Some instruments used by the PXB may have only a GPIB interface (for example, the Agilent E5515C/8960 Wireless Communications Test Set). The PXB can connect to these instruments using its GPIB interface or a USB/GPIB adapter. However, the PXB cannot enable its GPIB port to simultaneously control a connected instrument and be controlled by a remote test controller.
We have outlined two scenarios for connecting GPIB-only instruments in controller-PXB test systems. Choose the scenario that best fits your test environment. In both scenarios, you will use Agilent “Remote GPIB” interfacing.
In the first scenario, the GPIB-only instruments are connected directly to the PXB and the test controller accesses them through the PXB. In the second scenario, the GPIB-only instruments are connected directly to the test controller and the PXB accesses them through the controller using “Remote GPIB” interfacing. For both of these scenarios, the test controller must connect to the PXB using a LAN type interface.