What is this USB - GPIB adapter? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 06:12:51 pm
content: Hi,I got this one off eBay. Figured may be doing something or may be used as parts for putting in an Arduino based GPIB adapter. However, before taking it apart, I'd like to know if it is useful in any way in its current form. There are no part number or manufacturer markings on it. It looks like from the casing that it goes into something, maybe az a module.It does very much look like this:http://www.tek.com/datasheet/accessory-rackmount/tek-usb-488Except for the casing. But it may just be the plastic casing missing. But it may be something else. Can you maybe identify it?

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 06:20:25 pm
content: Photo of the inside.

author: BloodyCactus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 06:45:49 pm
content: reminds me a lot of early ICS usb/gpib adapter, except there is no ICS branded on it anywhere

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 06:46:13 pm
content: Why not plug it in and see what it enumerates as?

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 06:47:50 pm
content: Check by USBview the PID/VID.There are multiple devices mainly made by NI which use different drivers and this limit their support in current OS like Win 7-10.Base on Tektronix page it is not only USB to GPIB but also GPIB to USBhttp://www.tek.com/support/faqs/companies-such-national-instruments-and-lecroy-sell-usb-gpib-adapters-how-do-their-adap

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 08:41:09 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on January 25, 2017, 06:47:50 pmOh, yeah. This is the piece of information i forgot to mention. It seems to power up, leds light up, then go out when plugging in via the UBS-B plug, but does not appear as a USB device at all. So it is either faulty, or needs some special treatment.

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 08:43:48 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on January 25, 2017, 06:47:50 pmThe Tektronix device seems to me an interface, which needs to be plugged into the scope via USB and provides GPIB to the outside world then. So in that case it will not likely work with a PC. But I'll give it a try an plug into a Linux system to see if it does anything. It is not visible even as an unknown usb device under Windows.

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 08:51:57 pm
content: Just tried it. It does absolutely nothing, and does not appear as anything on the USB bus, even under Linux. So, either faulty, or would only work in a Tek scope.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 09:22:53 pm
content: OK, so you should check how it is detected on GPIB (*idn?)If you are looking for cheap GPIB adapter, check the Arduino based one in this threadhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/raspberry-pi23-logging-platform-for-voltnuts/

author: LazyJack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2017, 09:32:21 pm
content: Quote from: plesa on January 25, 2017, 09:22:53 pmYes, I'll see if it does anything on the GPIB side. I actually have that arduino based interface, so probably the connectors and the case from this will be used to house that. This is why i got in the first place, I was just curious if i can do anything with it, before taking apart.Thank you all for the suggestions.