[time-nuts] TimeLab PM6690 CNT9X?

John Miles john at miles.io
Fri May 10 21:38:53 EDT 2013


In general, counter support in TimeLab is flaky with respect to any
instruments I don't actually own/use myself.  Issues with the HP 5370B and
TimePod drivers are fixed ASAP because they affect me directly, and the same
is true of the TSC 5115A/5120A/5125A drivers.  Everything else is provided
on a "best effort" basis, especially when talking about gear that I haven't
borrowed or otherwise worked with in person, and the Fluke/Philips counters
fall into the latter category.  If all else fails the driver source code is
in the drivers/GPIB_TIC subdirectory under in the installation folder. :)  

The talk-only driver is always your best bet when available.  It will work
if the counter supports talk-only mode and is configured appropriately.
Some of the addressable drivers have been reported to skip every other
reading or fail to connect to the counter at all, especially with GPIB
adapters that use virtual COM ports or Ethernet dongles.  

For both talk-only and addressable counters, pay close attention to how the
counter is set up at its front panel.  TimeLab does not alter (m)any control
settings other than the bare minimum needed to fetch readings in whatever
mode the counter is currently in. 

Finally, it's a good idea to use the latest beta from
www.miles.io/timelab/beta.htm rather than the 'release' build from
www.miles.io/timelab/readme.htm when working with counters.  New features
and bug fixes that don't impact TimePod customers will not trigger immediate
updates of the release build.

-- john
Miles Design LLC


> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of Tom Knox
> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 3:33 PM
> To: Time-Nuts
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] TimeLab PM6690 CNT9X?
> 
> Thanks Magnus;
> Do not go to any extra trouble on my account. The PM6690 also has a 53132A
> mode that may work. I assumed all this had been tried before and I could
save a
> lot of time and effort
> Best Wishes;
> Thomas Knox
> 
> 
> 
> > Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 22:16:54 +0200
> > From: magnus at rubidium.dyndns.org
> > To: time-nuts at febo.com
> > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] TimeLab PM6690 CNT9X?
> >
> > Hi Tom,
> >
> > On 05/10/2013 08:02 PM, Tom Knox wrote:
> > > Has anyone used Time Lab with The current Fluke PM6690, Spectracom
> CNT90/91?
> > > Thanks;
> >
> > CNT90 (aka PM6690) did not use to work with TimeLab, as CNT90 does not
> > to talk-only, which is the normal requirement for TimeLab generic
> > counter support.
> >
> > I don't remember if I managed to get it operating or not, but I could
> > take it for a test-spin if you like. The CNT-80 driver should work
> > thought, as it builds on the SCPI commandset.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Magnus
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