[time-nuts] HP 5335A counter and GPIB control

[jimlux]

On 3/12/20 3:32 PM, Mark Haun wrote:
> I don't know about the UGPlus, but if you are just getting set up for
> GPIB then don't overlook the possibility of Ethernet-to-GPIB adapters.
> Fewer location and cabling issues (you can even access your instruments
> remotely if you should ever need to), and you can connect as many GPIB
> instruments as you want to the same adapter, within reason.  You should
> be able to pick up something like an E2050A for ~ $100.  Then you never
> need to futz with poorly supported USB adapters again.  OTOH, there is
> software which *expects* a USB-GPIB dongle... not sure if John Miles'
> toolkit falls into that category or not.
>

I did find using the ProLogix ethernet/GPIB widgets quite easy.

> This seems to be a minority opinion, so my situation may be unusual...
> but I really like my E2050A, and the ease of doing everything from
> python without that ugly/bloated VISA layer.

Yes, that whole interface between software/USB/GPIB is clunky, and makes 
writing platform independent stuff that can run on Mac/Linux/Windows 
hard. You fiddle a lot to get it working in one configuration.  And then 
you write little python wrappers that essentially have a long chain of 
if/elif/else statements that say:
If running on configuration A:
elif running on configuration B:
etc.
with a clause for each and every machine you get it up and running on.





> 
> Mark
>