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Interface Control

The Interface Control feature allows you to send remote commands and data to the following VNA rear-panel Interfaces: GPIB, Material Handler I/O, Test Set I/O, and Auxiliary I/O.

Other System Configuration Topics

Overview

The Interface Control feature allows you to send data to control external equipment such as GPIB instruments, a material handler, test set, or other equipment, without needing to create a remote program. The VNA manages the timing and required interface setup. See Rear Panel Tour.

  1. GPIB Interface

  2. Material Handler Interface

  3. Test Set Interface

  4. Aux Interface

  5. Dwell Time

  1. GPIB Interface

  2. Material Handler Interface

  3. Dwell Time

How to access Interface Control settings

Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey

Using a mouse

  1. Press Setup > Internal Hardware > Interface Control...

  1. Click Instrument

  2. Select Setup

  3. Select Internal Hardware

  4. Select Interface Control...

 

Interface Control dialog box help

GPIB and VISA Commands

Notes:

  • GPIB instruments CAN be connected to the VNA using a USB/GPIB adapter.

  • Any type of interface (LAN, USB, GPIB) is available through the VISA connection string.

  • GPIB/VISA Queries are NOT supported. Commands can be sent only.

Enable Control  Enables and disables sending commands out the GPIB or VISA interface.

Multi-line edit control  Each line contains a GPIB or VISA command using the following syntax:

address   command

Where:

address  

  • A number between 0 and 31. The VNA will look through all of the GPIB interfaces for an instrument connected to the specified address. If an instrument with that address is not recognized, an error is returned.

  • A valid VISA connection string.

command   a SCPI command, with or without enclosing quotes. Enclosing quotes are ignored.

Address and command are separated by at least one space.

Commands should be separated by a new line, or carriage return. For example:

19 ":init:cont off"
16 init:imm

 

TCPIP0::141.121.78.100::inst0::INSTR outp:ON

 

The front-panel Enter key inserts a new line into the field.

The number of GPIB/VISA commands that can be entered is limited only by the available memory of the VNA.

See Z5326A H08 Test Set Commands.

Test Set I/O

Note: The VNA has a separate interface for controlling the E5091A Test Set.

Enable Control  Enables and disables sending data out the External Test Set I/O connector.

Multi-line edit control  Each line contains a Write command using the following syntax:

address.value

Where:

address  any positive integer.

value  numeric character. Entries that require alpha characters should use the GPIB interface.

Address and value are separated by a period. For example:

18.2
27.3

Entries should be separated by a new line, or carriage return. The VNA front-panel Enter key inserts a new line into the field.

All entries are sent out the Test Set I/O port using the WriteData Method.

The number of entries is limited only by the available memory of the VNA.

Aux I/O Output Voltage

Note: The 9-pin PWR I/O (Power I/O) D connector on the rear-panel replaces much of the functionality of the AUX I/O connector on older VNA models. The Power I/O voltages can be set using the following methods:

- CONTrol:AUXiliary:OUTPut:VOLTage or put_OutputVoltage Method (no GUI equivalent, global scoped, and settings not saved as part of the instrument state)
- SOURce:DC:START and SOURce:DC:STOP (DC Source dialog is the GUI equivalent, channel scoped, and settings saved as part of the instrument state)
- Interface Control dialog (no remote equivalent, channel scoped, and settings saved as part of the instrument state)

To avoid unexpected behavior, choose one method only to set the Power I/O voltages.

Enable Control  Enables and disables sending data out the Auxiliary I/O connector.

DAC1, DAC2  Sets voltages on the Aux I/O connector pins 2 (DAC1) and pin 3 (DAC2).

Dwell After Command  Specifies a wait time, in milliseconds, after all commands to all interfaces are sent. Any positive integer is allowed. This is used to allow all external devices to settle before beginning a measurement. An erratic trace could indicate that more settling time is necessary.

Reset All  Sets ALL fields on ALL channels to their default values.

Save and Recall  Saves and recalls the contents of this dialog box. If the Interface Control dialog box is populated with settings during an Instrument State Save, the settings are automatically recalled with the Instrument State settings.

Interface control uses an *.xml file type. An example file is stored on the VNA hard drive. You can recall it into the dialog, or you can open and edit it with a word processor, such as Word Pad.

OK  Applies the settings and closes the dialog box.

Cancel  Does not apply changes that were made, and closes the dialog box.

 

Z5623A H08 Test Set Commands

The following table lists the commands that are used to control the popular Keysight Z5623A H08 Test Set. These commands can be entered into the GPIB Interface control.

Connection Path

Test Set Command

Reflection to Port 1

refl_01

Reflection to Port 2

refl_02

Reflection to Port 3

refl_03

Reflection to Port 4

refl_04

Reflection to Port 5

refl_05

Reflection to Port 6

refl_06

Reflection to Port 7

refl_07

Reflection to Port 8

refl_08

Transmission to Port 1

tran_01

Transmission to Port 2

tran_02

Transmission to Port 3

tran_03

Transmission to Port 4

tran_04

Transmission to Port 5

tran_05

Transmission to Port 6

tran_06

Transmission to Port 7

tran_07

Transmission to Port 8

tran_08

Reset

*rst

Reflection Termination

*r_term

Transmission Termination

*t_term

All Termination

*all_term