HP3577 won't plot marker

Am guessing the software scans the original like an electron beam in a CRT, and PenUp, PenDown commands are made when appropriate. So, all lines become horizontal (dashes, if you will) and vertical lines cannot exist; Fat "dots" would translate to a short line and if on an axis would thus be "ignored".

Good point. It should be a circular thing though, line going on a radius, several times at increasing radii. But maybe the SW doens't follow that. Because the instrument sends it, back in the old days with the HPGL plotter it plotted with the markers.

On the 8753 Network Analyzer the print/plot menu had all the items of a plot either enabled or disabled. You could turn on/off the grid, the various traces, markers etc.

I had them all on. For some reason it plots all, grid and everything, except for the marker.

I will state the obvious :-)

1. Try reseting the instrument
2. If you are using the old marker type plotters make sure the cartidge has the pen loaded :-)

You say plotter instead of printer ... are you using the old marker plotter?

You mean "Is it plugged in"? :-)

I did that several times, including da big reset (power switch).

It's on the same pen as the traces (which plot fine) but I am not using a plotter, I use a software program that can store in GIF because "modern" word processors cannot import HPGL anymore. With the old plotter it worked. Well, it wasn't a real plotter but an HP inkjet printer for lab instruments that just behaved like a plotter. I think it was called ThinkJet or something like that but it died long ago.

I use John Miles' HP7470A software via a GPIB adapter that translates it all to USB.

Maybe, used to be able to "read" HPGL. If you can capture the output stream sent to the "plotter" maybe i can tell you what is going on.

?-)

I don't have a 3577A around here, but I do have a couple of test plots from other users, and the markers are visible in them. Send one of your .plt files to jmiles (at) pop.net, and I'll have a look at it to see what might be different with yours.

You might also try the demo release from

to see if it can render the marker. If not, you may be dealing with a firmware bug.

-- john, KE5FX

I hadn't kept the PLT files because GIF is easier to handle. Can't get to the board easily now so I just took a noise shot and set the marker on a dominant peak, then sent it to you via email. At least in the GIF file the marker is gone. But don't spend much time with this, it's only cosmetic because most instruments sucha s the HP-3577 also list marker position and amplitude in text.

Very possible that the marker doesn't come out of the HP-3577 anymore. It used to, but I guess the warranty on that one is up :-)

Hopefully this doesn't mean the EPROMs are losing it ... Note to self: Get EPROM programmer.

Ok, didn't have the original plot files anymore but here is one with noise and the marker at 108.5MHz. Not sure if it'll make it via Usenet:

LB;DF;SC 0, 2144, 0, 2047;VS 10;LT;SP 1;PU;PA 72, 152;PU;PA 72,

779;PD;PA 76, 269;PD;PA 80, 163;PD;PA 84, 152;PD;PA 88, 182;PD;PA 92, 164;PD;PA 96, 227;PD;PA 100, 206;PD;PA 104, 152;PD;PA 108, 296;PD;PA 112, 237;PD;PA 116, 203;PD;PA 120, 152;PD;PA 124, 266;PD;PA 128, 293;PD;PA 132, 233;PD;PA 136, 224;PD;PA 140, 191;PD;PA 144, 152;PD;PA 148, 161;PD;PA 152, 237;PD;PA 156, 304;PD;PA 160, 166;PD;PA 164, 152;PD;PA 168, 180;PD;PA 172, 152;PD;PA 176, 218;PD;PA 180, 152;PD;PA 184, 186;PD;PA 188, 154;PD;PA 192, 204;PD;PA 196, 152;PD;PA 200, 152;PD;PA 204, 251;PD;PA 208, 152;PD;PA 212, 213;PD;PA 216, 161;PD;PA 220, 164;PD;PA 224, 167;PD;PA 228, 154;PD;PA 232, 239;PD;PA 236, 226;PD;PA 240, 152;PD;PA 244, 302;PD;PA 248, 152;PD;PA 252, 195;PD;PA 256, 221;PD;PA 260, 152;PD;PA 264, 259;PD;PA 268, 232;PD;PA 272, 220;PD;PA 276, 156;PD;PA 280, 213;PD;PA 284, 229;PD;PA 288, 152;PD;PA 292, 230;PD;PA 296, 216;PD;PA 300, 188;PD;PA 304, 289;PD;PA 308, 201;PD;PA 312, 255;PD;PA 316, 152;PD;PA 320, 212;PD;PA 324, 152;PD;PA 328, 255;PD;PA 332, 261;PD;PA 336, 283;PD;PA 340, 179;PD;PA 344, 172;PD;PA 348, 152;PD;PA 352, 179;PD;PA 356, 276;PD;PA 360, 176;PD;PA 364, 201;PD;PA 368, 181;PD;PA 372, 152;PD;PA 376, 152;PD;PA 380, 221;PD;PA 384, 152;PD;PA 388, 189;PD;PA 392, 298;PD;PA 396, 212;PD;PA 400, 152;PD;PA 404, 156;PD;PA 408, 256;PD;PA 412, 283;PD;PA 416, 152;PD;PA 420, 265;PD;PA 424, 152;PD;PA 428, 152;PD;PA 432, 192;PD;PA 436, 216;PD;PA 440, 249;PD;PA 444, 152;PD;PA 448, 177;PD;PA 452, 152;PD;PA 456, 257;PD;PA 460, 231;PD;PA 464, 255;PD;PA 468, 245;PD;PA 472, 152;PD;PA 476, 255;PD;PA 480, 164;PD;PA 484, 152;PD;PA 488, 283;PD;PA 492, 152;PD;PA 496, 207;PD;PA 500, 159;PD;PA 504, 152;PD;PA 508, 262;PD;PA 512, 152;PD;PA 516, 169;PD;PA 520, 224;PD;PA 524, 152;PD;PA 528, 152;PD;PA 532, 274;PD;PA 536, 245;PD;PA 540, 152;PD;PA 544, 152;PD;PA 548, 212;PD;PA 552, 194;PD;PA 556, 152;PD;PA 560, 152;PD;PA 564, 306;PD;PA 568, 175;PD;PA 572, 211;PD;PA 576, 250;PD;PA 580, 152;PD;PA 584, 152;PD;PA 588, 152;PD;PA 592, 152;PD;PA 596, 161;PD;PA 600, 187;PD;PA 604, 152;PD;PA 608, 165;PD;PA 612, 208;PD;PA 616, 152;PD;PA 620, 180;PD;PA 624, 152;PD;PA 628, 152;PD;PA 632, 199;PD;PA 636, 152;PD;PA 640, 160;PD;PA 644, 152;PD;PA 648, 152;PD;PA 652, 152;PD;PA 656, 152;PD;PA 660, 184;PD;PA 664, 152;PD;PA 668, 152;PD;PA 672, 152;PD;PA 676, 242;PD;PA 680, 238;PD;PA 684, 152;PD;PA 688, 229;PD;PA 692, 248;PD;PA 696, 270;PD;PA 700, 196;PD;PA 704, 303;PD;PA 708, 204;PD;PA 712, 289;PD;PA 716, 266;PD;PA 720, 259;PD;PA 724, 152;PD;PA 728, 152;PD;PA 732, 217;PD;PA 736, 178;PD;PA 740, 253;PD;PA 744, 213;PD;PA 748, 159;PD;PA 752, 203;PD;PA 756, 252;PD;PA 760, 152;PD;PA 764, 158;PD;PA 768, 188;PD;PA 772, 221;PD;PA 776, 152;PD;PA 780, 152;PD;PA 784, 210;PD;PA 788, 297;PD;PA 792, 315;PD;PA 796, 152;PD;PA 800, 230;PD;PA 804, 152;PD;PA 808, 152;PD;PA 812, 152;PD;PA 816, 152;PD;PA 820, 152;PD;PA 824, 152;PD;PA 828, 152;PD;PA 832, 250;PD;PA 836, 269;PD;PA 840, 247;PD;PA 844, 152;PD;PA 848, 233;PD;PA 852, 208;PD;PA 856, 189;PD;PA 860, 167;PD;PA 864, 201;PD;PA 868, 305;PD;PA 872, 240;PD;PA 876, 247;PD;PA 880, 152;PD;PA 884, 152;PD;PA 888, 238;PD;PA 892, 179;PD;PA 896, 152;PD;PA 900, 179;PD;PA 904, 167;PD;PA 908, 200;PD;PA 912, 203;PD;PA 916, 198;PD;PA 920, 152;PD;PA 924, 165;PD;PA 928, 218;PD;PA 932, 152;PD;PA 936, 215;PD;PA 940, 347;PD;PA 944, 241;PD;PA 948, 245;PD;PA 952, 193;PD;PA 956, 200;PD;PA 960, 181;PD;PA 964, 208;PD;PA 968, 265;PD;PA 972, 259;PD;PA 976, 179;PD;PA 980, 256;PD;PA 984, 225;PD;PA 988, 152;PD;PA 992, 170;PD;PA 996, 152;PD;PA 1000, 239;PD;PA 1004, 174;PD;PA 1008, 257;PD;PA 1012, 235;PD;PA 1016, 152;PD;PA 1020, 152;PD;PA 1024, 152;PD;PA 1028, 152;PD;PA 1032, 175;PD;PA 1036, 205;PD;PA 1040, 249;PD;PA 1044, 152;PD;PA 1048, 152;PD;PA 1052, 155;PD;PA 1056, 198;PD;PA 1060, 223;PD;PA 1064, 152;PD;PA 1068, 170;PD;PA 1072, 224;PD;PA 1076, 152;PD;PA 1080, 233;PD;PA 1084, 275;PD;PA 1088, 152;PD;PA 1092, 202;PD;PA 1096, 152;PD;PA 1100, 206;PD;PA 1104, 317;PD;PA 1108, 256;PD;PA 1112, 152;PD;PA 1116, 161;PD;PA 1120, 152;PD;PA 1124, 152;PD;PA 1128, 281;PD;PA 1132, 209;PD;PA 1136, 152;PD;PA 1140, 152;PD;PA 1144, 265;PD;PA 1148, 152;PD;PA 1152, 166;PD;PA 1156, 185;PD;PA 1160, 192;PD;PA 1164, 152;PD;PA 1168, 176;PD;PA 1172, 152;PD;PA 1176, 255;PD;PA 1180, 159;PD;PA 1184, 172;PD;PA 1188, 185;PD;PA 1192, 152;PD;PA 1196, 239;PD;PA 1200, 152;PD;PA 1204, 227;PD;PA 1208, 296;PD;PA 1212, 204;PD;PA 1216, 152;PD;PA 1220, 246;PD;PA 1224, 159;PD;PA 1228, 168;PD;PA 1232, 152;PD;PA 1236, 152;PD;PA 1240, 213;PD;PA 1244, 152;PD;PA 1248, 229;PD;PA 1252, 222;PD;PA 1256, 152;PD;PA 1260, 274;PD;PA 1264, 152;PD;PA 1268, 188;PD;PA 1272, 152;PD;PA 1276, 320;PD;PA 1280, 152;PD;PA 1284, 238;PD;PA 1288, 191;PD;PA 1292, 232;PD;PA 1296, 155;PD;PA 1300, 211;PD;PA 1304, 216;PD;PA 1308, 152;PD;PA 1312, 186;PD;PA 1316, 225;PD;PA 1320, 187;PD;PA 1324, 161;PD;PA 1328, 295;PD;PA 1332, 258;PD;PA 1336, 152;PD;PA 1340, 205;PD;PA 1344, 152;PD;PA 1348, 152;PD;PA 1352, 167;PD;PA 1356, 152;PD;PA 1360, 183;PD;PA 1364, 179;PD;PA 1368, 262;PD;PA 1372, 195;PD;PA 1376, 262;PD;PA 1380, 239;PD;PA 1384, 152;PD;PA 1388, 152;PD;PA 1392, 152;PD;PA 1396, 160;PD;PA 1400, 152;PD;PA 1404, 258;PD;PA 1408, 259;PD;PA 1412, 152;PD;PA 1416, 184;PD;PA 1420, 210;PD;PA 1424, 227;PD;PA 1428, 268;PD;PA 1432, 329;PD;PA 1436, 276;PD;PA 1440, 229;PD;PA 1444, 201;PD;PA 1448, 152;PD;PA 1452, 223;PD;PA 1456, 267;PD;PA 1460, 204;PD;PA 1464, 211;PD;PA 1468, 201;PD;PA 1472, 192;PD;PA 1476, 242;PD;PA 1480, 152;PD;PA 1484, 193;PD;PA 1488, 184;PD;PA 1492, 167;PD;PA 1496, 185;PD;PA 1500, 201;PD;PA 1504, 202;PD;PA 1508, 203;PD;PA 1512, 152;PD;PA 1516, 156;PD;PA 1520, 185;PD;PA 1524, 295;PD;PA 1528, 259;PD;PA 1532, 152;PD;PA 1536, 152;PD;PA 1540, 247;PD;PA 1544, 152;PD;PA 1548, 224;PD;PA 1552, 189;PD;PA 1556, 167;PD;PA 1560, 152;PD;PA 1564, 220;PD;PA 1568, 152;PD;PA 1572, 167;PD;PA 1576, 152;PD;PA 1580, 152;PD;PA 1584, 152;PD;PA 1588, 152;PD;PA 1592, 152;PD;PA 1596, 152;PD;PA 1600, 198;PD;PA 1604, 152;PD;PA 1608, 152;PD;PA 1612, 205;PD;PA 1616, 152;PD;PA 1620, 152;PD;PA 1624, 152;PD;PA 1628, 152;PD;PA 1632, 207;PD;PA 1636, 158;PD;PA 1640, 152;PD;PA 1644, 211;PD;PA 1648, 176;PD;PA 1652, 152;PD;PA 1656, 188;PD;PA 1660, 152;PD;PA 1664, 152;PD;PA 1668, 239;PD;PA 1672, 216;PU;PU;SR 1.119, 1.758;PA 940, 347;PU;CP-0.110,-0.140;PD;CP-0.170, 0.080;PD;CP 0, 0.110;PD;CP 0.170, 0.080;PD;CP 0.220, 0;PD;CP 0.170,-0.080;PD;CP 0,-0.110;PD;CP-0.170,-0.080;PD;CP-0.220, 0;PU;CP 0.110, 0.140;LT;SP 2;PU;PA 72, 152;PD;PA 1672, 152;PD;PA 1672, 1752;PD;PA 72, 1752;PD;PA 72, 152;PU;PA 72, 312;PD;PA 1672, 312;PU;PA 1672, 472;PD;PA 72, 472;PU;PA 72, 632;PD;PA 1672, 632;PU;PA 1672, 792;PD;PA 72, 792;PU;PA 72, 952;PD;PA 1672, 952;PU;PA 1672, 1112;PD;PA 72, 1112;PU;PA 72, 1272;PD;PA 1672, 1272;PU;PA 1672, 1432;PD;PA 72, 1432;PU;PA 72, 1592;PD;PA 1672, 1592;PU;PA 1512, 1752;PD;PA 1512, 152;PU;PA 1352, 152;PD;PA 1352, 1752;PU;PA 1192, 1752;PD;PA 1192, 152;PU;PA 1032, 152;PD;PA 1032, 1752;PU;PA 872, 1752;PD;PA 872, 152;PU;PA 712, 152;PD;PA 712, 1752;PU;PA 552, 1752;PD;PA 552, 152;PU;PA 392, 152;PD;PA 392, 1752;PU;PA 232, 1752;PD;PA 232, 152;PU;SP 1;PU;PA 72, 1752;LT 2, 2.270;PD;PA 1672, 1752;PU;SP 2;PU;PA 10, 2001;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBREF LEVELPU;PU;PA 442, 2001;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LB/DIVPU;PU;PA 10, 82;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBSTART 0.000HzPU;PU;PA 910, 82;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBSTOP 200 000 000.0LB00HzPU;PU;PA 10, 14;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBAMPTD

-10.0dBmPU;SP 1;PU;PA 10, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

1.758;LB0.000dBmPU;PU;PA 442, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LB10.000dBPU;PU;PA 838, 2001;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBMARKER 108 500 000LB.000HzPU;PU;PA 838, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBMAG(R) -87.777LBdBmPU;LT;PU;PA0,0;SP0;

Well, folks, John Miles (the author of the software) found the cause. Seems the older version I had does indeed not display the marker but the new one does. So all is well in the land now :-)

Thanks, John. And thanks to all other for the hints.

I

;DF;SC 0, 2144, 0, 2047;VS 10;LT;SP 1;PU;PA 72, 152;PU;PA 72,

PU;PU;PA 442, 2001;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

PU;PU;PA 10, 82;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBSTART

PU;PU;PA 910, 82;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBSTOP 200 000

LB00Hz PU;PU;PA 10, 14;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBAMPTD

PU;SP 1;PU;PA 10, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

PU;PU;PA 442, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

PU;PU;PA 838, 2001;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119, 1.758;LBMARKER

LB.000Hz PU;PU;PA 838, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

LBdBm PU;LT;PU;PA0,0;SP0;

As you might see there are several munged characters, but the marker is clearly in the file at the stated frequency and at -87.777 dBm.

The munged characters prevent HP 7470A Emulator form plotting the file.

?-)

Possibly the Usenet channel munged them because it plots alright. But as I wrote, John Miles already figured it out. The reason was that I had an older version of the software which won't print the marker for some reason. The new version does print it as a non-filled circle, not completely filled like the printer used to but it is quite visible.

It did, and it didn't. Some parts plot OK, but the LB statements are munged, since they use an ETX (ctrl-c, 0x03) character as end-of text, which Usenet apparently strips.

Spurred me on to get hpgs

to compile and run, finally.

The marker *legend* is there:

LBMARKER

LB.000Hz PU;PU;PA 838, 1929;LT;DR 1, 0;SR 1.119,

LBdBm

and plots as text, more or less in the right place at top of screen.

The actual marker, described by Joerg as a "fat dot", isn't.

I was wrong about Usenet munging the ETX characters. They are there in the posting, but copy-and-paste won't carry them across, at least to any text editor I have. I found another way of saving the file intact.

HPGS plots the whole thing with the exception of no fat dot. I can't see any circle or fill commands that might be it, in there.

If anybody's interested, I'll post a PDF of the plot result to a.b.s.e.

Thanks, Fred. But as mentioned in a direct response to my original post John Miles (the author of the HP7470A software) has found what was wrong: The old version of the software won't render the marker but the newest version does.

Usenet:

That still leaves the issue of transmitting the control characters cleanly. Could you uuencode the file and resend it?

?-)

I just sent the file to you per PM attachment, that should send it cleanly. But again, it's not an issue anymore, the problem is now solved.

with

Usenet:

text,

run,

post

the

solved.

Thanks. I wanted to see how the marker shows up with the 7470 emulator.

?-))