National Instruments AT-GPIB/TNT IEEE 488.2 Interface Board

The AT-GPIB/TNT (Part Numbers: 776786-01, 776786-51, 776787-01, 776788-01, 776836-01, 777074-01, 777074-51, 777437-01, 777538-01, 778037-01, 778037-0112, 778037-51) is an Interface Board introduced by National Instruments. It is also available as the AT-GPIB/TNT PNP (Part Numbers: 778036-01, 777154-01, 777439-01, 777542-01, 778036-0112, 778036-51). The board has a legacy version with DIP Switches and jumpers and a plug and play version which is jumperless. The GPIB interface functionality is the same for both versions. The device has a sampling rate of 20 MHz and a timestamp resolution of 50 ns. The AT-GPIB/TNT can be installed with the NI-488.2 driver. The AT-GPIB/TNT is utilized by single-shielded and double-shielded cables with different cable lengths up to 8 m for communication purposes. The NI AT-GPIB/TNT can work on multiple types of application software such as the NI-488.2 software, Measurement Studio, LabWindows/CVI, and LabVIEW. The NI-488.2 software can be configured using the GPIB software configuration utility.

The different part numbers of the AT-GPIB/TNT / AT-GPIB/TNT PNP are compatible with different operating systems. For Windows: 778036-01 (PNP).  For Windows 3.1 DOS: 776786-01, 776786-51 (with a 2M X2 Cable), and 776788-01 (Japan). For OS/2: 776787-01. For Windows NT: 776836-01 (INTEL), 777542-01 (PNP), and 777538-01 (Japan). For Windows ME/9x: 777074-01, 777074-51 (with a 2M X2 Cable), 777154-01 (PNP), 777437-01 (Japan), and 777439-01 (PNP, Japan). For Windows 2000/XP: 778037-01, 778037-51 (with 2M X2 Cable), and 778037-0112 (Japan). For Windows 7/VISTA/XP: 778036-0112 (PNP, Japan) and 778036-51 (PNP, with 2M X2 Cable)


The NI AT-GPIB/TNT is configured by IEEE-488.2 protocols for AT PCs. This board is designed for high performance controlling functions, reliable listening, talking, and data communication. This card can handle a data transfer rate of more than 1 Mb/s. The key requirement of utilizing this board is to employ it for EISA computers because it can enhance the transfer rate up to 3.4 Mb/s. For this purpose, high speed (HS488) specifications are employed with the AT-GPIB/TNT interface board. Also, the device is equipped with an IEEE 488 standard 24-pin I/O connector. It has a power requirement of 120 mA typical and 200 mA maximum at +5 VDC.

The AT-GPIB/TNT can support a maximum of 14 devices. Additional devices can be connected with a bus extender or expander from NI. This IEEE 488.2 Interface Board can perform with a maximum transfer rate up to 1.5 Mb/s for 3-wire-(IEEE-488), while the rate is 2.2 Mb/s for high speed-(HS488).

The AT-GPIB/TNTmeasures 4.2 x 6.5 in. in physical dimensions. It has recommended operating and storage temperature ranges of 0° to 40° C and -20° to 70° C respectively, non-condensing operating and storage humidity ranges of 10% to 90% RH and 5% to 90% RH respectively.