HP 34401A 3457A 3456A 3478A Standalone Software

[Nx-1997]

Hi, I couldn't find a standalone software for HP 34401A so I built one. It only works on Windows 10, 8, and 7. You will need a USB to Serial Adapter and a Null Modem cable/adapter to use this software. The software is free and open source, so you can download the source code and modify if for your own use.

I also created similar software for HP 3457A, 3478A, and 3456A, require an AR488 Arduino GPIB Adapter (https://github.com/Twilight-Logic/AR488). I have also created VISA GPIB version of these softwares however I will not provide any support for those, I tested them with NI-VISA 20.0 and Agilent 82357B Adapter, they may or may not work for you.

HP 34401A (RS232 + Null Modem or AR488 Arduino GPIB)
GitHub Link: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-Agilent-Keysight-34401A-Control-and-Data-Logging-Software
Download: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-Agilent-Keysight-34401A-Control-and-Data-Logging-Software/releases

HP 3457A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)
GitHub Link: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3457A-Software
Download: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3457A-Software/releases

HP 3456A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)
GitHub Link: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3456A-Software
Download: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3456A-Software/releases

HP 3478A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)
GitHub Link: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3478A-Software
Download: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-3478A-Software/releases

HP Data Log Graphing Utility
GitHub Link: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-Data-Log-Graphing-Utility
Download: https://github.com/Niravk1997/HP-Data-Log-Graphing-Utility/releases

HP 34401A (RS232 + Null Modem or AR488 Arduino GPIB)


HP 3457A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)


HP 3456A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)


HP 3478A (AR488 Arduino GPIB)


Graph Window:


Create Math Waveforms:


Graph Markers:


Measurement Table:

[bdunham7]

Very nice!

[joeqsmith]

Nice looking interface. 

[tv84]

Awesome job! 

[HighVoltage]

Looks very good, I will give it a try

[blackdog]

Hi Nx-1997, :-)
Tonight I managed to pair my 34401A with your HP34401A software.
Some comments, but first my thanks for sharing this software!

I had started last week with an RS232 USB dongle, but with three different computers, this dongle did not want to work properly.
I have a special measurement computer that has only 1 RS232 port and the sad thing is that I still have a plug-in card with two RS232 ports on it but there is no PCI slot left in this computer...
So I ordered two RS232 to USB cables with another chipset in it and now I hope that those will work. :-)

1e
In the graphics module, the bottoms of the letters of the menu are cut off.


2e
The main menu shows the measured value, e.g. the voltage of my 10V DC LAB reference.
Below the measured value are then the minimum value and the maximum value and finally the average value.
I would like to be able to reset the minimum and average value with a button, is that possible, I have not been able to find this function yet.


3e
I am also missing another feature and that is the "Null" button.

4e
On my 34461A and 34465A multimeters I often use this Null button and set the scale to e.g. 1PPM/Div
Is it possible that you could apply something similar to this software as well?

Here the 34401A is used to measure my LAB reference.
The 34401A has been on for less than 1 hour so there is the warm up drift to be seen here.
The value of the vertical scale jumps back and forth, the last "0" is omitted and this gives a jittery picture.


For now, these are my comments, I think the software is a nice piece of work! 

Thanks and kind regards,
Bram

[coromonadalix]

for the dongles   

Please check the vid pid to know what chipset is in there,  some pl2303 chipset are not supported in win10

If you can find true FTDI dongles   they will work well  the ftdi clone will need a downgraded driver version, if not they will bust but can be recovered.

Some ch340 dongle works fine too

[Nx-1997]

Thanks for the feedback. I normally use the cheap ch340 USB to Serial adapters found on AliExpress for few dollars. They work just fine, after updating the drivers.

1e. The cut off is due to windows 7. This issue is not present on windows 10. It seems Microsoft do not really care about providing proper support for .net framework on windows 7, since they stopped supporting the OS in 2020. I am certain that this is a Windows 7 theme issue.

2e. You can reset those MIN, MAX, AVG values by double clicking on them. So double click on any of those values and they all should reset. Also, keep in mind that the AVG value is an exponential moving average, its not an actual calculated average. More info here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/50854247

3e/4e. I have no plans on adding math functionalities such as Null. You could create a subtraction math waveform through the graph window. I know it is not the same, but it will have to do for now.

The “0” being emitted is due array of data type double. Trailing zeros are removed, in c#, the trailing zeros are removed from floating-point numeric type double. This is also true for Keysight Benchvue DMM software measurement table, it also removes trailing zeros. This non-issue is not present in data logging feature of the software as data captured from the 34401A is stored directly into text files without any modifications.

Also, speech synthesizer on Windows 7 only has one voice (female) installed, and it is not good.

I have attached a special version of the software that should fix the menu cut off problem, compiled just for Window 7 classic theme.

[blackdog]

Hi Nx-1997, :-)

Thanks for compiling for Windows-7 this is much appreciated!

It is also the case with me that for certain measurements I use older equipment with the corresponding older OS.
That's just the way life is, no modern drivers for my 24Bit soundcard etc. so that's why I'm still using Windows 7 on my measurement computer.

As for the zeros at the end being omitted, I know it e.g. BenchVue is also the case.
I have also reported this to KeySight and other behaviors of this software that are not really confortable.

I can live without the "Null" button, can always correct this in excel after an export if needed.

The speech synthesizer I will not use soon, my measurement computer has no real sound output, I mean for the normal Windows sounds.
The 24Bit sound card is connected to other measurement equipment.

Look, your W7 version is running and also the reset of the average values I tested.


Thanks again for your efforts!

Regards,
Bram

[blackdog]

Hi Nx-1997, :-)

I found a few more small graphics bugs in the Graphing Module in the W7 version of your software.
The issue is the falloff of text in the next tab sheets below the graph.

Math (All Samples)
Math (N Samples)
Misc

And the software is still running well after over 8 hours of operation. 



When my USB-RS232 cables arrive, I will also test your software with my HP6632A Power Supply.

Kind regards,
Bram

[mc172]

Very nice, thanks!

[Nx-1997]

Hi, blackdog

Thanks for pointing that out. I have fixed those issues and attached the software with this post. In the coming few weeks I will try to implement the null functionality as well as add some other features. Also, I will create an offline graph viewing utility so users can graph their logged data.

[beanflying]

Look forward to having a play tomorrow after some sleep

I have been using the Agilent/Keysight software here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/help-need-keysight-34461a-dmm-data-logging-to-xl/ for my 34401A and 34461A which when you get the link sorted works well too.

[HKJ]

Another option for software is TestController https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/
It can log and control more than one device at a time.

[Frex]

Hello,

First, thank you to share this excellent work !
Very well done interface with extensive features.
(Even if I don''t have yet tried it).

I have already an Agilent 82357B IEE488 to USB  adapter,
does it can with it ? (I suppose not).
I ask this because using IEE488 instead of RS232 allow much
faster data-logging rate.

Best regards.
Frex

[Nx-1997]

Hi, Frex

GPIB port is supported via an AR488 Arduino GPIB adapter, offers faster sample capture rate. Here is the GitHub link for the adapter: https://github.com/Twilight-Logic/AR488
I also have a Agilent 82357B adapter but I have no plans to support it for now.

[Frex]

Ok, thank you.
I have an unused Arduino board available,
that would be a good manner to use it . 

Frex

[hugo]

Hi Nx-1997,

Thank you for making this nice looking software interface available, is there a way to save the measurement, min, max, avg color?

Thanks
 

[Nx-1997]

Hi, Hugo

Currently there is no way to save display panel colors as I didn't really think it was that important. But if you want a specific color other than blue by default I would be happy to compile a special version with the default color you want.

[beanflying]

Downloaded, tweaked some parity settings and hooked right up  On communication settings can you make it retain those set on exit if it isn't to much trouble (minor niggle)?

I will do some more playing when I have time but it beats the hell out of doing battle Multiple packages for the Agilent freebie already Lots on nice features I haven't got to but being able to switch the display on or off is 

[blackdog]

Hi,

Just an update on the 34401 software that is still running on my test computer.
This is not the latest version that Nx-1997 made for W7, but this is a test that I am running for a few more days to gain confidence in the stability of this software.

What I really like is that there is no need to run a very large bulk of other software to do standard data logging on e.g. the 34401A.
When I have some more time again, I will also test my KeySight 34461 and the 34465A.

The picture below nicely shows the drift of my 34401A, which is the warm-up drift and the drift that every measuring instrument has as a result of the temperature variation of the measuring space and a bit of the measuring cables used.
The source is a 10V LAB reference built in an oven at 45C.
The drift of my 34401A is about 1PPM per degree Celsius between 20 and 30 Celsius at the 10V DC range.



I received an email this morning that the USB-RS232 adapters will be delivered this afternoon, I will be waiting like a dog behind the mailbox. 

Kind regards,
Bram

[HighVoltage]

My old RS232 to USB adapter will not work with your software, not sure why.
I have ordered a new one that should arrive soon.

[beanflying]

My old RS232 to USB adapter will not work with your software, not sure why.
I have ordered a new one that should arrive soon.

I was running mine on 7 bits and Even parity on the 34401A if it helps same settings on the software.

[mnementh]

...I received an email this morning that the USB-RS232 adapters will be delivered this afternoon, I will be waiting like a dog behind the mailbox. 

Kind regards,
Bram

We all know that feeling all too well.

mnem
 

[blackdog]

Hi,

Yes, the USB to RS232 adapters have arrived!
I was able to use the old RS232 Null modem cable from the Symantec Firewalls I had bought over 15 years ago, so the cables are now long enough, to be connected normally.

The screenshot shows that now my HP6632 Power Supply is connected and the three graphs on the right side are from top to bottom the Voltage, Current and the bottom one the power supplied to my Dummy Resistor.
The other graph on the lower left is still the measurement of the 34401A DMM.



This is a picture of the measurement setup, the Heatkit Dummy Resistor is set to 8 Ohms and is connected to the black box that is on top of the Heatkit resistor.
This black box is 4-wire, so sensing was used to compensate for wiring losses.


The 34401 is also visible in this picture, just not connected properly for the smallest possible Seeback voltage, but that is not important for now.

Nx-1997
I am really happy with your software and will explore both packages further.
One more note, this computer only sees about 2% extra processor load when both programs are running.
The system is an i7 860(2.8GHz) and 12GB memory, W7 64Bit. (DELL Precision T1500)

So there is still plenty of processor power left for other measurements! 

Regards,
Bram