Exercise 3a

This exercise is due at the end of class. When you have finished the assignment, please call you instructor over to grade it.

Setting up the GPIB

Using an HP 33120A Function Generator, change the DIP switch settings on the back such that the GPIB address is 10. In order for the DIP switch settings to take effect, you will need to turn the instrument off and then on again.

  1. Open the MAX program. (You may also use the Interactive Control Utility if you prefer). 
  2. Using the program, confirm that the GPIB is communicating to the instrument. If you get a time-out error, check to see that the instrument is turned on and that the address is correct.
  3. Select the Function Generator instrument within MAX. Using the "Communicate with Instrument" option on the pop-up menu,  verify that you can change the frequency of the function generator to the following values: 500Hz, 10KHz, 20KHz. The ASCII codes for the HP 33120A commands are posted on the Web Page. You may wish to verify settings of the function generator using an oscilloscope.
  4. Use the appropriate string commands to verify the current setting of the Amplitude.
  5. Get the current setting of the offset in units of volts. Verify that the string returned is the same reading that is on the front panel of the instrument.