Hello all, I'm looking for recommendations for debugging test equipment through their GPIB interface. I'm just getting started in the field of test equipment repair, (after having been a tech for over 20 years, but
*no* GPIB experience) and have found that some equipment will only respond to test diagnostics through their GPIB port. For example, I have a number of HP 3457A DMM's where the power on self test fails. In the (50MB!)service manual
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(pg 8-36 and 8-37), it states that a ERR? command or an AUXERR? command must be sent to the DMM in order to retrieve a bitmask of what test actually failed.
I currently have no GPIB hardware or software, but have taken a look at National Instruments who have both a USB and a PCI based GPIB card which I suppose come with drivers.
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Is this all I need to get a simple terminal-like interface which will enable me to communicate with the meter? Looking through the docs on these two devices tell me nothing but how to install the hardware, not how to use them. I don't want to have to fork over $1000 or more for a sophisticated program like Labview (and have a huge learning curve to learn the software!) when all I need is a simple user interface similar to Hyperterminal or some such. My programming skills are practically nil, unless you count simple BASIC stuff... (And I mean VERY simple - hey, I'm a hardware guy!)
Thank you for any help or recommendations, I really appreciate it.