Agilent Technologies E4406A VSA Series User Manual

Chapter 1 49
Preparing for Use
Writing Your First Program
• Select the instrument mode with INST:SELect. Set the mode setup
for things like your desired communications standard, channel
frequency and triggering.
• In the program, execute an instrument preset (*RST) and select
single-sweep mode (INITiate:CONTinuous OFF) before setting other
instrument functions.
• Use the MEASure group of commands, described in Chapter 5 ,
“Language Reference”. MEASure commands make the measurement
using the standard procedure and limits. You can alter some of the
measurement defaults by using commands in the SENSe:<meas>
subsystem. Once altered, use the CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and
INITiate commands to perform the measurements.
• The instrument can return different types of results for a particular
measurement. These results are described in the language reference
section on the MEASure group of commands.
• Execute the desired commands in logical order. Multiple SCPI
commands can be included on one line. See “SCPI Language Basics”
on page 61.
File Naming Rules
File names for storing instrument states or other data files in the
analyzer should follow pc conventions.
• They can be up to eight characters long. In addition, they can have a
file extension up to three characters long. The analyzer can assign
the extension.
• They are not case sensitive. It does not matter whether you use
upper case or lower case letters when you enter them.
• They can only contain the letters A through Z and the numbers
0 through 9.
• They cannot contain any special characters (except the period that
separates the name from the extension).
• They cannot be identical to the name of another file in the same
directory.

Agilent Technologies E4406A VSA Series Specifications

General

Brand	Agilent Technologies
Model	E4406A VSA Series
Category	Test Equipment
Language	English

Summary

Safety Information

Front Panel Error Messages Annunciators

Describes status indicators for transmitter tester functions and error conditions.

1 Preparing for Use

Programming the Transmitter Tester

Explains how to program the E4406A VSA Series Transmitter Tester.

Installing Optional Measurement Personalities

Details the two-step process for installing measurement personalities.

Cables for Connecting to RS-232

Describes various cables and adapters for connecting to PCs and printers via RS-232.

Connecting to a LAN Server

Explains how to connect to a LAN server for instrument control.

2 Programming Fundamentals

SCPI Language Basics

Introduces the SCPI programming language and its core concepts.

Using the Instrument Status Registers

Explains how to monitor instrument hardware and firmware events using status registers.

Overview of the GPIB Bus

Explains the fundamentals of the GPIB instrument nomenclature and command statements.

Using the LAN to Control the Analyzer

Covers various methods to control the analyzer via LAN connection.

3 Programming Examples

Using Markers

Demonstrates how to use markers in a C programming example.

Saving Binary Trace Data in an ASCII File

Provides a C programming example for saving binary trace data to an ASCII file.

Using C Programming Over Socket LAN

Demonstrates simple socket programming using C for analyzer control.

4 Programming Command Cross References

Functional Sort of SCPI Commands

Organizes SCPI commands by function for easier reference.

5 Language Reference

SCPI Command Subsystems

Lists and describes various SCPI command subsystems available in the instrument.

Common IEEE Commands

Details commands specified in IEEE Standard 488.2 for instrument control.

6 Error Messages

Error Queues

Explains the instrument's history and SCPI remote interface error queues.

Error Message Descriptions

Provides descriptions for unnumbered, query, device-specific, execution, and command errors.