Keysight 53220A User manual

P rogrammer’s
Reference
K e y s i g h t
53220A/53230A
Frequency Universal
Counter/Timer

Welcome 10
Introduction to the SCPI Language 12
Commands by Subsystem 17
ABORt 18
AUToscale 19
FETCh? 20
INITiate[:IMMediate] 22
READ? 24
R? 26
CALCulate Subsystem Introduction 28
CALCulate1:SMOothing:RESPonse 32
CALCulate1:SMOothing:RESPonse 34
CALCulate1:SMOothing:RESPonse 36
CALCulate1:SMOothing:STATe 38
CALCulate1:SCALe:FUNCtion 39
CALCulate1:SCALe:FUNCtion 41
CALCulate1:SCALe:GAIN 43
CALCulate1:SCALe:INVert 45
CALCulate1:SCALe:OFFSet 46
CALCulate1:SCALe:REFerence 48
CALCulate1:SCALe:REFerence:AUTO 50
CALCulate1:SCALe:STATe 51
CALCulate1:SCALe:UNIT 52
CALCulate1:SCALe:UNIT:STATe 54
CALCulate1:LIMit:CLEar 55
CALCulate1:LIMit:CLEar 56
CALCulate1:LIMit:LOWer 57
CALCulate1:LIMit:STATe 59
CALCulate1:LIMit:UPPer 61
CALCulate1:AVERage:ADEViation? 63
CALCulate1:AVERage:ADEViation? 65
CALCulate1:AVERage:ALL? 67
CALCulate1:AVERage:AVERage? 69
CALCulate1:AVERage:CLEar 70
CALCulate1:AVERage:COUNt:CURRent? 71
CALCulate1:AVERage:MAXimum? 72
CALCulate1:AVERage:MINimum? 73
CALCulate1:AVERage:PTPeak? 74
CALCulate1:AVERage:SDEViation? 75
CALCulate1:AVERage:STATe 76
CALCulate1:STATe 77
2 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:ALL? 79
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:ALL? 81
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:CLEar 83
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:COUNt? 84
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:DATA? 85
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:POINts 87
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:RANGe:AUTO 89
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:RANGe:AUTO:COUNt 91
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:RANGe:LOWer 93
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:RANGe:UPPer 95
CALCulate2:TRANsform:HISTogram:STATe 97
CALibration Subsystem Introduction 99
CALibration:ALL? 100
CALibration:COUNt? 101
CALibration:LEVel3? 103
CALibration:SECurity:CODE 105
CALibration:SECurity:STATe 106
CALibration:STRing 108
CALibration:VALue 110
CONFigure Subsystem Introduction 112
CONFigure:ARRay:TSTamp 115
CONFigure:FREQuency 117
CONFigure:FREQuency:BURSt 120
CONFigure:FREQuency:PRF 122
CONFigure:FREQuency:PRI 124
CONFigure:FREQuency:RATio 126
CONFigure:FTIMe 129
CONFigure:NDUTycycle 131
CONFigure:NWIDth 133
CONFigure:NWIDth:BURSt 135
CONFigure:PDUTycycle 136
CONFigure:PERiod 138
CONFigure:PHASe 141
CONFigure:PWIDth 143
CONFigure:PWIDth:BURSt 145
CONFigure:RTIMe 146
CONFigure:SPERiod 148
CONFigure:TINTerval 150
CONFigure:TOTalize:CONTinuous 152
CONFigure:TOTalize:TIMed 154
CONFigure? 156
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 3

DATA Subsystem Introduction 157
DATA:LAST? 158
DATA:POINts:EVENt:THReshold 159
DATA:POINts? 161
DATA:REMove? 162
DISPlay Subsystem Introduction 164
DISPlay:DIGit:MASK 165
DISPlay:DIGit:MASK:AUTO 166
DISPlay:MODE 167
DISPlay:STATe 168
DISPlay:TEXT:CLEar 169
DISPlay:TEXT 170
HCOPy Subsystem Introduction 171
HCOPy:SDUMp:DATA? 172
HCOPy:SDUMp:DATA:FORMat 173
FORMat Subsystem Introduction 174
FORMat:BORDer 175
FORMat:DATA 176
FORMat:PHASe 178
IEEE-488 Common Commands Introduction 179
*CAL? 180
*CLS 181
*ESE 182
*ESR? 184
*IDN? 186
*LRN? 187
*OPC 188
*OPC? 189
*OPT? 190
*RCL 192
*RST 193
*SAV 194
*SRE 195
*STB? 198
*TRG 200
*TST? 201
*WAI 202
INPut{1|2} Subsystem Introduction 203
INPut{1|2}:COUPling 204
INPut{1|2}:FILTer 205
INPut{1|2}:IMPedance 206
4 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

INPut{1|2}:LEVel:AUTO 208
INPut{1|2}:LEVel:MAXimum? 210
INPut{1|2}:LEVel:MINimum? 211
INPut{1|2}:LEVel:PTPeak? 212
INPut{1|2}:LEVel{1|2} 213
INPut{1|2}:LEVel{1|2}:RELative 215
INPut{1|2}:NREJect 217
INPut{1|2}:PROBe 218
INPut{1|2}:PROTection? 220
INPut{1|2}:PROTection:CLEar 221
INPut{1|2}:RANGe 222
INPut{1|2}:SLOPe{1|2} 224
INPut3:BURSt:LEVel 225
INPut3:STRength? 227
LXI Subsystem Introduction 228
LXI Subsystem Introduction 229
LXI:IDENtify:STATe 230
LXI:MDNS:ENABle 231
LXI:MDNS:HNAMe:RESolved? 232
LXI:MDNS:SNAMe:DESired 233
LXI:MDNS:SNAMe:RESolved? 234
LXI:RESet 235
LXI:RESTart 236
MEASure Subsystem Introduction 237
MEASure:ARRay:TSTamp? 240
MEASure:FREQuency? 242
MEASure:FREQuency:BURSt? 245
MEASure:FREQuency:PRF? 247
MEASure:FREQuency:PRI? 249
MEASure:FREQuency:RATio? 251
MEASure:FTIMe? 254
MEASure:NDUTycycle? 256
MEASure:NWIDth? 258
MEASure:NWIDth:BURSt? 260
MEASure:PDUTycycle? 261
MEASure:PERiod? 263
MEASure:PHASe? 266
MEASure:PWIDth? 268
MEASure:PWIDth:BURSt? 270
MEASure:RTIMe? 271
MEASure:SPERiod? 273
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 5

MEASure:TINTerval? 275
MEASure:TOTalize:TIMed? 277
MEMory Subsystem Introduction 279
MEMory:NSTates? 280
MEMory:STATe:DELete 281
MEMory:STATe:DELete:ALL 282
MEMory:STATe:RECall:AUTO 283
MEMory:STATe:RECall:SELect 285
MEMory:STATe:VALid? 287
MMEMory Subsystem Introduction 288
MMEMory:CATalog:ALL? 289
MMEMory:CATalog:DATA? 291
MMEMory:CATalog:STATe? 293
MMEMory:CDIRectory 295
MMEMory:COPY 297
MMEMory:DELete 298
MMEMory:DOWNload:DATA 299
MMEMory:DOWNload:FNAMe 300
MMEMory:LOAD:PREFerences 301
MMEMory:LOAD:STATe 303
MMEMory:MDIRectory 304
MMEMory:MOVE 305
MMEMory:RDIRectory 306
MMEMory:STORe:DATA 307
MMEMory:STORe:PREFerences 308
MMEMory:STORe:STATe 310
MMEMory:UPLoad? 311
OUTPut Subsystem Introduction 312
OUTPut:POLarity 313
OUTPut:STATe 314
SAMPle Subsystem Introduction 316
SAMPle:COUNt 317
SENSe Subsystem Introduction 319
SENSe:FUNCtion 322
SENSe:FREQuency:GATE:SOURce 324
SENSe:FREQuency:GATE:TIME 326
SENSe:FREQuency:GATE:POLarity 328
SENSe:FREQuency:MODE 329
SENSe:FREQuency:BURSt:GATE:AUTO 331
SENSe:FREQuency:BURSt:GATE:DELay 333
SENSe:FREQuency:BURSt:GATE:NARRow 335
6 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

SENSe:FREQuency:BURSt:GATE:TIME 336
SENSe:GATE:EXTernal:SOURce 338
SENSe:GATE:STARt:SOURce 340
SENSe:GATE:STARt:SLOPe 342
SENSe:GATE:STARt:DELay:SOURce 344
SENSe:GATE:STARt:DELay:EVENts 346
SENSe:GATE:STARt:DELay:TIME 348
SENSe:GATE:STOP:SOURce 350
SENSe:GATE:STOP:SLOPe 352
SENSe:GATE:STOP:HOLDoff:SOURce 354
SENSe:GATE:STOP:HOLDoff:EVENts 356
SENSe:GATE:STOP:HOLDoff:TIME 358
SENSe:ROSCillator:EXTernal:CHECk 360
SENSe:ROSCillator:EXTernal:FREQuency 361
SENSe:ROSCillator:SOURce 362
SENSe:ROSCillator:INTernal:POWer:STANdby 364
SENSe:ROSCillator:SOURce:AUTO 366
SENSe:TINTerval:GATE:SOURce 368
SENSe:TINTerval:GATE:POLarity 370
SENSe:TOTalize:DATA? 371
SENSe:TOTalize:GATE:SOURce 372
SENSe:TOTalize:GATE:TIME 374
SENSe:TOTalize:GATE:POLarity 376
SENSe:TSTamp:RATE 377
STATus Subsystem Introduction 379
STATus:OPERation:CONDition? 382
STATus:OPERation:ENABle 384
STATus:OPERation:EVENt? 387
STATus:PRESet 389
STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition? 390
STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle 392
STATus:QUEStionable:EVENt? 395
SYSTem Subsystem Introduction 397
SYSTem:COMMunicate:ENABle 399
SYSTem:COMMunicate:ENABle 401
SYSTem:COMMunicate:GPIB:ADDRess 403
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:CONTrol? 404
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:DHCP 405
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:DNS 407
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:DOMain? 409
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:GATeway 410
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 7

SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:HOSTname 412
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:IPADdress 414
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:MAC? 416
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:SMASk 417
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:TELNet:PROMpt 419
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:TELNet:WMESsage 421
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:UPDate 422
SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN:WINS 424
SYSTem:LICense:CATalog? 426
SYSTem:LICense:CATalog? 427
SYSTem:LICense:DELete 428
SYSTem:LICense:DELete:ALL 429
SYSTem:LICense:DESCription? 430
SYSTem:LICense:ERRor? 431
SYSTem:LICense:ERRor:COUNt? 432
SYSTem:LICense:INSTall 433
SYSTem:LICense:INSTall? 435
SYSTem:ALEVel:FREQuency 436
SYSTem:BATTery:ENABle 437
SYSTem:BATTery:LEVel? 438
SYSTem:BATTery:STATus? 439
SYSTem:BEEPer:STATe 440
SYSTem:BEEPer:IMMediate 441
SYSTem:DATE 442
SYSTem:ERRor? 443
SYSTem:HELP? 445
SYSTem:LANGuage 447
SYSTem:LOCK:NAME? 449
SYSTem:LOCK:OWNer? 450
SYSTem:LOCK:RELease 451
SYSTem:LOCK:REQuest? 453
SYSTem:PRESet 454
SYSTem:SECurity:IMMediate 455
SYSTem:TEMPerature? 456
SYSTem:TEMPerature:ACALibration? 457
SYSTem:TIME 458
SYSTem:TIMeout 459
SYSTem:VERSion? 461
TRIGger Subsystem Introduction 462
TRIGger:COUNt 463
TRIGger:DELay 465
8 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

TRIGger:SLOPe 467
TRIGger:SOURce 468
SCPI Error Messages 470
Keysight 53220A/230A Command Quick Reference 479
Power-On and Reset State 491
Agilent 53131A/132A Compatibility Mode 496
Index 499
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 9

Welcome
This Help file contains reference information to help you program the Keysight53220A/230A Universal
Frequency Counter/Timer over a remote interface using the SCPI programming language.
Introduction to the SCPI Language
Commands by Subsystem
Command Quick Reference
SCPI Error Messages
Power-On and Reset State
Related Information
IO Libraries and Instrument Drivers
The Keysight IO Libraries Suite software is provided on the Keysight Automation Ready CD-ROM provided
with your instrument. Installation instructions are provided on the CD-ROM.
You can also download the Keysight IO Libraries Suite software, along with IVI-COM and LABview drivers
from the Keysight Developer Network at adn.tm.agilent.com.
Keysight53220A/230A Documentation
The Keysight 53220A/230A Programmer's Reference is provided as a Windows® Compiled Help (.chm)
file on the Keysight 53220A/230A Product Reference CD-ROM shipped with your instrument.
In addition, the following documents are available in Adobe® PDF format on this CD-ROM. (Requires
Adobe Reader.)
lKeysight 53220A/230A 350MHz Universal Counter/Timer Quick Start Tutorial
lKeysight 53220A/230A 350MHz Universal Counter/Timer User’s Guide
lKeysight 53210A/53220A/53230A 350 MHz Counter Service Guide
You can also download these documents from the Web at www.keysight.com.
For information about connecting instruments to USB, LAN, and GPIB interfaces and how to configure
and troubleshoot these interfaces, refer to the Keysight USB/LAN/GPIB Interfaces Connectivity Guide.
This guide is provided on the Keysight Automation Ready CD-ROM. Or you can download the guide from
the Web at www.keysight.com/find/connectivity.
Keysight 53220A/230A Web Interface
Welcome
10 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

The Keysight 53220A/230A provides a Web Interface that is built into the instrument. You can use this
interface over LAN for remote access and control of the instrument via a Java™-enabled Web browser,
such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer.
To access and use the 53220A/230A Web Interface:
1. Establish a LAN interface connection from your PC to the instrument (e.g. 53220A/230A).
2. Open your PC's Web browser.
3. Launch the instrument's Web Interface by entering the IP address of the instrument, or its fully-qual-
ified host name, in the browser address field.
4. Follow the instructions in the Web Interface's on-line help.
Example Programs
We have included several example programs on the Keysight 53210A/53220A/53230A Product Refer-
ence CD-ROM shipped with your instrument. The examples support the following language environments.
lMicrosoft® Visual Basic®
lMicrosoft® C++
lKeysight VEE
lNational Instruments LabVIEW
To install the programming examples, see the Product Reference CD-ROM. Or, you can download the
examples from the Web at www.keysight.com.
Contact Keysight Technologies
You can contact Keysight Technologies at one of the following telephone numbers for warranty, service,
or technical support information.
In the United States: [phone]
In Europe: 31 20 547 2111
In Japan: 0120-421-345
Or use our Web link for information on contacting Keysight worldwide.
www.keysight.com/find/assist
Or contact your Keysight Technologies Representative.
Trademarks
Microsoft®, Visual Basic®, and Windows® are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Adobe® and Acrobat®are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Java™ is a U.S. trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
© Keysight Technologies, Inc. 2010-2014 Version 2.00
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 11
Welcome

Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is an ASCII-based instrument command lan-
guage designed for test and measurement instruments. SCPI commands are based on a hierarchical struc-
ture, also known as a tree system. In this system, associated commands are grouped together under a
common node or root, thus forming subsystems. A portion of the SENSe subsystem is shown below to
illustrate the tree system.
SENSe:
FUNCtion:
[:ON] "function"
[:ON]?
ROSCillator:
EXTernal:FREQuency?
SOURce { INTernal|EXTernal|AUTO }
SENSe is the root keyword of the command, FUNCtion and ROSCillator are second-level keywords, and
ON and SOURce are third-level keywords. Acolon ( : ) separates a command keyword from a lower-level
keyword.
Syntax Conventions
The format used to show commands is illustrated below:
SAMPle:COUNt {<count> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}
The command syntax shows most commands (and some parameters) as amixture of upper- and lower-
case letters. The upper-case letters indicate the abbreviated spelling for the command. For shorter pro-
gram lines, you can send the abbreviated form. For better program readability, you can send the long
form.
For example, in the above syntax statement, SAMP and SAMPLE are both acceptable forms. You can use
upper- or lower-case letters. Therefore, SAMPLE, samp, and Samp are all acceptable. Other forms, such
as SAM and SAMPL, are not valid and will generate an error.
lBraces ( { } ) enclose the parameter choices for a given command string. The braces are not sent with the com-
mand string.
lA vertical bar ( | ) separates multiple parameter choices for a given command string. For example, {<count>
|MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault} in the above command indicates that you can specify a numeric range para-
meter, or "MINimum", "MAXimum", or "DEFault". The bar is not sent with the command string.
lTriangle brackets ( < > ) indicate that you must specify a value for the enclosed parameter. For example, the
above syntax statement shows the <range> parameter enclosed in triangle brackets. The brackets are not
sent with the command string. You must specify a value for the parameter (for example "SAMP:COUN 10")
unless you select one of the other options shown in the syntax (for example "SAMP:COUN MIN").
lSome parameters are enclosed in square brackets ( [ ] ). This indicates that the parameter is optional and can
be omitted. Thebrackets are not sent with the command string. If you donot specify a value for an optional
parameter, the instrument chooses a default value.
Introduction to the SCPI Language
12 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

Numeric Suffixes on Commands
Certain commands have numeric suffixes appended to the command name. For example:
INPut[{1|2}]:
RANGe {<range> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}
These suffixes distinguish multiple instances of the same subsystem. Note that the numeric suffix is
optional; if it is omitted, "1" is assumed. In this example, INPut1 or INPut refers to channel 1; INPut2 refers
to channel 2.
Command Separators
A colon ( : ) is used to separate a command keyword from a lower-level keyword. You must insert a blank
space to separate a parameter from a command keyword. If a command requires more than one para-
meter, you must separate adjacent parameters using a comma as shown below:
CONF:FREQ 10.0E6,0.003
A semicolon ( ; ) is used to separate commands within the same subsystem, and can also minimize typing.
For example, sending the following command string:
TRIG:SOUR EXT; COUN 10
... is the same as sending the following two commands:
TRIG:SOUR EXT
TRIG:COUN 10
Use a colon and a semicolon to link commands from different subsystems. For example, in the following
command string, an error is generated if you do not use both the colon and semicolon:
TRIG:COUN MIN;:SAMP:COUN MIN
Using the MINimum, MAXimum, and DEFault Parameters
For most commands, you can substitute "MINimum", "MAXimum" or "DEFault" in place of a parameter.
For example, consider the following command:
SAMPle:COUNt {<count> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}
Instead of selecting a specific value for the <count> parameter, you can substitute MIN to set the count to
its minimum value, MAX to set the count to its maximum value, or DEF to set the count to its default value.
Querying Parameter Settings
You can query the current value of most parameters by adding a questionmark (?) to the command. For
example, the following command sets the trigger count to 10 measurements:
TRIG:COUN 10
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 13
Introduction to the SCPI Language

You can then query the count value by sending:
TRIG:COUN?
You can also query the minimum or maximum count allowed as follows:
TRIG:COUN? MIN
TRIG:COUN? MAX
SCPI Command Terminators
A command string sent to the instrument must terminate with a <new line> (<NL>) character. The IEEE-
488 EOI (End-Or-Identify) message is interpreted as a <NL> character and can be used to terminate a com-
mand string in place of a <NL> character. A <carriage return> followed by a <NL> is also accepted. Com-
mand string termination will always reset the current SCPI command path to the root level.
For every SCPI message that includes a query and is sent to the instrument, the instrument
terminates the returned response with a <NL> or line-feed character (EOI). For example, if R?
is sent, the response is terminated with a <NL> after the block of data that is returned. If a
SCPI message includes multiple queries separated by semicolons (for example
"SYST:ERR?;R?"), the returned response is again terminated by a <NL> after the response to
the last query. In either case, the program must read this <NL> in the response before another
command is sent to the instrument, or an error will occur.
IEEE-488.2 Common Commands
The IEEE-488.2 standard defines a set of common commands that perform functions such as reset, self-
test, and status operations. Common commands always begin with an asterisk ( * ), are three characters in
length, and may include one or more parameters. Thecommand keyword is separated from the first para-
meter by a blankspace. Use a semicolon ( ; ) to separate multiple commands as shown below:
*RST; *CLS; *ESE 32; *OPC?
SCPI Parameter Types
The SCPI language defines several data formats to be used in program messages and response messages.
Numeric Parameters
Commands that require numeric parameters will accept all commonly used decimal representations of
numbers including optional signs, decimal points, and scientific notation. Special values for numeric para-
meters such as MINimum, MAXimum, and DEFault are also accepted. You can also send engineering unit
suffixes with numeric parameters (e.g., M, k, m, or u). If a command accepts only certain specific values,
the instrument will automatically round the input numeric parameters to the accepted values. The fol-
lowing command requires a numeric parameter for the count value:
SAMPle:COUNt {<count> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}
Introduction to the SCPI Language
14 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

Because the SCPI parser is case-insensitive, there is some confusion over the letter "M" (or
"m"). For your convenience, the instrument interprets "mS" (or "MS") as milliseconds, but
"MHZ" (or "mhz") as megahertz. You can use the prefix "MA" for mega. For example, "MAS" is
interpreted as megaseconds.
Discrete Parameters
Discrete parameters are used to program settings that have a limited number of values (like IMMediate,
EXTernal, or BUS). They have a short form and a long form just like command keywords. You can mix
upper- and lower-case letters. Query responses will always return the short form in all upper-case letters.
The following command requires a discrete parameters for the temperature units:
INPut:LEVel:AUTO {OFF | ON | ONCE}
Boolean Parameters
Boolean parameters represent a single binary condition that is either true or false. For a false condition,
the instrument will accept "OFF" or "0". For a true condition, the instrument will accept "ON" or "1".
When you query a boolean setting, theinstrument will always return "0" or "1". The following command
requires a boolean parameter:
INPut:NREJect {OFF | 0 | ON | 1}
ASCII String Parameters
String parameters can contain virtually any set of ASCII characters. A string must begin and end with
matching quotes; either with a single quote or a double quote. You can include the quote delimiter as part
of the string by typing it twice without any characters in between. The following command uses a string
parameter:
DISPlay:TEXT <quoted string>
For example, the following command displays the message "WAITING..." on the instrument's front panel
(the quotes are not displayed).
DISP:TEXT "WAITING..."
You can also display the same message using the following command with single quotes.
DISP:TEXT 'WAITING...'
Using Device Clear
Device Clear is an IEEE-488 low-level bus message that you can use to return the instrument to a respons-
ive state. Different programming languages and IEEE-488 interface cards provide access to this capability
through their own unique commands. The status registers, theerror queue, and all configuration states
are left unchanged when aDevice Clear message is received.
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 15
Introduction to the SCPI Language

Device Clear performs the following actions:
lIf a measurement is in progress, it is aborted.
lThe instrument returns to the trigger "idle" state.
lThe instrument's input and output buffers are cleared.
lThe instrument is prepared to accept a new command string.
lAn overlapped command, if any, will be terminated with no "Operation Complete" indication (applies to the
INIT command).
The ABORt command is the recommended method to terminate a measurement.
Introduction to the SCPI Language
16 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

Commands by Subsystem
Other Commands
CALCulate Subsystem
CALibration Subsystem
CONFigure Subsystem
DATA Subsystem
DISPlay Subsystem
FORMat Subsystem
HCOPy Subsystem
IEEE-488.2 Common Commands
INPut Subsystem
LXI Subsystem
MEASure Subsystem
MEMory Subsystem
MMEMory Subsystem
OUTPut Subsystem
SAMPle Subsystem
SENSe Subsystem
STATus Subsystem
SYSTem Subsystem
TRIGger Subsystem
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 17
Commands by Subsystem

ABORt
Syntax
ABORt
Description
This command aborts a measurement in progress.
Remarks
lThis command may be useful to abort a measurement when the instrument is waiting for a trigger, for a
long measurement (for example, 1000 sec gate time), or for a long series of timed measurements.
lThe command will abort a measurement in progress and stop, returning the instrument to the trigger
idle state.
lThe *RST command will abort a measurement and set all measurement parameters to their factory set-
tings. The Instrument Preset (SYSTem:PRESet command) does the same.
Example
The following example aborts the measurement in progress.
ABOR
See Also
*RST
SYSTem:PRESet
ABORt
18 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference

AUToscale
Syntax
AUToscale
Description
This command causes the instrument to perform an autoscale operation on the input signal. This will
adjust the input threshold, input range, and internal measurement hardware settings based on the input
signal levels and frequency.
Remarks
lYou should select the measurement function and active input channel(s) prior to sending the AUTo-
scale command.
Example
The following example configures a frequency measurement, performs an autoscale, and makes a meas-
urement on channel 1.
CONF:FREQ
AUT
READ?
Typical Response: +1.21513398300000E+006
See Also
*RST
SYSTem:PRESet
Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference 19
AUToscale

FETCh?
Syntax
FETCh?
Description
This command transfers measurements to the instrument's output buffer where you can read them into
your computer. The measurements are not erased from memory when you read them. You can send the
command multiple times to retrieve the same data in reading memory.
Remarks
lThe FETCh? command will wait until all measurements complete to terminate.
lIf no measurements are available or in progress, error -230,"Data corrupt or stale" will be generated,
and no data will be returned.
lYou can store up to 1,000,000 measurements in the reading memory. If memory overflows, the new
measurements will overwrite the first (oldest) measurements stored; the most recent measurements are
always preserved. No error is generated, but the Reading Mem Ovfl bit (bit 14) is set in the Questionable
Data Register.
lYou can use the R? command to obtain whatever measurements are present (with no wait), but the
measurements will be erased as you read them.
lThe instrument clears all measurements from memory when the measurement function is changed,
when the INITiate:IMMediate,MEASure:<function>? or READ? commands are executed, after a Factory
Reset (*RST command) or after an Instrument Preset (SYSTem:PRESet command).
Return Format
The command transfers all measurements from memory but does not erase them. The format of the meas-
urements is controlled by the FORMat Subsystem commands.
For timestamp measurements, the command returns the prescaler value followed by a comma, followed
by the measurements. The prescaler value is always returned in the format: +100. The format of the
measurements is controlled by the FORMat Subsystem commands.
Example
The following program segment shows how to use the FETCh? command with the CONFigure and INITiate
commands. The INITiate command places the instrument in the "wait-for-trigger" state, triggers a meas-
urement when the rear-panel Trig In BNC is pulsed (low by default), and then sends the measurements to
memory. The FETCh? command transfers the measurements from memory to the instrument's output buf-
fer.
CONF:FREQ 1200,0.003
TRIG:SOUR EXT
FETCh?
20 Keysight 53220A/53230A Programmer's Reference