Chapter 1
Introduction
PCMCIA-GPIB for MacOS
1-2
©
National Instruments Corporation
What You Need to Get Started
❑
PCMCIA-GPIB
❑
3.5 in. NI-488.2 Software for MacOS Distribution Disk
❑
PowerBook computer operating Macintosh OS version 7 or later
❑
PCMCIA Expansion Module for the PowerBook 500 series
NI-488.2 Software Description
The NI-488.2 software for MacOS is part of your PCMCIA-GPIB kit.
It is a comprehensive software package for transforming the Macintosh
into a GPIB Controller with complete communication and bus
management capability. The NI-488.2 software also comes with an
interactive GPIB control utility; FutureBASIC, Macintosh
Programmer's Workshop (MPW) C, THINK C, and Metrowerks
CodeWarrior C language interfaces; and a shared library for C
programmers developing applications for the PowerPC platform. The
shared library is installed only on PowerBooks equipped with a
PowerPC processor.
Hardware Description
The PCMCIA-GPIB uses the TNT4882C ASIC, which combines the
circuitry of the NAT4882 ASIC, the Turbo488 performance-enhancing
ASIC, and GPIB transceivers to create a single-chip IEEE 488.2
Talker/Listener/Controller interface. The TNT4882C also implements
the HS488 high-speed protocol, which increases the maximum data
transfer rate of the PCMCIA-GPIB to 1.5 MB/s. For more information
about HS488, refer to Chapter 7, GPIB Programming Techniques, in the
NI-488.2 User Manual for MacOS.
The PCMCIA-GPIB is fully compatible with other IEEE 488 devices.
You can connect the PCMCIA-GPIB with up to 14 devices. If you want
to use more than 14 devices, you can order a bus extender or expander
from National Instruments. Refer to Appendix A, Specifications, for
more information about the PCMCIA-GPIB specifications and
operating conditions.
