Trigger Commands

Controls External Triggering.

TRIGger:

AUXiliary

       | COUNt

CHANnel:AUXiliary

       | DELay

       | DURation

       | [ENABle]

       | HANDshake

       | INTerval

       | IPOLarity

       | OPOLarity

       | POSition

       | TYPE

DELay

PREFerence

       | AIGLobal

READy:POLarity

[SEQuence]

       | LEVel

       | ROUTE

             | INPut

             | READy

       | SCOPe

       | SOURce

       | SLOPe

       | TYPE

STATus

       | READy?

Click on a keyword to view the command details.

Blue commands are superseded.

See Also

TRIGger:AUXiliary:COUNt?

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-only)  Returns the number of AUX trigger input / output connector pairs in the instrument.

Parameters

 

Examples

TRIG:AUX:COUN?

trigger:auxiliary:count?

Return Type

Numeric

Default

Not Applicable

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:DELay <num>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the delay that should be applied by the VNA after the Aux trigger input is received and before the acquisition is made.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<num>

Delay value in seconds. Choose a value between 0 and 3.0 seconds.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:DEL .5

trigger:channel2:aux2:delay 1.5

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:DELay?

Return Type

Numeric

Default

0

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:DURation <num>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the width of the output pulse, which is the time that the Aux trigger output will be asserted.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<num>

Duration value in seconds. Choose a value between 1us (1E-6) and 1

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:DUR .1

trigger:channel2:aux2:duration .01

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:DURation?

Return Type

Numeric

Default

1E-6

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>[:ENABle] <bool>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)   Turns ON / OFF the trigger output.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<bool>

ON (or 1) - turns trigger output ON.

OFF (or 0) - turns trigger output OFF.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX 1

trigger:channel2:aux2:enable off

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:[ENABle]?

Return Type

Boolean

Default

OFF

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:HANDshake <bool>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Turns handshake ON / OFF.

To enable handshake, the main trigger enable must also be set using TRIG:CHAN:AUX:ENAB.

When ON, VNA waits indefinitely for the input line to be asserted before continuing with the acquisition. When OFF, the VNA acquires data without waiting.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<bool>

ON (or 1) - turns handshaking ON.

OFF (or 0) - turns handshaking OFF.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:HAND 1

trigger:channel2:aux2:handshake off

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:HANDshake?

Return Type

Boolean

Default

OFF

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:INTerval <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies how often a trigger output signal is sent.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<char>

Choose from:

  • POINt   Trigger signal is sent every data point. (effectively the same as Point sweep)

  • SWEep  Trigger signal is sent once every sweep.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:INT POI

trigger:channel2:aux2:interval sweep

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:INTerval?

Return Type

Character

Default

SWEep

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:IPOLarity  <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the polarity of the trigger IN signal to which the VNA will respond.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<char>

Choose from:

  • POSitive  VNA responds to leading edge or HIGH level

  • NEGative  VNA responds to trailing edge or LOW level.

Set Edge or Level triggering using TRIG:CHAN:AUX:TYPE

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:IPOL POS

trigger:channel2:aux2:ipolarity negative

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:IPOLarity?

Return Type

Character

Default

NEGative

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:OPOLarity  <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the polarity of the Aux Output signal being supplied by the VNA.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<char>

Choose from:

  • POSitive  VNA sends positive going pulse.

  • NEGative  VNA sends negative going pulse.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:OPOL NEG

trigger:channel2:aux2:opolarity positive

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:OPOLarity?

Return Type

Character

Default

NEGative

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:POSition <char>

Appplicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies whether the aux trigger out signal is sent BEFore or AFTer the acquisition.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<char>

Choose from:

  • BEFore  Use if the external device needs to be triggered before the data is acquired, such as a power meter.

  • AFTer  Use if the external device needs to be triggered just after data has been acquired, such as an external source. This could be more efficient since it allows the external device to get ready for the next acquisition at the same time as the VNA.

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:POS BEF

trigger:channel2:aux2:position after

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:POSition?

Return Type

Character

Default

AFTer

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:TYPE  <char>

Appplicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the type of Aux input detection that the VNA will employ.

Parameters

 

<ch>

Any existing channel number.  If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<n>

AUX Trigger connector used to send or receive signals.

Choose from 1 (AUX TRIG 1) or 2 (AUX TRIG 2)

If unspecified, value is set to 1.

<char>

Choose from:

EDGE  VNA responds to the leading edge of a signal

LEVel  VNA responds to the level (HIGH or LOW) of a signal

Examples

TRIG:CHAN:AUX:TYPE EDGE

trigger:channel2:aux2:type level

Query Syntax

TRIGger:CHANnel<ch>:AUXiliary<n>:TYPE?

Return Type

Character

Default

EDGE

TRIGger:DELay <num>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write) Sets and reads the trigger delay for ALL channels (globally). This delay is only applied while TRIG:SOURce = EXTernal and TRIG:SCOP = ALL   After an external trigger is applied, the start of the sweep is held off for an amount of time equal to the delay setting plus any inherent latency.

To apply a trigger delay for the specified channel ONLY, use SENS:SWE:TRIG:DELay

Parameters

 

<num>

Delay value in seconds. Choose from 0 to 3.

Examples

TRIG:DEL .0003

Sets the trigger delay to 300 microseconds. The sweep will not start until approximately 300 microseconds after an external trigger is applied.

Query Syntax

TRIGger:DELay?

Return Type

Numeric

Default

0

TRIGger:PREFerence:AIGLobal <bool>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, M9485A, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Sets the Trigger OUT behavior to either Global or Channel. Learn more about this setting.

This command will cause the VNA to Preset.

This setting remains until changed again using this command, or until the hard drive is changed or reformatted.

To send this command using the VNA GUI, open the GPIB Command Processor Console, then type either of the following examples at the command prompt. Then type the Query Syntax and press enter to be sure the VNA took the command.

Parameters

 

<bool>

Choose from:

  • ON (or 1) - Trigger properties apply to ALL channels (Global).

    • Allows use of CONT:SIGNal command to configure the external trigger properties.

    • "Per Point" trigger property is not settable. Use the channel's Point trigger setting.

  • OFF (or 0) - External Trigger properties apply to each channel independently.

Examples

TRIG:PREF:AIGL 1

trigger:preference:aiglobal 0

Query Syntax

TRIGger:PREFerence:AIGLobal?

Return Type

Boolean

Default

0

TRIGger:READy:POLarity <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, E5080A, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the polarity of Ready for Trigger output.

All existing Ready for Trigger outputs are configured simultaneously with this command.

Parameters

 

<char>

LOW - Outputs a TTL low when the VNA is ready for trigger.

HIGH - Outputs a TTL high when the VNA is ready for trigger.

Examples

TRIG:READ:POL HIGH

trigger:ready:polarity low

Query Syntax

TRIGger:READy:POLarity?

Return Type

Character

Default

Low

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:LEVel <char>  - Superseded

This command is replaced with CONTrol:SIGNal

(Read-Write) Triggers either on a High or Low level trigger signal. This setting only has an effect when TRIG:SOURce EXTernal is selected.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

  • HIGH - analyzer triggers on TTL High

  • LOW - analyzer triggers on TTL Low

Examples

TRIG:LEV HIGH
trigger:sequence:level low

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:LEVel?

Return Type

Character

Default

LOW

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:ROUTE:INPut <char>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write)  Specifies the connector to use for the external trigger input.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

MATH - handler I/O Pin 18

PULSE3 - Internal routing of  pulse 3 output to the MEAS TRIG IN on the rear pane

Examples

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:ROUTE:INPut?

Return Type

Character

Default

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:ROUTE:READy <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, M937xA, P937xA

(Read-Write)  Specifies the connector to use for the trigger OUT ready line.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

MATH - handler pin 21

Examples

TRIG:ROUTE:READ MATH

trigger:sequence:route:ready math

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:ROUTE:READy?

Return Type

Character

Default

 

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SCOPe <char>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write) Specifies whether a trigger signal is sent to all channels or only the current channel.

See Triggering the VNA using SCPI.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

  • ALL - trigger signal is sent to all channels. Also sets SENS:SWEep:TRIG:POINt OFF on ALL channels.

  • CURRent - trigger signal is sent to only one channel at a time. With each trigger signal, the channel is incremented to the next triggerable channel.

Examples

TRIG:SCOP ALL
trigger:sequence:scope current

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SCOPe?

Return Type

Character

Default

ALL

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SLOPe <char>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write)  Specifies the polarity expected by the external trigger input circuitry. Also specify TRIG:TYPE (Level |Edge).

See Triggering the VNA using SCPI.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

  • POSitive (rising Edge) or High Level

  • NEGative (falling Edge) or Low Level

Examples

TRIG:SLOP NEG
trigger:sequence:slope positive

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SLOPe?

Return Type

Character

Default

POSitive

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SOURce <char>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write) Sets the source of the sweep trigger signal. This command is a super-set of INITiate:CONTinuous which can NOT set the source to External.

See Triggering the VNA using SCPI.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

  • EXTernal - external (rear panel) source.

  • IMMediate - internal source sends continuous trigger signals

  • MANual - sends one trigger signal when manually triggered from the front panel or INIT:IMM is sent.

Examples

TRIG:SOUR EXT
trigger:sequence:source immediate

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SOURce?

Return Type

Character

Default

IMMediate

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:TYPE <char>

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write)  Specifies the type of EXTERNAL trigger input detection used to listen for signals on the Meas Trig IN connectors. Edge triggers are most commonly used.

Parameters

 

<char>

Choose from:

EDGE  VNA responds to the rising and falling edge of a signal.

LEVel  VNA responds to a level (HIGH or LOW).

Use TRIG:SLOPe to specify Rising or falling - High or Low.

Examples

TRIG:TYPE EDGE

trigger:sequence:type level

Query Syntax

TRIGger[:SEQuence]:TYPE?

Return Type

Character

Default

LEVel

TRIGger:STATus:READy? <char>

Applicable Models: N522xB, N523xB, N524xB, M9485A, E5080A

(Read-only)  Checks if the VNA is ready for a hardware trigger.

This command is not intended to be used in a dynamic triggering situation where the ready status is constantly changing. Instead, the expected use is a more static situation where you are expecting the VNA to transition from not ready to ready, and then wait for a trigger. The VNA is polled until it becomes ready and then an operation that triggers the VNA is performed.

Parameters

 

<char>

ANY - Check if the VNA is ready for any of the following hardware triggers.

MEAS - Check if the VNA is ready for an External trigger from the Meas Trig In BNC, Handler IO Pin 18, or Pulse 3 line.

AUX1 - Check if the VNA is ready for a trigger from the AUX TRIG 1 IN on the rear panel. (PNA, ENA)

AUX2 - Check if the VNA is ready for a trigger from the AUX TRIG 2 IN on the rear panel. (PNA, ENA)

Examples

TRIG:STAT:READ? MEAS

trigger:status:ready? aux1

Return Type

Boolean

Default

Not applicable