GPIBs from various TE manufacturers, interchangeable? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Finderbinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 04:04:16 pm
content: Mean does GPIB-USB adapter from say Keysight (or NI) fit Keithley devices and vice versa? Also does any adapter from the same manufacturer will fit all their instruments? Not just physically but also functionally. Or I should/must buy specific adapter for exact manufacturer/instrument?

author: benj38
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 04:25:27 pm
content: I do not know how it is with GPIB-USB adapters, but I remember back in the day that GPIB boards (PCI, ISA, etc.) compatibility issues were a real nuisance unless one used National Instruments boards, a fact that NI took advantage of to no end in the pricing of their boards.It did not matter much if the board was from the same manufacturer as the test instrument. To have the least issues you wanted a NI board, because the software support was much better.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 05:48:12 pm
content: as written by design they should be compatible to gpib standards but companies sometimes love to make their own sauce / some variantions, commands, time outs, delaysthe well known are Prologix, Keysight and NIthe HP / Agilent model was cloned to no ends, the newest Keysight models seem ok for now, Ni had some clones at some pointyou have forks like arduino based ones, or other mcu to mostly mimick Prologix adapters, they can have their quircks tooand yes you had many problems with isa pci cards - drivers where a nuisance and still are, same for softwares ... you have to did a lot to find old gen stuff

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 06:07:33 pm
content: The rope has still both ends.GPIB is a standard, but so are the other connections.But in between those standards are always a converter that is also always a black box.So the unknown part is how to reach the other end.So what ever you do pick the one that has best known unknown.

author: Finderbinder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 06:36:40 pm
content: Assuming only by monstrous size of AR488 thread on eevblog there is no simple DIY solution. And I wouldn't want one more project to complete another project which is a part or just another oneQuote from: coromonadalix on February 07, 2025, 05:48:12 pm

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 07:33:25 pm
content: The size is because of different DIYers, not AR488.One possibility is to minimize the unknown part, but it's not neat and tidy.Convert GPIB to RS232 first, then computer side becomes a black box and is possibly easier to manage.E,Some USB dongles from inside are 2 controllers.Communication between them is irrelevant, but RS232 is very capable.First the 2nd controller, like the GPIB one, is not in a game at all.All you get is a "regular" RS232 ID dongle that doesn't even work.And 2nd controller is waiting an activation code from the 1st one.This method is nothing new.For example dongles that need special drivers can be regular memory sticks first.(TV dongle)What or how happens with the activation is irrelevant.Relevant is that 1st level disappears and 2nd level becomes available.The catch is that it goes both ways and can be protected.So if you're using commercial applications be aware.