TAMS 61488 Guide

TAMS 61488/64487/64488/
65488 GPIB Cards for
Windows XP/Vista
Installation & Operation

2
TAMS 61488/64487/64488/65488 GPIB
Interface 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. 2007-2008

3
TableofContents
Introduction .....................................................................................4
HardwareWarranty .......................................................................5
Installing the 61488/64487/64488/65488 GPIB Interface ...........6
SoftwareInstallation .....................................................................6
HardwareInstallation ....................................................................6
Configuring the Equivalent Loads (Resistor Packs) ....................7
Installing the GPIB Interface .........................................................8
Connectingthe GPIB Cable ..........................................................9
NewHardware Wizard ..................................................................10
Using the Device Manager ............................................................13
Configuring the Card for Windows 2000/XP ..............................15
Usingthe Interface withTransEra HTBASIC..............................19
Using the Interface with HP VEE .................................................19
AppendixA- Software LicenseAgreement ..................................20
AppendixB -HardwareWarrantyInformation ..........................22
Appendix C: Specifications ...........................................................23

4
Introduction
TheTAMS 61488/64487/64488/65488GPIBInterfaces areintendedto addIEEE-488
capabilities to any computer with PCI or PCI-Express sockets. The 64487 and 64488 cards
provide a single GPIB bus, and differ only in their mounting bracket (low-profile or
standard). The 65488 is similar to the 64488, but provides two independent GPIB busses.
It is available with a standard height bracket only. The TAMS 61488 provides a single
GPIB bus, with a 32 bit, 33 MHz PCI 3.0 implementation. The otherTAMS Interfaces are
one-lane PCI-Express implementations that can be used in sockets from 1X to 16X that
support PCI-Express standards 1.0a, 1.1, or 2.0.
The TAMS cards take full advantage of the PCI and PCI-Express bus performance and
deliver the highest possible level of throughput.
Whether you are using HP-VEE, BASIC forWindows, or programming in C with the SICL
library, your code will now run at full performance without modification.

5
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.Any defective unit
willbe repairedor replacedimmediately.
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.
The complete hardware warranty information is found inAppendix B located in the back of
this manual.
For software warranty information see the Software License inAppendixA.

6
Installing the 61488/64487/64488/65488 GPIB
Interface
This section describes the installation process for the 64487/64488/65488 PCI-Express/
GPIBInterfaces, aswell asthe 61488PCI/GPIBInterface.
Software Installation
These interfaces use same driver, refered to here as the 6x488 software. Minimum software
rev is 1.2, forWindows XP/Vista. TheTAMS 6x488 software depends upon theAgilent IO
Libraries. You need to have installed theAgilent IO Suite 14.2 or later before you can
install the TAMS 6x488 software or hardware. For more information and to download the
IO Libraries, please refer toAgilentTechnologies IO Libraries web page at:
http://www.agilent.com/find/iolib
Software installation requires you to haveAdministrator privileges. Next, install the
TAMS 6x488 driver software. Installing the 6x488 software before the hardware ensures
that Windows will be able to find the correct driver that is associated with the TAMS PCI/
PCI-Express/GPIB interface. If the IO Libraries are reinstalled or updated, then the 6x488
driver software must then be reinstalled.
Hardware Installation
Once the TAMS 6x488 software is installed, the TAMS GPIB card can be physically
installed in the computer.
You should note the following guidelines to avoid equipment damage when handling any
interface cards.
!Make sure the computer’s power is turned OFF and the power cord is removed
from theAC power outlet, before removing or installing interfaces.
Caution Plugging or unplugging an interface with the power on can damage the
interface and the computer.
!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. When installing an
interface, do not leave the interface exposed longer than necessary.
Caution Whenever you remove, install, or handle an interface, hold it by its support
bracket only. Do not touch its electrical components or traces.

7
Configuring the Equivalent Loads (Resistor Packs)
As shipped, there are two resistor packs installed in sockets RN1-RN2 for the 64487/
64488 cards. With the 65488, there are four packs installed in RN1-RN4. The 61488 card
has sockets labeled J2 and J3 for the resistor packs. These provide 10 additional
equivalent loads, as defined in the IEEE 488.1-1987 standard. For systems with few
devices and long cable lengths, the additional loads are required to provide increased
signal integrity and better transfer rates on the cable. In most situations, they can be left
installed, which gives a total of 11 loads for the card.
However, there is a maximum of 20 equivalent loads per bus system. Most devices have
one equivalent load, so a maximum of nine additional devices can be used while the
resistors are installed. If your bus system will have more than nine additional devices,
carefully remove both of the resistor packs and store them.
If the resistors need to be reinstalled later on, be sure that the visual key aligns with pin 1
on the sockets. Pin 1 is denoted with either the number “1”, or a circle. The resistor
packs are equivalent, and can be interchanged.
J2 and J3 are a pair, RN1 and RN2 are a pair, and RN3 and RN4 are a pair, and pairs must
be installed together.
For full details on the constraints in configuring a bus system, refer to section 5.2.3 in the
IEEE 488.1-1987 specification. The TAMS cards are capable of operation at 1 Mbyte per
second, and therefore the constraints in that section apply. This requires 48 mA tri-state
drivers be used in all devices, all devices must be powered on, and cabling must be a
maximum of 15 meters total length with at least one equivalent load per meter of cabling.
The 65488 provides two separate GPIB busses, so 15 meters of cabling can be attached
to each bus.

8
Installing the GPIB Interface
Before installing the GPIB card note the settings of the rotary switches on the
card. Each channel of every 61488, 64487, 64488, and 65488 card installed in the computer
must have a unique switch setting. The 65488 has two channels, so the two switches
must have unique settings. By default, the 65488 ships with the rotary switches set to
zero and one for SW1 and SW2. If you have multiple cards, you need to manually
change the rotary switch settings to ensure that each channel has a unique value. For
installations with multiple cards, it is a good idea to write the switch setting on the metal
support bracket with a felt tipped pen.
Refer to the Owner’s Guide of your computer for instructions on opening your computer
and installing interface boards. Follow the instructions being careful to handle the
interface board only by its edges. After the board has been plugged in and the retaining
screw installed the computer should be reassembled.
Depending on the computer, it may be advisable to connect the small Cannon connector
of the required GPIB cable to the interface card prior to fully seating the PCI board.
Reassemble the computer. Ensure that the thumbscrews and the small connector are tight
for a good connection.
GPIB cable required by the TAMS GPIB cards

9
Connecting the GPIB Cable
The IEEE 488 specification is for a daisy chain configuration, and so the standard
connector on the cable supplied can be attached directly to any GPIB device or to any
device in a chain of GPIB devices.
The following illustrations show possible connections.
The lower illustration shows two connectors daisey-chained without being attached to an
instrument. This is discouraged, since the jackscrews do not securely hold the
connectors together in that configuration.

10
New Hardware Wizard
After the PCI or PCI-Express card is installed in the computer, New Hardware Wizard will
detect the card and associate the appropriate driver at the next bootup.
ClickonNext.