National Instruments GPIB-USB-B

The National Instruments GPIB-USB-B is a GPIB-to-USB interface adapter that bridges legacy GPIB instruments to modern computers via USB connectivity. This compact controller enables direct instrument communication without external power, drawing all necessary current from the USB host. It supports IEEE 488.1 and IEEE 488.2 standards and can manage up to 14 programmable GPIB instruments simultaneously.

– Technical Specifications

• IEEE 488 Compatibility: IEEE 488.1 and IEEE 488.2 compliant
• Maximum GPIB Instruments: 14 devices
• GPIB Bus Transfer Rate: 880 kB/s (standard IEEE 488 handshake)
• USB Signaling: USB 2.0 full-speed at 12 Mb/s
• Power Consumption: 200 mA to 500 mA maximum
• Dimensions: 4.2 in × 2.6 in × 1.0 in (10.7 cm × 6.6 cm × 2.6 cm)
• Operating Temperature: 0 to 55 °C
• Storage Temperature: -20 to 70 °C
• Operating Humidity: 10 to 90% RH, non-condensing
• Storage Humidity: 5 to 95% RH, non-condensing

– Key Features

• Direct USB-to-GPIB connection with no external power supply required
• Plug-and-play installation with automatic OS detection
• USB bus-powered operation eliminates auxiliary power dependencies
• Blue housing with LED indicators for USB configuration and active status
• Standard USB Type A connector with integrated 2-meter USB cable
• Direct GPIB port attachment; supports daisy-chain and star topologies

– Compatibility & Integration

The GPIB-USB-B operates with Windows 2000, XP, Me, 98, and Linux environments. It integrates with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio applications. Existing code written for other National Instruments GPIB controllers runs without modification. The device uses NI-488.2 driver software and is available in three part-number variants for different operating systems (778416-01 for Windows 2000/XP, 779192-01 for Windows Me/98, 779354-01 for Linux).