Re: [Linux-gpib-general] Which Agilent GPIB PCI card to buy?

[Søren K. <sq...@dt...>]

Hi Alex


We have used both NI-PCI and NI-PCIe GPIB-cards and both types works
with the driver (although I have to uncomment the mfh driver line in the
makefile due to som compatibility issues with CentOS7)

However, finding a computer with full size PCI slots is not easy these
days....


Regards

Søren


On 1/15/20 9:06 PM, daturach wrote:
> Hello Alex
>
> I am using a PCI-GPIB model fitted in an old PC. It's just for the fun
> of driving an old Marconi 2955. These boards are quite cheap. You
> should be able to get one for 100 bucks or so.
>
> Walter
>
>
> Le mer. 15 janv. 2020 à 16:12, Alexander Huemer
> <ale...@xx...> a écrit :
>
>     Hi
>
>     Thanks for the insights.
>     A friend of mine suggested to use National Instruments card
>     instead of
>     HP.
>     Taking a look at the supported-hardware page I don't see any notes
>     for
>     the NI PCI cards, which makes me believe they have proper
>     end-of-string
>     detection, therefore better performance and hence the better
>     choice than
>     HP.
>     Is that a correct conclusion?
>
>     It seems like there are a number of different models available
>     from NI. 
>     Anything in particular to prefer?
>
>     Thanks,
>     -Alex
>
>     On Fri, Jan 10, 2020 at 04:02:07PM +0100, dave penkler wrote:
>     > Hallo Alexander,
>     > From a user perspective they are pretty much the same as they
>     use the same
>     > driver. The main difference is that the 82350A requires a firmware
>     > udownload when initialising it. So the 82350B is preferable from
>     that
>     > point. See aslo
>     >
>     https://linux-gpib.sourceforge.io/doc_html/supported-hardware.html#AGILENT-82350B
>     >
>     > Regarding the non-system controller aspect: the cards can be
>     used in this
>     > mode but you need to understand the gpib protocol to program it.
>     > A simple example is here:
>     >
>     https://sourceforge.net/p/linux-gpib/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/linux-gpib-user/examples/slave_read_to_file.c
>     > cheers,
>     > -Dave
>     >
>     > On Fri, 10 Jan 2020 at 13:41, Alexander Huemer
>     <ale...@xx...>
>     > wrote:
>     >
>     > > Hi
>     > >
>     > > I would like to build a small box based on a Soekris 5501 to
>     be able to
>     > > interface various pieces of old test equipment via GPIB.
>     > >
>     > > In case that matters, the test equipment I have with GPIB
>     interfaces
>     > > are:
>     > > * HP 54200A (Oscilloscope)
>     > > * HP 66311B (Power supply)
>     > > * HP  3478A (Multimeter)
>     > > * Rohde & Schwarz CMD53 (Digital Radiocommunication Tester)
>     > >
>     > > I am considering to buy either:
>     > > * HP 82350A Rev. B
>     > > * HP 82350B Rev. A
>     > >
>     > > My question is whether there are any real-world differences
>     between
>     > > these cards from user perspective.
>     > > Looking at pictures of the boards, the implementations seems to be
>     > > significantly different. Having no practical experience with
>     linux-gpib
>     > > yet, I cannot say whether those differences have any effect to
>     the user.
>     > >
>     > > * HP 82350A Rev. B -> Xilinx XC5202 + PLX PCI9050
>     > > * HP 82350B Rev. A -> Xilinx XC2S100, no PLX
>     > >
>     > > My guess would be 'no difference', though I thought I'd ask
>     before I
>     > > buy.
>     > >
>     > > Second question:
>     > > Can these boards act as non-controllers on the bus? I wasn't
>     able to
>     > > find a good explanation of the technical situation in English,
>     only in
>     > > German[1] (my mother tongue).
>     > > Long story short: Some GPIB adapters for general purpose
>     computers can
>     > > react to ATN messages on the bus quickly enough to be able to
>     act as
>     > > non-controllers, some aren't. The time budget is pretty tight
>     for that,
>     > > 200ns, too quickly for interrupt-based implementations.
>     > >
>     > > I believe the ATN responses are the reason one would want to
>     use a PCI
>     > > board instead of a 82357A/B.
>     > > Whether that ATN thing is significantly relevant in another can of
>     > > worms, though we don't have to open that can of worms right now.
>     > >
>     > > -Alex
>     > >
>     > > [1]
>     https://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/GPIB-RS232-Schnittstelle
>     > >
>     > >
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>     > >
>
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Søren Koch
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