R&S SMB Introduction - Remote Control Basics
1407.0806.32 5.1 E-2
5 Remote Control - Basics
Introduction - Remote Control Basics
This chapter provides:
• Instructions on how to set up the signal generator for remote control operation.
• A general introduction to remote control of programmable instruments. This includes the description
of the command structure and syntax according to the SCPI standard, the description of command
execution and of the status registers.
The remote control commands of the instrument are described in detail after each related Instrument
Function section. In addition, the description of each menu parameter is linked to the related remote
control command.
In chapter "Remote Control - Commands" all remote control functions are described in detail. The
subsystems are listed by alphabetical order according to SCPI. SCPI (Standard Commands for
Programmable Instruments) commands – instrument-control commands – are used for remote control.
The instrument is equipped with the following interfaces for remote control:
- IEC/IEEE bus interface according to standard IEC 625.1/IEEE 488.2.
- LAN interface: the network card uses 100 MHz Ethernet IEEE 802.3u; the protocol is based on the
VXI-11 standard.
- USB interface: The type B interface (device USB) is used for remote control.
The connectors are located at the rear of the instrument and permit a connection to a controller for
remote control either directly or via a local area network (LAN). The remote control interfaces and their
interface functions are described in Chapter "Maintenance and Remote Control Interfaces".
A VISA installation on the controller is a prerequisite for remote control over LAN or USB interface.
VISA is a standardized software interface library providing input and output functions to communicate
with instruments. For more information about VISA refer to the user documentation.
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) commands - messages - are used for
remote control. Commands that are not taken from the SCPI standard follow the SCPI syntax rules. The
instrument supports the SCPI version 1999. The SCPI standard is based on standard IEEE 488.2 and
aims at the standardization of device-specific commands, error handling and the status registers. The
tutorial "Automatic Measurement Control – A tutorial on SCPI and IEEE 488.2" from John M. Pieper
(R&S order number 0002.3536.00) offers detailed information on concepts and definitions of SCPI.
Not all of the commands supported by the instrument are taken from the SCPI standard, however, their
syntax follows SCPI rules.
This section assumes basic knowledge of programming and operation of the controller. A description of
the interface commands can be obtained from the relevant manuals.
The requirements that the SCPI standard places on command syntax, error handling and configuration
of the status registers are explained in detail in the following sections. Tables provide a fast overview of
the bit assignment in the status registers. The tables are supplemented by a comprehensive description
of the status registers.
The program examples for IEC/IEEE-bus programming are all written in VISUAL BASIC. A condition for
programming in VISUAL BASIC is that the modules NIGLOBAL (Niglobal.bas) and VBIB32
(Vbib_32.bas) are added to the projects.
To Next Page
Loading...
