Chromatography Forum

Hello, please, does anybody know how to check if a smartcard II (HP5971) is working? I'm getting a "Card not active error". How the dip switches in the smartcard must be set in order to get a HPIB address = 20?
I dont know whether the card is bad or is a confiiguration issue.
Thank you from Argentina
Raul

Was the instrument working and you suddenly got the error? If so, the dip switch settings are probably OK. For an address of 20 switches 3, 4, and 6 should be open and the others closed. Make sure your cables are tightly connected. You can shut the main power off on the MS for 2 or 3 seconds and turn it back on to reset the Smart Card. If that doesn't work, it could be a number of other problems. It would help if you could let us know what was happening with the instrument when you got the error.

cleh, I really appreciate your answer. The system was working OK with a Smartcard I and G1034C software in Win 3.1.
We found a Smartcard II and we installed Windows 98 in the PC and G1701AA MSChemstation software. HPIB in PC is a HP82335 card. The GC can communicate with the software (load method, change parameters, etc). When I try to test MS it says "The MS Interface card is not active". Is there any way to "Turn on" the smartcard? or to check whether the smartcard is "alive" ?
Again, thank you very much.
Raul

... For an address of 20 switches 3, 4, and 6 should be open and the others closed ...

Could you please explaine how set address 21 on Smart Card II+ on GCD1800A modified to GCD1800C?

Thanks a lot,
-vadym

I will check my notes when I get back to my office tomorrow afternoon. Maybe someone else has the info readily available.

As far as resetting the card goes, it comes on automatically when the power to the MS is turned on. If you would like to send it to me, I could check it out in one of my instruments to see if it works.

If you would like to send it to me, I could check it out in one of my instruments to see if it works.

Unfortunately, it will be too expensive to ship from Ukraine, so better first check by myself accordingly to your notes.

Thank you!
-vadym

Change out your HP-IB cable, and re-seat your 82335. This error is a general communications error - may not have anything to do with the SmartCard itself.

Also, make sure your config file is correct!!

Mckrause, thanks for your answer. I think the smartcard is working because in Tuning screen, when I write
scquery "*IDN?" at the command line, I get the following message: HEWLETT-PACKARD,5971A,0,2.03.39 indicating that the software "knows" tha the smartcard is a Smartcard II, so I think that there is communication between software and smartcard, but when trying to initialize MS interface, I get the error: The MS interface card is not active.

also if I type "scinit,1" I get the message 0,": No errors". Do you think that the problem could be the 82335 card? May be I should try with a 82341C card? Thanks a lot. This forum is the only source that we have to solve this problem.

Thank you from Argentina !!

Raul,
Did you get your Smart Card II working??

I have one that just malfunctioned on my 5971 MS. It had been working fine since '96 and now, I believe, it has died.