SureCAL problems

[Hoopty]

Well, we got our SureCAL laptop the other day and I've been playing around with it.  I was able to run the 8840 cal successfully.  When I went to try the 8662 cal, I cannot communicate with it and a couple of other units in the console.  

Now I'm trying to connect with only the 8662 on the bus, nothing else.  The Nat. Inst. software sees that it is connected to the bus and at the right address, but says the the unit didn't respond.  

I've tried different addresses, and we've used this 8662 in the Phase Noise console also, so I know it works in remote.  I'm sure that this is a simple check box or something that I'm missing.  Has anyone else got their stuff working yet?

[Hoopty]

OK I figured it out... I just forgot to tell SureCAL software the UUT address.  Don't know why I figured it would know that since I had to tell it all the other addresses.  DOH!  

[MIRCS]

Must be nice to have a 8840...with a GPIB.......all we have is an 8842 with it. Why haven't they put more equipment into it???

[Hoopty]

I could only find 2 of ours with GPIB, most didn't have that option.  

I think more equipment will be coming online soon.   I don't really see the need for 8840s as most won't have the GPIB anyway.  The only 8662s we support are our own and its only like 2 or 3, and limited 8566s as well.  

Hopefully they will come up with the  longer spectrum analyzers soon.  At Nellis we have a contractor that just bought about 15 of the newer Agilents that have around 100 pages to the K-pro...  talk about a pain in the a$$!

[MIRCS]

That truly sucks for someone.......Bet you're glad you left for Keesler now aren't ya.

[mdbuike]

Well, we got our SureCAL laptop the other day and I've been playing around with it.  I was able to run the 8840 cal successfully.  When I went to try the 8662 cal, I cannot communicate with it and a couple of other units in the console.  

Now I'm trying to connect with only the 8662 on the bus, nothing else.  The Nat. Inst. software sees that it is connected to the bus and at the right address, but says the the unit didn't respond.  

I've tried different addresses, and we've used this 8662 in the Phase Noise console also, so I know it works in remote.  I'm sure that this is a simple check box or something that I'm missing.  Has anyone else got their stuff working yet?

We are running our 8662/8663's still using the 8902MS software..it's about 3 times faster, does more, and we can customize it as the K-pro changes...in fact, we have nearly all our generators automated..

If you want a copy, email me, I'll send a zip file to you...just remember, take the time to figure it out, it's not always in the same order of the K-pro, and Frank and I have been putting as many notes in as possible....

Mike

[LarryH]

8842/8840 without GPIB
You can pull the GPIB board on ONE of your units and use it to cal ALL 8840 DMM's! 

If you look at the back of the 8840 without IEEE, you will notice a small 3/4" x 3" panel with a pin connector held in place.  Pop this cover off (without breaking the tabs), connect the ribbon cable to your EXTERNAL IEEE board and there you go - IEEE for all 8840/8842 meters.  After cal, replace the cable and cover.

I never finished looking into it but it seems a male to female ribbon cable may even fit from the IEEE board thru the back panel to the cable held in place.  Fluke must have placed it like this for their cal techs and the factory floor calibrations.

[Smokey]

Hello,
I'm a new member in here. My name is Brian Snyder and I work at the PMEL in Greenland at Thule, AB. I have a question about the Laptop Controllers. Do you guys have any ADMIN rights to your controllers? If we un-plug the USB-HPIB interface from the Laptop we cannot install the USB back to the Laptop, nor can we do our updates to the K10 procedures.

We have WGM's for the entire base and they have total control of our Laptops even though they never touch the Network. Is there any way around this? I know some PMEL labs actually have one of the Technicians designated as a Work Group Manger, how can we get this done?

Thanks for any and all help on this!
B

[Freezer]

Your SureCal laptop should be an "equpment controller", not a computer!  It shoud be imune to your WGM.  Unless things are quite a bit different in your comand.  You should have a chat with the computer folks.  Do they have contol of your PMCS and 8902MS computers too?

[Hoopty]

Freezer is right, your laptop is a piece of equipment, not a computer.  It is the responsibility of the EMO custodian, not the WGM.

Stuff like that shouldn't ever be added to your ADPE account, and there is nothing that comm or your network guys can do about it.  The laptop should have come with an administrator password so you can install things as necessary.  On the flip side, you don't really need to worry about OS and antivirus updates as it shouldn't ever be used on the network.

Now, if you do find that there is no way to "undo" this situation, it would probably be a good idea to get someone in the lab designated a WGM.  Most flights do have their own WGM these days.  I don't know how you guys are set up over there, but I would go to the squadron network guy/gal and talk to them about your situation.  They should have some insight about what it would take to become a WGM.

Hope this helps you out.

[Smokey]

Thanks for the reply. We have been saying exactly that, you guys have been very helpful.