As mentioned the other day, I recently purchased an Agilent 34461A multimeter, and have been really pleased with my decision. Part of why I like this meter so much is how it seamlessly interacts with my computer via their free DMM (digital multimeter) software.
I am currently in the market for a quality programmable DC power supply, and have been flip-flopping between Rigol, Keithley, and Agilent models.
Advertisement
Rigol’s 832 DC power supply has been popular in recent months, despite reports of questionable design and build quality, but it’s currently not in stock through any of my go-to USA distributors.
The word over at the EEVBlog is that Keithley DC power supplies, including the 2200-20-5 and 2220-30-1 that I had been looking at, are not designed by Keithley but are instead rebranded or designed and manufactured by a company in China. One or two members at the EEVBlog also mentioned wobbly controls, but at the time of this posting I could not locate the post where I read that.
Agilent’s E3600-series power supplies are somewhat dated, but well regarded, so I looked at the lineup a little more closely.
I mentioned my search through ToolGuyd’s Twitter page, and an Agilent social media rep sent me a link to Agilent’s general YouTube page. One of their recent promotional videos featured their E3631A power supply and made mention of Agilent’s free BenchVue software.
Well, it turns out that Agilent has taken their DMM software and expanded upon its core design and features to create their new – and also free – BenchVue software package.
Agilent’s BenchVue software can be used with select:
Advertisement
- Digital Multimeters
- Oscilloscopes
- Spectrum Analyzers
- Function Generators
- DC Power Supplies
This is according to their tutorial how to use BenchVue tutorials that were uploaded to YouTube earlier today.
The BenchVue software won’t work will all models. Following is a list of what’s supported thus far. Additional models might be supported, but Agilent has only released limited information thus far.
Digital Multimeters: 34401A, 34405A, 34410A, 34411A, 34450A, 34460A, 34461A
Oscilloscopes: MSO/DSO-X 2000, 3000, and 4000 Series; MSO/DSO 6000 Series
DSO/MSO 7000 and 9000 Series
DC Power Supplies: E3631A, E3632A, E3633A, E3634A, E3640A, E3641A, E3642A, E3643A, E3644A, E3645A, E3646A, E3647A, E3648A, E3649A, N6700A/B, N6701A, N6702A, N6705B
What Does Agilent BenchVue Software Do?
Well, it looks like BenchVue works in the same way as Agilent’s DMM software, in how it allows for easy data collection and display. It can connect to compatible Agilent devices via USB, GPIB, LAN, RS232, and GPIB via USB adapter.
Agilent BenchVue Mobile App
Agilent has also created a mobile app (via Google Play), which allows for remote monitoring of long running tests. The description for the Android version of the app mentions iPad and iPhone viewing, suggesting Agilent is releasing an iOS version as well.
One of the interesting features is how multiple users can connect to the same BenchVue desktop software such that a team or collaborators can all view the same data and readings on their separate devices.
Overall, it looks like Agilent has put together a nice software package that allows for easier data collection, better looking data presentation, and remote monitoring than ever before.
More Info(via Agilent)
The link redirects to Agilent’s DMM software page, as their BenchVue software page has not yet gone live.
But…
Note: If you’re not familiar with or interested in electronic test equipment, you might want to stop here.
I recently purchased a new oscilloscope, and ultimately went with Rigol. Why? Because Agilent’s 2000-series scopes did not really compare in regard to features or specifications. The popular opinion is that Agilent hardware used to be the best, but in a lot of ways they’re being eclipsed by Chinese companies and designs, which offer much better bang for the buck these days. If I had known about this software two weeks ago, I might have been steered away from Rigol and more towards Agilent.
As mentioned, I am in the market for a programmable DC power supply. Agilent’s E3632A, E3642A, and E4644A power supplies might fit the bill, and their E3640A isn’t too far behind as a fourth consideration.
However, while these power supplies are all tried-and-true and well-regarded designs, they’re somewhat old and outdated.
Part of why I purchased the 34461A multimeter was because it featured modern technology and features, and didn’t look like all the other test equipment designed in the 1990’s.
Agilent’s E3600-series power supplies feature serial (RS-232) and GPIB (IEEE-488) connectivity. There’s no built-in USB connectivity. There is no information on Agilent’s website that suggests serial-to-USB adapters can be used with their power supplies, and their 82357B GPIB to USB adapter costs a whopping $553. GPIB PCI interface cards aren’t any less expensive.
In case you’re wondering, GPIB is a computer interface technology developed in the 1960’s for use with automated test equipment. Yes, I had to look that up.
I had been very optimistic about Agilent’s BenchVue software, as it does look like a nice software package to collect and correlate multiple streams of data from different test and measurement equipment.
My hope was that I could pick up an E3600-series power supply, and in lieu of using two multimeters to measure voltage and current draw, I could measure one parameter from the power supply and the other from a single multimeter. I have a few ideas on what I could use the power supply’s programming capabilities for, but that’s a story for another time.
It just seems unfortunate and disappointing to me that $800-$1300+ programmable power supplies require a $553 adapter before they can be connected to modern desktop computers. Yes, it’s great that the BenchVue software is being released with a companion mobile app, but the whole business about the adapter is a deal-breaker for me.
I find Agilent’s customer service to be behind the times as well. I contacted them for a quote over a week ago, and it never arrived. I contacted customer service asking if there was a download link for the free software mentioned in their early January video, and nobody got back to me.
Right now, I am hesitant to buy any more Agilent equipment, at least anything that wasn’t released in the past 5 years. This software looks great – and should be great if it’s based off their DMM software – but current Agilent hardware is not yet optimized for the software and modern PC connectivity.
I know, it sounds like I’m grumpy and that I want to have my cake and eat it too. Agilent had a promotion ending in December 2013 where they supplied a new GPIB adapter with newly purchased E3600 power supplies if customers registered the PSUs and answered a brief survey. It would be great if they brought back that promo, but it would be better if they just got with the times and updated their equipment.
In my gut, I know that Agilent is working on updating some of their older test equipment, including the E3600-series programmable power supplies.
Their current power supplies are said to be darned good and are aggressively sought after on ebay and other 2nd hand markets, and there’s really not much that they could or should have changed over the years.
But it just irks me that Agilent is coming out with this beautiful – and free – software while nothing much is being done with their aging hardware.
To be fair, I am probably more disappointed than I should be. After seeing a teaser for the BenchVue software I was rather excited at the prospects of how easily I could visualize readback data from an E3600 power supply. Now that I know I would have to spend $800-1300 on a power supply AND another $553 on an adapter to bridge a 1960’s interface with USB, I’m a little less enthused.
What’s Next?
Ignoring my severe disappointment in Agilent for the whole GPIB and lack of USB in their E3600 power supplies for a moment, the idea of what might come next really excites me.
Agilent already has an IR to Bluetooth adapter (U1177A) that allows communication between Agilent handheld digital multimeters and smartphones.
We’ve seen thermal imaging cameras with smartphone and mobile device connectivity, handheld multimeters with mobile device connectivity, and now a whole slew of benchtop devices with easier computer connectivity, easier control, improved data visualization, and mobile device connectivity as an extension.
Test equipment is not yet as modernized as it could or should be, but Agilent’s BenchVue software gives me some hope that they’re at least trying to move in the right direction. Unprecedented device interconnectivity is a good start.
Jeff Smith
Hi Stuart,
I am the product manager for BenchVue and wanted to post to say I’m available to answer any questions you or your audience may have about the new BenchVue software.
Before discussing BenchVue however, allow me to acknowledge all of your feedback. I’ll work to ensure that it is heard and acted on within Agilent; we really do value candid feedback from our customers.
Regarding some of your comments about BenchVue:
– We are in process of rolling things out for our official launch this coming Wednesday 2/19/14. Most links should now be operational as we complete tweaks to content. (Good detective work spotting it in the E3631A video).
– As you noted, there are both iOS and Android versions of the BenchVue Mobile app. You can find them on the respective store fronts or go here for links: http://agilent.com/find/BenchVueMobile
– BenchVue supported instrument list continues to grow and we will be adding additional instruments and instrument types in future versions. This is just the beginning for us in terms of instruments and functionality.
Thanks for the early preview and please let me know if I can answer any questions.
Phil
Stuey, you’ve discovered the deeply entrenched connectivity of IEEE-488 and the frustrations of hobbyists like me in dealing with it. I come from both sides of the story, as I had been involved deeply with automated testing, equipment repair and metrology for over 30 years. Back when I started in ’82 the IEEE-488 standard had already been old hat for 2+ decades. Over the years, test equipment didn’t change so much in the basic sense, it was capabilities, accuracy and features that built up over the years with the c9onnectivity staying the same. Despite instruments gaining very powerful embedded processing of their own, the preferred interfacing remains to this day that lowly GPIB bus, even if it hobbles the capability of the instrument. Over the years, each instrument manufacturer used their own set of commands that were sent over the bus to configure the instruments and take measurements. Some standardization came about with the SCPI command set, which used a subset of English-like words (that interchanged with obvious abbreviations to make coding easier). Still, each different instrument had their own command set appropriate to their function. There was no turn=key software package used to collect data from the instruments, it all had to be written specifically. BASIC, specifically a variant made by Hewlett Packard called Rocky Mountain BASIC was he most popular, and in many old-line companies it still is. It remains the underpinning of a very expensive and capable automated cal software package still sold today.
Turnkey software packages that allow you to set up, control and acquire data from mixed environments of test equipment on a bench is relatively new. One of the earliest and most popular is LabView. The big problem is that it’s a very expensive, licensed product aimed solely at the scientific,, R&D, manufacturing and academic markets, and not to hobbyists. MATLAB is similar, when used with the Instrument Toolbox add-in, and has the added benefit of having hobbyist level implementations and pricing. I plan on getting the MATLAB package later on in the year. I have a rather involved home lab with a big assortment of newer and older test equipment, most of that which has communication interfaces use good old GPIB. I have an Agilent E-series power supply that I use with BenchView, and the package works quite nicely especially given the price (free). However, it is limited, for instance, the maximum logging time is one hour, not enough for some testing I wanted to log. This might change over time, of course. Also, it is limited to a fairly narrow assortment of current Agilent equipment, which is kinda expected. It won’t talk to my Keithley DMM, or the old HP frequency counter and DMM I have as well. For mixed manufacturers, you’ll need a package like LabView or MATLAB, or you can roll your own via programming environments like Visual Basic, C++, Perl, Python, etc. Even BASIC. Interfacing is an expensive proposition when it comes to GPIB. I have a National Instruments card in a dedicated workstation PC for this (scour hamfests for this sort of thing, that’s where I got mine for a song, it’s a 400+ buck card). There are cut-rate IEE-488 to USB adaptors on the cheap, but I rarely hear good things about them. If I didn’t already have two nice bench DMMs, I would the one like you have, or my old favorite the 34401. If a hamfest deal comes around that I can’t pass up, I will do it just to be able to hang it into BenchView. The mobile app is really cool, though it is only as “mobile” as your device being connected to your LAN in order to communicate with the PC running BenchView. No peeking in on your test from across town (yet).
Stu, I hope you keep posting about your forays into test equipment, you are one of very few that has taken it to this level in a typical tool blog setting. Most leave it as handheld DMMs.
Good luck, and if I can help more, just ask.
Stuart
Wow, thanks for the great insights!
I have used Matlab before, although not recently or for instrument connection, and their $149 “Home” license use is definitely appealing. I haven’t the time or patience to get into using it right now, but might eventually purchase a license. The $2150 “standard” license is vastly more than I could afford.
There’s a LabView student version that seems to have few restrictions. I have used LabView extensively as an undergrad, but most of the time everything was setup. I recently tried working with LabView Signal Express, and it cannot connect to my Agilent DMMs. I was able to connect my Keithley power supply through the regular SignalExpress and Tektronix version, and the controls, interface, and realtime displays were disappointing in comparison to BenchVue.
Right now I’m using Excel for plotting charts, as the free or low-cost solutions I’ve found aren’t any better. Ideally, I would use Mathematica for this, but their pricing at $295 for “Home” users is a bit high for as infrequently as I would use it.
More coverage is planned, but it will be spaced out to ensure even coverage with test and measurement topics of more general interest.
This month I have been using BenchVue a lot more, and it really is a great realtime display and data capturing platform. I think that Agilent might be aiming to release a “Pro” version later on, which is why the current version has a 1-hour datalogging cap. It could also be that they figure users with more sophisticated needs will use LabView, Matlab, or custom programming instead.
I made sure to tell the BenchVue team that the software helped push me to make greater investment in Agilent equipment. Now, I have two DMMs, a power supply, and an oscilloscope, and it has been a fantastic experience. Most of the time I use BenchVue on the desktop, but there have been times this month when I used a tablet for remote control. There were a few hiccups, but it’s been working out really well so far.
I don’t think they’ll open up BenchVue to allow for control of 3rd party instruments, but it would be swell if they could. On the other hand, their support calls and emails would probably triple overnight.
Jeff Smith
Phil, great summary of the IEEE-488 landscape and available options to build your own control applications. As an interface, GPIB has proven quite resilient all these years. Many people would like for it to be usurped by modern interfaces, but believe it or not, customers continue to demand GPIB!
Regarding BenchVue, thank you for your input. The data log limit is a expressed constraint for some folks, so we are ensuring future versions will support longer data logging. Regarding BenchVue Mobile, it actually will allow you to check in on your tests “from across town”, however to your point, you have to be on the same network with your mobile device. You can accomplish that remotely using VPN software. Cheers.
Hypersphere
I am a Mac user, but I do not use Apple mobile devices. Given that Agilent’s BenchVue software is available for iOS, it would be great if they would also produce a Mac OS X version of the software. Are there any plans to do this?
Jeff Smith
Hi Hypersphere,
Unfortunately, native OS X support is not available at this time nor in the near future. While there is a BenchVue Mobile application that runs on iOS, it is a companion application that works in conjunction with the PC version for full instrument functionality.
If you are comfortable with dual booting your Mac, there are means of using Mac hardware with BenchVue, but I understand this is not ideal. We’ll continue to evaluate Mac support.