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
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.
A unique set of control data can be sent for each channel. In addition, a unique set of control data can be sent before the channel sweep starts, and after the sweep ends.
Interface Control settings can be saved and recalled from the Interface Control dialog box, or with Instrument State Save and Recall.
Interface Control settings can be copied to other channels using Copy Channels.
Control data can only be WRITTEN to the interfaces, NOT READ from the interfaces.
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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
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" 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. Enable Control Enables and disables sending data out the Material Handler I/O connector (PNA), Handler IO Connector (ENA) Ports A, B, C, D Sends values to the respective Handler I/O port. Although ports C and D are normally bidirectional, ONLY Output mode is allowed using the Interface Control feature. It cannot read from these, or any other, ports. Note: When Handler Port A is enabled in the Segment Table dialog, Handler I/O Control is managed by the segment table and is inactive (grayed out).
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 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. 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: 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. |
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.
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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 |
