Gigatronics 6100 calibration

[RichieRich]

Anybody out there have the software to write new amplitude calibration constants for the Gigatronics 6100 signal generator? 

[skidaddle skaduski]

I'm sorry for the indirect response, but have you tried to writing your own program to do so? Or perhaps you could use National Instruments communicate with instrument option to send the commands line by line? I only say this because the view times I have tried to aquire automated alignment information from Giga, they were not too helpful if you know what I mean.  If you have the commands to send, and can not get the software easily, I suggest sending single commands if it's possible.

[RichieRich]

Thanks.  I don't think that's the way it works.  Cal constants are on eprom, so you wouldn't be able to write to it by GPIB.

I got the usual song and dance from Gigatronics about how antiquated these pieces are.  It's about 15 years old, and they may have made them for several years after that.  I've heard that so many times from mfr's.  That's REAAAALLLLY OLD!  Personally, I don't consider 10-20 year old test equipment to be antique.  You would think an OEM would still be at least able to calibrate something they sold 15 years ago. 

[skidaddle skaduski]

Ha, right.  And we both know why they say it's "old" is so they can help you out in purchasing a new one.  Honestly, I'm am amazed daily at the amount of manuals I can still get from Agilent for "old" HP gear.

As far as the eeproms, does the 8902A not store the cal factors on an eeprom when you program it for a particuliar sensor at specific frequencies? I guess the difference here is that your piece I guess downloads the entire cal table and is stored in a file? Hmmm, I'm sure there's a way to do it line by line but you'd never get the information to send low level commands.  I usually get into a war at least once a week with an OEM about not releasing information to the user.  In the end, I finish the conversation by saying, "Well, that's too bad, because I was planning on procuring X amount of ___insert model number___, and I guess if your company is not in the business of supporting its customer's needs, then I will have to explore my interests elsewhere".

I usually get a phone call by a sales rep afterwards and this technique has connected me with helpful individuals within some of these companies.  Try it, you never know what could happend.