HP5334A/B Universal Counter driver for Python-IVI

A simple but functional driver for interacting with the HP 5334A and 5334B Universal Counters

Requirements

• tested with Python2.7.9 and Python3.6.3

Dependencies

• python-ivi https://github.com/python-ivi/python-ivi
• python-vxi11 https://github.com/python-ivi/python-vxi11

Installation

The typical (and perhaps easiest) way to install found ivi drivers is to comingle them In-Tree with IVI's supplied drivers

In Tree

• copy the drivers to the python-ivi/ivi/agilent folder.
• edit the agilent/init.py file to allow python to find your new drivers.
• rebuild and reinstall python-ivi.
• fiddle with the example code.

If you prefer to keep them more separate, this method works well:

In Tree but separate

• see this gist

Notes

• developed for an HP5334B with an E2050A GPIB/ethernet bridge
• if any of the agilent5334 driver files are modified, python-ivi will need to be rebuilt and reinstalled
• none of the memory, math, or voltmeter functionality has been implemented
• frequency, time_interval, period, ratio and totalize work well
• with my older instruments, i had to define instr.term_char = '\n'. I found this caused a conversion error during pack_int() of the python-vxi11 library. If you have the same problem, notes on how i worked around it are here

This has been a fun trip and I appreciate the work the Python-IVI developers have invested.