LAN or GPIB Connection Problems

This topic provides trouble shootng information to help you solve possible problems that may accur with system configuration using a LAN Local Area Network: A communications network that serves users within a local geographical area, typically over distances of around 100m. Wireless LANs use wireless communicaitons to network devices so there is no need for data cabling. or GPIB interface connection and Keysight IO Libraries Suite.

For more detailed information on troubleshooting LAN/GPIB interface problems, see the "Troubleshooting" chapter of the Software Installation Guide.

First Step

The very first item to check when troubleshooting LAN or GPIB problems, is to make sure that the test system interface cables are connected before you turn on the measurement hardware. Check the cable connections, then cycle power on the measurement hardware.

LAN OR GPIB PROBLEM	POSSIBLE CAUSE	SOLUTION
Corrupted Data or Measurement Time out	More than one interface configured to a device You should not have more than one interface configured for each instrument, either from one computer or multiple computers. This is especially easy to do for LAN interfaces. If an instrument is connected to a LAN, it can be accessed from any computer that is also connected to the LAN. If two computers on the LAN are configured to point to the instrument, they may try to access the instrument simultaneously.	Run IO Libraries Connection Expert. Remove or disable the unneeded interface. An easy way to disable the interface is to add extra, meaningless characters to the Remote Hostname entry. Then when you want to re-enable the instrument, you need only remove the extra characters.
Long startup time for 89600 VSA	Configured instrument disconnected or turned off After you have run the 89600 VSA software with a specific hardware configuration, the software looks for that hardware every time you start. This can take a long time.	Run Connection Expert. Remove or disable the unneeded interface. An easy way to disable the interface is to add extra, meaningless characters to the Remote Hostname entry. Then when you want to re-enable the instrument, you need only remove the extra characters.
Unlock Front Panel error	Other applications can't communicate to some GPIB instruments that are not used by the 89600 VSA when the Unlock Front Panel hardware parameter is set to True (set under Utilities > Hardware > ADC1 > Configure).	Set Unlock Front Panel to False or try asserting the REN line before sending a command to the instrument. The 89600 VSA deasserts the REN line when Unlock Front Panel is set to True. Some GPIB instruments won't accept commands properly when the REN line is deasserted.
VI_ERROR_TMO VISA Timeout error	A VI_ERROR_TMO VISA timeout can occur if the measurement hardware is not responding soon enough. The default timeout value for the 89600 VSA is 2 minutes. However, in some cases this timeout value may be overriden by a timeout value of the VISA resource manager. This can result in timeouts occurring when changing parameters during a measurement that is acquiring a large amount of data. This situation can occur when using Keysight Infiniium Oscillscopes with large memory options and a LAN connection using the VISA library. The VISA library LAN default "Connect timeout" is 5 seconds which may not be long enough for some measurement scenarios.	Extend the VISA Library LAN default "Connect Timeout" parameter to a value greater than the current measurement hardware response time. Open the Connection Expert tool, select the LAN node, and change the "Connect timeout" property to a larger value.