[Test-Equipment] Graphics Interface for HP Network Analyzer

[Dave Emery]

On Mon, Nov 24, 2003 at 08:02:01PM -0800, Eric Lemmon wrote:
> 
> There is the usual HP-IB connector on the back panel, along with a
> DB-25F connector labeled "TEST SET - I/O INTERCONNECT" which purpose is
> unclear.  The Agilent Tech Support guy advised me that I could connect a
> now-obsolete HP Deskjet printer to the analyzer and make plots, but he
> stated that there was no way to get the graphic image into a PC.  Other
> than taking a picture of the screen with a digital camera, that is!

	If the printer talks over some standard hardware interface (PC
type parallel port or 488 bus or RS-232 type serial data)  which can be
captured with the right cable or adapters there exists a open source
utility called hp2xx that will convert from the HP-GL that probably
drives that HP Deskjet to .gif or other standard graphics formats.

	Many late 80s and early 90s HP instruments had firmware  to
drive a thermal printer over the 488 port - that was the standard way to
print screen displays on those instruments.   Capturing the 488 printer
traffic with say a National Instruments 488 PCI or ISA board  and then
converting the HP-GL printer commands into standard  graphics using
hp2xx works and works well, but it may be a more complex solution than
you are willing to consider.

	But the hard part (rendering the printer commands as standard
graphic format images) is available (as hp2xx) if you can capture
the HPGL data meant for the printer.

	
-- 
   Dave Emery N1PRE,  die@dieconsulting.com  DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493