Chromatography Forum

I'm trying to set up a 5890 Series II GC-FID, but I'm having trouble getting the instrument to communicate with the computer. The computer is running Windows 95 and Chemstation version A.03.11. They are connected with an HPIB cable. I configured the instrument with the Configuration Editor, but when I try to launch Chemstation I get a message saying "Unable to talk to the HP5890A". Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm trying to set up a 5890 Series II GC-FID, but I'm having trouble getting the instrument to communicate with the computer. The computer is running Windows 95 and Chemstation version A.03.11. They are connected with an HPIB cable. I configured the instrument with the Configuration Editor, but when I try to launch Chemstation I get a message saying "Unable to talk to the HP5890A". Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

According to http://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/Sup ... a10674.pdf ChemStation A.03 is not compatible with Windows 95, only with Windows 3.1 or WFW 3.11.

With Windows 95 you'd need A.04 through A.06.

You also might have trouble getting software for a 5890A to control a Series II. The Series II was the first to EPC. Software that's expecting an A probably won't know what to do with EPC.

Also what kind of GPIB card are you using. I have a 5890 Series IIa GC-FID and a HP 82341 ISA card. According to the above posted specs nothing below A05 can do it.

I control mine with MSD Chemstation B01.00 running on Windows NT 4.0.

I have tried A03 with Windows 98 and it ran fine.

I used to also use A04 with win 98.

CraftyChemist,

I have seen this error on account of several things. 1) The card inside the PC is not working. So you have to know you have the right card. 2) Addresses are wrong, either for the card or for the GC (usually for the GC.) 3) Cables are not fully buttoned on. HP-IB cables are fussy beasts and really should be fully screwed on both the PC side and the GC side. (This from a person who hates fully screwing things on!)

My observation with the software is if the version is later and the GC older it will warn you when it actually starts but then communicate. You are not even getting to this step yet so you need to back up a bit.

Best regards,

AICMM

Thanks for all the suggestions! It turned out that the 82335 HPIB board in the computer was not configured correctly, and neither was the DIP switch on the board in the GC. Both are now fixed, and the computer and the GC are talking!