Unable to read measurements from Racal Dana 1992 via linux gpib - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: millerjs
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 04, 2023, 02:03:28 am
content: Hi all,I'm trying to use a gpib4pi board with linux gpib to pull measurements from a Racal Dana 1992. I am able to send commands to the unit just fine (change measurement modes, change measurement precision, change trigger settings, etc) but I am not getting any data back from the unit. If I send a command to specifically request data (e.g. GET), the SRQ LED illuminates and nothing else happens.Right now I'm interacting with it directly through ibterm, but once I get this working I'm going to use a python script to send measurements to influxdb.I have verified that the GPIB/MATE jumper on the unit is set to GPIB mode, and I have verified that the device is not in "talk only" mode.Here are the contents of /usr/etc/gpib.confCode:interface {minor = 0/* board index, minor = 0 uses /dev/gpib0, minor = 1 uses /dev/gpib1, etc. */board_type = "gpib_bitbang"/* type of interface board being used */name = "raspi_gpio_interface"/* optional name, allows you to get a board descriptor using ibfind() */pad = 0/* primary address of interface */sad = 0/* secondary address of interface */timeout = T3s/* timeout for commands */eos = 0x0a/* EOS Byte, 0xa is newline and 0xd is carriage return */set-reos = yes/* Terminate read if EOS */set-bin = no/* Compare EOS 8-bit */set-xeos = no/* Assert EOI whenever EOS byte is sent */set-eot = yes/* Assert EOI with last byte on writes *//* settings for boards that lack plug-n-play capability */base = 0/* Base io ADDRESS */irq = 0/* Interrupt request level */dma = 0/* DMA channel (zero disables) */master = yes/* interface board is system controller */}device {minor = 0 /* minor number for interface board this device is connected to */name = "racal-dana-1992" /* device mnemonic */pad = 4 /* The Primary Address */sad = 0/* Secondary Address */eos = 0x0a/* EOS Byte */set-reos = yes /* Terminate read if EOS */set-bin = no /* Compare EOS 8-bit */}Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

author: tverbeure
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2023, 11:16:56 pm
content: I don't remember if I saw the issues that you are seeing, but it took me a while to get GPIB up and running on my Racal Dana 1992. I wrote down my solutions in this blog post:https://tomverbeure.github.io/2022/12/18/Setting-Up-a-GPIB-Communication-with-a-Racal-Dana-1992-Counter.htmlTom

author: millerjs
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 12:44:57 pm
content: Hi Tom,Thanks for sharing this along, there's lots of useful information in your post. As much as I really want to use a gpib4pi, I might end up having to build an AR488 anyway in order to test out methods like yours, and what I have found from other folks. I'm going to keep fiddling with it and see if I can get any further, and I'll report back here in case I do figure it out in order to help someone else (probably myself) in the future.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 05:42:27 pm
content: I have a Racal 1992 that I'm using with linux-gpib and an Agilent 82357B (a real one, not a fake).Here is my gpib.conf entry for it:/* Racal-Dana 1992 */device {name = counterminor = 0pad = 4sad = 0eos = 0x0aset-bin = yesset-reos = yes}It could be something wrong I'm doing, but I've noticed that the counter needs to have at least one measurement completed before it will return anything. Immediately after it's turned on, with all 0's displayed, GPIB commands will succeed but any GPIB queries will hang. Once the first count occurs, everything is normal.The "set-bin" is required for the 82357B; not sure about your adapter.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 07:55:54 pm
content: Quote from: tverbeure on April 05, 2023, 11:16:56 pmThere are many other well-written and interesting items in that blog. Do look at it even if you don't have any GPIB problems with a 1992.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2023, 09:48:56 pm
content: It's been a long time since I've used my 1992, but I remember having various problems with the GPIB. I ended up editing the GPIB chapter to add a few notes based on my experiences. Each edit is highlighted with an asterisk and a note at the bottom of the page that says "Editorial updates". I don't know if any of these updates are related to your issues, but hopefully, they'll be useful.Be careful! Some of these things might be version dependent or just plain wrong. YMMV.Ed

author: dragon5
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2023, 01:54:42 am
content: Hi,Did you get any further with the issue? Have you experienced issues with reading data from other GPIB devices? Just for the record which version of the gpib4pi board are you using - 2.1? Which version of the linux-gpib software are you using?/dragon5