The DataPro 1488 series cable is
commonly used to extend an HPIB or
GPIB bus (used by Hewlett-Packard).
This stands for Hewlett-Packard
Interface Bus or General Purpose
Interface Bus, and is also known
as IEEE 488.
The usual application for this cable
is with laboratory test equipment.
It is an 8-bit parallel interface for
stringing up multiple communicating
instruments for control by a single
computer and/or other instruments.
What makes the IEEE-488 interface special,
even by modern standards, is that each
connector contains two bi-directional
plug/jacks. This allows HPIB/GPIB runs
to snake and fork out as needed, unlike
other serial and parallel interfaces
that require direct connections or serial sequences.
Both ends are dual CN24M and CN24F
connectors with screw-locks; thus
each GPIB cable added to the bus
also serves as an extension cable.
The wiring diagram is 24 conductors
wired straight-through.
