Unclear problem with GCD HP1800

[intereco]

hi,

in our envir. laboratory exist GCD HP1800A with installed SmartCard2 and Chemstation G1701BA Ver.B.01.00. Everything works fine but once I catch problem with tunnig which finnished abnormally very fast. Then problem become more seriously and now they looks so: MSD start without any noticeable problems, software initiated normal too but after that connection with GC seems break down - I can't transfer any changes of methods to GC and save this changes in chemstation.

Otherwise, GSD in configuration as alone GC only (without MSD) runs like clockwork.

All test in Engeniring (Admin) Interface - Status, IOTests and MS interface error - passed ok. But logs indicated about problems...

Some logs recordings:

MSTUNE

The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
Neither GC nor MS data collected; Consult Logbook
Neither GC nor MS data collected; Consult Logbook
Neither GC nor MS data collected; Consult Logbook
The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
The MS interface was initialized. MS power or communication interrupted.
HP-IB timeout while reading MS response


MSLOGBK

RMETHOD Loading Method TEST_1.M 15:30:57 10/23/2015
G4999,HPGCD.HLP
RMETHOD Loading Method TEST_1.M 16:27:05 10/23/2015
G4999,HPGCD.HLP
RMETHOD Loading Method TEST_1.M 16:29:52 10/23/2015
G0,HPGCD.HLP
RHP 5971A Run started 16:31:01 10/23/2015
G0,HPGCD.HLP
RHP 5971A Overrode solvent delay at runtime 0.06 16:31:05 10/23/2015
G0,hpmsd.hlp
RHP 5890 GC Not Responding, Check Cable/Power Switch 16:31:10 10/23/2015

Could you please advice where may be problem in this confused situation (except, perhaps, SmartCard which seems first candidate) and how I can check it?

Thanks a lot!

with best regards,
-vadym

[James_Ball]

If I understand correctly, the system communicates with the Mass Spec when the GC is attached to the HPIB but not the GC, and when the Mass Spec is disconnected it will communicate with the GC.

It has been many years, but I believe I had a similar problem with a 5971/5890 system and it was the HPIB interface card in the computer that was the problem.

The only way I know to check the card would be to replace it with another interface card in the computer.