NI GPIB-SPRC-B / SB-GPIB High Performance IEEE 488 Interface Board

The GPIB-SPRC-B / SB-GPIB is a high-performance IEEE 488 interface board for Sun SPARCstation Series workstations, delivering reliable GPIB instrument control and data acquisition on Solaris platforms. Built around the TNT4882C ASIC architecture, it combines the NAT4882 controller, Turbo488 performance enhancement, and integrated GPIB transceivers into a single-chip IEEE 488.2 Talker/Listener/Controller. The board achieves data transfer rates exceeding 1.4 MB/s under IEEE 488.1 and surpassing 3.6 MB/s with HS488 high-speed protocol, leveraging SBus Direct Virtual Memory Access (DVMA) transfers for maximum throughput.

– Technical Specifications

• Interface Standard: IEEE 488.1 and IEEE 488.2 compliant
• Data Transfer Rate (IEEE 488.1): More than 1.4 MB/s
• Data Transfer Rate (HS488): More than 3.6 MB/s
• Core ASIC: TNT4882C integrating NAT4882 and Turbo488
• Memory Access: SBus DVMA transfers for optimized performance
• Device Connectivity: Up to 14 instruments via standard IEEE 488 cables; multiple SB-GPIB/TNT boards supported in single computer; IEEE 488 extenders (GPIB-130, GPIB-120A, GPIB-140A) for expanded device networks
• Configuration: Software-controlled, jumper-free
• Operating System Support: Solaris 2.5.1 or higher; 32-bit and 64-bit implementations
• Driver Software: NI-488.2; compatible with LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI
• Hardware Platform: Sun SPARCstation Series with SBus slots
• Power: Supplied directly from SBus slot
• Part Number: 776789-01

– Key Features

• Integrated HS488 protocol for high-speed GPIB communications
• Single-chip IEEE 488.2 controller eliminating multi-component designs
• Backward compatibility with earlier SB-GPIB interface boards
• Rapid GPIB event signal control
• Software-configurable operation without jumper settings

– Typical Applications

Automated test systems, instrument control networks, data acquisition platforms, and measurement automation requiring high-speed GPIB communication on SPARC-based Unix workstations.

– Compatibility & Integration

Full compliance with IEEE 488 standards ensures interoperability across instrument ecosystems. NI-488.2 driver integration provides direct software control through standard development environments.