how to connect Agilent 8163B through serial port

[sychong]

I'm having a problem of serial port connection with Agilent 8163B. The driver that i'm using is driver_vxipnp_816x_4_1_4.exe. The problem message always show "Visa Resource not found. Check HPIB-Bus Address" when I'm using the components inside the "hp816x tree.vi". However, I don't have any error if I'm using normal VISA write and read.

Is there anyone can help me to answer my question? Thanks in advance.

[Dennis_Knutson]

On the driver download page, it's clearly indicated that the driver Agilent wrote is for GPIB only. There could be other issues such as requiring the IVI compliance package if it's also an IVI driver but without access to the source code (like NI provides), I'm not sure what you can do except write your own, ask Agilent to modify it to support a serial connection, or start using GPIB.

[sychong · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the reply.

I face a problem that using GPIB-USB-HS due to the physical dimension as shown attached. The width between Remote Interlock Connector (RIL) and the GPIB connector (w1) at the device is too small for the GPIB-USB-HS (w2) connect on it. If I unplug the RIL connector, then the Tunable Laser will not activate. Thus, I have few questions as follows.

1. The LabView still can activate the Tunable Laser if I unplug the RIL connector in my case through GPIB?

2. The LabView is compatible with the connector GPIB (Model 10833x) from Agilent?

3.  Is there a way to solve the problem caused by the unplugged RIL connector?

From Drop Box

P/S: The firmwave version is 4.84 for 8163B.

Thanks for the help and I'm too new in this area.

[Dennis_Knutson]

The picture is pretty small to see much detail. Also, in the future, just attach images to your post with the 'Add Atttachments' option below the message body.

You don't have to attach the GPIB controller directly to the instrument. The simplest thing to do is just attach it GPIB cable. Ni has various cables and adapters as does L-Com. Surely there is some off-the-shelf cable/adapter out there that will fit. Agilent probably has a recomendation. They may even sell similar cables/adapters with a a standard GPIB plug on one end and a small one on the other.