Chromatography Forum

Hi everyone,

I've seen a few threads concering old GCs and USB-GPIB adapters here so I figured someone may be able to help me.

I have two HP6890 GCs, one FID and one MS. The GC-MS is running with Chemstation GC1701 AA A.03-00 on a Win95 PC that can't access our new server any more. The FID hasn't been used in a long time. I was able to control it with the Chemstation software, but to collect data I think another software is needed that we might have on Floppy disks somewhere. Both machines are controlled via HPIB/GPIB

I was hoping to be able to use my GCs with Win XP computers via the USB-GPIB adapter 82357B using Chemstation 1701EA, but had to realise that this Chemstation version can't be configured for GPIB but only for IP adresses (I thought the tech guy (not agilent) said the versions vere backwards compatible, but according to the compatibility matrix they are not). I tried using Chemstation A, but it seems to be looking for old 16bit drivers and can't properly run under XP (again, the compatibility matrix suggests so).

So I'm stuck with one Chemstation version that is too old and another one that is too new. Getting a license for a B to D version seems to be difficult, perhaps expensive, and there's no guarantee it's gonna work either. Right now I'm thinking about sending the USB-GPIB adapter back to where it came from and giving up. I still have two old Win95/NT PCs available that I might be able to run my machines with for another year or so before the PCs fall apart. Then I can basically trash all my machines (or start collecting old PCs.. )

Does anyone have a better idea? Any little scripts that can redirect data from IP to GPIB and vice versa? Any other suggestions what I could try to keep the whole setup running?

Thanks a lot!
teff

The 6890 can be upgraded to communicate using IP and isn't too bad to do I think.

What MS are you using? 5973 can be upgraded to IP also, but 5972 can not, unless someone like Alpha Omega is doing that now.

I think either D.01 or D.02 added support for HPIB back in because there was a lot of flack over dropping it. If you can find someone with a used computer with it installed to purchase you should be ok with that(or someone with an old copy to sell you). Agilent will not support it of course if you have problems, but many third party service places can help.

If you can obtain the copy of Chemstation A.10.02, I believe you can use GPIB and is compatible with XP 32-bit version.

If you can obtain the copy of Chemstation A.10.02, I believe you can use GPIB and is compatible with XP 32-bit version.

I believe A.10.02 will support LCMS but not GCMS. You normally need either MSDChemstation or MassHunter for GCMS.

Would you be able to use IP instead? 6890s support IP right out of the box if I'm not mistaken, in fact, using IP, you could set them all on a switch in the 10.1.100.x subnet then run them all from the same version of ChemStation. It might help you out in the long run to make that switch if possible, because 1. You'll be ready to go should you ever need new technology (i.e. a 7890) and 2. You can run multiple GCs via one ChemStation, just give each it's own IP and you're set. Now what I don't know is if 6890s are as easy to setup for IP interfacing as 7890s, it really depends on your situation I guess. Either way, if you can manage to set up an ethernet-switch type system it would probably be the more recommended option moving forward.

Would you be able to use IP instead? 6890s support IP right out of the box if I'm not mistaken, in fact, using IP, you could set them all on a switch in the 10.1.100.x subnet then run them all from the same version of ChemStation. It might help you out in the long run to make that switch if possible, because 1. You'll be ready to go should you ever need new technology (i.e. a 7890) and 2. You can run multiple GCs via one ChemStation, just give each it's own IP and you're set. Now what I don't know is if 6890s are as easy to setup for IP interfacing as 7890s, it really depends on your situation I guess. Either way, if you can manage to set up an ethernet-switch type system it would probably be the more recommended option moving forward.

To convert the 6890 from HPIB to Ethernet requires installing a JetDirect card and possibly upgrading the motherboard depending on how old it is. The same is needed for converting the MS if it is a 5973, if it is a 5972 there is no Ethernet upgrade(unless maybe a third party has some type of adapter kit, eg. Alpha Omega Co.). I have run a 5890/5971 and a 5890 FID both at the same time on the Win95 version of software, it should work and see the FID.

Switching to Ethernet can be a pain, we have one 5973 that just will not accept the IP address from the newer versions of MSDChemstation that uses the BootP service, we have to connect it to an older PC that is running the BootP program under XP every time it looses power.

It is a shame that the old hardware will outlast the computers that can run it by many many years. If only Microsoft would stop updating Windows so much, shouldn't it be good for at least 20 years

For upgrading the older 6890 GC's you need the G2335A 6890 LAN upgrade kit.
BootP is not very nice to use, but you can assign a fixed IP address to a LAN card by using dip switches and telnet.
Internal LAN card default address is 192.168.254.11
Set you communication of the LAN card in the PC to e.g. 192.168.254.10
Procedure:
Switch off the instrument
Remove the LAN card from the instrument
Set dips with 5 and 6 to ON
Put back the LAN card
Switch on the instrument
From the Windows start menu type TELNET 192.168.254.11
Telnet windows will open connected to the LAN card of the instrument
Type / and CR
Telnet will display the LAN card internal IP address (likely 192.168.254.11)
type IP followed by your desired IP address (e.g.: IP 192.168.1.100)
CR
type SM 255.255.255.0 (subnet mask)
CR
Type / and CR
Now displayed will be the new IP address
Close telnet

Switch of instrument, remove LAN card, set dipswitch 6 to OFF and put back LAN card
Replace the IP address of the PC network card to reflect the IP range of the instruments
Switch on the instrument and ping the card

If all goes well it should work now.

Have fun!

Oh, BTW, Jetdirect card is no longer sold or supported under the new DS software, it is nowadays G1369C which is part of G2335A as well.

For those not knowing what the CR means in my little article, it means "hit return" so don't type it literally

Any problem about Agilent GC, HPLC, chemstation, just let us know via engineer201208 at gmail dot com
Thx,

IF the MSD is a 5973 I recommend XP and Chemstation MSD D.03 is the last version that will support GPIB.

If the MSD is a 5972 I reccommend Windows 2000SP4 and Chemstation MSD B.02. This is the last Chemstation MSD that supports the 5972.

Chemstation MSD can run a GC-FID as well I use chemstation B.02 to run my 5890-FID though I now remove the files and analyze them on my office computer running Win 7 and chemstation MSD E02.