Baseband Generator Commands

These commands set general baseband generator functionality.

Numerical Choice:

:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB – The numerical choices correspond to the baseband generator being configured. Refer to the block diagram for your system configuration for the configuration used.

[:SOURce]:RADio:ARB:ALL:LOAD ON|OFF|1|0

[:SOURce]:RADio:ARB:ALL:LOAD?

This command loads all waveforms to the respective baseband generator memory. This may be a time consuming process depending on the size of the waveform files. The LOAD command allows you to load a new or updated file to a specific baseband memory without downloading files that do not need updating.

On (1)

This choice downloads all waveforms to the respective baseband blocks.

Off (0)

This choice stops the waveform download from continuing after the last waveform download in progress has completed.

 

[:SOURce]:RADio:ARB:ALL:NCHannels?

This query returns the number of baseband blocks enabled in the current configuration. The firmware displays a message if the number of waveforms that are generated and downloaded from a Signal Studio application does not match the number of configured channels.

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:ENABle ON|OFF|1|0

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:ENABle?

This command controls the operating state of the baseband blocks. Turning the baseband generator off while the signal is playing effectively replaces the I/Q and marker data with zeros.

On (1)

This choice turns on the state of the selected baseband block.

Off (0)

This choice turns off the state of the selected baseband block.

 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:FOFFset <val>

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:FOFFset?

This command moves the baseband signal above or below the carrier by the specified frequency. For Signal Studio waveforms, this value is extracted from the waveform header; however, it is a runtime parameter and may be changed during playback.

The variable <val> is expressed in Hz.

Range: –80E+06 to 80E+06
 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:FORMat:BORDer NORMal|SWAPped

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:FORMat:BORDer?

This command sets the format to be used for the playing order of the waveform.

NORMal

This choice plays the waveform file reading the bytes in sequential order (Big Endian). This is the native N5106A PXB format.

SWAPped

This choice plays the waveform file Closedswapping every other byte position (Little Endian). This is the format used with Agilent N5110B Baseband Studio systems.
 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:LOAD ON|OFF|1|0

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:LOAD?

This command loads a waveform file to the selected baseband memory to be used for playback. The file will replace any waveform file that was previously loaded. The ALL:LOAD command, used without specifying a file name, loads all the currently assigned waveforms to the selected baseband generator. When all waveforms have been loaded, the system can be played.

On (1)

This choice downloads a waveform to a specific baseband block.

Off (0)

This choice stops the waveform download after the last waveform download in progress has completed. (Effectively, it is equivalent to letting the current download complete.)

 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:LSTate HLValue|ZERO

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:LSTate?

This command sets the state that the output holds when the playback stops.

HLValue

This choice holds the last I and Q sample value (including markers) on the output when the waveform has completed playing.

ZERO

This choice sets the output value to zero when the waveform has completed playing.

 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:NFORmat TWOS|OFFSet

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:NFORmat?

This command sets the binary format for the selected waveform file. When a waveform file is played, the waveform data is read from the file and Closedscaled to 16 bits of resolution. When a Signal Studio waveform is selected, this value is read from the waveform header and should not be changed.

+1 = 32767  

0 = 0   

–1 = –32767

The binary file contains 16-bit data, with alternating I and Q.

TWOS

This choice sets the data format to a Closedtwo's complement representation of the data values.

Using two's complement:

  • Positive two's complement numbers are represented as simple binary.

  • Negative two's complement numbers are represented as the binary number that when added to its additive inverse equals zero.

Integer

Twos Complement Representation

32767

0111 1111 11111111   

16384

0100 0000 00000000   

1

0000 00000000 0001   

0

0000 000000000000   

–1

1111 111111111111   

–16384

1100 0000 00000000   

–32768

1000 0000 00000000   

OFFSet

This choice sets the data format to an Closedoffset binary representation of the data values.

Offset binary is a method for representing data as a signed number. Using binary code, half of the largest possible number is assigned as the zero value. A positive integer is the absolute value added to the zero number and a negative integer is subtracted. Offset binary is popular in A/D and D/A conversions but may be awkward for arithmetic computation.

Integer

Offset Binary Representation

32767

1111 111111111111

16384

1100 0000 00000000

1

1000 0000 0000 0001

0

1000 0000 00000000

–1

0111 1111 11111111

–16384

0100 0000 00000000

–32768

0000 000000000000

 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:RSCaling <val>

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:RSCaling?

This command sets the value for the runtime scaling. It adjusts the amplitude of both I and Q outputs and is primarily used to remove over-range errors. When a Signal Studio waveform file is selected, this value is read from the file header; however, it is a runtime parameter and may be adjusted during playback.

For the Signal Studio applications that support connection to the PXB, the runtime scaling for generated waveforms used in summing and MIMO configurations is automatically calculated from waveform header information when you select the number of antennas or output signals.

The variable <val> is expressed in dB.

Range: – 60 to 0

[:SOURce]:RADio:[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:RSRate?

This query returns the recorded sample rate. For Signal Studio waveforms, this value is extracted from the waveform header when a waveform file is played.

Range: 1000 to 200E+06
 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:SAMPle:COUNt?

This query returns the number of samples in the loaded waveform as an integer value.

Range: 256 to 9.223 X 1018 samples
 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:SAMPle:RATE <val>

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:SAMPle:RATE?

This command sets the sample rate at which the waveform is played back through the baseband memory. When a Signal Studio waveform is played from the baseband generator, this value is read from the file header.  

Range: 100 Sa/s to 200 MSa/s

 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:TRIGger:DELay <val>

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:TRIGger:DELay?

This command defines the time delay for a trigger being sent to the baseband generator.

Range: 0 to at least 21 seconds (depends on the waveform application)
 

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:TRIGger:REPeat:COUNt <val>

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:TRIGger:REPeat:COUNt?

This command sets the number of times to play the waveform. If the repeat count is set to zero, the waveform is played continuously.

Range: 0 to 2,147,483,647
  

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:WAVeform "<file name>"

[:SOURce]:RADio[1]2|3|4|5|6:ARB:WAVeform?

This command specifies a waveform file to be used for playback on the selected baseband generator. The file name may be specified using the full directory path, for example, "D:\Waveforms\Channel2\mywaveform.bin" or using the MSUS format, "NVWFM2:mywaveform.bin"

The PXB defaults to the waveform file, default1.bin, in the folder:
C:\<Program Files for Win XP><Program Files (x86) for Win 7>\Agilent\PXB\FactoryDefaultWaveforms. Refer to Factory Default Waveform Files for a description of available default waveforms.