Print capture for an HP53310A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: wje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2023, 07:05:19 pm
content: This is driving me crazy. I have an HP 53310A (actually, several of them), one of the most underrated time interval / freq measurement instruments ever. I have a Prologix GPIB ethernet adapter. I'm desperately trying to get a print capture. The device supported HP graphics printers, such as the 2225 Thinkjet. Ok, I expected KE5FX's 7470 emulator to work. Nope. The HP wants a graphics printer. Apparently. All of the 'print capture' progs that will work with the Prologix that I've found, don't. Work, that is. Either too old or some other issue. I can't even get the Prologix via DPIB Emulator (also KE5FX) to talk properly to the 53310A. Connects, I can address it, goes into remote mode. But, every command fails with a 'header error'.Anyone have any suggestions? I really need to do a print capture!Thanks, Bill

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2023, 08:05:09 pm
content: You could use an HP HP-IB plotter like this onehttps://www.ebay.com/itm/284922745725?hash=item4256b8137d:g:cm8AAOSwQl1i7VDT&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8PItWoUnHjuaJzm6gZVDO04Tg%2FBFI3Ajm%2FF7CV%2FCVgw4GZIvLDNNILXPc4viVcsw98LLmkVM9TJSxA2wLD8dnL04WwlJqsad6i7YswVkWPs4akMXavDs%2FTqIOe2p2EttdONzeT%2BfBD699geG9gOj5Mw0UuIlGtfY41ebMNa5FlD%2BloBC92A%2BAEy4LRJuOZja7kgudMiD34SB9IHUMexiSpeISUW4l7EBePhnvNWCJp4o5ImDV2sdXZKf9jZkteDI7xbr066IjrxAwGUOeREiMQk2JKWSJXRa3K1yHKgsMSNeIc1I%2FSaA%2FwdpWh%2FBsPINCw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR962tInHYgI looked but I didn't see any HP-IB printers on Fleabay. Those used to be readily available!

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2023, 08:22:33 pm
content: This might work for youhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/164644674909?hash=item2655965d5d:g:4uoAAOSwOGtgAIBZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4Cv7HqBT7QCoQE9IKZEoiiesdG5fd26K0ePMU6MjDPncA9fi20503ySMYMR1DBsJyWtNDwT8xiii%2FgT%2BYsLZfnHiNaBXeJ1KX%2Br5lbqMdaDmeWmsMdxL6jEgilWDjmCw3MGvOCulrcG2RMrWuTKnaYyizY1VJaWvf6w0vKQk0NNhW%2Fn7SXV7FdhrOJiZF3gvby9qSXpbvLh%2FmnTdi8hu9z2wbsBT3OFGGc%2BzNniJDfV2JKUOGGmLe%2FA3L%2FhuWUfVQKtpRt9QM8pCtqV66mxEKGkSAina4jRcITrYsUwpG3TH%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9T9n4rHYgI have a G model and I like it. It's one of my favorite printers for the old HP systems since it uses thermal paper and not ink it's always ready to go. I didn't think that the A models handled graphics but the front page of the manual says that they do.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2023, 08:51:17 pm
content: As for screencapture software, Damien's tool written in Python should work for your HPhttps://damien.douxchamps.net/elec/gpib-screenshot/And if not, Damien is very helpful, we spent quite some time together on polishing his script for use with my Hp8595E spectrum analyser.Wilko

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2023, 01:04:08 am
content: Damien's tool looks very nice and supports a good range on instruments. But it uses PyVisa and I don't think there is Visa support for Prologix. Please correct me if that's wrong.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2023, 06:17:44 am
content: Well, there is a pure python (or whatever it is called) implementation of the libraries that are otherwise provided by say NI VISA or Keysight VISA. PyVISA can use different backend libs. Damien runs his stuff on Linux btw, I run mine on Windows with the Keysight VISA libs. AFAIK the pure python stuff can use Prologix adapters.Otherwise ask Damien for clarification.WilkoQuote from: artag on August 28, 2023, 01:04:08 am

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 03:47:11 am
content: Quote from: wkb on August 27, 2023, 08:51:17 pmVery interesting. I have a 53310A and 54542A also.Yes, the 53310A appears to be PCL only. I was able to get something to KE5FX's 7470A plotter emulator that looked kind of like PCL, but it didn't render properly on the Google online viewer.I'm using an Agilent 82357B adapter.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 04:57:01 am
content: I also use an Agilent/Keysight USB adapter

author: damien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2023, 07:32:59 am
content: Thanks @wkb for the plugFor some reason I was not on the eevblog, something that is now finally fixed with this first post.I can confirm that the script works with the 53310a. In fact, it's for this very device that I created the script in the first place

author: jhenderson0107
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2023, 08:19:36 pm
content: Connection Manager (https://share.elkengineering.net/-U3YjecZVq6) also supports screen capture from the MDO.

author: Moxon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 23, 2024, 06:18:28 am
content: I have been using IntuiLinkhttps://www.keysight.com/us/en/lib/software-detail/computer-software/intuilink-data-capture-for-keysight-oscilloscopes-896758.html.It's not convenient but does work.

author: mwb1100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2024, 08:03:07 am
content: Quote from: Moxon on January 23, 2024, 06:18:28 amIt might be worth looking at a recent thread here:Visashot, a python script for capturing screenshots from vintage instrumentsNo idea if it would be more convenient or not, but the developer (damien) is willing to help out or accept feedback in the thread. One of the images he posted isfrom an HP53310A.