Getting Started
Using RS-232
Chapter 1 27
Using RS-232
The RS-232 serial interface can be used to communicate with the signal generator. The
RS-232 connection is standard on most PCs and can be connected to the signal generator’s
rear-panel connector using the cable described in Table 1-13 on page 28. Many functions
provided by GPIB, with the exception of indefinite blocks, serial polling, GET, non-SCPI
remote languages, and remote mode are available using the RS-232 interface.
The serial port sends and receives data one bit at a time, therefore RS-232 communication is
slow. The data transmitted and received is usually in ASCII format with SCPI commands
being sent to the signal generator and ASCII data returned.
1. Selecting I/O Libraries for RS-232
The I/O libraries can be downloaded from the National Instrument website, www.ni.com, or
Agilent’s website, www.agilent.com. The following is a discussion on these libraries.
Agilent BASIC The Agilent BASIC language has an extensive I/O library that can be used
to control the signal generator over the RS-232 interface. This library has
many low level functions that can be used in BASIC applications to control
the signal generator over the RS-232 interface.
VISA VISA is an I/O library used to develop I/O applications and instrument
drivers that comply with industry standards. It is recommended that the
VISA library be used for programming the signal generator. The NI-VISA
and Agilent VISA libraries are similar implementations of VISA and have
the same commands, syntax, and functions. The differences are in the lower
level I/O libraries used to communicate over the RS-232; NI-488.2 and SICL
respectively.
NI-488.2 NI-488.2 I/O libraries can be used to develop applications for the RS-232
interface. See National Instrument’s website for information on NI-488.2.
SICL Agilent SICL can be used to develop applications for the RS-232 interface.
See Agilent’s website for information on SICL.
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