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VRf-Wiltron_Problem

Question asked by VRFuser on Jul 23, 1996
  • Comment • 1
from: Greg Goebel / HP-MXD
      gvg@lvld.hp.com / 970-679-3030 / FAX 970-679-5971
to:   VRf-Greg Noseworthy
date: Wednesday, 24 July 1996 1420 MDT

> To:  VRf
> From:  Greg.Noseworthy@comdev.ca
> Re:  Wiltron SNA Woes
>
> I have been having some difficulty with something...  But, first a
> bit of background...
>
> We are using HP-VEE 3.12 on an HP712/80 platform running on HP-UX
> 9.07 operating system, controlling a rack consisting of an EIP 575 Source Locking
> Counter, an HP 8350B Sweeper and a Wiltron 560A SNA (I know, ancient
> equipment, but...  It still works) through an HP E2050A LAN Gateway. 
>
> Recently, in effort to speed up the measurement time of this rack, we
> purchased a TAMS 50488 HP-IB Card for the HP712.  For the most part, it
> works well, however, there seems to be an inconsistency with the
> Wiltron 560A SNA...
>
> The routine that is causing problems is simply trying to preset the
> rack, and all works well until it hits the SNA.  Using a direct IO
> box, I am sending the command "CANL" (measure the noise floor on
> channel A) and it is supposed to return a measurement (around -57
> dBm), however, it returns --57 dBm (yes, TWO negative signs!)  This
> causes great amounts of grief when you are expecting a real number.
>
> An interesting point is that when we add an IO bus monitor, the
> problem seems to go away.  I suspect that this is just a symptom of a
> larger problem, because the rest of the program doesn't work at all,
> even if I read in a string instead of a real. The program performs
> fine when using the HP E2050A LAN to HP-IB Gateway.
>
> I've been struggling with this for some time now.  Please, if anybody
> has any experience with this, please let me know!

We haven't any specific information on this, but one question:  Do other
instruments work OK? 

If they do, I would suspect a firmware problem in the Wiltron that is
speed-related:  running the bus I/O monitor reduces your I/O performance, and
LAN-HPIB is relatively slow.  Have you contacted Wiltron support for any
clues?

> Thanks.
> ******************************************
> E. Greg Noseworthy
> Greg.Noseworthy@comdev.ca
> ******************************************
>     /|   Bill says;
> `o.O'       Organ transplants are best
> =(___)=      left to the professionals.
>    U         Ack!!!Pttttb!!!
> ******************************************

Please stay in touch.

[<>] regards -- gvg

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