"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message
...
John KD5YI wrote:
I have questions like:

* The 3586 manual says in one place that the frequency
increase/decrease buttons do not function in the remote mode. In the
chart of commands, it says that the GPIB command for increase is UP
and the GPIB command for decrease is DN. Does anyone know whether
these are valid commands or not?

* Can anyone provide a step-by-step procedure for the command
sequence to read the 3586 signal magnitude using GPIB?


No idea, but why not just try it out? In case you don't have all the
manuals they can be found here, scroll down about 40%:

http://www.w5jgv.com/amateur_radio.htm


* Which GPIB adaptor do you use?


The Prologix USB. Works fine (after finding a level threshold bug and
the designer made new firmware for it).

--
73, Joerg

Hi, Joerg -

I was using a Softmark USB-GPIB unit. Although they responded to
commands, I spent about 20 hours trying to get a reply other than
gibberish from three different instruments with no success. I may have
to roll my own controller, but first I have to understand GPIB.


That's what I had at first as well, just gibberish. Turned out the logic
threshold is way too high in the Prologix. Engaging the internal
pull-ups of the uC in there did the trick.

[...]

--
73, Joerg


I'm glad you got them to fix it because I ordered a Prologix one
yesterday. I think I should have gotten the Prologix to begin with
because I need to write my own software to do things and the Softmark was
not set up for that.


If you run into issues and think it's related to the Prologix design just
write to the designer (Abdul). He is very responsive and actually the
firmware you are getting with the new one will reflect the Vt change he
and I found necessary. All others with older versions can just download
the new firmware from the Prologix site.

I guess you've already found this site but just in case others here have
not, this is a great tool set for GPIB:

http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm

--
73, Joerg


I got it today and it works very well. I had it talking and listening to all
three of the GPIB-capable instruments I have in less than an hour.

Thanks for the link.

73,
John