Insteument automation Basics

[Wise700]

I'm pretty new to instrument control, after readin the online material these are the things i could gather.

1. You can connect to any instrument which supports IEEE 488 GPIB 

2. You can connect to instrumrnt via GPIB,USB and Ethernet ( provided instrumrnts supports them )

3.Download the driver from IDN net

4.YOu can start controller the device

Now my questions are

1. For GPIB Connection on the PC side we need a GPIB card (controller)? Is it Mandatory?

2. If we can connect via USB, then why do we have to invest in a GPIB card?

3. Where does Ethernet fit into this?

Appriciate any pointers on this.

Regards,

W

[Dennis_Knutson · Accepted solution]

If you have a GPIB instrument, yes, it must be connected to a GPIB controller.

If the instrument has an Ethernet or USB connection on it, you wouldn't need GPIB. What is confusing about that? Not all instruments have a USB or Ethernet option, of course. There is no perfect choice. For example, latency might be a concern.

http://www.ni.com/white-paper/4819/en/

There is a fourth option for instrument connectivity and that is RS232. Some vendors sell instruments with options for all four.