gpib (82357B?)

[drforbin]

Hi guys. I'm looking for a gpib to USB controller to use on my various HP etc test gear.
Can anyone suggest something good which will not break the bank?
How are some of those Chinese models?

I see some on ebay for around $50 bucks do they work well?
Any suggestions ideas will be appreciated.


Thank you.

[plesa]

Depends on your OS.
The most universal seems to be E5810A or E5810B. It is ethernet to GPIB converter.
Or following
NI (USB GPIB HS or NI GPIB B) - highly expensive, but HS do not require firmware upload.
Agilent 82357B - require firmware upload, not working on RPi and current kernels (4.9,4.4) in windows OK including clones.
Prologix USB GPIB - it is more COM-GPIB apdater, limited support in applications, quite cheap.

Adapters made by Keithley are rebranded NI ones.

Clone which looks like genuine 82357B is working and I did not noticed any performance difference ( genuine has beter shielding, soldering and etc )
Stay away from rectangular 82357B adapter

Check thread

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/flood-of-new-agilent-82357b-gpib-usb-adaptors-on-ebay-the-real-deal/

[SvanGool]

I just finished testing an ebay USB-GPIB 82357B (clone) adapter and two new ebay IEEE-488/GPIB cables between my PC running the latest Keysight Connect Expert software and my ebay HP3478A, everything worked very well.

The first adapter arrived DOA, but the supplier handled this extremely well, which resulted into me receiving the second unit still within the estimated time for the first unit. I analyzed the first unit, before returning it, to see if it had any loose contacts because of the travel, but the solder-work looked good enough. You could see that the unit was partially manually handled, but it was not a bad job.

[guenthert]

Whatever you do, don't buy the UGsimple adaptor [1].  It's not an IEEE488 standard-conform adapter (it's based on a PIC chip, which cannot drive multiple devices; a single one seems to be OK).  I've never seen the Windows software (somehow I have difficulties associating MS Windows with automation) and the Linux software is some of the worst I've seen.  Looks like the author was in a bad hurry, lost interest quickly and had no access to the source code of the Windows software or documentation of the hard- and firmware.  It barely works for the most basic functionality (with liberal sprinkling of sleeps, I can poll a DMM, but triggered measurements cause the software to fail).  I wasted quite some time on this POS.  In the end I got a PCI based adapter cheap of Fleabay and that works fine with linux-gpib [2].


[1] http://www.lqelectronics.com/Products/USBUG/.%5CUGSimple%5CUGSimple.html
[2] http://linux-gpib.sourceforge.net/

[drforbin]

So you mean the current linux kernels will not work?
I was looking forward to using pyvisa. I try and stay away from windows at all costs.
So what should I get. I have a current project where I have to recalibrate the test gear.
I need to send calibration commands to the instrument.

[plesa]

So you mean the current linux kernels will not work?
I was looking forward to using pyvisa. I try and stay away from windows at all costs.
So what should I get. I have a current project where I have to recalibrate the test gear.
I need to send calibration commands to the instrument.

Check this thread
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/raspberry-pi23-logging-platform-for-voltnuts/new/?topicseen#new

Curent 82357 is not working on Raspberry Pi 2/3 with Kernel 4.x.
But there are other options, maybe you can build GPIB adapter with Atmega328/Arduino
http://egirland.blogspot.cz/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html
I did not tested it yet, but seems to be similar to Prologix.
Another option can be
http://www.galvant.ca/ for 70USD but in this case I will go for Prologix.
You do not needs PyVisa. Python will be enough ( you can control also the RS232/LAN/USB devices) Check the thread above.

[drforbin]

Hi thanxs....I really like the project of using the Arduino. One stupid question. Where could I find the GPIB plug?

[plesa]

Buy used GPIB cable on ebay and cut it and you can have two adapter, thats cheapest connector I suppose.
Cable can be purchased fo $5-$10.
Because the cheapest homemade will me multiple times more expensive.
http://www.ko4bb.com/Test_Equipment/GPIB.php

[drforbin]

"Current 82357 is not working on Raspberry Pi 2/3 with Kernel 4.x."
Is this just a Raspberry hardware issue. In other words does the 82357 work with let's say a regular linux (laptop) for example.