Bristol 428 User manual

MODEL 428
MULTI-WAVELENGTH METER
3/18/16
USER’S MANUAL

The information contained in this publication is subject to change without notice.
2016 Bristol Instruments, Inc.

CONTENTS
1INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................4
Welcome....................................................................................................................................4
Safety Notices............................................................................................................................4
General Safety Considerations..................................................................................................5
Inspection ..................................................................................................................................6
2INITIAL INSTRUMENT SETUP ................................................................................................7
General......................................................................................................................................7
Power Supply Connections .......................................................................................................7
Signal Output Connections........................................................................................................8
3OPERATION .............................................................................................................................9
Start Up......................................................................................................................................9
Front Panel................................................................................................................................9
Optical Signal Input .................................................................................................................10
Front Panel Controls................................................................................................................11
Display Screens.......................................................................................................................11
Configuration Screens.............................................................................................................17
4OPTICAL SPECTRUM ANALYZER SOFTWARE.................................................................24
Software Installation ................................................................................................................24
Spectrum Screen.....................................................................................................................25
Function Descriptions..............................................................................................................26
Wavelength Screen .................................................................................................................31
Menu Function Descriptions....................................................................................................31
5REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS ..............................................................................................37
Communications Setup ...........................................................................................................37
SCPI Communications Scheme..............................................................................................40
SCPI Command Detail ............................................................................................................44
APPENDIX A –SPECIFICATIONS...............................................................................................62
APPENDIX B –WARRANTY & SERVICE ...................................................................................63
Warranty..................................................................................................................................63
Service.....................................................................................................................................63
APPENDIX C –CODE UPDATES ................................................................................................64
APPENDIX D –MONITOR PORT.................................................................................................65
APPENDIX E –TROUBLESHOOTING.........................................................................................66
APPENDIX F –SPECTRAL CALCULATION...............................................................................68
Declaration of Conformity...........................................................................................................69

Model 428 User’s Manual INTRODUCTION
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 4
1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing the 428 Multi-Wavelength Meter from Bristol Instruments. Two different
versions of this system are available, the 428A and the 428B. The 428A measures the absolute
wavelength of CW lasers to an accuracy of ±0.2 parts per million (±0.3 pm at 1550 nm). The
428B has an accuracy of ±0.65 parts per million (±1.0 pm at 1550 nm). The operational
wavelength range of these systems is 1270 –1650 nm (236 –182 THz).
This User’s Manual includes information about the 428A and 428B Multi-Wavelength Meters. It
covers all the topics necessary to help you operate your system.
If you have any questions about the operation of your 428 system, please do not hesitate to call
Bristol Instruments at [phone]. Or, you can contact us at [e-mail].
Bristol Instruments, Inc.
50 Victor Heights Parkway
Victor, NY 14564
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.bristol-inst.com
Safety Notices
Warning denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in injury or loss of life. Do not proceed beyond a warning sign until the
indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Caution denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of the product. Do not proceed beyond a
caution sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

Model 428 User’s Manual INTRODUCTION
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 5
General Safety Considerations
This product has been designed and tested in accordance with IEC 61010-1 and has
been supplied in a safe condition. The instruction documentation contains information
and warnings that must be followed by the user to ensure safe operation and to maintain
the product in a safe condition.
This instrument is classified as an FDA Class I Laser Product (IEC Laser Class 1).
If this instrument is not used as specified, the protection provided by the
equipment could be impaired. This instrument must be used in the specified mode
without deviation from the written instructions. Use of this product in any manner
other than described herein may cause permanent damage to eyesight and
therefore is strictly prohibited.
Never inspect or clean a fiber-optic cable without first disconnecting the entire
cable assembly from the optical source. Failure to take this precaution can
permanently damage your eyesight.
No user serviceable parts are inside. Refer servicing to Bristol Instruments or its
representatives only. To prevent electrical shock, do not remove covers.
To prevent electrical shock, disconnect this instrument from mains before
cleaning. Use a dry cloth or one slightly dampened with water to clean the
external case parts. Do not attempt to clean internally.
This is a Safety Class 1 product (provided with protective ground). The mains plug
shall only be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective ground contact.
Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the product is
likely to make the product dangerous. Intentional interruption is prohibited.

Model 428 User’s Manual INTRODUCTION
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 6
Always use the three-prong AC power cord supplied with this instrument. Failure to
ensure adequate grounding by not using this cord may cause instrument damage.
Do not connect AC power until you have verified the line voltage is properly grounded
and within the specified range (90–260 VAC and 47–63 Hz). Damage to the instrument
could result.
This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage is within
the specified range.
Maximum safe input is 65 mW of optical power. Laser input power in excess of 65 mW
can result in damage to the instrument.
Use care in handling fiber-optic connectors. Always clean the fiber end prior to insertion
into the instrument’s fiber-optic connector for optimum performance. Failure to do so can
result in damage to the instrument. To prolong instrument service life, it is advantageous
to attach a new fiber-optic patchcord to the instrument and use its other end for the
connect/disconnect procedure.
Inspection
The 428 Multi-Wavelength Meter is packed in a carton designed to give maximum
protection during shipment. If the outside of the shipping carton is damaged, notify your
shipping department immediately. Your shipping department may want to notify the
carrier.
If the shipping carton is not damaged, carefully remove and identify all of the components
listed below. Contact Bristol Instruments or your local representative if any of the
components are missing. We recommend that you save the shipping carton for future
storage or transportation.
The 428 system includes the following components:
Multi-Wavelength Meter chassis
Power cord (North America and Japan only)
USB 2.0 cable
Rack mount kit
CD with User’s Manual and NuView Display Software

Model 428 User’s Manual INITIAL INSTRUMENT SETUP
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 7
2 INITIAL INSTRUMENT SETUP
General
1 Place the 428 Multi-Wavelength Meter on a firm horizontal surface.
2 Make sure that there is at least 2 inches (50 mm) of clearance on all sides of the
instrument to allow for ventilation.
Power Supply Connections
This is a Safety Class 1 product (provided with protective ground). The mains plug
shall only be inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective ground contact.
Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the product is
likely to make the product dangerous. Intentional interruption is prohibited.
Always use the three-prong AC power cord supplied with this instrument. Failure to
ensure adequate grounding by not using this cord may cause instrument damage.
Do not connect AC power until you have verified the line voltage is properly grounded
and within the specified range (90–260 VAC and 47–63 Hz). Damage to the instrument
could result.
This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage is within
the specified range.
1 Verify that the line power meets the requirements shown below.
95 to 260 VAC
47 to 63 Hz
Protective Ground
2 Connect the line-power cord to the power input connector on the instrument’s back
panel (Figure 2.1).
3 Connect the other end of the line-power cord to the power receptacle.

Model 428 User’s Manual INITIAL INSTRUMENT SETUP
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 8
Figure 2.1: Back Panel
Signal Output Connections
The 428 Multi-Wavelength Meter has the following connections for signal output and
communications. These connections are located on the instrument’s back panel
(Figure 2.1).
USB Port –Interface to a PC for instrument control and data reporting.
Ethernet Port –Interface to a PC or network for instrument control and data reporting.
GPIB (Optional) –Interface to a PC for instrument control and data reporting.
DB-9 Monitor Port –Used to monitor the interference fringe pattern and
instrument timing signals with an oscilloscope. A full description is provided in
Appendix D.
Rack Mount Kit Installation
The 428 Multi-Wavelength Meter can be mounted in a standard 19” instrument rack by
attaching the rack mount brackets. These brackets are attached to the front bezel of the
system using the 8-32 x 5/8” flat head socket screws included in the rack mount kit. For
proper fit, the feet under the chassis may be removed.
Do not reinsert the screws once the feet are removed. Damage to the internal
components of the instrument may result.
When the system is mounted in an enclosed instrument rack, be careful not to block the
fan on the back panel. Adequate ventilation must be provided inside the instrument rack
to prevent overheating.

Model 428 User’s Manual OPERATION
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 9
3 OPERATION
Start Up Turn on the power switch located on the instrument’s front panel. The instrument’s self-
test takes approximately 20 seconds, at which point the model 428B is ready for
operation. The model 428A displays the message “Reference Laser Stabilizing” until the
laser is stabilized. Typical laser warm-up time is about 15 minutes, or less if the
instrument has been used within the past several hours.
Front Panel
The front panel of the model 428 is shown in Figure 3.1. The display reports wavelength,
power, and OSNR in various formats. It also displays configuration information that
defines how data is collected and reported. The buttons control how data is collected and
reported.
Figure 3.1: Front Panel
Power Switch
Turns the system on and off.
Power LED
Shows the power status. When lit (green), the unit is on.
Fiber Input
The optical signal under test enters the system through an FC/UPC or FC/APC
fiber-optic connector.
Display
Reports the measurement data in several formats and shows various
configuration parameters.
Control Buttons
Select and change parameters that affect how data is collected and reported.

Model 428 User’s Manual OPERATION
Bristol Instruments, Inc. 10
Optical Signal Input
Never inspect or clean a fiber-optic cable without first disconnecting the entire
cable assembly from the optical source. Failure to take this precaution can
permanently damage your eyesight.
Use care in handling fiber-optic connectors. Always clean the fiber end prior to insertion
into the instrument’s fiber-optic connector for optimum performance. Failure to do so can
result in damage to the instrument. To prolong instrument service life, it is advantageous
to attach a new fiber-optic patchcord to the instrument and use its other end for the
connect/disconnect procedure.
Maximum safe input is 65 mW of optical power. Laser input power in excess of 65 mW
can result in damage to the instrument.
The optical signal under test enters the 428 system through an FC/UPC or FC/APC fiber-
optic connector on the front panel of the instrument (Figure 3.1).
1 Ensure that all fiber-optic connectors are clean and dry.
2 Connect your fiber-optic patchcord to the pre-aligned FC/UPC or FC/APC fiber-
optic connector on the instrument’s front panel. Make certain that the alignment
key on the fiber-optic patchcord’s connector (Figure 3.2) is properly seated in the
slot of the input connector.
Figure 3.2: Basic Components of an FC/PC Fiber-Optic Connector
3 Tighten the mechanical retainer with a light to medium finger-tightness.
Exceeding this torque may result in a poor connection or may damage the
connector.