[Test-Equipment] GPIB scrips for HP 8657B? WAD: Signal Generator Wanted

[Thomas Frobase]

Take a look at eBay, search for an 82357B  Chinese clones are affordable and
work well ... tom, N3LLL 

-----Original Message-----
From: Test-Equipment [mailto:test-equipment-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of KA4INM radio
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2014 6:47 PM
To: Discussion of Electronic Test Equipment
Subject: Re: [Test-Equipment] GPIB scrips for HP 8657B? WAD: Signal
Generator Wanted

   On 09/18/14 16:43, Dennis Wade wrote:

/*snip*/
>              I'm interested in the possibility of creating a sweep 
> script for the 8657B using the GPIB interface.  I know very little so 
> far, but what I've read seems encouraging and I've looked at the 
> various GPIB toolkits.  Way overkill for what I'm interested in, but 
> it would seem to me if its feasible someone would have done it...and I 
> haven't found any examples yet.  I've done some programming (not GPIB) 
> in a previous life

>               So a couple of specific questions:

>                    1.  GPIB cards/boxes.  I see that there are HP GPIB 
> cards on the E-place for quite reasonable prices, while the National 
> Inst. and Prologix stuff are much less reasonable.  What do I need?  PCI,
USB, RS232?
>   I have read Phil's web page on the topic.

   Any hookup that float's your boat.

>                     2.  Ideally what I'd want is a GUI that would let 
> me enter the start freq, end freq and amplitude and maybe number of 
> repetitions...that's pretty much it.  Seems like a simple idea, but is 
> this something an 8657B can even do reasonably?  I'm thinking of 
> settling time each time it has to change frequency and how that might 
> limit a sweep function.

   This is what the scripting language is good for.
With a precision diode detector (assuming enough signal level) and a GPIB dc
Voltmeter, or power meter, you can sweep and record the results, of testing
a piece of suitable equipment, with one start command.
   From what I have seen and I have looked at the programming language over
the years all it takes is pure persistence and the realization that when it
is working there may be a little error that must be corrected before you
reach perfection.



-- 
   Ron  KA4INM - Youvan's corollary:
                 Every action results in unwanted side effects.
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