[Microwave] Re: [Test-Equipment] HP 8505A & GPIB operation

Sat, 10 May 2003 13:43:55 -0400

John Miles wrote:

> This guy had homebrewed a labelling interface with an Atmel chip.  At the
> time, I had an 8505 and was planning to reproduce his project, but I sold the
> 8505 before I got around to it.

I actually have the HP Storage Normalizer (and an extra one, if anyone needs
one) and discovered much to my chagrin (because I've been searching for them)
and pleasure that the ANA already has the correct option boards installed. Thus,
hardware is not really an issue.

> As far as raw plots are concerned, if your storage normalizer has GPIB plot
> capability via the HP/GL-2 standard, you may be able to get the software at
> http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx/7470.zip working with it.  That's a long shot,
> though, since I don't think the 8750A supported HP/GL-2.

Unfortunately, I don't have the Normalizer manual yet, but it appears to have no
stand-alone plotter drive capability. There are analog outputs on both the ANA
and Normalizer to drive external displays, but the ability to act as a GPIB
controller appears to be lacking. I think this would make using HP/GL capture
and conversion software impossible. That's a pity, since it'd be an easy way to
go.

With source code or a program listing for the HP 98xx (likely in BASIC ??) SW,
it might be fairly easy to get it running on a PC with a National Instruments
card, or some such. That was my hope.

Thanks very much,
-John

> -- john KE5FX
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [email protected]
> > [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of J. Forster
> > Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 7:36 PM
> > To: Test Equipment List; Microwave @ qth.net
> > Subject: [Test-Equipment] HP 8505A & GPIB operation
> >
> >
> > Is anyone on-list operating an HP 8505A ANA with a computer
> > (preferably a PC) ?
> > I'd like to find the SW to do the error corrections and various
> > plots without
> > having to write it, but a listing of the HP software in BASIC
> > would be a great
> > help.
> >