Scientific Solutions ® Inc.
IEEE 488 GPIB Products for Varian Chromatography, Spectroscopy and other WorkStations
Varian utilized the Scientific Solutions IEEE Instrument Interface (also called IEEE-488, Tecmar IEEE-488, IEEE-488-CL) for their Chromatography, Spectroscopy, and other workstations. Scientific Solutions supplied the IEEE interface to Varian as an OEM supplier, and in turn Varian supplied these to their customers (pn: 210127490). Scientific Solutions is pleased to offer the IEEE cards direct to Varian end users.
The original cards supplied to Varian were for ISA computer slots (IEEE-488-CL/ISA). Scientific Solutions still offers this card, but also offers a 100% compatible card for PCI computer slots. The PCI card (IEEE-488-CL/PCI) permits users to upgrade from an older ISA computer to a newer PCI computer and run their existing Varian software on this new computer.
Scientific Solutions has two versions of the IEEE-488 card that can be used with Varian's software written for the original IEEE-488 card:
- IEEE-488-CL / ISA
- IEEE-488-CL / PCI
Scientific Solutions designed the IEEE-488-CL / PCI to be a 100% direct replacement for the IEEE-488-CL / ISA cards. This means software the runs on one of the cards will also run on the other. Most of the Varian cards in use are the ISA cards, dating back to the early 1980s. Many customers wish to update their computer systems from older ISA to the newer PCI based systems. However, customers still desire to use the same software - and now they can by using the PCI version of the card
Check your Varian software requirements or look at the IEEE card you currently have. If it is written to use the Scientific Solutions IEEE-488 card, then you can either use the ISA or the PCI version.
Scientific Solutions was the first company to offer an IEEE-488 (GPIB, HPIB) interface for the personal computer. First introduced in 1981, the versions sold today remain 100% compatible to the very first one produced over 28 years ago.
Notes on Using Varian Star Workstation
Although we discuss the Varian Star Workstation here, there may be other Varian products that can also use either our ISA or PCI card
Varian's Star Chromatography Workstation for Windows 95/98/NT uses the Scientific Solutions IEEE-488 card to communicate with and control laboratory equipment. These notes were created using Varian Star WorkStation 5.31, and should also be applicable to other versions.
- You need to be running a version of Windows supported by Varian's software (Win9x or WinNT)
- We suggest Win98
- Install the IEEE card into your computer
- If using the IEEE-488-CL/ISA card then make sure the I/O address is configured for 0310h
- If using the IEEE-488-CL/PCI card then you will have to take a few extra steps to be sure it is also configured for I/O address of 0310h as outlined next
- Boot Win98 and get the "New Hardware Found" message
- Use Scientific Solutions Drivers and follow the on-screen prompts
- After the computer boots, go to Device Manager, select the GPIB card and change the resources:
- Input/Output Range to 0310-031F
- Then select OK and YES to continue and your computer will reboot
- After rebooting, verify with Device Manager that the card is at 0310-031F.
- If you can't change the address then try booting into Safe Mode to change the address
- Safe Mode is typically accessed by pressing the F8 or CTRL (depending upon computer) when you first see the Windows logo when your computer is booting
- Before using Safe Mode, note the "interrupt" in the normal boot Device Manager and use this same number to configure the "interrupt" when in Safe Mode
- After the computer boots, go to Device Manager, select the GPIB card and change the resources:
- Input/Output Range to 0310-031F
- Interrupt to the number you noted before when the computer started in normal mode
- Then select OK and YES to continue and your computer will reboot
- After rebooting, verify with Device Manager that the card is at 0310-031F.
- Also add the CL488CFG.EXE or PCICFG.EXE program (supplied by SSI) to force the I/O address to 0310h
- Install the Star Workstation (example Star Workstation 5.31, etc)
- Start windows and select Start --> Program --> Varian Star 5.x --> System Control
- With the SSI IEEE card properly installed at I/O address of 0310h you will see the following message at the bottom of the Varian's software window:
- HH:MM:SS Configuration: System Control Copyright (c)1989-1998 Varian Associates Inc.
- With the SSI IEEE card NOT installed at I/O address of 0310h you will see the following message at the bottom of the Varian's software window:
- HH:MM:SS Configuration: Bus Controller Card is Not Installed.
- With the SSI IEEE card properly installed at I/O address of 0310h you will see the following message at the bottom of the Varian's software window:
Scientific Solutions IEEE cards for Varian
| Image |  |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 020032 |
| Title | IEEE 488-CL / PCI |
| Overview | The Scientific Solutions IEEE card plugs directly into one slot of your computer and gives your computer complete access to the IEEE 488 General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB). |
| Features |
|
| Product Includes | IEEE card, Manual, Software |
| Manual | Not Available |
| Datasheet | Not Available |
| Product Specifications | Full Description and Specifications |
| Software | Win32 Device Drivers with Route488 function library |
| FAQ | None |
| Add to Cart |
| Image |  |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 020030 |
| Title | IEEE 488-CL / ISA |
| Overview | The Scientific Solutions IEEE card plugs directly into one slot of your computer and gives your computer complete access to the IEEE 488 General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB). |
| Features |
|
| Product Includes | IEEE card, Manual, Software |
| Manual | Not Available |
| Datasheet | Not Available |
| Product Specifications | Full Description and Specifications |
| Software | Win32 Device Drivers with Route488 function library |
| FAQ | None |
| Add to Cart |
Specifications subject to change without notice.
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