HP 34401A 3457A 3456A 3478A Standalone Software

[todorp]

Hi, I tried to run the latest binary available in git on win 7 pro 32 bit. I am connected to the HP34401A using an USB serial dongle. The serial comm settings on the instrument are: baud - 9600, parity - none, stop bits - 2, flow control - hardware. With this settings when I try to send the *IDN? command the program hangs and I have to kill it from task manager. If I push the 'Connect' button the program crashes. If I leave all the default serial port settings and push connect the program seems happy and closes the settings window. However if then I start a measurement the program crashes.
Anyone had similar issues with the serial comm connectivity? The hardware usb serial dongle works because I am able to connect to the instrument using BenchVue and TestController.

Thanks a lot,
    Tod

[Nx-1997]

The correct serial settings on the instrument should be 9600 Baud, None: 8 Bits, SCPI. Navigate to the I/O menu and set these settings and see if that works.

[todorp]

The correct serial settings on the instrument should be 9600 Baud, None: 8 Bits, SCPI. Navigate to the I/O menu and set these settings and see if that works.

Yes, that is exactly what I have - the only difference is stop bits = 2. Using a serial console I also determined that I have to set the flow control to 'hardware' in order to be able to connect to the meter...

I will download the code from git and try to debug to see what is going on. Thanks a lot for the software and the help :-).

[beanflying]

The correct serial settings on the instrument should be 9600 Baud, None: 8 Bits, SCPI. Navigate to the I/O menu and set these settings and see if that works.

Not sure what the 'correct' settings are but mine is working fine on Even parity, 7 bits at 9600. Those settings are what worked on the Agilent freebie thread linked earlier and this software worked so I stuck with them.

[todorp]

@beanflying could you post your values for the other fields in the Rs232 Settings, like hardware control, etc.
Thanks a lot

[Nx-1997]

I just tested it in Windows 7, works fine. The manuals says default settings are 9600, NONE/8 bits, Start Bit 1, Stop bit 2. On some meters the Parity and data bits may be set to Even / 7 bits by default.

[todorp]

Ok, I managed to make it work: I am not sure what exactly was wrong but the default settings given by Nx-1997 worked. The only thing I did was to install Net Framework 4.7.2 dev sdk (I was getting ready to debug the source code). After this the software worked like charm.
Thanks a lot for everyone's help,
    Tod

[jeffjmr]

New to GPIB, but have a 3478A and a Keithley 2015 and would like to log as well as learn about GPIB.

Will a UGPlus adapter work with this software and my 3478A?

If not, could you give me some specific adapter models that would work?

Any usability with my 2015?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Nx-1997]

Hi, jeffjmr

The UGPlus adapter won't work with any of my software, unless you compile a special version for your UGPlus adapter. Because it is a true USB device not a virtual com port emulator like the AR488 gpib adapter.

I would recommend you try the ar488 adapter.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/ar488-arduino-based-gpib-adapter/

Step 1: get the ar488 pcb gerber files from user eliocor's post from this link and upload it to the jlpcb website:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/ar488-arduino-based-gpib-adapter/msg3362552/#msg3362552

Step 2: Get the Centronics Connector 57 Series 24 Pin Male (GPIB Connector), cheapest price:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32795413098.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.2.2d424321PJawwf
or https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32832215494.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.18.2d424321PJawwf

Step 3: Get some Arduino pro micros ATmega32U4 5V 16Mhz

Hope this helps, I created a bunch of these adapters following the above steps.

The Keithley 2015 has a serial port and uses SCPI commands, you can try the fluke 8846a compiled version I uploaded and see if that work.

[jeffjmr]

That looks like an interesting project that would certainly test my SMD assembly skills. Not sure I have the patience for it at this point in time, though. I know nothing about Arduino. Don’t even understand your step 3.

 Is there an off-the-shelf adapter that would work? The only PC I have is a notebook with USB 2.0.

Besides the adapter, what else do I need beside your software and my PC?

If this is not the place for newbie advice, I understand and will try to educate myself a bit more on GPIB before proceeding.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Nx-1997]

If you have a Keysight 82357B, then you will need to install NI VISA software and configure the Keysight IO suite software to use NI VISA as the primary VISA software. I posted instructions about this in one of my above post.

If you have NI GPIB-USB-HS, then you only need to install NI VISA software.

You can try the VISA GPIB version of my software. If you don't have a Keysight 82357B, then I won't recommend buying one, the NI GPIB-USB-HS is much better.

Step 3 is about requiring Arduino Pro micros for the ar488 adapter, they need one to work, no SMD skills are required as its all through hole components. No one is selling these fully assembled.

Hope that helps.

[maxwell3e10]

There is no need to make PCB boards, one can just solder wires from the connector to the Arduino. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$5-usb-gpib-adapter-for-ezgpib/ Even though it looks a little fragile, that little adapter is still my primary GPIB interface.

[jeffjmr]

OK, I will consider building the Arduino unit but I’d like to explore one more alternative.

The NI GPIB-USB-HS lists for $1200 on the NI website.  Ebay sellers show new ones at $135. Surely there is a difference. For example, the ebay units show software that is only Linux and WIN XP and 7 compatible, whereas the NI website shows WIN as well as MacOS compatibility. I would prefer to go Mac but I’m guessing this software is not MacOS compatible. But software alone can’t account for a $1065 difference!

Lastly, my PC is running WIN 10. That seems to limit all my options.

Thanks for your continued assistance.
Jeff

[DrNefario]

Tonight I have been able to get an HP 3478A to have control via GPIB with an HP 82350 PCI to GPIB card using this software (HP 3478A Control and Data Logging Software by Nirvak).  I have previously had it working with the 82357 USB version.  I know the readme file says "This works with the HP82357A USB-GPIB adapter but not the 82350B PCI bus adapter." but I tried loading the latest NI and Keysight libraries and -- voila!
I am running Windows 10 64 bit 21H1 for the OS here.
First I updated the NI to version 21 with ni-visa_21.0_online update.
Next I updated my Keysight with the offline updater, Keysight_IOLibSuite2022_18_2_27313.exe
I configured both to be active with NI preferred in the Keysight VISA conflict manager and made sure to check the "enable Keysight GPIB cards for 488 ..."
I confirmmed that Connection Expert could see and talk to the 3478 - Note that the 3478 does not support *IDN? so I used the Device Clear command.  Next I used NI MAX with NI VISA interactive Control to send an 'H3" command to read 2-wire Ohms which worked OK.
Finally I ran the HP 3478A Control and Data Logging Software from https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3478A-Software/releases page.
It connected and runs fine.  Many Thanks for this.  Here is a screen capture with a 50 Ohm terminator connected:

[Johnny10]

 

[HighVoltage]

If you don't have a Keysight 82357B, then I won't recommend buying one, the NI GPIB-USB-HS is much better.

Why is the NI GPIB-USB-HS much better in your opinion?

[Nx-1997]

If you don't have a Keysight 82357B, then I won't recommend buying one, the NI GPIB-USB-HS is much better.

Why is the NI GPIB-USB-HS much better in your opinion?

Better compatibility, more softwares will work with NI-Visa compared to Keysight Visa. For example, Python's PyVisa library depends on NI-Visa. Also, NI-Visa is much more stable compared to Keysight's software, Keysight software would randomly stop my software from communicating with my devices, no idea why.

However, in my opinion, both of them suck compared to the AR488 adapter as it does not need special drivers or software to work, its plug and play, at least on windows. Its also a lot cheaper ($8 to make one) and open source, and more stable, never had any issues with this adapter. Its biggest disadvantage is that most softwares that rely on a VISA library won't work with it. This means that the end user has to created softwares for this adapter.

[DrNefario]

I understand your fondness for the AR488.  My reason for using the HP 82350 and 82357 is that I got them for --FREE--. 
I was considering buying the parts for building the AR488's as I have more instruments to connect, but the command set seems to be different from the "standard" HP and NI commands.

What do you think of the xyphro adapter?  ( https://github.com/xyphro/UsbGpib ).
 It is based on the standard USBTMC protocol. This allows the GPIB test equipment to look like a normal USB based measurement device and work flawless with e.g. NI VISA, Labview, Matlab or PyVisa.
Cost is similar to build as the AR488 and is not tied to the Prologix command set.

[Nx-1997]

I understand your fondness for the AR488.  My reason for using the HP 82350 and 82357 is that I got them for --FREE--. 
I was considering buying the parts for building the AR488's as I have more instruments to connect, but the command set seems to be different from the "standard" HP and NI commands.

What do you think of the xyphro adapter?  ( https://github.com/xyphro/UsbGpib ).
 It is based on the standard USBTMC protocol. This allows the GPIB test equipment to look like a normal USB based measurement device and work flawless with e.g. NI VISA, Labview, Matlab or PyVisa.
Cost is similar to build as the AR488 and is not tied to the Prologix command set.

Looking at the github page, the xyphro adapter seems like a pretty nice gpib adapter.  I will try to make a few of them and see how they compare against ar488 and 82357B.

[DrNefario]

That's great, glad to hear it.  I will be awaiting your evaluation.  Thanks!

[iMo]

 
This is what I was looking for for ages Congratulation!
I do not have my 34401A connected to your control program as I run some measurements now so I will do later..
In meantime let me kindly ask you following: I've been using an stm32 mcu processing and sending data off the 34401A to my smartphone via BT.
The data is a csv line with 14 numbers in each measurement.
How is your "data file" like? I want to try your Grapher with my data..
Thanks!
PS: ok, I've found an example in the zip file..

[HKJ]

In meantime let me kindly ask you following: I've been using a stm32 mcu sending data off the 34401A to my smartphone via BT.
The data is a csv line with 14 numbers in each line/measurement.
How is your "data file" like? I want to try your Grapher with my data..

There is other software that supports the 34401 ( https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/ ). It do not support all the detail of the meter (At least not before somebody makes a definition for it), but has considerable more options for data processing and can log multiple devices at the same time, i.e. one or more meters, a power supply and a electronic load at the same time is possible.

[iMo]

Unbelievable guys! So many control programs now to try!
3y back there was only the HP sw but it did not work well here..
 

[iMo]

.. It do not support all the detail of the meter (At least not before somebody makes a definition for it), but has considerable more options for data processing and can log multiple devices at the same time, i.e. one or more meters, a power supply and a electronic load at the same time is possible.

I do in my MCU (an stm32f103 MapleMini hanging on the 34401A's rs232 and also collecting data from 2 thermometers and an RTC) a lot of math - moving averages/medians, and regression upon the data. Saving energy by logging data into a spare smartphone via bluetooth (no PC required). Then I send .csv file via mydrive. In excel I open the file and I get graphs. No need for additional processing so far.

[HKJ]

.. It do not support all the detail of the meter (At least not before somebody makes a definition for it), but has considerable more options for data processing and can log multiple devices at the same time, i.e. one or more meters, a power supply and a electronic load at the same time is possible.

I do in my MCU (an stm32f103 MapleMini hanging on the 34401A's rs232 and also collecting data from 2 thermometers and an RTC) a lot of math - moving averages/medians, and regression upon the data. Saving energy by logging data into a spare smartphone via bluetooth (no PC required). Then I send .csv file via mydrive. In excel I open the file and I get graphs. No need for additional processing so far.

You could probably do all that math in TestController, but that would require a PC (or Rasberry PI) and something to convert the thermometers into a format TC can handle (See here for examples: https://lygte-info.dk/project/TestControllerArduino2%20UK.html )
TC can do a lot of graphing, from recorded data or from any CSV file.

Note: TC has build-in conversion of PTC's, RTC and thermocouplers from a ohm/volt measurement.