HP/Agilent 8453 Serial/LAN Setup

Depending on firmware (Rev 3.9 required), it may be possible to control the 8453 via RS232 serial (USB) communications. Dipswitches should be set as follows: 01110100. Specify COM port in Scan Method 1A. A null-modem cable supporting hardware (full) handshaking is required. While the 8453 can be controlled with an NI GPIB adapter, that is an unnecessary complication for most users.

A user found that firmware Rev 3.8 did not work with RS232. He was able to upgrade to 3.9 using his old Win 98 ChemStation computer with HP-IB interface. It appears the patch has been removed from the Agilent site. Contact FTG Software for further information.

The instrument can also be controlled via LAN. According to the 8453 Operator's Manual, "Check that your spectrophotometer is either connected to your PC directly using a crossover LAN cable or to your LAN using a direct connection". Specify the last number in the IP Address (as shown); the other numbers need to match the network IP. For example, network IP = 192.168.254.1 and instrument IP = 192.168.254.11. Try Port = 9100. A LAN card known to work is Jet Direct 400N (4106A). Read Delay = 0.1 and Write Delay = 0.2 seems to be required for reliable operation. Click Advanced in the Scan Method 1A dialog (shown below).

If you are fortunate enough to have a LAN card with settable IP address, you may be able to ignore the complications in a through g.

a. Remove the LAN card; there is a label which can look like:

b. Write down the 2 numbers.

c. Re-install the LAN card.

d. The leftmost 2 dip switches on the 8453 should be down (maybe not important)

e. In Control Panel, check that LAN is enabled. Install a BootP/DHCP Server (uploaded to ftgsoftware.com: BootP_Install.exe). Turn on the 8453, start the BootP Tool and select the LAN interface.

f. Enter a Client IP address with the 3 leftmost values = Server IP address.  Increment the rightmost value as shown here (11 to 12):

g. Noting that the MAC matches the label, Click <Add Relation>.

h. In MEASURE/Scantraq enter the right-most Client (8453) IP value in the BootP IP field. Got this far? Hallelujah! The last two IP digits are entered into the BootP IP field. 9100 is the JetDirect port.

Note: Scan without sample. Instrument was not completely warmed-up.

i. The instrument wakes up and doesn’t know its IP address. Depending on the DIP switches it sends out a request for an IP address on the LAN. This request holds the hardware address (MAC) it knows. Then it waits for an answer of a BootP server. Good luck!

Need help? Contact FTG Software for a ZOOM meeting.