TAMS 63488 Guide

TAMS 63488
USB/GPIB Controller for Windows

2
Installation & Operation
TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller
Installation & Operation
Test & Measurement Systems Inc.
750 14th Street SW
Loveland, Colorado 80537
USA
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Web Site www.tamsinc.com
Copyright © Test & Measurement Systems Inc. 1997 - 2005

3
TableofContents
Introduction .....................................................................................4
UnpackingYourProduct................................................................5
HardwareWarranty ....................................................................... 5
Installing the USB/GPIB.................................................................6
SoftwareInstallation .....................................................................6
HardwareInstallation ....................................................................6
Configuring the USB/GPIB Controller in SICL/VISA .................8
Connecting GPIB Instruments .....................................................12
SupplementalInformation ............................................................13
Troubleshooting .............................................................................15
AppendixA- Software LicenseAgreement ..................................17
AppendixB-HardwareWarranty Information ..........................19
Appendix C: Specifications ...........................................................20
AppendixD:Safety .........................................................................21
Appendix E: Declaration of Conformity ......................................22
Appendix F: Distributors ..............................................................23

4
Introduction
TheTAMS63488 USB/GPIB controller is intendedtoaddIEEE-488 (General Purpose
Instrument Bus - GPIB) capabilities to any computer with a USB port running Windows
2000 or Windows XP.
The TAMS USB/GPIB Controller takes full advantage of the High Speed USB 2.0 bus
performance and delivers the highest possible level of throughput.
Whether you are usingAgilent-VEE, BASIC forWindows, or programming in C with the
SICLorVISAlibrary,your code will now run at full performance.

5
Unpacking Your Product
When you open your TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller shipment, examine its contents.
Make sure your shipment contains the following items.
13566-884rellortnoCBIPG/BSU88436
BA-60-2BSUelbaCBSUtoof6
20009-88436swodniWrofsnoitcurtsnInoitarepO&noitallatsnI
1010-88436MORDCnoswodniWroferawtfoSrevirD88436
Hardware Warranty
All TAMS products use the highest quality components and are assembled to the highest
specifications. Should a defect exist, or a failure occur, we apologize.
Please follow the instructions below for service response.
!In the US please return it to TAMS. Please call or Fax for return instructions.
!Internationally, please contact the local distributor for return instructions.
Any customer may contact TAMS, or return products directly to TAMS, but for
customers outside the US, this may cause a delay, which could be avoided by working
with the local distributor listed inAppendix F.
The complete hardware warranty information is inAppendix B.
For software warranty information see the Software License inAppendixA.

6
Installing the USB/GPIB
This section describes the installation process.
Software Installation
Please install theTAMS 63488 software before connecting the USB/GPIB Controller to
the computer’s USB port. The TAMS 63488 software is supported on Windows 2000
(Service Pack 4) and Windows XP. The TAMS 63488 software depends upon theAgilent
IO Libraries. You need to have installed theAgilent IO Libraries M.01.00 or later release,
before you can install the TAMS 63488.
Software installation requires you to haveAdministrator privileges.
Installing the software first ensures that Windows will be able to find the correct driver
that is associated with theTAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller.
Hardware Installation
Once the TAMS 63488 software installed, the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller can be
connected to the computer. Connect the usb cable to the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB
controller and to the host computer’s USB port.
ESD WARNING: Most interfaces contain components that are sensitive to damage from
electrostatic discharge. Use protective measures including anti-static workstation and
personal grounding devices, if possible.
If there are not enough USB ports on the computer, the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller
can be connected to a self powered USB hub. The self powered hub should then be
connected to the computer’s USB port with a separate USB cable. It is also necessary to
apply power to the hub.
When installing the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller, you may get the message :
“HI-SPEED USB Device Plugged into non-HI-SPEED USB Hub”. This indicates that your
USB port is not capable of running at High Speed (480Mps). The TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB
will automatically switch to Full Speed (12Mps). For High Speed operation, you need to
install a USB 2.0 High Speed Interface in your computer.

7
Once the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller is connected to the computer or USB hub, the
lights will flash green, then red, and then the power light will turn green. This indicates
that theTAMS 63488 USB/GPIB controller is ready.
After plugging in the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller to a USB port, the Windows plug
and play manager will detect the new hardware (TAMS USB/GPIB Controller), and briefly
display a screen such as:
The Windows plug&play manager has detected the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller
and is attempting assign the proper driver for that interface.
Note When installing the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller software, you may get a
Windows Message indicating that the driver has not passed Windows Logo Testing or a
message indicating that the driver has not been digitally signed. Please disregard these
messages and continue with the installation.
Once the hardware is installed, the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB Controller needs to be
configured using the IO Config utility.

8
Configuring the USB/GPIB Controller in SICL/VISA
Configure the interface by executing the IO Config program, which will now be located in
the IO Libraries bin subdirectory. You should also have a shortcut under
Start->Programs->AgilentIOLibraries
Note If theAgilent IO Libraries version M.01.00 were installed using the default values
the IO Libraries bin subdirectory will be found here:
Windows 2000/XP: C:\Program Files\Agilent\IO Libraries\bin\
Upon execution, the IO Config program will present a window like this:
To configure your 63488 interface, please highlight the GPIB TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB
Controller entry underAvailable Interface Types and double click on it or click on the
Configure button.

9
If you have more than one USB/GPIB Controller in your system the following window
will appear (if you have one controller only, please continue to the next step):
Select the 63488 controller you wish to configure (if you have only have one 63488 USB/
GPIB controller, you will not need to select any interface, the system will do it automati-
callyforyou).Clickon OK.

10
Nowthefollowingwindowwill appear:
In this window you will select all of the configurable parameters for the TAMS 63488.
Note The entry named “Serial Number” refers to the serial number of the TAMS 63488.
This read only field will match the serial number printed on the TAMS 63488 USB/GPIB
controller.
If you have existing applications that specify a different SICL or VISA name, then you may
need to change these parameters to match the configuration name that the program is
expecting.
Typically, the logical unit does not have to be changed. Traditionally, the first GPIB
interface has been assigned the logical unit of 7.