System Overview 3
Keysight 34970A/34972A User’s Guide 77
The computer and interface cable (34970A only)
Computers and operating systems are not discussed in this chapter. In addition to
the computer and operating system, you will need a serial port (RS-232) or GPIB
port (IEEE-488) and an interface cable.
Serial (RS-232) GPIB (IEEE-488)
Ad vantages Disad vantages Ad vantages Disad vantages
Often built into the computer;
no additional hardware is
required.
Cable length is limited to 45 ft
(15 m).
[a]
Speed; faster data and
command transfers.
Cable length is limited to 60
ft. (20m).
[a]
Drivers usually included in the
operating system.
Only one instrument or device
can be connected per serial
port
Additional system flexibility,
multiple instruments can be
connected to the same GPIB
port.
Requires an expansion slot
plug-in card in PC and
associated drivers.
Cables readily available and
inexpensive.
The 34970A is shipped with a
serial cable (if internal DMM
is ordered).
Cabling is susceptible to
noise, causing slow or lost
communications.
Varying connector ys and
styles
Direct Memory Transfers are
possible.
Requires special cable
Data transfers up to 85,000
characters/sec.
Data transfers up to 750,000
characters/sec.
[a] You can overcome these cable length limitation using special communications hardware.
For example, you can use the Keysight E5810A LAN-to-GPIB Gateway interface or a serial modem.
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