API 8512 Series User manual

MANUAL IM635
Operation & Installation Manual Revision A
Operation & Installation Manual
Model 8512 Series
Programmable Switch Units
This documentation may not be reproduced in any form, for
any purpose unless authorized in writing by Weinschel, a part
of API Technologies Corp.

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Table of Contents Page 2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................................2
1. Safety Summary .........................................................................................................................................6
1.1. Definitions ............................................................................................................................................6
1.2. General Precautions ..............................................................................................................................6
1.3. Detailed Precautions..............................................................................................................................7
1.4. Safety Symbols .....................................................................................................................................7
1.5. Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive ............................................................................................................8
2. General Information ....................................................................................................................................9
2.1. Document Overview ..............................................................................................................................9
2.2. Related Manuals....................................................................................................................................9
2.3. Equipment Overview .............................................................................................................................9
3. Installation ...............................................................................................................................................10
3.1. Rack Mounting ....................................................................................................................................10
3.2. Initial Setup ........................................................................................................................................10
3.3. Supply Voltage and Fuse .....................................................................................................................11
3.4. RF Port Connectors .............................................................................................................................11
3.5. Ground Lug.........................................................................................................................................11
4. Remote Operation .....................................................................................................................................12
4.1. RS-232 Serial ......................................................................................................................................12
4.2. Serial Console Boot Display..................................................................................................................13
4.3. 10/100BaseT Ethernet .........................................................................................................................13
4.4. USB....................................................................................................................................................14
4.5. GPIB ..................................................................................................................................................14
5. Front Panel Control ...................................................................................................................................15
5.1. Navigation ..........................................................................................................................................15
5.2. Menus ................................................................................................................................................15
6. Command Operation .................................................................................................................................17
6.1. Application Specific Commands ............................................................................................................17
RFSW..................................................................................................................................................17
RFSW [select]......................................................................................................................................17
6.2. General RF configuration and Status Commands ...................................................................................17
SHOW STAT ........................................................................................................................................17
SHOW RFCONFIG ................................................................................................................................18
SET DEFAULT ......................................................................................................................................18
SHOW DEFAULT ..................................................................................................................................18
SET RFCONFIG type settings ................................................................................................................19
RFCONFIG? .........................................................................................................................................19
6.3. Counter Commands.............................................................................................................................19
COUNTER? ..........................................................................................................................................20

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SHOW COUNTER .................................................................................................................................20
SET COUNTER .....................................................................................................................................20
6.4. 488.2 Common Commands ..................................................................................................................20
*CLS ...................................................................................................................................................20
*IDN? .................................................................................................................................................20
*OPC ..................................................................................................................................................21
*OPC?.................................................................................................................................................21
*ESR? .................................................................................................................................................21
*RST...................................................................................................................................................21
*TST? .................................................................................................................................................21
*SRE...................................................................................................................................................22
*SRE? .................................................................................................................................................22
*ESE ...................................................................................................................................................22
*ESE? .................................................................................................................................................22
ERR?...................................................................................................................................................22
LLO.....................................................................................................................................................23
LLO? ...................................................................................................................................................23
6.5. Setup and Configuration Commands.....................................................................................................23
SET EOS..............................................................................................................................................23
6.5.1 Serial Port ......................................................................................................................................24
SET SERIAL BAUDRATE........................................................................................................................24
SET SERIAL FLOW ...............................................................................................................................24
6.5.2 Network.........................................................................................................................................24
SET IPADDR ........................................................................................................................................24
SET GPIB ADDR [address]....................................................................................................................25
SET DHCP ...........................................................................................................................................25
SET AUTOIP ........................................................................................................................................25
SET NETMASK .....................................................................................................................................26
SET GATEWAY.....................................................................................................................................26
SET TCP CONNECT ..............................................................................................................................26
SET TCP SERVER .................................................................................................................................26
SET TCP KEEPALIVE.............................................................................................................................26
SET TCP TIMEOUT...............................................................................................................................27
SET TCP ECHO ....................................................................................................................................27
SET UDP SERVER.................................................................................................................................27
SET TELNET ........................................................................................................................................27
SET NETSTAT ......................................................................................................................................28
IPCONFIG? ..........................................................................................................................................28
6.6. Macro Commands ...............................................................................................................................28
MACRO OPEN ......................................................................................................................................28
MACRO CLOSE.....................................................................................................................................28

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MACRO ADD........................................................................................................................................28
MACRO DELETE ...................................................................................................................................28
SHOW MACRO .....................................................................................................................................29
6.7. Show Commands ................................................................................................................................29
SHOW BUILD.......................................................................................................................................29
SHOW EOS..........................................................................................................................................29
SHOW SET ..........................................................................................................................................29
SHOW USB..........................................................................................................................................30
Show GPIB ..........................................................................................................................................30
SHOW NET..........................................................................................................................................30
SHOW IPADDR ....................................................................................................................................31
SHOW NET TCP ...................................................................................................................................31
SHOW NET UDP...................................................................................................................................32
SHOW NET TELNET .............................................................................................................................32
6.8. Misc. Commands .................................................................................................................................32
CONSOLE ............................................................................................................................................32
CONSOLE? ..........................................................................................................................................32
USB CONSOLE .....................................................................................................................................32
DELAY.................................................................................................................................................33
REBOOT..............................................................................................................................................33
RUN ....................................................................................................................................................33
LCD ....................................................................................................................................................33
TEMP?.................................................................................................................................................33
TIME? .................................................................................................................................................34
TIMESTAMP.........................................................................................................................................34
TIMESTAMP? .......................................................................................................................................34
REPEAT...............................................................................................................................................34
SYSTEST .............................................................................................................................................34
FACTORY PRESET ................................................................................................................................35
FACTORY PRESET VERIFY ....................................................................................................................35
HELP...................................................................................................................................................35
6.9. MISC Network Commands ...................................................................................................................35
PING...................................................................................................................................................35
TCP SERVER........................................................................................................................................35
7. Instrument Security Procedures for Secure Environments ............................................................................36
7.1. Types of Memory ................................................................................................................................36
7.2. Clearing and Sanitization .....................................................................................................................36
7.3. Clearing Internal Memory ....................................................................................................................36
7.4. Sanitizing Internal Memory ..................................................................................................................36
8. Firmware and Drivers ................................................................................................................................38
8.1. Updating Device Firmware via Serial Port..............................................................................................38

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8.2. USB Driver Installation ........................................................................................................................40
9. Maintenance .............................................................................................................................................41
9.1. Inspection ..........................................................................................................................................41
9.2. Preventative Maintenance ....................................................................................................................41
9.3. Machined Surfaces and Hardware ........................................................................................................41
9.4. Chassis Cleaning .................................................................................................................................42
9.5. Connector Cleaning .............................................................................................................................42
9.6. Line Voltage Fuse Replacement............................................................................................................42
10. Replacement Parts List and Drawings .......................................................................................................43
10.1. Factory Service and Repairs ...............................................................................................................43
11. Contacting Weinschel ..............................................................................................................................44
11.1. Manufacturer Warranty......................................................................................................................44
12. Appendix ................................................................................................................................................45
12.1. Revision History ................................................................................................................................45

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Safety Summary Page 6
1. Safety Summary
1.1. Definitions
The following definitions apply to WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, and NOTICES found throughout this manual.
WARNING: An operating or maintenance procedure, practice, statement, condition, etc., which, if not strictly
observed, could result in injury and/or death of personnel. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING symbol until all
the indicated conditions have been fully understood and/or met.
CAUTION: An operating or maintenance procedure, practice, statement, condition, etc., which, if not strictly
observed, could result in damage or destruction of the equipment or long-term health hazards to personnel. Do
not proceed beyond a CAUTION symbol until all the indicated conditions have been fully understood and/or met.
NOTICE: An essential operating or maintenance procedure, condition, or statement that must be highlighted.
1.2. General Precautions
The following are general precautions that are not related to any specific procedure and, therefore, do not appear
elsewhere in this publication. These are precautions that personnel must understand and apply during various
phases of instrument operation or service.
Potentially lethal voltages are present in this instrument. Serious shock hazards from voltages
above 70 volts may exist in any connector, chassis, or circuit board. Observe the following
precautions.
To minimize shock hazard, the instrument chassis must be connected to an electrical ground.
Using the supplied three-conductor power cable ensures that the instrument can be firmly
connected to the ac power source and electrical ground at a grounded power outlet. If using a 3-2
wire adapter be sure to connect the ground lead to earth ground.
Use the buddy system any time work involving active high voltage components is required. Turn OFF the power
before making/breaking any electrical connection. Regard any exposed connector, terminal board, or circuit board
as a possible shock hazard. DO NOT replace any component or module with power applied.
If test conditions to live equipment are required, ground the test equipment before probing the voltage or signal
to be tested.

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Safety Summary Page 7
Personnel working with or near high voltage should be familiar with modern methods of resuscitation.
DO NOT wear jewelry (rings, bracelets, metal watches, and/or neck chains) while working on exposed
equipment. Be very cautious about using hand tools near exposed backplanes, bus bars, and/or power supply
terminals. Use properly insulated tools. When making test connections to the power supply terminals and bus
bars, use only insulated probe tips.
Verify that the instrument is set to match the available line voltage and the correct fuse is installed.
DO NOT install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modification to this instrument. Contact Weinschel to
acquire any information on replacement parts or returning the instrument for repair. Unauthorized modification
can cause injury to personnel and/or destruction of the instrument.
Operating personnel must not remove instrument covers. Component replacement or adjustments must be
performed by qualified service personnel.
DO NOT operate the instrument near or in the presence of flammable gases or fumes.
1.3. Detailed Precautions
The following WARNINGS, CAUTIONS and NOTES appear throughout the text of this manual and are repeated
here for emphasis.
All procedures and/or steps identified as must be followed exactly as written and according to
industry accepted ESDS device handling procedures. Failure to comply WILL result in ESD
damage.
DO NOT use a nylon bristle brush in any solvent as the bristles may dissolve and cause damage to the
circuit card or component.
DO NOT use ultrasonic cleaning on parts or assemblies containing electrical or electronic components.
DO NOT bend pins of electrical connectors when using fiber-bristle brush.
Compressed air used for cleaning and/or drying can create airborne particles that may enter the eye.
Goggles/face shields should be worn. DO NOT direct air stream towards self or other personnel. Pressure should
be restricted to a maximum of 15 psi to avoid personal injury.
Under no circumstances should a wire brush, steel wool, or abrasive compound be used on any surface. Using
these items will cause extensive damage to the instrument's surface.
DO NOT return any instrument or component to Weinschel without receiving prior factory
authorization.
1.4. Safety Symbols
The following symbols are used to identify safety hazards found throughout this publication and/or located on the
instrument.

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Safety Summary Page 8
1.5. Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive
The equipment documented in this manual contains certain Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive (ESDS) components
or parts. Therefore, certain procedures/steps are identified by the use of the symbol . This symbol is used in
two ways:
•When the ESDS symbol is placed between a paragraph and title, that paragraph, including all
subparagraphs, is considered ESDS device handling procedure.
• When the ESDS symbol is placed between a procedure/step number and the text, all of that
procedure is considered an ESDS device handling procedure.
All procedures and/or steps identified as ESDS must be followed exactly as written and according to accepted
ESDS device handling procedures. Failure to comply WILL RESULT in ESDS damage.

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General Information Page 9
2. General Information
2.1. Document Overview
This manual contains setup and operation information for the Weinschel Model 8512 Series, Programmable
Switches.
A general description of the product, information regarding installation and user operation, and maintenance
instructions are also included in this manual. Assembly drawings, wiring diagrams, and bill of materials are
located in the document appendix.
2.2. Related Manuals
The following manuals contain information that may be used in conjunction with this manual to operate, service,
or calibrate this device.
Manual
Title
IM619
Switch Control Center Software manual
2.3. Equipment Overview
Weinschel 8512 Series Programmable Switch Units represent a new streamlined approach in programmable
switches for bench test and subsystem applications. Standard 8512 Series designs house and control up to 14
failsafe or latching electromechanical switches via front panel controls, Ethernet, USB and Serial communications
interfaces. A GPIB (IEEE-488) interface is also available as an option. It can be configured in a single input multi-
channel configuration or can be configured for up to 14 channels each, SP6T switches interconnected externally
in a variety of matrix arrangements.
Applications for the Model 8512 Series include:
1. Remote control of up to 14 switches through a single connection
2. Can be configured into multiple full blocking matrices using external coaxial cables, up to a 6 x 6 matrix.
3. Can be configured as a single pole, multi throw switch, up to SP66T.
4. Failsafe and latching options allow for non-contiguous or high power applications, respectively.
Figure 1 below shows the functional block diagram of the module.
Figure 1: Functional Block Diagram of 8512 series module

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Installation Page 10
3. Installation
Figure-2 and figure-3 below shows the front and rear panels of 6-channel and 14-channel 8512 series module.
Figure-2: Front and rear panel of 6 channel module
Figure-3: Front and Rear Panel of 14 channel module
3.1. Rack Mounting
The Model 8512 Series can be mounted in any rack or cabinet that conforms to EIA RS-310 or MIL-STD-189.
3.2. Initial Setup
The following initial setup procedures should be performed prior to operating the Model 8512.
1. Perform an initial inspection of the unit.
2. Verify the AC power connection is configured to the correct voltage for your region.

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Installation Page 11
3. If applicable, install the unit into rack or cabinet. Follow all manufacturer instructions regarding
installation.
4. Connect all power, RF and communication cables as required to the unit.
3.3. Supply Voltage and Fuse
Model 8512 module can be operated with 115 VAC power supply. An AC external switch, which is
located on the rear panel of the UUT, allows user to power up the UUT with AC voltage. The Power
Entry Module Assembly located on the rear panel contains a grounded three-prong AC power
connector, an on/off power switch, and a fuse drawer.
The AC power connector is used to supply single-phase AC power to the unit. This connector also grounds the
chassis of the unit when the AC power cable is connected to a grounded wall outlet. The supplied power cable or
equivalent is recommended for safe operation. A grounded three-prong connection is required for safe operation.
The on/off power switch is used to toggle power to the unit for normal operation. To supply power, set the switch
to ON or |. To disconnect power, set the switch to OFF or O.
The fuse drawer contains a 5 x 20mm 250 V fuse. The current rating of the fuse is listed on the rear of the unit.
Do not install a fuse with a higher current rating than the listed value. Electrical shock can occur if the unit is
connected to AC power while changing the fuse. To prevent personal injury, disconnect the power cable from the
unit and allow the internal power supply to discharge before removing the fuse.
All electrical rack or chassis and machine elements should be Earth Grounded in installations where high level of
electrical noise can be expected. The rack or chassis should be grounded with a rod or attached to a nearby earth
structure such as a steel beam support beam. Connect each apparatus to a single ground point in a star
configuration with low impedance cable. Scrape away paint and other nonconductive material from the area
where a chassis makes contact with the enclosure. In addition to the ground connection made through the
mounting bolt or stud, use a one-inch metal braid or size #8 AWG wire to connect between each chassis and the
enclosure at the mounting bolt or stud.
3.4. RF Port Connectors
To prevent damage to the device do NOT exceed the maximum allowable power level
specifications of the unit at any port. Use a calibrated torque wrench to tighten all RF
connections.
Based on selected options, a typical Model 8512 Series Switch Unit can contain up to 14 SP6T switches on the
front or rear panels and support SMA connections. Connectors are per MILSTD-348 interface dimensions and
mate nondestructively per MIL-STD-212.
3.5. Ground Lug
The unit contains a ¼-20 ground stud on the rear of the chassis for grounding purposes.

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Remote Operation Page 12
4. Remote Operation
4.1. RS-232 Serial
The RS232 port is available on a DE9M connector and utilizes three signals: TXD, RXD and GND along with the
optional RTS and CTS handshaking signals. The connector pinout is configured as a DTE device, so connections
to an external DTE device (such as a PC) would require the use of a null-modem cable. The format is fixed at N81
(no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit), and the baud rate is selectable via software command at rates of from 9600 to
230400. By default, the unit is shipped to operate at 115200 baud, with the Console mode non-volatile memory
(NVM) setting enabled (see below).
The serial port has two modes of operation: console and raw mode. Console mode provides a command-line
interface (CLI) and is useful for interactive control via a terminal emulator. The Console mode sends command
prompts ('>'), echoes received characters, supports the backspace key for simple editing, provides command line
recall (CTRL-R), and issues error messages, while raw mode is a basic serial interface with none of these features
and is typically more suitable for programming. The selection of raw versus console mode is done via the
CONSOLE command, which can be used to enable/disable the console feature and optionally save the desired
setting in non-volatile memory (see the CONSOLE command in the command reference for additional options).
1 5
6 9
Figure 1: RS-232 DE9M (DTE Pinout)
Pin
Signal
Name
Direction
1
2
RXD
Receive Data
In
3
TXD
Transmit Data
Out
4
5
GND
Signal Ground
6
7
RTS
Request To Send
Out
8
CTS
Clear To Send
In
9
A Null Modem cable for DTE to DTE communication requires the TX/RX and CTS/RTS pins to be swapped at one
of the connections. A wiring example is show below.
RS-232 Null-Modem Cable (DTE to DTE)
DE9F
DE9F
Signal
1
1
RXD
2
2
RXD
TXD
3
3
TXD
4
4
GND
5
5
GND
6
6
RTS
7
7
RTS
CTS
8
8
CTS
9
9

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4.2. Serial Console Boot Display
When the system powers up in serial Console mode, if you have a terminal emulator attached to the serial port
you should see a screen showing the various installed features and system status. A typical screen is shown
below.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:11:02 PM
API Weinschel 8321 Attn System V1.70
firmware: 19311459318H
RF config
channel count: 12
attn config: 3200-1E 127dB/1dB, DC-3GHz
gpib port: not installed
default network config
MAC id: 00:1E:C0:B2:BC:F7
IP addr: 0.0.0.0
netmask: 255.255.255.0
gateway: 0.0.0.0
netstat: enabled
DHCP: enabled
AutoIP: enabled
>
**netstat: link down
4.3. 10/100BaseT Ethernet
The Ethernet port supports 10/100BaseT operation, with auto-negotiation of the interface speed and duplex
mode. LED indicators are provided to indicate network LINK status (green) and TX/RX activity (YELLOW).
Supported network protocols include: IP, UDP, TCP, ICMP, ARP, DHCP, and AUTOIP. A TELNET server is provided
for a command-line interface that implements many of the functions of the serial console CLI. Both TCP and UDP
servers allow connections to be established for general programming purposes. Additionally, the Microchip
Announce protocol is implemented to provide support for the Microchip Ethernet Discovery tool, which is a UDP-
based protocol used to detect Ethernet devices on the network.
IP addressing modes supported include the use of a statically assigned fixed address, or dynamic address
assignment using either DHCP or AutoIP. The use of DHCP requires a DHCP server to reside on the network.
AutoIP is an address mode that can be used when no DHCP server is available. It automatically allocates an
address from the special block of addresses 169.254.1.0 to 169.254.254.255 reserved for link-local addressing.
These addresses are only valid on the link that the host is connected to, such as a local network segment or
point-to-point connection, and are unrouteable. See the SET IPADDR, SET DHCP, SET AUTOIP, and SHOW
IPADDR commands for more information.

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The TELNET server communicates using the standard port 23 typically used by the TELNET protocol. The
implementation is a reduced-functionality version and does not support the full protocol, but it should function
properly with many clients. The server only supports a single connection, does not require any login, and does
not support options negotiation except for the initial state of the echo setting. The server does support an
inactivity timeout, and allows the use of TELNET NOP commands sent by the client to keep a session open. By
default, the timeout is set for 300 seconds (5 minutes), after which the server will automatically close the session
if no activity has occurred. Many of these features are configurable by the user (see SET TELNET in the command
reference). The status of the server can be seen using the SHOW NET TELNET command. An active TELNET
connection may be closed from the telnet application on the client using the 'QUIT' command. The unit provides a
TCP server that can be used for control and status of the unit using the same text-based messages used by the
serial port. By default, the server is configured to support a single connection and listen on a single port (port
10001), however the number of allowable connections can be changed to support up to 4 simultaneous users.
Server settings, such as the number of connections, port number, keepalive timeout, inactivity close timer, and
character echoing are programmable by the user (see SET TCP in the command reference). The status of the
server(s) can be seen using the SHOW NET TCP command.
A UDP server is also provided that will accept command messages sent via UDP protocol using the same text-
based messaging. UDP is a connection-less based protocol that is simpler and has less overhead than TCP. By
default, the internal UDP server listens on port 20000, but this can be changed via the SET UDP SERVER
command. It is important to note that UDP messages are not buffered, so sufficient time must be allowed
between messages for the command to execute or a command/response scheme should be implemented to
synchronize the messages.
Various network events generate status messages shown on the serial Console port. These events include TCP
and TELNET server connect/disconnect messages and DHCP/AUTOIP address assignment changes. The status
messages may be disabled if desired (see SET NETSTAT), but are enabled by default.
For simple device discovery, the Microchip Announce protocol is used. The Microchip Announce protocol is a UDP
based scheme used to detect devices supporting the protocol. The protocol broadcasts UDP packets to port
30303 containing the message, "Discovery: Who is out there?", and supporting devices respond with a UDP
packet which provides the device IP and MAC address, as well as other info such as the firmware version. A copy
of the Ethernet Device Discoverer application for MS Windows-based systems is provided on the CD supplied with
unit, or can be downloaded from the Microchip website.
4.4. USB
The USB port provides a USB Communications Device Class device (CDC) interface that allows programming via a
virtual COM port using the same text-based commands as the serial port. For interaction with a terminal
emulator, a console mode command-line interface (CLI) is provided for ease of use, and is user-configurable via
the USB CONSOLE command. Refer to paragraph 4-14 for information on installing the USB CDC driver file.
4.5. GPIB
An optional GPIB interface is available on some units allowing for control via an IEEE-488 controller, and
implements the functionality of IEEE488.2 standard protocol. The GPIB bus address is user programmable via the
SET GPIB ADDR command or via the front-panel (if installed). The default address is set to 10.

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Front Panel Control Page 15
5. Front Panel Control
5.1. Navigation
The Navigation Control provides for menu selection and data entry. It consists of four navigation keys: UP,
DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT, along with a SET key and a Scroll wheel. Menu selections are made by using the UP
and DOWN keys to highlight the current selection as indicated by the selection arrow in the first column of the
display. The currently highlighted item may be selected by using either the SET or RIGHT keys to select the
entry. The LEFT key will always exit the current screen and return you to the previous menu.
To change the value of a setting, select the entry (using the SET or RIGHT keys) and you will enter the editing
screen for that parameter. The editing screen will show the parameter name on the first line and the current
value on the second. The value that is currently selected for editing will be highlighted by underscore characters.
For parameters that have multiple fields such as the four bytes of an IP address, the current editing focus can be
changed using the RIGHT key to move to the next field.
On the editing screen, the value can be changed using one of two methods: increment mode or editing mode. In
increment mode, the UP and DOWN keys can be used to increase or decrease the current value. For RF devices
such as attenuators and switches the device will also be programmed to the new setting with no further action
required. Other settings may require confirmation with the SET key before changing.
Example:
Changing the current switch setting using incremental editing mode. In
editing mode, the SCROLL wheel can be rotated to change the displayed
value, but the actual change will not be made until the SET key is
pressed. When data is changed in the editing mode, the LCD will show a
“Confirm? (SET)” message to indicate that the value has not yet been
changed. If you wish to abort editing, you can use the LEFT key to discard any changes and leave the current
screen. Otherwise, depressing the SET key will enter the displayed value.
Example:
Changing the current IP address value using the scroll wheel editing
mode. Each byte is set and confirmed separately.
5.2. Menus
Boot screen
This screen is displayed for a few seconds at power on and shows the
model number, firmware revision and file, and the current IP address and
serial baud rate settings. Once the system initializes, the unit will switch to
display the Main menu.
Main Menu
This screen is displayed after the system has fully initialized. This is the
top-level menu and provides access to all controls and settings.

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Front Panel Control Page 16
Channels
The Channels menu is used to display and change the settings of the RF
devices installed in the unit. If multiple types of RF devices are installed,
you may be presented with an additional menu allowing you to select
between the different device types.
Once selected, you will be presented with a list of the devices and the
current settings. Depending on the capabilities of the unit (such as the
number of installed devices) there may be multiple display pages
associated with this menu. You can use the UP and DOWN keys to display
any additional pages.
Settings
The Settings menu allows access to the system setup parameters. These
include remote communication settings, addresses, and any configurable
hardware settings. If more options are available than displayed, the
additional settings may be accessed by using the DOWN key to scroll to
the next page.
Some changes made to system setup parameters in the Settings menu do
not take effect until the next system restart. If a change is made to one of
these settings, exiting the menu will prompt the user with the option to
restart the system. Depressing the SET key will restart the system and
load the new settings.
Command Status
The Command Status screen displays remote commands being sent via
any of the communication ports, along with the status of the current
command error queue. The displays are limited to the first 20 characters
of a message and will truncate additional characters
The unit is capable of receiving and executing commands faster than the display can update. To minimize the
impact that the display would have on command execution, the command display is only updated during idle
periods. The display may not update during periods of heavy activity and is provided as a status and
troubleshooting aid only.
The Error Queue displays the last entry in the error queue. Once an error
has been generated it will be continued to be displayed until the error
queue is read or cleared. Sending a valid command does not clear the
queue, so the error display may not reflect the result of the current
command.
Under normal operation, the Error Queue line should be empty indicating no errors.
About
The About screen displays the model number, firmware revision, unit
serial number and Ethernet MAC address.

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Command Operation Page 17
6. Command Operation
6.1. Application Specific Commands
RFSW
Function: Sets the [select]ed RF Switch to the chosen [setting].
Syntax: RFSW select setting
Argument(s): Select Switch number, 1-n or ALL
Setting Switch position, must be valid for selected switch
Remarks: This command sets the specified RF switch(s) to the position provided by setting. For most
switches setting is a single numeric value that specifies the desired switch position, and may
include 0 if the switch supports an OFF setting. Value position settings for a switch can be
obtained using RFCONFIG? GETCAP RFSW to get a list of the settings. Since some types of
switches such as an RF Transfer Switch are typically documented as having an A or a B position,
setting may also be a single letter where A=1, B=2, C=3, etc. Note however, that the reported
position using the RFSW? query will always be the numeric value. For switches that support
position indicators, after setting the switch the position indicators will automatically be read and
verified against the requested setting. If the values do not match then an Execution error will be
generated.
Return Value: None
Example(s): RFSW 1 2 // Sets RF Switch 1 to position 2
RFSW ALL 1 // Sets all switches to position 1
RFSW [select]
Function: Queries the current setting of [select]ed RF Switch.
Syntax: RFSW select
Argument(s): Select Switch number, 1-n or ALL
Remarks: This command returns the current setting of the selected switch. For switches that support
position indicators, this command will read the indicators and attempt to match them to a valid
position setting. If a match cannot be found, the value 255 is returned. For switches without
indicators, the returned value is the last specified position.
Returns: Switch position
Example(s): RFSW 1 1 // Sets RF Switch 1 to position1
RFSW? 1 //Queries RF Switch 1 and returns “1”
6.2. General RF configuration and Status Commands
SHOW STAT
Function: displays current settings
Syntax: SHOW STAT
Argument(s): none
Remarks: This command displays the current settings of the RF hardware. The list will change to reflect the
type and number of devices installed in the system.
Example(s):
>show stat
ATTN 1: 63
ATTN 2: 63
ATTN 3: 63
ATTN 4: 63

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SHOW RFCONFIG
Function: Displays current RF configuration
Syntax: SHOW RFCONFIG
SHOW RFCONFIG INSTALL
Argument(s): INSTALL optional, displays installation details
Remarks: This command displays the current RF hardware configuration. The optional INSTALL argument
will display hardware related details as to the device type, connections, etc.
Example(s):
>show rfconfig
RF config
channel count: 12
attn config: 4202-63 (0-63/1dB, 0.4-6GHz)
>show rfconfig install
ATTN 1 4205A-95.5 0 1 0x01 0x11
ATTN 2 4205A-95.5 0 1 0x11 0x00
SET DEFAULT
Function: Sets the default value of [select]ed device to the desired [setting], [type] is used to distinguish
different devices.
Syntax: SET DEFAULT ATTN select setting
SET DEFAULT INIT
Arguments: sele ct device select 1-n, or ALL
setting default value
Remarks: This command can be used to change the default device settings. The parameter select specifies
the individual device number, or ALL which changes the non-volatile memory default setting for
all devices. For attenuators, the parameter setting specifies the attenuation value in dB, and may
also be specified as MAX, in which case the maximum value for the attenuator(s) will be used.
For RF switches, the parameter setting specifies the initial position setting of the switch(es). The
command SET DEFAULT INIT may be used to delete all nvm device default settings.
Returns: none
Example(s): SET DEFAULT ATTN 1 20 // Sets ATTN 1 to a default value of 20 dB for
current runtime only.
SET DEFAULT ATTN ALL 15 // Sets all installed attenuators to a default value
of 15 dB and saves to memory.
SET DEFAULT RFSW 3 2 // Sets RFSW 3 to a default value of position 2 for
current runtime only.
SET DEFAULT INIT // remove all SET DEFAULT settings
SHOW DEFAULT
Function: displays the default settings for the RF hardware devices
Syntax: SHOW DEFAULT
Argument(s): none
Remarks: This command will show the default settings of all RF devices.
Return Value: none
Example(s):
>SHOW DEFAULT
attn defaults:
ATTN 1 max
ATTN 2 max
ATTN 3 max
ATTN 4 max

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SET RFCONFIG type settings
Function: Sets the system configurations to the installed hardware
Syntax: Type // Selects which device set the selection comes from. CHAN, ATTN, or RFSW
Settings //Sets the configuration to use for the chosen type
Remarks: This command is used to define the RF configuration installed in the unit. CHAN allows you to
choose how many channels are installed in the unit. ATTN and RFSW allow you to define the
device installed from a list of supported models. If the unit has both attenuators and switches
installed, the CHAN type allows both to be defined.
Return Value: none
Example(s):
SET RFCONFIG CHAN 9 // sets number of installed channels to 9
SET RFCONFIG CHAN 5 2 // sets number of installed attenuators to 5 and
number of switches to 2
SET RFCONFIG ATTN 4205A-95.5// Sets the installed attenuators to a model
4205a-95.5.
RFCONFIG?
Function: read chassis configuration items
Syntax: RFCONFIG? CHAN // returns the number of installed channels
RFCONFIG? ATTN n // returns configuration info for attn n (model, range, etc)
RFCONFIG? RFSW n // returns configuration info for RF switch n
GETCAP RFSW n // Returns the position information for RF switch n.
RFCONFIG? LIST TYPE // returns a list of supported models
Remarks: These commands can be used to retrieve various chassis configuration settings. Only one
argument can be used at a time.
RFCONFIG? RFSW 1 Returns the configuration for RF Switch 1
RFCONFIG? CHAN returns the number of installed devices. If the unit is configured to support
both attenuators and switches then this command returns two values (attenuators, switches).
Otherwise it returns a single value.
RFCONFIG? ROUTE returns detailed information about the installed switch matrix.
RFCONFIG? ATTN returns the attn type, max attenuation, stepsize, switching speed (msec), cycle
rate (msec), and a descriptive string.
RFCONFIG? LIST TYPE returns a list of the supported attn types
Returns: Various
Example(s):
> RFCONFIG? RFSW 1
SP6T, 0, 7, 20, 150, "DC-18GHz"
>RFCONFIG? ATTN 1
4205A-95.5, 95.5, 0.5, 0, 0, "95.5dB/0.5dB, 0.2-6GHz"
>RFCONFIG? CHAN
5, 2 // unit supports 5 attenuators and 2 switches
6.3. Counter Commands
Each installed device (with the exception of solid-state attenuators) has a non-volatile counter associated with it
that counts the number of operations performed on it. Whenever the device changes settings the counter is
incremented and stored. The counter value can be queried, and can also be reset by the user (see SET COUNTER
command). Resetting the counter would typically be done as a maintenance step if a device is replaced.
Updating a device counter may take several milliseconds, so by default this function is disabled for fast-switching
devices like solid-state attenuators where a counter is of minimal value.

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COUNTER?
Function: read an device operations counter
Syntax: COUNTER? RFSW select
Argument(s): select device select 1-n
Remarks: This command returns the current setting of the specified device counter
Return Value: number of switching operations
Example(s):
COUNTER? RFSW 1 // read switch 1 counter value
518 // returns switch 1 counter (518 switching operations)
SHOW COUNTER
Function: Queries the current number of cycles recorded for the [select]ed RF Switch.
Syntax: SHOW COUNTER [ALL]
SHOW COUNTER ATTN
Argument(s): none
Remarks: This command displays the current settings of the RF hardware counters, either displaying ALL
counters (the default) or by individual type
Returns: List of Counters
Example(s):
>SHOW COUNTER
1: 8
2: 14
SET COUNTER
Function: sets an RF switch operations counter
Syntax: SET COUNTER RFSW s elect val
Argument(s): select switch select 1- n
val counter value
Remarks: This command can be used to set an RFSW counter value. This is primarily for use when
replacing a switch to reset the counter value to 0.
Return Value: none
Example(s):
SET COUNTER RFSW 1 0 // resets switch 1 counter to 0
6.4. 488.2 Common Commands
*CLS
Function: clears the error status
Syntax: *CLS
Argument(s): none
Remarks: This function is used to clear the Error Queue
Return Value: none
Example(s):
*CLS
*IDN?
Function: Reads the system identification information
Syntax: *IDN?
Argument(s): none
Remarks: This function is used to read the system identification info, which is a string consisting of the
following data: manufacturer, model, serial number, and firmware version.
Return Value: idstr string id info
Example(s):
*IDN?
Weinschel, 8300, 002, V1.00