordered a Prologix one
yesterday. I think I should have gotten the Prologix to begin with
because I need to write my own software to do things and the Softmark
was not set up for that.


If you run into issues and think it's related to the Prologix design
just write to the designer (Abdul). He is very responsive and actually
the firmware you are getting with the new one will reflect the Vt
change he and I found necessary. All others with older versions can
just download the new firmware from the Prologix site.

I guess you've already found this site but just in case others here
have not, this is a great tool set for GPIB:

http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm

--
73, Joerg


I got it today and it works very well. I had it talking and listening to
all three of the GPIB-capable instruments I have in less than an hour.

Thanks for the link.


Great! Yours is probably screaming-yellow, mine's the now ancient silver
version. I still have to make angles for the GPIB side from Digikey
connectors and some ribbon cable. The Prologix plus USB cable sticks out
too much towards the back, easy to crush when moving an older analyzer.

--
73, Joerg