Fluke8840A Error-Code 71 on GPIB-Query "G8"

[Burner_357]

Hello folks,

I need some help from you

I have a Fluke8840A Bench-DMM and I'm having a weird problem querying the device via the GPIB-Bus.
In my setup I use a National-Instruments GPIB-ENET-100 to talk to the DMM via LAN. As software I use NIs "MAX" (Measurement and Automation Explorer) for testing.

This works fine for sending settings to the device (like "S0", "S1" or "S2" for the reading rate).
It also works fine for querying the settings with "G0" through "G7".

BUT

The DMM refuses to answer a Query with "G8". (which should return the device information like manufacturer, model and FW-version).
It always returns the ERROR-Code 71 (meaning "Syntax error in device-dependent command string.")
I just don't get why G0 to G7 work and G8 doesn't.

Does anyone have a idea where this weird behavior comes from and can help me out.
Thank you in advance


Greetings,
Burner_357

[Neptuni]

Hi,

I have the same issue, maybe its an older software for the GPIB card then the manual refers to?

Best regards,

Mikael

[eswar007]

Hi,

I had the same problem today with 34401A. ERROR-Code 71, I had to change the language from Fluke to SCPI to fix that issue. It's worth look at the language it got configured to.

Thanks,
Eswar

[Gertjan]

Hi Burner_357,

Very late answer to your question, so mainly for other people who are encountering the same "problem".

In short: Not all versions of the 8840A GPIB board are supporting the "G8" (Get Instrument Identification) command, only later versions do.


I found out about this when I was writing a 8840A configuration file for TestController.

The Fluke 8840A was manufactured for a very long time (about 20 years!). Production started around 1985 . So before the introduction of SCPI. These early versions did not have an identification command. (something like *IDN?)

This is how my early GPIB card looks like:

IMG_1668  Fluke 8840A - GPIB option card GJM top rear-2000pix.jpg

One sees at first glance that this is ancient electronics .  A Zilog Z8 with piggy-backed ROM!


Around 1990 an identification command was added to the GPIB command set, the "G8" command. Those later version GPIB cards are looking a lot more modern too:

8840A GPIB card top (later version)-2000pix.jpg

So, it depends on the version of your 8840A GPIB card whether it will reply to a "G8" command.
It is easy to test: just send G8. If the card is too old, it will return "ERROR-Code 71", as you found out . If the card supports the "G8" command, it will return something like "FLUKE, 8840A, 0, V4.0".

You can find detailed info on all the different 8840A GPIB board versions in this post: Fluke 8840A/AF GPIB board.

regards, Gertjan.

[Paceguy]

Thanks Gertjan for supplying some valuable information for us Fluke 8840/8842A owners. much appreciated.