Agilent Technologies ESA-E Series Manual

Programmer's Guid e
Agilent Technologies ESA Spectrum Analyzer s
This guide documents firmware revision A .05 .x x
This guide provides documentation for the following instruments :
ESA-E Serie s
E4401B (9 kHz-1 .5 GHz )
E4402B (9 kHz-3 .0 GHz )
E4404B (9 kHz-6 .7 GHz )
E4405B (9 kHz-13 .2 GHz )
E4407B (9 kHz-26 .5 GHz )
an d
ESA-L Serie s
E4411B (9 kHz-1 .5 GHz )
E4403B (9kHz-3 .0 GHz )
E4408B (9 kHz-24 .5 GHz )
Agilent Technologie s
Manufacturing Part Number : E4401-9019 1
Supersedes E4401-9017 9
Printed in US A
June 200 0
© Copyright 1999, 2000 Agilent Technologies, Inc .

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Copyright - Agilent Technologies, Inc. Reproduced with the permission of Agilent
Technologies Inc. Agilent Technologies, Inc. makes no warranty of any kind with regard
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and fitness for a particular purpose. Agilent Technologies, Inc. is not liable for errors
contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the
furnishing, performance, or use of this material or data.

The information contained in this document is subject to chang
e
without notice .
Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to thi s
material, including but not limited to, the implied warranties o f
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose . Agilen t
Technologies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or fo r
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing ,
performance, or use of this material .
The following safety symbols are used throughout this manual .
Familiarize yourself with the symbols and their meaning befor e
operating this instrument .
WARNING

Warning denotes a hazard
. It calls attention to a procedur
e
which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result i n
injury or loss of life . Do not proceed beyond a warning note
until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met .
CAUTION

Caution denotes a hazard . It calls attention to a procedure that, if no t
correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to o r
destruction of the instrument
. Do not proceed beyond a caution sig
n
until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met .
NOTE

Notecalls out special information for the user's attention . It provide s
operational information or additional instructions of which the use r
should be aware .
ii

0

The instruction documentation symbol . The product i s
marked with this symbol when it is necessary for th e
user to refer to the instructions in the documentation .
This symbol is used to mark the on position of th e
power line switch .
U

This symbol is used to mark the standby position of th e
power line switch .
This symbol indicates that the input power required i s
AC .
WARNING

This is a Safety Class 1 Product (provided with a protective
earthing ground incorporated in the power cord) . The mains
plug shall only be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a
protected earth contact . Any interruption of the protectiv
e
conductor inside or outside of the product is likely to make th e
product dangerous . Intentional interruption is prohibited .
WARNING

If this product is not used as specified, the protection provide d
by the equipment could be impaired . This product must be use d
in a normal condition (in which all means for protection ar e
intact) only .
i
ti
iii

Warrant
y
This Agilent Technologies instrument product is warranted agains t
defects in material and workmanship for a period of three years fro m
date of shipment . During the warranty period, Agilent Technologie s
will, at its option, either repair or replace products which prove to b e
defective .
For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a
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Buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties, and taxes for products
returned to Agilent Technologies from another country .
Agilent Technologies warrants that its software and firmwar e
designated by Agilent Technologies for use with an instrument wil l
execute its programming instructions when properly installed on tha t
instrument . Agilent Technologies does not warrant that the operatio n
of the instrument, or software, or firmware will be uninterrupted o r
error-free .
LIMITATION OF WARRANT Y
The foregoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting fro m
improper or inadequate maintenance by Buyer, Buyer-supplie d
software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operatio n
outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or imprope r
site preparation or maintenance .
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TECHNOLOGIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
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EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES. AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES SHALL NO T
BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL ,
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED O
N
CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY .
iv

Where to Find the Latest Informatio n
Documentation is updated periodically. For the latest information abou t
Agilent ESA Spectrum Analyzers, including firmware upgrades an d
application information, please visit the following Internet URL :
http :I/www .agilent .com/find/esa
v

Content s
1 . Programming Fundamental s
Creating Valid Commands  1- 3
Command Notation Syntax  1- 4
Special Characters in Commands

1- 5
Parameters in Commands  1- 6
Putting Multiple Commands on the Same Line 
1-
8
SCPI Termination and Separator Syntax  1- 8
Overview of GPIB  1-1 0
GPIB Instrument Nomenclature  1-1 0
GPIB Command Statements  1-1 0
Overview of RS-232  1-1 2
Settings for the Serial Interface 
1-1
2
Handshake and Baud Rate  1-1 2
Character Format Parameters  1-1 2
Modem Line Handshaking  1-1 3
Data Transfer Errors  1-1 3
Printer Setup and Operation  1-1 4
Equipment  1-1 4
Interconnection and Setup  1-1 4
Testing Printer Operation  1-1 6
6 . a4il4llti iwgI Lel a
Use Status Registers to Determine the State of Analyzer Events and Conditions  2- 2
What are the Status Registers?  2- 3
How Do You Access the Status Registers?  2- 6
Using the Service Request (SRQ) Method  2- 8
Generating a Service Request  2- 8
Setting and Querying the Status Register  2-1 0
Details of Bits in All Registers  2-1 1
Status Byte Register  2-1 1
Service Request Enable Register  2-1 3
Standard Event Status Register  2-1 4
Standard Event Status Event Enable Register  2-1
6
STATus :OPERation Register  2-1 7
STATus :OPERation Condition Register  2-1 8
STATus :OPERation Event Enable Register  2-1 9
STATus :QUEStionable Registers  2-2 0
STATus :QUEStionable :POWer Condition Register Bits  2-2 2
STATus :QUEStionable :FREQuency Condition Register Bits  2-2 2
STATus :QUEStionable :CALibration Condition Register Bits  2-2 3
STATus :QUEStionable :INTegrity Condition Register Bits  2-2 4
STATus :QUEStionable :INTegrity:UNCalibrated Condition Register Bits  2-2 6
3 . Programming Example s
List of Programming Examples  3- 2
Programming Examples System Requirements  3- 3
C Programming Examples using VTL  3- 4
Typical Example Program Contents  3- 4
vii

Content s
Linking to VTL Libraries  3- 5
Compiling and Linking a VTL Program  3- 5
Example Program  3- 7
Including the VISA Declarations File  3- 7
Opening a Session  3- 8
Device Sessions  3-8
Addressing a Session  3-1 0
Closing a Session  3-1 1
Using Marker Peak Search and Peak Excursion  3-1 2
Example :  3-1 2
Using Marker Delta Mode and Marker Minimum Search  3-1 6
Performing Internal Self-alignment  3-2 0
Reading Trace Data using ASCII Format (GPIB)  3-2 4
Reading Trace Data Using 32-bi t
Real Format (GPIB)

3-2 9
Reading Trace Data Using ASCII Format (RS-232)  3-3 4
Reading Trace Data Using 32-bit Real Format (RS-232)  3-3 9
Using Limit Lines  3-4
4
Measuring Noise  3-4 9
Entering Amplitude Correction Data  3-5 3
Status Register-Determine When a Measurement is Done  3-5 7
Determine if an Error has Occurred  3-6 3
Measuring Harmonic Distortion (GPIB)  3-6 9
Measuring Harmonic Distortion (RS-232)  3-7 8
Making Faster Measurements (multiple measurements)  3-8 7
4 . Programming Command Cross-Reference s
Functional Index to SCPI Subsection  4- 2
5. Language Referenc e
SCPI Sections and Subsections  5- 3
IEEE CommonCommands  5- 5
Calibration Query  5- 5
Clear Status 
5- 5
Standard Event Status Enable  5- 5
Standard Event Status Register Query  5- 6
IdentificationQuery 094  5- 6
Instrument State Query  5- 6
Operation Complete  5- 7
Query Instrument Options  5- 7
Recall  5- 7
Reset 
5-
8
Save  5- 8
Service Request Enable  5- 8
Read Status Byte Query 
5- 9
Trigger  5- 9
Self TestQuery  5- 9
Wait-to-Continue  5- 9

Content s
ABORt Subsystem 
5-1 0
Abort  5-1 0
CALibration Subsystem  5-1 1
Align All Instrument Assemblies  5-1 1
Set Auto Align Mode All or Not RF  5-1 1
Automatic Alignment  5-1 1
Return to the Default Alignment Data  5-1 2
Align FM Demodulation  5-1 2
Query the Internal or External Frequency Reference  5-1 2
Coarse Adjust the Frequency Reference  5-1 2
Fine Adjust the Frequency Reference  5-1 3
Select the Frequency Corrections 
5-1
3
Align the RF Circuitry  5-1 3
Select the Source State for Calibration  5-1 4
Calibrate the Tracking Generator  5-1 4
CALCulate Subsystem  5-1 6
NdBpoints  5-1 6
NdBresults  5-1 6
NdBstate  5-1 7
Test Current Trace Data Against all Limit Lines  5-1 7
CALCulate :LLINe Subsection  5-1 8
Control
Li mit Tina
Amplitude Interpolation  5-1 8
Set Fixed or Relative Limit Lines  5-1 8
Set Limit Line X -axis Units  5-1 9
Control Limit Line Frequency Interpolation  5-2 0
Define Limit Line Values  5-2 0
Merge Additional Values into the Existing Limit Line

5-2
2
Delete Limit Line
 5-2 2
Display the Limit Line

5-2
2
Test the Data Against the Limit Line  5-2 3
Set the Margin Size  5-2 3
Display the Limit Margin  5-2 3
Control Limit Line Testing  5-2 3
Select the Type of Limit Line  5-2 4
CALCulate :MARKer Subsection  5-2
5
Markers All Off on All Traces

5-2
5
Continuous Peaking Marker Function  5-2
5
Frequency Counter Marker Resolution  5-2 5
Frequency Counter Marker Resolution Automatic  5-2 5
Frequency Counter Marker  5-2 6
Marker Function  5-2 6
Marker Peak (Maximum) Search  5-2 7
Marker Peak (Maximum) Left Search  5-2 7
Marker Next Peak (Maximum) Search  5-2 7
Marker Peak (Maximum) Right Search  5-2 7
Marker Peak (Minimum) Search  5-2 8
Marker Mode  5-2 8
Define Peak Excursion  5-2 9
Define Peak Search  5-2 9
ix

Content s
Define Peak Threshold  5-3 0
Peak to Peak Delta Markers  5-3 0
Set Center Frequency to the Marker Value  5-3 0
Set Reference Level to the Marker Value  5-3 0
Set Span to the Marker Value  5-3 1
Set Start Frequency to the Marker Value  5-3 1
Set Center Frequency Step Size to the Marker Value  5-3 1
Set Stop Frequency to the Marker Value  5-3 1
Marker On/Off
 5-3 1
Marker Table On/Off

5-3 2
Marker to Trace  5-3 2
Marker to Trace Auto  5-3 2
Continuous Signal Tracking Function  5-3 2
Marker X Value  5-3 3
Span Markers Center Frequency X Value  5-3 3
Marker X Position 
5-3 3
Span Markers Center Frequency X
Position 
5-3 4
Span Markers Span X Position  5-3 4
Band Markers Start Frequency X Position  5-3 4
Band Markers Stop Frequency X Position  5-3 5
Marker X-Axis Readout  5-3 5
Span-Markers Span X Value  5-3
6
Band-Markers Start Frequency X Value

5-3 6
Band-Markers Stop Frequency X Value

5-3 6
Marker Read Y Value  5-3 7
CALCulate :NTData Subsection  5-3 8
Normalize the Trace Data  5-3 8
CONFigure Subsystem  5-3 9
Configure the Adjacent Channel Power Measurements  5-3 9
Configure the Channel Power and Density Measurements  5-3 9
Configure the Emission Bandwidth Measurements  5-3 9
Configure the Harmonic Distortion Measurements  5-3 9
Configure the OBW and Transmit Frequency Error Measurements  5-3 9
COUPle Subsystem  5-4 0
COUPle the Function to Other Settings

5-4 0
DISPlay Subsystem
 5-4 1
Display Viewing Angle  5-4 1
Date and Time Display Format  5-4 1
Date and Time Display  5-4 1
Display Annotation Title Data  5-4 2
Turn the Entire Display On/Off  5-4 2
Window Annotation  5-4 2
Trace Graticule Display  5-4 3
Trace X-Axis Scale Offset  5-4 3
Set the Display Line  5-4 3
Control the Display Line  5-4 4
Normalized Reference Level  5-4 4
Normalized Reference Level Position  5-4 4
Reference Level Auto Ranging  5-45
x

Content s
Trace Y -Axis Amplitude Scaling

5-4 5
Trace Y-Axis Frequency Scaling 
5-4
5
Trace Y -Axis Reference Level

5-4 6
Trace Y -Axis Reference Level Offset

5-4 6
Vertical Axis Scaling  5-4 7
FETCh Subsystem  5-4 8
Return Main, Lower, and Upper Channel Power  5-4 8
Return Main Channel Power  5-4 8
Return Lower Channel Power  5-4 8
Return Upper Channel Power  5-4 9
Return Channel Power and Density  5-4
9
Return Channel Power  5-4
9
Return Channel Power Density 
5-4
9
Return Emission Bandwidth  5-4 9
Return Harmonic Amplitudes  5-4 9
Return Harmonic N Amplitude  5-5 0
Return % Total Harmonic Distortion  5-5 0
Return Harmonic Frequency List  5-5 0
Return Harmonic N Frequency  5-5 1
Return Fundamental Frequency  5-5 1
Return OBW and Transmit Frequency Error  5-5 1
Return Occupied Bandwidth  5-5 1
Return Transmit Frequency Error  5-5 2
FORMat Subsystem  5-5
3
Byte Order  5-5 3
Numeric Data format  5-5 3
HCOPy Subsystem  5-5 6
Abort the Print  5-5 6
Printer Type  5-5 6
Color Hard Copy  5-5 6
Print a Hard Copy  5-5
7
Form Feed the Print Item  5-5
7
Page Orientation  5-5
7
Number of Items Printed on a Page  5-5 7
INITiate Subsystem  5-5 9
Continuous or Single Measurements  5-5 9
Take New Data Acquisitions  5-6 0
Pause the Measurement  5-6 0
Restart the Measurement  5-6 1
Resume the Measurement  5-6 1
INPut Subsystem  5-6 2
Input Port Coupling  5-6 2
Select Internal or External Mixer  5-6 2
Select Mixer Type  5-6 2
Clear the Input Overload  5-6 3
INSTrument Subsystem  5-6 4
Select Application 
5-6
4
MEASure Subsystem  5-6 5
Measure Main, Lower, and Upper Channel Power  5-6 5
xi

Content s
Measure Main Channel Power  5-6 5
Measure Lower Channel Power

5-6 5
Measure Upper Channel Power  5-6 6
Measure Channel Power and Density  5-6 6
Measure Channel Power  5-6 6
Measure Channel Power Density  5-6 6
Measure Emission Bandwidth  5-6 6
Return Harmonic Amplitudes  5-6 6
Return Harmonic N Amplitude  5-6 7
Return % Total Harmonic Distortion  5-6 7
Return Harmonic Frequency List  5-6 7
Return Harmonic N Frequency

5-6 8
Return Fundamental Frequency  5-6 8
Measure OBW and Transmit Frequency Error  5-6 8
Measure Occupied Bandwidth  5-6 9
Measure Transmit Frequency Error  5-6 9
MMEMory Subsystem  5-7 0
Catalog the Selected Memory Location  5-7 0
Copy a File  5-7 0
Move Data to File  5-7 1
Delete a File  5-7 1
Load a
Corrections Table from a File
 5-7 1
Load a Limit Line from Memory to the Instrument  5-7 1
Load an Instrument State from a File  5-7 2
Load a Trace From a File to the Instrument  5-7 2
Create a New Directory  5-7 3
Delete a Directory  5-7 3
Store a Corrections Table to a File  5-7 3
Store a Limit Line in a File  5-7 4
Store a Screen Image in a Graphic File  5-7 4
Store an Instrument State in a File  5-74
Store a Trace in a File  5-7 4
OUTPut Subsystem  5-7 6
Turn Output On/Off  5-7 6
READ Subsystem  5-7 7
Measure Main, Lower, and UpperChannel Power  5-7 7
Measure Main Channel Power  5-7 7
Measure Lower Channel Power  5-7 7
Measure Upper Channel Power  5-7 7
Measure Channel Power and Density  5-7 8
Measure Channel Power  5-7 8
Measure Channel Power Density  5-7
8
Measure Emission Bandwidth

5-7 8
Return Harmonic Amplitudes  5-7 8
Return Harmonic N Amplitude  5-7 9
Return % Total Harmonic Distortion  5-7 9
Return Harmonic Frequency List  5-7
9
Return Harmonic N Frequency 
5-8 0
Return Fundamental Frequency  5-8 0
xii

Content s
Measure OBW and Transmit Frequency Error  5-8 0
Measure Occupied Bandwidth  5-8 1
Measure Transmit Frequency Error  5-8 1
SENSe Subsystem  5-8
2
[ :SENSe] :ACPower Subsection  5-8 3
Set Adjacent Channel Power Number of Averages  5-8 3
Adjacent Channel Power Averaging On/Off  5-8 3
Set Adjacent Channel Bandwidth  5-8 3
Set Main Channel Bandwidth  5-8 3
Set Adjacent Channel Spacing
 5-8 4
[ :SENSe] :AVERage Subsection
 5-8
5
Clear the Current Average 
5-8
5
Set the Average Count  5-8 5
Turn Averaging On/Off  5-8 5
Type of Averaging for Measurements  5-8 6
[
:SENSe]
:BANDwidth Subsection  5-8 7
Resolution Bandwidth 
5-8
7
Resolution Bandwidth Automatic  5-8 7
Video Bandwidth  5-8 7
Video Bandwidth Automatic  5-8 8
Video to Resolution Bandwidth Ratio  5-8 8
[ :SENSe] :CHPower Subsection  5-8 9
Set Channel Power Number of Averages  5-8 9
Channel Power Averaging On/Off  5-8 9
Set Channel Power Integration Bandwidth  5-8
9
Set Channel Power Span  5-8 9
[ :SENSe] :CORRection Subsection  5-9 1
Perform Amplitude Correction  5-9 1
Set Amplitude Correction Data  5-9 1
Merge Additional Values into the Existing Amplitude Correction Data  5-9 2
Delete Amplitude Correction  5-9 2
Set Amplitude Correction Frequency Interpolation  5-9 3
Perform Amplitude Correction
 5-9 3
Input Impedance Correction  5-9 3
External Amplifier Correction  5-9 4
[ :SENSe] :DEMod Subsection  5-9 5
Type of Demodulation  5-9 5
FM Deviation  5-9 5
Demodulation Control  5-9 5
Demod Time  5-9 6
Demod View  5-9 6
[ :SENSe] :DETector Subsection  5-9 7
Type of Detection  5-9 7
[ :SENSe] :EBWidth Subsection  5-9 8
Set Emission BW Number of Averages  5-9 8
Emission BW Averaging On/Off  5-9
8
Set Emission BW Span 
5-9 8
Emission BW Trace Max Hold On/Off  5-9 9
Set Emission BW X dB Value  5-99

Content s
[ :SENSe] :FREQuency Subsection  5-10 0
Center Frequency  5-10 0
Center Frequency Step Size Automatic  5-10 0
Center Frequency Step Size  5-10 1
Frequency Span  5-10 1
Full Frequency Span  5-10 2
Previous Frequency Span 
5-10 2
Start Frequency
 5-10 2
Stop Frequency  5-10 3
[ :SENSe] :HARMonics Subsection  5-10 4
Harmonic Measurement Averages  5-10 4
Turn On or Off Harmonic Measurement Averaging  5-10 4
Set Number of Measured Harmonics  5-10 4
Set Harmonic Measurement Sweep Mode  5-10 5
Set Harmonic Measurement Sweep Time  5-10 5
Turn On or Off Fundamental Zoom  5-10 6
[SENSe] :MIXer Subsection  5-10 7
Select External Mixer Band  5-10 7
External Mixer Bias Adjust  5-10
7
Set External Mixer Bias On/Off 
5-10 8
Set External Mixer LO Harmonic Value  5-10 8
Set External Mixer LO Harmonic Mode  5-10 9
[ :SENSe] :OBWidth Subsection  5-11 0
Set OBW Number of Averages  5-11 0
OBW Averaging On/Off  5-11 0
Set OBW Span  5-11 0
Set OBW % Power  5-11 1
[ :SENSe] :POWer Subsection  5-11 2
Input Attenuation  5-11 2
Input Port Attenuator Auto 
5-11 2
Input Port Power Gain 
5-11 3
Input Port Maximum Mixer Power  5-11 3
Optimize Preselector Frequency  5-11 3
Preselector Center  5-11 4
[ :SENSe] :SlDentify Subsection  5-11 5
Set Mixer Signal Identification Mode  5-11 5
Set Mixer Signal Identification State  5-11 5
[ :SENSe] :SWEep Subsection  5-11 7
Sweep Points  5-11 7
Query Number of Segments  5-11 7
Set All Segment Data  5-11 8
Merge Data With Segmented Sweep Data  5-11 9
Delete All Segmented Sweep Data  5-12 0
Delete Some Segmented Sweep Data  5-12 1
Turn On/Off Segmented Sweep  5-12 1
Sweep Time 
5-12 2
Automatic Sweep Time  5-12 3
Sweep Time Mode  5-12 3
Time Gating Delay  5-123
xiv

Content s
Time Gate Length 
5-12 4
Time Gate Level
 5-12 4
Time Gate Polarity 
5-12 4
Preset Time Gate  5-12 5
Control Time Gate  5-12 5
Time Gate Trigger Type  5-12 5
SOURce Subsystem  5-12 6
Sets the Output Power Offset Correction  5-12 6
Source Attenuation  5-12 6
Automatic Source Attenuation  5-12 7
Sets the Output Power  5-12 7
Sets the Source Output Power Mode  5-12 7
Set the Source Sweep Power Range  5-12 8
Set the Output Power at the Start of the Sweep  5-12 8
Set the Output Power to Step Automatically  5-12 8
Set the Output Power Step Size  5-12 9
Set the Source Sweep Power Range  5-12 9
Output Power Tracking  5-12
9
Output Power Tracking Peak  5-13 0
STATus Subsystem  5-13 1
Operation Condition Query  5-13 1
Operation Enable  5-13 1
Operation Event Query  5-13 1
Operation Negative Transition  5-13 2
Operation Positive Transition  5-13 2
Preset the Status Byte

5-13 2
STATus :QUEStionable Subsection

5-13 3
Questionable Calibration Condition  5-13 3
Questionable Calibration Enable  5-13 3
Questionable Calibration Event Query  5-13 3
Questionable Calibration Negative Transition  5-13 4
Questionable Calibration Positive Transition  5-13 4
Questionable Condition  5-13 4
Questionable Enable  5-13 5
Questionable Event Query  5-13 5
Questionable Frequency Condition  5-13 5
Questionable Frequency Enable  5-13 6
Questionable Frequency Event Query

5-13 6
Questionable Frequency Negative Transition  5-13
6
Questionable Frequency Positive Transition  5-13
6
Questionable Integrity Condition  5-13 7
Questionable Integrity Enable  5-13 7
Questionable Integrity Event Query  5-13 7
Questionable Integrity Negative Transition  5-13 8
Questionable Integrity Positive Transition  5-13
8
Questionable Integrity Uncalibrated Enable

5-13 8
Questionable Integrity Uncalibrated Event Query  5-13 9
Questionable Integrity Uncalibrated Negative Transition  5-13 9
Questionable Integrity Uncalibrated Positive Transition  5-13 9
xv

Content s
Questionable Negative Transition  5-14 0
Questionable Power Condition  5-14 0
Questionable Power Enable  5-14 0
Questionable Power Event Query  5-14
0
Questionable Power Negative Transition  5-14 1
Questionable Power Positive Transition  5-14 1
Questionable Positive Transition  5-14 1
SYSTem Subsystem  5-14 3
GPIB Address  5-14 3
Serial Port DTR Setup  5-14 3
Serial Port RTS Setup  5-14 4
Serial Port Baud Rate Setup  5-14 4
Serial Port Receive Pace Setup  5-14 5
Serial Port Transmit Pace Setup
 5-14 5
Hardware Configuration Query  5-14 6
Display the Hardware Configuration  5-14 6
System Configuration Query  5-14 6
Display System Configuration  5-14 6
Set Date  5-14 6
Error Information Query  5-14 7
Host Identification Query  5-14
7
License Key - Install
Application/Option 
5-14 7
Delete a License Key  5-14 8
Query Instrument Options  5-14 8
Power On Elapsed Time  5-14 8
Power On Time  5-14 9
Power On Type  5-14 9
Enable IF/Video/Sweep Output Ports  5-14 9
Preset  5-15 0
Persistent State Reset  5-15 0
Preset Type  5-15 0
Save User Preset  5-15 0
Speaker Control  5-15 1
Set Time  5-15 1
SCPI Version Query  5-15 1
TRACe Subsystem  5-15 2
Copy Trace  5-15 2
Transfer Trace Data  5-15 2
Exchange Traces  5-15 3
Trace Math Add  5-15 4
Mean Trace Data  5-15 4
Query the Signal Peaks  5-15 4
Query Number of Peaks Found  5-15 4
Peak Sorting  5-15 4
Smooth Trace Data  5-15 5
Number of Points for Smoothing  5-15 7
Trace Math Subtract 
5-15 7
Trace Math Subtract From Display Line  5-15 8
Select Trace Display Mode  5-158

Content
s
TRIGger Subsystem  5-15 9
External Trigger, Line, and TV Trigger Delay Value  5-15 9
External Trigger, Line, and TV Trigger Delay Enable  5-15 9
External Trigger Slope  5-15 9
Trigger Offset  5-16 0
Trigger
Offset
On/Off  5-16 1
Trigger Source

5-16
1
Set TV Field Mode  5-16 2
Set TV Line Number for Synchronization  5-16 3
Set Analyzer for TV Picture Monitoring  5-16 3
Set the Video Waveform Sync . Pulse Direction  5-16 3
Select TV Signal Path  5-16 4
Select TV Standard  5-16 4
Video Trigger Level Amplitude  5-16 5
Video Trigger Level Frequency

5-16
6
UNIT Subsystem

5-16 7
Select Power Units of Measure  5-16 7
6. Agilent 8590/ESA Spectrum Analyzers Programming Conversion Guid e
7. Error Message s
Error Messages 
7-
2
Status Messages 
7-
3
Informational Messages 
7- 8
Error Queues  7-1 3
Error Message Format  7-1 4
Error Message Types  7-1 5
0 :
No Error

7-1 7
-499 to -400 :
Query Errors  7-1 8
- 399 to -300 :
Device-Specific Error Messages  7-2 0
Device-Specific Error Message Descriptions  7-2 0
-299 to -200 :
Execution Error Messages  7-2 1
Execution Error Message Descriptions  7-2 1
- 199 to -100 :
Command Errors  7-2 2
201 to 799 :
Device-Specific Errors  7-2 7
Greater than 1000 :
Personality Specific Error Messages
 7-3 7
xvii

Contents

1

Programming Fundamental
s
The purpose of this chapter is to serve as a reminder of SCPI (Standar d
Commands for Programmable Instruments) fundamentals to those wh o
have previous experience in programming SCPI . This chapter is no t
intended to teach you everything about the SCPI programmin g
language .
1-1

Programming Fundamental s
The SCPI Consortium or IEEE can provide detailed information on th
e
subject of SCPI programming
. Refer to IEEE Standard 488 .1-1987 ,
IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation .
New York, NY11987, or to IEEE Standard 488 .2-1992, IEEE Standar d
Codes, Formats, Protocols and Common Commands for Use wit h
ANSI/IEEE Std 488 .1-1987 . New York, NY, 1992 .
Valid ESA Spectrum Analyzer SCPI commands are used for example s
in this chapter . Topics included in this chapter are :
• "Creating Valid Commands "
• "Command Notation Syntax "
• "Special Characters in Commands "
• 'Putting Multiple Commands on the Same Line "
•
"Overview of GPIB
"
• "Overview of RS-232 "
• 'Printer Setup and Operation "
1-2

Chapter 1