Code Emulator for E5071C

Overview

The E5071C code emulation mode is for remote controlling the VNA with test programs written for the E5071C ENA Series network analyzer. In the E5071C command emulation mode, the VNA firmware translates the incoming E5071C SCPI commands and executes the VNA’s equivalent command(s).

See Code Translator for 875x code translation.

Notes

• The E5071C code emulation mode supports the majority of the E5071C’s functions. But some specific functions are not supported. Typical examples of unsupported functions are the Frequency Offset Mode for mixer and harmonic measurements, the sweep-end detection using the status byte, and so on. Refer to Unsupported Commands for more details.

• The E5071C emulation mode is basically for the remote control using the E5071C SCPI commands. The E5080A SCPI commands cannot be used in the E5071C code emulation mode, except for the commands for performing advanced error corrections such as the unknown-thru SOLT cal and mechanical full 3/4-port SOLT cal. Refer to How to perform advanced calibrations.

• The possible trace/channel/window layouts made by the E5071C emulation mode are limited. Refer to Trace/channel/window layouts.

• Unlike the E5071C, the VNA’s trace numbers are numbered sequentially through all channels. If we set the number of channels to 4 and the number of traces to 4 when starting the emulation mode, the trace-1 of the E5071C’s channel-1, 2, 3, and 4 will be assigned to the trace-1, 5, 9, and 13 in the E5080A.

• If the number of channels you set in the dialog box is greater than the number of channels actually used in your measurement, the unused channels are displayed as blank channels.

• If the number of traces you set in the dialog box is greater than the number of traces actually used in your measurement, the measurement parameters of unused trace are default (S11). Therefore, S11 is measured in the unused traces and source signal is outputted from port 1 (LED on port 1 is blinking) .

• The COM commands used in the E5071C’s VBA function are not supported by the E5071C code emulation mode.

How to use the code emulator

1. Press System > System Setting > Code Emulation > 5071, then the following dialog box is displayed.
   
   

2. Select the required number of Channel and Trace for your measurement.

3. Specify IDN string if you want to modify it. *IDN? returns the value you set.

4. If you want to start with Code Emulator at next VNA application start up, check "Enable Code Emulation on Start Up".

5. Click “Start”

6. The dialog box of "To quit the emulation mode requires to exit the NA application. Do you want to continue?" is displayed. Click Ok.

7. The E5080A is preset, then the number of trace and channel are set.

8. Execute your program in the E5071C commands thorough GPIB, USB or LAN.

9. To quit the emulation mode, press System > Main > Exit.

Function Coverage

Because some functions are a completely different way than the E5071C network analyzers, not all E5071C commands have a direct E5080A equivalent. There are some not supported and partial supported commands.

Unsupported Commands

Partially supported commands.

The E5080A code emulator  will attempt to translate the following commands to approximate the behavior of the E5071C commands. However, the results may include important operational or behavioral differences.

Modify Cal Kit

The modification of a factory default Cal Kit is partially supported.

Supported:

• Modify a defined value of a standard.

Not supported:

• Add a new standard.

• Remove a standard.

• Change an order of subclass.

Alternatively, the modification of your custom Cal Kit is completely supported.

The conversion of subclass order in the E5071C code emulator

Subclass orders of some factory default Cal Kits of the E5080A are different from the E5071C. In the E5071C code emulator, subclass orders are converted automatically. Note that subclass orders if you create a custom Cal Kit from an exist Cal Kit.

Maximum number of Cal Kit, standard, subclass

The maximum number of calkit and subclass are different from the E5071C.

How to perform advanced calibrations

The calibrations that can be performed with the translated E5071C calibration commands are only the following ones;

• Mechanical calibration

• • Response calibration (Open, Short and Thru)

  • Full 1 port calibration

  • 2 port SOLT calibration with defined Thru

  • Isolation calibration

• Ecal

• • Full 1,2 port calibration with 2 port Ecal module

  • Full 1/2/3/4-port ECal with factory cal data

  • Enhance response calibration

  • Unknown Thru Calibration

  • Ecal User Characterization

  • Confidence Check

  • To turn off auto orientation

• Source power calibration

• Receiver power calibration (Both correction states of SOLT calibration and receiver calibrations are shared.

If you want to perform the following advanced calibrations in the E5071C code emulation mode, modify your test program to add the whole calibration routine using the E5080A calibration commands;

• Mechanical calibration

• • Enhanced response calibration

  • 2 port SOLT calibration with unknown thru

  • 3, 4-port SOLT calibration

  • Mixed-connector cal,

  • 2, 3, 4 TRL calibration

• Ecal

• • Full 3,4 port calibration with 2 port Ecal module

  • Thru response calibration

  • Defined Thru

Use the following E5080A commands to perform these advanced calibrations in the E5071C code emulation mode;

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:CONNector:PORT<pnum>[:SELect] <conn>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:CKIT:PORT<pnum>[:SELect] <kit>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:INITiate[:IMMediate] [string][, bool][,char]

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:STEPs?

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:DESCription? <step>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed[:ACQuire] <std>[,sync]

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:SAVE[:IMMediate] [bool]

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:PATH:CMEThod <port1>,<port2>,<caltype1[,caltype2]>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:PATH:TMEThod <port1>,<port2>,<thruType1[,thruType2]>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:THRU:PORTs <t1a, t1b, t2a, t2b, t3a, t3b...>

• SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:ABORt

The following commands are operated as SYNChronous

• :SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed:INITiate[:IMMediate] [string][, bool][,char]

• :SENSe<ch>:CORRection:COLLect:GUIDed[:ACQuire] <std>[,sync]

Sample Program

The following shows an example for performing the mechanical 3-port SOLT cal in the E5071C emulation mode;

• Setup the 4 trace with the E5071C commands

• Execute the full 3 port calibration with the E5080A commands

Sub SampleGuidedCal2Port()
   '*** The variables of the resource manager and the instrument I/O are declared.
   Dim ioMgr As VisaComLib.ResourceManager
   Dim GPIB As VisaComLib.FormattedIO488
   '*** The memory area of the resource manager and the instrument I/O are acquired.
   Set ioMgr = New VisaComLib.ResourceManager
   Set GPIB = New VisaComLib.FormattedIO488
   '*** Open the instrument.
   Set GPIB.IO = ioMgr.Open("GPIB1::16::INSTR")
   GPIB.IO.timeout = 10000

   Dim numSteps As Integer, strPrompt As String    
   '
  ' Setup for 4 traces with the E5071C commands
  '
   GPIB.WriteString ":SYST:PRES", True      'Set number of traces'
   
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR:COUN 4", True      'Set number of traces
   GPIB.WriteString ":DISP:SPL D1_2", True    'Set graph layout
   '
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR1:DEF S11", True    'Set measurement parameter
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR1:SEL", True        ' Make trace active
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:FORM SMITH", True      ' Set data format
   '
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR2:DEF S21", True    'Set measurement parameter
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR2:SEL", True        ' Make trace active
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:FORM MLOG", True       ' Set data format
   '
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR3:DEF S12", True    'Set measurement parameter
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR3:SEL", True        ' Make trace active
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:FORM MLOG", True       ' Set data format
   '
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR4:DEF S31", True    'Set measurement parameter
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:PAR4:SEL", True        ' Make trace active
   GPIB.WriteString ":CALC1:FORM MLOG", True       ' Set data format
   '
   ' Execute the 3-port SOLT calibration with the E5080A commands
   '    
   ' Specify the DUT connectors
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CONN:PORT1 ""APC 3.5 female""", True
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CONN:PORT2 ""APC 3.5 male""", True
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CONN:PORT3 ""APC 3.5 male"" ", True
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CONN:PORT4 ""Not used"" ", True
   ' Select the Cal Kit for each port being calibrated.
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CKIT:PORT1 ""85052D""", True
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CKIT:PORT2 ""85052D""", True
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:CKIT:PORT3 ""85052D""", True
   MsgBox "Cal kits defined for Ports 1 to 3 "
   ' Initiate the calibration and query the number of steps
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:INIT"
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:STEPS?"
   numSteps = GPIB.ReadNumber
   MsgBox "Number of steps is " + CStr(numSteps)
   ' Measure the standards
   'The following series of commands shows that standards
   'can be measured in any order. These steps acquire
   'measurement of standards in reverse order.
   'It is easiest to iterate through standards using
   'a For-Next Loop.
   For i = numSteps To 1 Step -1
       step = "Step " + CStr(i) + " of " + CStr(numSteps)
       GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:DESC? " + CStr(i)
       strPrompt = GPIB.ReadString
       MsgBox strPrompt, vbOKOnly, step
       GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:ACQ STAN" + CStr(i), True
   Next
   ' Conclude the calibration
   GPIB.WriteString ":SENS:CORR:COLL:GUID:save", True
   MsgBox "Cal is done!"
   
   '*** End procedure
   GPIB.IO.Close
End Sub

Trace/channel/window layouts

In the E5071C code emulation mode, the possible trace/channel/window layouts are limited. The layouts depend on the E5071C commands executed in your program. The traces in one channel are all split to different windows one by one, or all plotted in the same window. The multiple channels are assigned to different tabbed sheets, or to one tabbed sheet (only when the traces in one channel are plotted to one window). The following shows some examples of how the layouts are made by the E5071C commands on the E5080A display. If necessary, modify your program to get your desired layout.

Note: If the number of channels you set in the dialog box is greater than the number of channels actually used in your measurement, the unused channels are displayed as blank channels, as described before.

Ch1: four traces, one window per trace

:DISP:SPL D1

:CALC1:PAR:COUN 4

:DISP:WIND1:SPL D1234 (or any parameters excepts for D1)

Ch1: four traces and Ch2: four traces, one window per channel

:DISP:SPL D12

:CALC1:PAR:COUN 4

:CALC2:PAR:COUN 4

  (Do not execute :DISP:WINDx:SPL D1 here. If your program has this command, delete it.)

Ch1:Trace-1 to 4 and Ch2:Trace-1 to 4, one window per channel, one sheet per channel

:DISP:SPL D12

:CALC1:PAR:COUN 4

:CALC2:PAR:COUN 4

:DISP:WIND1:SPL D1

:DISP:WIND2:SPL D1

Ch1:Trace-1 to 4 and Ch2:Trace-1 to 4, one window per trace, one sheet per channel

:DISP:SPL D12

:CALC1:PAR:COUN 4

:CALC2:PAR:COUN 4

:DISP:WIND1:SPL D1234 (or any parameters excepts for D1)

:DISP:WIND2:SPL D1234