HP Forum Archive 19

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Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #1 Posted by Sean Connor on 12 Oct 2009, 1:09 p.m. Had my Pil box for about three weeks now. Initially I had some problems with my (real) 71b locking up and lots of HPIL broken loop errors. It was a problem with my Framework installation. I repaired it with the microsoft software and Voila ! It works like a charm. Brilliant I'm chuffed to bits as we say over here. Thanks to Jean-Francois for his efforts. It's worth every penny. If this sounds like an advert I'll point out that I have no connection with Jean-Francois apart from buying a box from him LOL Now HUNGRY for LIF images Sean

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #2 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 13 Oct 2009, 12:18 p.m., in response to message #1 by Sean Connor My PILBox with HP-71b chokes. What kind of framework update did you do? I guess you're talking about .Net. I'll test with a different PC later.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #3 Posted by Egan Ford on 13 Oct 2009, 12:59 p.m., in response to message #2 by Marcus von Cube, Germany What does PRINT VER$ return? PIL-Box 1.2 or 1.3? Thanks.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #4 Posted by Sean Connor on 13 Oct 2009, 1:48 p.m., in response to message #3 by Egan Ford Framework 2.0 Will check version of PIL box tomorrow (it's at work) Marcus how does it 'choke' ? What are the symptoms ? Sean Edited: 13 Oct 2009, 1:53 p.m.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #5 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 13 Oct 2009, 3:54 p.m., in response to message #4 by Sean Connor I get "HPIL ERR: Message Error" and scrambled output in the display window. My HPIL-1A seems to be the culprit, at least that's what JF told me. I might have to reflash my PIC to get it working.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #6 Posted by Sean Connor on 14 Oct 2009, 4:26 a.m., in response to message #5 by Marcus von Cube, Germany VER$ does not return the PIL Box version. I asssume its the latest firmware though as the box ifs from JF's latest batch. My HPIL is ver 1A My problem was also either broken loop errors or HPIL message errors. I could see output in the scope window but nothing in the display area. Sean

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #7 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 14 Oct 2009, 11:52 a.m., in response to message #6 by Sean Connor Seems to be the same case as mine. JFG is working on the problem. I've a prommer so I can update the FW in my PILBox from images recieved by mail. Hopefully this will result in a new FW that works with 1A.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #8 Posted by J-F Garnier on 14 Oct 2009, 1:13 p.m., in response to message #6 by Sean Connor Hi Sean, At least, the PILBox (firmware 1.3) works correctly with your 1A module. I have no problem as well with my 1A module. It seems there are some differences between the 1A modules, unless Marcus's problem is due to something else. But for the moment, I still suspect the 1A module because the symptoms are very similar to what I (and others) observed with 1A modules and PILBox firmware 1.2. J-F

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #9 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 15 Oct 2009, 4:12 p.m., in response to message #8 by J-F Garnier JF, we can swap our 1A modules for further testing.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #10 Posted by ZOleg on 15 Oct 2009, 6:56 p.m., in response to message #8 by J-F Garnier As I mentioned earlier in HP-IL 2009 thread there are problems with PILBox firmware 1.3 and HP-71B with HPIL version 1B.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #11 Posted by Egan Ford on 17 Oct 2009, 4:16 p.m., in response to message #8 by J-F Garnier Quote: At least, the PILBox (firmware 1.3) works correctly with your 1A module. I have no problem as well with my 1A module. I no longer have a problem with my 1A. I just reprogrammed the PIC today with 1.3 and tested with ILPer (Windows in a VM session), Linux and OS/X (hpil_test) without issue.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #12 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 17 Oct 2009, 4:34 p.m., in response to message #11 by Egan Ford My problem still persists, even with 1.3. It's probably my specific interface. JFG has asked me to perform at test with another device in the loop. The only device I could provide was an old PC with Christoph's card and EMU41: It made the connection to ILPer work, but I have to recheck with a reversed setup (changing the position of the PC in the loop.) Edit: I've just checked it: With the PC in the loop, PILBox works, without I get errors, no matter where in the loop the PC is. Edited: 17 Oct 2009, 6:03 p.m.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #13 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 19 Oct 2009, 6:17 a.m., in response to message #12 by Marcus von Cube, Germany JFG has sent me a new incarnation of the firmware. This works better but mass storage access still produces errors. I'm positive that he will sort this out... :)

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #14 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 25 Oct 2009, 4:44 p.m., in response to message #13 by Marcus von Cube, Germany JFG has created a fix for my HP-71b 1A HP-IL problem. The controller is simply too fast: It starts sending the next frame while it is still receiving the last package rearriving around the loop. This seems to have confused PILBox. Another device in the loop slows down communications enough to make PILBox happy. The recent fix (1.3.3) introduces a special, jumper selectable, "no other device in the loop" mode that seems to take care of my 71b's behavior but might interfere with other devices in the loop. Since I don't have any other device, I'm happy with the solution.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #15 Posted by Sean Connor on 27 Oct 2009, 6:40 a.m., in response to message #14 by Marcus von Cube, Germany Hi Marcus, Is this a firmware fix ? My PIL box has started to work intermitently with my 1A HPIL. It's really weired sometimes it will work for an hour and then on re-connecting fail for the rest of the day. I'm afraid I spoke too soon ! Maybe it's a temperature effect (clock drift ?) with the marginal timings. Sean

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #16 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 27 Oct 2009, 1:22 p.m., in response to message #15 by Sean Connor Sean, do you have any other HP-IL devices that you can put in the loop? If that fixes the problem, the new FW will help you. JFG can certainly send you the HEX file but you need a PIC programmer to install it on the chip.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #17 Posted by Sean Connor on 28 Oct 2009, 4:20 p.m., in response to message #16 by Marcus von Cube, Germany Hi Marcus Yes I'll try to put my printer or 9114A in line tomorrow. I have a programmer so I may ask JFG for the new code. Best Regards Sean Edited: 28 Oct 2009, 4:21 p.m.

Re: Pil Box ... works like a charm ! Message #18 Posted by Sean Connor on 4 Nov 2009, 1:55 p.m., in response to message #17 by Sean Connor I tried the HP9114 in line and it still didn't work. JFG has kindly sent me an upgraded firmware version to try. Will keep you posted. It's a bit difficult at the moment as I'm trying to move my laboratory Where did I put that programmer LOL ? PS never try to lift a Cascade Mirotech 12K prober with less than 4 VERY strong guys !!! Edited: 4 Nov 2009, 1:57 p.m.

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