Agilent Technologies Agilent 33500 Series Service manual

Agilent Technologies
33500 Series
Waveform Generator
Operating and Service Guide

Agilent 33500 Series Waveform Generator
Operating and Service Guide
This document includes user, service, and programming information for the Agilent 33500 Series waveform gen-
erators. You can download the latest version of this document from www.agilent.com/find/33500.
Operating Information
Safety and Regulatory Information
Models and Options
Introduction to Instrument
Quick Start
Front-Panel Menu Operation
Features and Functions
Waveform Generation Tutorial
SCPI Programming Reference
Introduction to SCPI Language
Alphabetical List of SCPI Commands and Queries
Programming Examples
Command Quick Reference
Factory Reset State
SCPI Error Messages
Service and Repair Information
Service and Repair Introduction
Calibration and Adjustment
Block Diagram
Power Supplies
Troubleshooting
Self-Test Procedures
Replaceable Parts
Disassembly

IO Libraries and Instrument Drivers
The Agilent IO Libraries Suite software, including installation instructions, is on the Agilent Automation Ready CD-
ROM provided with your instrument.
For information about connecting and configuring USB, LAN, and GPIB interfaces, refer to the Agilent USB/LAN/GPIB
Interfaces Connectivity Guide on the Agilent Automation Ready CD-ROM, and at www.agilent.com/find/connectivity.
Web Interface
The instrument includes a built-in Web Interface. You can use this interface over LAN for remote instrument access
and control via a Java™-enabled Web browser, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer.
To use the Web Interface:
1. Establish a LAN connection from your PC to the instrument.
2. Open your PC's Web browser.
3. Launch the instrument's Web Interface by entering the instrument's IP address or fully-qualified hostname in the
browser address field.
4. Follow the instructions in the Web Interface's on-line help.
Example Programs
There are several example programs on the product page Web site (www.agilent.com/find/33500). These are appli-
cation-focused programs that demonstrate different programming environments. This document also includes pro-
gramming examples to help get you started.
Contacting Agilent Technologies
You can contact Agilent Technologies for warranty, service, or technical support.
lIn the United States: [phone]
lIn Europe: 31 20 547 2111
2 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

lIn Japan: 0120-421-345
Use www.agilent.com/find/assist for information on contacting Agilent worldwide, or contact your Agilent Technologies
Representative.
Trademarks
Microsoft®, Visual Basic®, and Windows® are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Java™ is a U.S. trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2012
Revised May, 2012
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 3

Safety and Regulatory Information
Safety and Regulatory Information
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2012
No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means (including electronic storage and retrieval or
translation into a foreign language) without prior agreement and written consent from Agilent Technologies, Inc. as
governed by United States and international copyright laws.
Manual Information
33500-90901
First Edition, May 2012
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
900 S. Taft Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537 USA
Trademark Acknowledgments
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. Windows and MS Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Software and Documentation Updates and Licenses
Periodically, Agilent releases software updates to fix defects and incorporate product enhancements. For the latest soft-
ware and documentation, see www.agilent.com/find/33500.
A portion of the software in this product is licensed under terms of the General Public License Version 2 ("GPLv2"). The
text of the license and source code can be found at www.agilent.com/find/GPLV2.
This product uses Microsoft Windows CE. Agilent highly recommends that all Windows-based computers connected to
Windows CE instruments use current anti-virus software. For more information, see www.agilent.com/find/33500.
Warranty
The material contained in this document is provided "as is," and is subject to being changed, without notice, in future
editions. Further, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Agilent disclaims all warranties, either express
or implied, with regard to this manual and any information contained herein, including but not limited to the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Agilent shall not be liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, use, or performance of this document or of any information
contained herein. Should Agilent and the user have a separate written agreement with warranty terms covering the
material in this document that conflict with these terms, the warranty terms in the separate agreement shall control.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and/or software described in this document are furnished under a license and may be used or copied only
in accordance with the terms of such license.
4 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Safety and Regulatory Information
Restricted Rights Legend
If software is for use in the performance of a U.S. Government prime contract or subcontract, Software is delivered and
licensed as "Commercial computer software" as defined in DFAR 252.227-7014 (June 1995), or as a "commercial
item" as defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as "Restricted computer software" as defined in FAR 52.227-19 (June 1987) or any
equivalent agency regulation or contract clause. Use, duplication or disclosure of Software is subject to Agilent Tech-
nologies’ standard commercial license terms, and non-DOD Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Government will
receive no greater than Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S. Government users
will receive no greater than Limited Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2)
(November 1995), as applicable in any technical data.
Safety Notices
A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an operating procedure, practice, or the like that, if not cor-
rectly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to the product or loss of important data. Do not proceed beyond
a CAUTION notice until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
A WARNING notice denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an operating procedure, practice, or the like that, if not cor-
rectly performed or adhered to, could result in personal injury or death. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING notice until
the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Safety Symbols
Alternating current
Frame or chassis terminal
Standby supply. Unit is not completely disconnected from AC mains when switch is
off.
Risk of electric shock
Refer to accompanying documents
Earth ground terminal
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 5

Safety and Regulatory Information
The CE mark is a registered trademark of the European Community.
The ETL mark is a registered trademark of Intertek.
The C-tick mark is a registered trademark of the Spectrum Management Agency of
Australia. This signifies compliance with the Australian EMC Framework regulations
under the terms of the Radio Communications Act of 1992.
Contains one or more of the 6 hazardous substances above the maximum con-
centration value (MCV), 40 Year EPUP.
1SM1-A This text indicates that the instrument is an Industrial Scientific and Medical Group 1
Class A product (CISPER 11, Clause 4).
ICES/NMB-
001
This text indicates product compliance with the Canadian Interference- Causing
Equipment Standard (ICES-001).
Additional Safety Notices
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all phases of operation of this instrument. Failure to
comply with these precautions or with specific warnings or instructions elsewhere in this manual violates safety stand-
ards of design, manufacture, and intended use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no liability of the cus-
tomer’s failure to comply with the requirements.
General
Do not use this product in any manner not specified by the manufacturer. The protective features of this product may
be impaired if it is used in a manner not specified in the operation instructions.
Before Applying Power
Verify that all safety precautions are taken. Make all connections to the unit before applying power.
Ground the Instrument
This product is provided with protective earth terminals. To minimize shock hazard, the instrument must be connected
to the AC power mains through a grounded power cable, with the ground wire firmly connected to an electrical ground
(safety ground) at the power outlet. Any interruption of the protective (grounding) conductor or disconnection of the
protective earth terminal will cause a potential shock hazard that could result in personal injury.
lDo not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
lDo not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable gases or fumes.
lOnly qualified, service-trained personnel who are aware of the hazards involved should remove instrument covers.
Always disconnect the power cable and any external circuits before removing the instrument cover.
6 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Safety and Regulatory Information
Do Not Modify the Instrument
Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modification to the product. Return the product to an Agi-
lent Sales and Service Office for service and repair to ensure that safety features are maintained.
In Case of Damage
Instruments that appear damaged or defective should be made inoperative and secured against unintended operation
until they can be repaired by qualified service personnel.
Unless otherwise noted in the specifications, this instrument or system is intended for indoor use in an installation cat-
egory II, pollution degree 2 environment per IEC 61010-1 and 664 respectively. It is designed to operate at a max-
imum relative humidity of 20% to 80% at 40 °C or less (non-condensing). This instrument or system is designed to
operate at altitudes up to 2000 meters, and at temperatures between 0 and 55 °C.
Technical Support
If you have questions about your shipment, or if you need information about warranty, service, or technical support,
contact Agilent Technologies.
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 7

Models and Options
Models and Options
This section describes the models and options in the 33500 Series of instruments. For information on loading licenses
for options via the front panel, see License Installation. For information on loading licenses via SCPI, see the SYS-
Tem:LICense commands.
Instrument Models
Model Description Options
33521A 30 MHz
One channel
Arbitrary waveforms
NISPOM Security
1 MSa Memory per channel
002 - 16MSa Arb Memory
004 - GPIBInterface
OCXO - High-stability OCXO Timebase
33522A 30 MHz
Two channels
Arbitrary waveforms
NISPOM Security
1 MSa memory per channel
002 - 16MSa Arb Memory
004 - GPIBInterface
OCXO - High-stability OCXO Timebase
33509B 20 MHz
One channel
No arbitrary waveforms
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
33510B 20 MHz
Two channels
No arbitrary waveforms
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
33511B 20 MHz
One channel
Arbitrary waveforms
MEM - 16MSa Memory
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
33512B 20 MHz
Two channels
Arbitrary waveforms
MEM - 16MSa Memory
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
IQP - Add IQ Baseband signal player
33519B 30 MHz
One channel
No arbitrary waveforms
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
8 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Models and Options
Model Description Options
33520B 30 MHz
Two channels
No arbitrary waveforms
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
33521B 30 MHz
One channel
Arbitrary waveforms
MEM - 16MSa Memory
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
33522B 30 MHz
Two channels
Arbitrary waveforms
MEM - 16MSa Memory
OCX - Add High-stability OCXO Timebase
SEC - Enable NISPOM & File Security
IQP - Add IQ Baseband signal player
One- and two-channel upgrades
Model Description
335BW30 Increase bandwidth to 30 MHz
335ARB1 Add arbitrary waveforms to one-channel 33500 Series
335ARB2 Add arbitrary waveforms to two-channel 33500 Series
335MEM1 16 MSa memory for one-channel 33500 Series
335MEM2 16 MSa memory for two-channel 33500 Series
335OCX Add high-stability OCXO timebase
335SEC Enable NISPOMand File security
335IQP Add IQ Baseband signal player
335DST Enable all software options for demonstration
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 9

Introduction to Instrument
Introduction to Instrument
The Agilent Technologies 33500 Series is a series of synthesized waveform generators with built-in arbitrary waveform
and pulse capabilities.
Instrument at a Glance
Front Panel at a Glance
Front-Panel Display at a Glance
Front-Panel Number Entry
Rear Panel at a Glance
Contacting Agilent
Instrument at a Glance
The instrument's combination of bench-top and system features makes it a versatile solution now and in the future.
Convenient bench-top features
l16 standard waveforms
lBuilt-in 16-bit arbitrary waveform capability
lPrecise pulse waveform capabilities with adjustable edge time
lLCD display with numeric and graphical views
lEasy-to-use knob and numeric keypad
lInstrument state storage with user-defined names
lPortable, ruggedized case with non-skid feet
Flexible system features
lDownloadable 1M-point or optional 16M-point arbitrary waveform memory.
lUSB, GPIB, and LAN remote interfaces (GPIB optional on models 33521A and 33522A)
lLXI Class C Compliant
lSCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) compatibility
10 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Introduction to Instrument
Front Panel at a Glance
The following table lists the main parts of the front panel, generally from left to right:
Physical Feature Location
On/Off Switch
USB Port
Display
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 11

Introduction to Instrument
Physical Feature Location
Menu Softkeys
Fixed Function Buttons
Numeric Keypad
Knob
Cursor Arrows
Manual Trigger Button
Sync Connector
12 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Introduction to Instrument
Physical Feature Location
Channel 1 and Channel 2
(depending on model)
Press and hold any front-panel key or softkey to get context-sensitive help.
Front-Panel Display at a Glance
Front-Panel Number Entry
You can enter numbers from the front panel in two ways:
lUse the knob and cursor keys to modify the number. Rotate the knob to change a digit (clockwise increases). The
keys below the knob move the cursor left or right.
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 13

Introduction to Instrument
lUse the keypad to enter numbers and the softkeys to select units. Key in a value using the keypad and select a
unit softkey to enter the value. The +/- key changes the number's sign.
Rear Panel at a Glance
The following table lists the main parts of the front panel, generally from top to bottom, left to right:
Physical Feature Location
External 10 MHz
Reference Input
Internal 10 MHz
Reference Output
14 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Introduction to Instrument
Physical Feature Location
GPIB Connector
Chassis Ground
External Modulation Input
Input: External Trig/
Gate/FSK/Burst
USB Interface Connector
Local Area Network
(LAN) Connector
Instrument Cable Lock
AC Power
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 15

Introduction to Instrument
For protection from electrical shock, the power cord ground must not be defeated. If only a two-con-
tact electrical outlet is available, connect the instrument’s chassis ground screw (see above) to a
good earth ground.
Contacting Agilent Technologies
You can contact Agilent Technologies for warranty, service, or technical support.
lIn the United States: [phone]
lIn Europe: 31 20 547 2111
lIn Japan: 0120-421-345
Use www.agilent.com/find/assist for information on contacting Agilent worldwide, or contact your Agilent Technologies
Representative.
16 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Quick Start
Quick Start
This section describes basic procedures to help you get started quickly with the instrument.
lPrepare Instrument for Use
lAdjust the Carrying Handle
lSet Output Frequency
lSet Output Amplitude
lSet DC Offset Voltage
lSet High-Level and Low-Level Values
lOutput a DC Voltage
lSet Duty Cycle of a Square Wave
lConfigure a Pulse Waveform
lSelect a Stored Arbitrary Waveform
lUse Built-in Help System
lRack Mount the Instrument
Prepare Instrument for Use
1. Verify that you received the following items. If anything is missing, please contact your nearest Agilent sales office or
Agilent authorized reseller.
lPower cord (for country of destination).
lCertificate of Calibration.
lAgilent 33500 Series Product Reference CD (product software, programming examples, and manuals).
lAgilent Automation-Ready CD (Agilent IO Libraries Suite).
lUSB 2.0 cable
Note: All product documentation is on the Agilent 33500 Series Product Reference CD. The doc-
umentation is also available at www.agilent.com/find/33500.
2. Connect the power cord and LAN, GPIB, or USB cable as desired. Turn the instrument on by pressing the power switch
in the lower left corner of front panel. The instrument runs a power-on self test and then displays a message about how
to obtain help, along with the current IP address. It also displays the GPIB address if the GPIB option is installed and ena-
bled.
The instrument's default function is a 1 kHz, 100 mVpp sine wave (into a 50 Ω termination). At power-on, the channel
output connectors are disabled. To enable output on a channel connector, press the key above the channel connector
and then press the Output Off / On softkey.
If the instrument does not turn on, verify that the power cord is firmly connected (power-line voltage is automatically
sensed at power-on). Also make sure that the instrument is connected to an energized power source. If the LED below
the power switch is off, there is no AC power connected. If the LED is amber, the instrument is in standby mode with
AC power connected, and if it is green, the instrument is on.
PowerSwitch:
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 17

Quick Start
If the power-on self test fails, the display shows ERR in the upper right corner. It also prominently displays "Check for
error messages in the error queue."
See SCPI Error Messages for information on error codes. See Service and Repair - Introduction for instructions on
returning the instrument for service.
To turn off the instrument, hold the power switch down for about 500 ms. This prevents you from accidentally turning
the instrument off by brushing against the power switch.
Adjust the Carrying Handle
Grasp the sides of the handle, pull outward, and rotate the handle.
Set Output Frequency
The default frequency is 1 kHz. You can change the frequency, and you can specify frequency in units of period instead
of Hz.
18 Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide

Quick Start
To change frequency with the knob:
To change frequency with the numeric keypad:
Finish by selecting frequency units:
To change the units to period instead of frequency:
Agilent 33500 Series Operating and Service Guide 19