(COMPLETED) WTB (UK) : Working GPIB USB ADAPTER  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BNElecEng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2017, 01:33:50 pm
content: I'm looking for a used but working GPIB USB adapter. The ones I've seen online are either way too pricey or are most likely one of the Agilent clones, which I want to avoid.Anyone who has one that they would like to sell, please get in touch.Thanks in advance

author: DuPe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:18:45 am
content: Probably you know these:http://prologix.biz/controllers.htmlAfter a kong search for a used controller I buyed one of them, since they are cheaper than most used ones on ebay.Works fine with my keithley equipment.CheersPeter

author: BNElecEng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:38:33 am
content: Hi DuPe,Yes, I have seen the prologix adapters. I'm contemplating buying one at the moment. The cost of buying them in pounds is quite high, so I'm hoping for a good second hand one.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:31:58 pm
content: The Agilent 82357b can be found on ebay for $80 USD. Someare known to be fakes, but they are very good fakes that duplicate the circuit, including PCB layout, exactly. Same microcontroller, same true GPIB bus driver ICs. They work identically to the originals are far as anyone can tell, which is to say that they work very well. The Agilent software provides full VISA and gpib-32.dll programming interfaces, so is compatible with all software that expects those standards in place. Notably, the prologix does not have such support (nor true GPIB bus drivers) and this should be a consideration.I use mine under windows with Activex/COM controls, which allows me to interface to the adapter/instruments with vbscript or jscript within html applications (html application or .hta is really just a html file or web page that runs with the full permissions of any other application). This allows for almost too-easy GUI creation, if you know a bit of html. An advantage of the VISA/GPIB-32 support is that when I switched from a NI GPIB card to the Agilent USB, the scripts all worked just as before.

author: BNElecEng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:56:54 pm
content: Just a quick update, managed to find a prologix adapter for a good price on fleabay. Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

author: crispus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 10:39:25 pm
content: Quote from: BNElecEng on November 15, 2017, 07:56:54 pmWhat was thegood price?

author: 4CX35000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 11:12:54 pm
content: If your looking for GPIB leads, then TMart have some good prices recently. Whilst eBay tends to be expensive due to the second hand test equipment houses holding the prices high. GPIB to GPIB lead around 3ft long should not cost nearly as much as the USB adapter, just because it says HP on the side.

author: BNElecEng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 11:30:21 pm
content: I got the adapter for £85, half the cost of a new one in the UK.A colleague of mine uses the prologix without issues on the same type of equipment I'm planning to use it on. Bench DMMs and similar

author: BNElecEng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 11:32:34 pm
content: Quote from: 4CX35000 on November 15, 2017, 11:12:54 pmThanks, I had never heard of TMart before. I'll go take a look.