2.4.2 Connecting the Instrument to the GPIB InterfaceUse a standard GPIB cable to connect the A1XXX/A2XXX/A3XXX toNational Instruments VISAhas to be installed. the PC. On the PC, National Instruments VISA has to be installed toprovide the GPIB functionality. Usually VISA comes with your GPIBboard, but may not be automatically installed on your system. Checkyour GPIB board’s driver CD or contact National Instruments for moreinformation about VISA.The default GPIB address is 30. Please refer to Changing the GPIBAddress (section 2.8) on how to change the GPIB address. You cancheck the correct installation if you turn on the instrument and wait forthe LED switch to green. Then start the National Instruments Automa-tion Explorer on your PC, make a right-click on the GPIB interface theA1XXX/A2XXX/A3XXX is connected to and scan for new instruments.The instrument should be detected on address 30.2.5 Connecting Tunable Laser SourcesThe software supports tunable laser sources (TLS) of the major vendorsConnect your TLS to theGPIB port of the Axxx. at the market. Refer to the FAQ section in the online help on whichmodels are supported.The polarizationNAVIGATORTM software can communicate with theselaser sources either via the instrument’s GPIB port (in that case theinstrument’s GPIB port is used as GPIB-Master, see Using the Axxx asGPIB Interface (section 2.7) for details) or via a GPIB board installedin your PC.Connect the TLS to the appropriate interface, turn it on and run theConfiguration Wizard. The TLS should then be listed under ”Misc. In-struments”.Some laser sources need a trigger cable connected to the Axxx. ReferDon’t forget the BNC triggercable! to Measurement Setup Using the A2000 (section 6.2.9) or MeasurementSetup Using the A1000/A3XXX (section 6.2.10) for details on how toconnect the trigger cable(s).2.6 Run the Configuration WizardNow that the software is installed, the instrument is connected and turnedon, you can start the polarizationNAVIGATORTM software and run theConfiguration Wizard.On first startup the Configuration Wizard will come up automatically. Ifyou want to rerun the Configuration Wizard, you can click on the buttonnamed Wizard or click on Tools→Configuration Wizard in the menu.Please follow the instructions shown in the dialog box.Instruments of the AXXXX-B3/-R3 family only require execution ofthe Configuration Wizard if external devices are connected via GPIBor RS232 (e.g. tunable laser sources).2.7 Using the Axxx as GPIB Interface (Remote GPIB)The Axxx instrument can be used as GPIB-Master to control third-partyinstruments. This mode is referred to as Remote GPIB. In that case, theAxxx has to be connected to the PC via the USB port.18 A1XXX/A2XXX/A3XXX User Guide