Empathy List Archives

JG

Joseph Gray

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 4:57 AM

I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a
few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an
Arduino Uno.

http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html

Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12
inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his
program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first
time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and
now it works fine.

John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together
GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program
that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will
do more testing with other instruments, as I have time.

As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet
implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except
perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst
command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too
difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM.

I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I
will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those
parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to
find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to
add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter.

The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same
as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast
the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the
default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible
into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back.

One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from
115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does
any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop
any bits?

Joe Gray
W5JG

I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an Arduino Uno. http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12 inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and now it works fine. John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will do more testing with other instruments, as I have time. As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM. I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter. The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back. One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from 115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop any bits? Joe Gray W5JG

PS

paul swed

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 2:45 PM

That certainly is a hack. But its something I have often thought about and
never did. He is right its really a one instrument interface as it doesn't
have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments.
But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of soldering
effort. My type of effort. :-)
Regards
Paul.
WB8TSL

On Sun, Jan 11, 2015 at 11:57 PM, Joseph Gray jgray@zianet.com wrote:

I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a
few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an
Arduino Uno.

http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html

Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12
inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his
program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first
time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and
now it works fine.

John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together
GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program
that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will
do more testing with other instruments, as I have time.

As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet
implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except
perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst
command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too
difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM.

I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I
will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those
parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to
find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to
add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter.

The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same
as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast
the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the
default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible
into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back.

One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from
115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does
any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop
any bits?

Joe Gray
W5JG

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

That certainly is a hack. But its something I have often thought about and never did. He is right its really a one instrument interface as it doesn't have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments. But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of soldering effort. My type of effort. :-) Regards Paul. WB8TSL On Sun, Jan 11, 2015 at 11:57 PM, Joseph Gray <jgray@zianet.com> wrote: > I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a > few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an > Arduino Uno. > > > http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html > > Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12 > inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his > program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first > time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and > now it works fine. > > John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together > GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program > that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will > do more testing with other instruments, as I have time. > > As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet > implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except > perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst > command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too > difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM. > > I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I > will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those > parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to > find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to > add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter. > > The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same > as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast > the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the > default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible > into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back. > > One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from > 115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does > any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop > any bits? > > Joe Gray > W5JG > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. >

DL

Don Latham

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 4:15 PM

Marvelous. Is there any reason not to adapt this to an Arduino with a network
shield?
Don
Joseph Gray

I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a
few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an
Arduino Uno.

http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html

Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12
inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his
program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first
time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and
now it works fine.

John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together
GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program
that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will
do more testing with other instruments, as I have time.

As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet
implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except
perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst
command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too
difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM.

I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I
will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those
parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to
find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to
add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter.

The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same
as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast
the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the
default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible
into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back.

One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from
115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does
any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop
any bits?

Joe Gray
W5JG

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

--
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who
have not got it."
-George Bernard Shaw

Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
Six Mile Systems LLC
17850 Six Mile Road
Huson, MT, 59846
mail: POBox 404
Frenchtown MT 59834-0404
VOX 406-626-4304
Skype: buffler2
www.lightningforensics.com
www.sixmilesystems.com

Marvelous. Is there any reason not to adapt this to an Arduino with a network shield? Don Joseph Gray > I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled across it a > few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made with an > Arduino Uno. > > http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html > > Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about 12 > inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I uploaded his > program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the first > time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the wires and > now it works fine. > > John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled together > GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo program > that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I will > do more testing with other instruments, as I have time. > > As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet > implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except > perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the ++rst > command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too > difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM. > > I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on order. I > will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with those > parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have to > find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer chips to > add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter. > > The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the same > as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see how fast > the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with the > default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly divisible > into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back. > > One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to change from > 115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, does > any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't drop > any bits? > > Joe Gray > W5JG > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > -- "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -George Bernard Shaw Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL Six Mile Systems LLC 17850 Six Mile Road Huson, MT, 59846 mail: POBox 404 Frenchtown MT 59834-0404 VOX 406-626-4304 Skype: buffler2 www.lightningforensics.com www.sixmilesystems.com

DJ

Didier Juges

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 8:22 PM

Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping...

The GPIB connector will cost you more!

Didier KO4BB

On January 12, 2015 8:45:12 AM CST, paul swed paulswedb@gmail.com wrote:

That certainly is a hack. But its something I have often thought about
and
never did. He is right its really a one instrument interface as it
doesn't
have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments.
But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of
soldering
effort. My type of effort. :-)
Regards
Paul.
WB8TSL

On Sun, Jan 11, 2015 at 11:57 PM, Joseph Gray jgray@zianet.com wrote:

I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled

across it a

few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made

with an

Arduino Uno.

http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html

Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about

12

inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I

uploaded his

program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the

first

time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the

wires and

now it works fine.

John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled

together

GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo

program

that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I

will

do more testing with other instruments, as I have time.

As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet
implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except
perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the

++rst

command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too
difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM.

I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on

order. I

will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with

those

parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have

to

find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer

chips to

add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter.

The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the

same

as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see

how fast

the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with

the

default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly

divisible

into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back.

One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to

change from

115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter,

does

any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't

drop

any bits?

Joe Gray
W5JG

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

--
Sent from my Motorola Droid Razr HD 4G LTE wireless tracker while I do other things.

Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping... The GPIB connector will cost you more! Didier KO4BB On January 12, 2015 8:45:12 AM CST, paul swed <paulswedb@gmail.com> wrote: >That certainly is a hack. But its something I have often thought about >and >never did. He is right its really a one instrument interface as it >doesn't >have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments. >But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of >soldering >effort. My type of effort. :-) >Regards >Paul. >WB8TSL > >On Sun, Jan 11, 2015 at 11:57 PM, Joseph Gray <jgray@zianet.com> wrote: > >> I thought everyone here would find this of interest. I stumbled >across it a >> few days ago on the 'net. It is a Prologix GPIB-USB compatible made >with an >> Arduino Uno. >> >> >> >http://egirland.blogspot.com/2014/03/arduino-uno-as-usb-to-gpib-controller.html >> >> Like on his web site, I just took a cheap GPIB cable, cut off about >12 >> inches and shoved the wires into the socket holes on an Uno. I >uploaded his >> program and did some minor testing so far. BTW, it didn't work the >first >> time due to poor contact. I shoved some pin headers in, after the >wires and >> now it works fine. >> >> John's Prologix config program works just fine with this cobbled >together >> GPIB adapter. I attached it to my HP 3457A and then ran the demo >program >> that comes with Ulrich's EZGPIB. It is logging data as I type this. I >will >> do more testing with other instruments, as I have time. >> >> As mentioned on the web page linked above, a few commands are not yet >> implemented, although they appear to be little used commands (except >> perhaps the ++savecfg command). I think I have a way to implement the >++rst >> command using the watchdog timer. For ++savecfg, it shouldn't be too >> difficult to store things in the Arduino EEPROM. >> >> I have some cheap Arduino Nano's and PCB-mount GPIB connectors on >order. I >> will be making a couple of these Proligix-compatible adapters with >those >> parts, so that they aren't just wires shoved into a board. I'll have >to >> find a small box to house things. I have also ordered some buffer >chips to >> add to the design. Total cost should be under $20 for each adapter. >> >> The firmware uses a serial baud rate of 115200, which I assume is the >same >> as a real Prologix. I'm going to try some higher baud rates to see >how fast >> the Arduino can push bits without losing them. I understand that with >the >> default 16 MHz clock, non-standard baud rates that are evenly >divisible >> into the clock rate should work even better I'll report back. >> >> One question about the baud rate - are there any reasons not to >change from >> 115200? Since we are simply moving bits through a USB/Serial adapter, >does >> any software really care what the baud rate is, as long as we don't >drop >> any bits? >> >> Joe Gray >> W5JG >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >> To unsubscribe, go to >> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. >> >_______________________________________________ >time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com >To unsubscribe, go to >https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >and follow the instructions there. -- Sent from my Motorola Droid Razr HD 4G LTE wireless tracker while I do other things.

TV

Tom Van Baak

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 9:00 PM

Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping...

The GPIB connector will cost you more!

Didier KO4BB

A sandwich of two PCB is about the same thickness as the center plug of a GPIB male connector. So layout 2x12 pads to match the pins and you have a one-piece Arduino and GPIB connector board.

/tvb

> Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping... > > The GPIB connector will cost you more! > > Didier KO4BB A sandwich of two PCB is about the same thickness as the center plug of a GPIB male connector. So layout 2x12 pads to match the pins and you have a one-piece Arduino and GPIB connector board. /tvb

CA

Chris Albertson

Mon, Jan 12, 2015 10:16 PM

On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 6:45 AM, paul swed paulswedb@gmail.com wrote:

....its really a one instrument interface as it doesn't
have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments.
But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of soldering
effort. My type of effort. :-)

With Arduinos going for well under $10 You could afford to place one
Aruino INSIDE your test instrument. Those old instruments usually
have some air space inside and a power supply suitable for an Arduino.
Now you have added a USB port to some 1980's vintage test gear. If
the Arduino is inside you may not even need the GPIB connector. You
could do this to many older instruments then use USB to a USB hub,
then to a computer.

--

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California

On Mon, Jan 12, 2015 at 6:45 AM, paul swed <paulswedb@gmail.com> wrote: > ....its really a one instrument interface as it doesn't > have the buffers to drive the load of multiple instruments. > But heavens that has to be a really cheap interface for a bit of soldering > effort. My type of effort. :-) With Arduinos going for well under $10 You could afford to place one Aruino INSIDE your test instrument. Those old instruments usually have some air space inside and a power supply suitable for an Arduino. Now you have added a USB port to some 1980's vintage test gear. If the Arduino is inside you may not even need the GPIB connector. You could do this to many older instruments then use USB to a USB hub, then to a computer. -- Chris Albertson Redondo Beach, California

JL

Jim Lux

Tue, Jan 13, 2015 12:28 AM

On 1/12/15 1:00 PM, Tom Van Baak wrote:

Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping...

The GPIB connector will cost you more!

Didier KO4BB

A sandwich of two PCB is about the same thickness as the center plug of a GPIB male connector. So layout 2x12 pads to match the pins and you have a one-piece Arduino and GPIB connector board.

With a bit of masking tape and baling wire to hold it in place, and
you're set..

On 1/12/15 1:00 PM, Tom Van Baak wrote: >> Yes, you can get an Arduino R3 on eBay for <$4 with shipping... >> >> The GPIB connector will cost you more! >> >> Didier KO4BB > > A sandwich of two PCB is about the same thickness as the center plug of a GPIB male connector. So layout 2x12 pads to match the pins and you have a one-piece Arduino and GPIB connector board. > With a bit of masking tape and baling wire to hold it in place, and you're set..

time-nuts@lists.febo.com

Arduino GPIB