Racal Instruments 1257 User manual

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RACAL INSTRUMENTS
1257
SWITCHING SYSTEM
PUBLICATION NO. 980862
EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc.
4 Goodyear, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
http://www.eads-nadefense.com
PUBLICATION DATE: August 10, 2004
Copyright 2001 by EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. Printed in the United States of America. All
rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THIS
EADS NORTH AMERICA DEFENSE TEST AND SERVICES PRODUCT
For this product, or any other EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. product that incorporates
software drivers, you may access our web site to verify and/or download the latest driver versions. The web
address for driver downloads is:
http://www.eads-nadefense.com/downloads
If you have any questions about software driver downloads or our privacy policy, please contact us at:
[email protected]
WARRANTY STATEMENT
All EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. products are designed and manufactured to
exacting standards and in full conformance to EADS ISO 9001:2000 processes.
This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from any modification(s) of any product or part without
EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. express written consent, or misuse of any product or
part. The warranty also does not apply to fuses, software, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery
leakage, or problems arising from normal wear, such as mechanical relay life, or failure to follow instructions.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including any implied warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular use. The remedies provided herein are buyer’s sole and exclusive
remedies.
For the specific terms of your standard warranty, or optional extended warranty or service agreement, contact
your EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. customer service advisor. Please have the
following information available to facilitate service.
1. Product serial number
2. Product model number
3. Your company and contact information
You may contact your customer service advisor by:
E-Mail: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone] (USA)
Fax: [phone] (USA)

RETURN of PRODUCT
Authorization is required from EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. before you send us your
product for service or calibration. Call or contact the Customer Support Department at 1-800-722-3262 or 1-
949-859-8999 or via fax at 1-949-859-7139. We can be reached at: [email protected].
PROPRIETARY NOTICE
This document and the technical data herein disclosed, are proprietary to EADS North America Defense Test
and Services, Inc., and shall not, without express written permission of EADS North America Defense Test
and Services, Inc., be used, in whole or in part to solicit quotations from a competitive source or used for
manufacture by anyone other than EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. The information
herein has been developed at private expense, and may only be used for operation and maintenance
reference purposes or for purposes of engineering evaluation and incorporation into technical specifications
and other documents which specify procurement of products from EADS North America Defense Test and
Services, Inc.
DISCLAIMER
Buyer acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for the operation of the goods purchased and should
ensure that they are used properly and in accordance with this handbook and any other instructions provided
by Seller. EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. products are not specifically designed,
manufactured or intended to be used as parts, assemblies or components in planning, construction,
maintenance or operation of a nuclear facility, or in life support or safety critical applications in which the
failure of the EADS North America Defense Test and Services, Inc. product could create a situation where
personal injury or death could occur. Should Buyer purchase EADS North America Defense Test and
Services, Inc. product for such unintended application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold EADS North America
Defense Test and Services, Inc., its officers, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates and distributors harmless
against all claims arising out of a claim for personal injury or death associated with such unintended use.

FOR YOUR SAFETY
Before undertaking any troubleshooting, maintenance or exploratory procedure, read carefully the
WARNINGS and CAUTION notices.
This equipment contains voltage hazardous to human
life and safety, and is capable of inflicting personal
injury.
If this instrument is to be powered from the AC line (mains) through an
autotransformer, ensure the common connector is connected to the neutral (earth
pole) of the power supply.
Before operating the unit, ensure the conductor (green wire) is connected to the
ground (earth) conductor of the power outlet. Do not use a two-conductor extension
cord or a three-prong/two-prong adapter. This will defeat the protective feature of
the third conductor in the power cord.
Maintenance and calibration procedures sometimes call for operation of the unit with
power applied and protective covers removed. Read the procedures and heed
warnings to avoid “live” circuit points.
Before operating this instrument:
1. Ensure the proper fuse is in place for the power source to operate.
2. Ensure all other devices connected to or in proximity to this instrument are properly grounded or
connected to the protective third-wire earth ground.
If the instrument:
- fails to operate satisfactorily
- shows visible damage
- has been stored under unfavorable conditions
- has sustained stress
Do not operate until, performance is checked by qualified personnel.

This page was left intentionally blank.

1257 User Manual
i
Table of Contents
Chapter 1..............................................................................................................................1-1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................1-1
Overview ......................................................................................................................................1-1
Features....................................................................................................................................1-2
Ease Of Use..........................................................................................................................1-2
Front and Rear Panels..........................................................................................................1-3
Powerful Software.................................................................................................................1-6
Items Shipped with the 1257........................................................................................................1-8
Chapter 2..............................................................................................................................2-1
GETTING STARTED......................................................................................................................2-1
Mounting Options.........................................................................................................................2-1
Main AC Power ............................................................................................................................2-1
Installing the Drawer.....................................................................................................................2-3
Connecting to the Drawer.........................................................................................................2-3
Activating Main AC Power............................................................................................................2-4
Self-Test.......................................................................................................................................2-4
Verifying the Installed Drawer...................................................................................................2-5
Closing a Relay.........................................................................................................................2-5
Opening a Relay.......................................................................................................................2-6
In Case of Trouble....................................................................................................................2-6
Switching and Heat Dissipation................................................................................................2-7

1257 User Manual
ii
Chapter 3..............................................................................................................................3-1
USING THE FRONT PANEL CONTROLS.....................................................................................3-1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................3-1
Front Panel...................................................................................................................................3-2
Understanding the Hierarchical Menu..........................................................................................3-2
The Five Menus........................................................................................................................3-6
Operations Menu...................................................................................................................3-7
Path Control Menu................................................................................................................3-9
Closing a Path.................................................................................................................3-10
Settings Menu.....................................................................................................................3-13
Store/Recall Menu...............................................................................................................3-20
System Menu......................................................................................................................3-23
Complete Menu Listing...........................................................................................................3-24
Chapter 4..............................................................................................................................4-1
COMPUTER INTERFACES ...........................................................................................................4-1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................4-1
Commands...................................................................................................................................4-1
Using the Ethernet Interface.....................................................................................................4-2
Basic Ethernet Information....................................................................................................4-2
Ethernet Cabling Guidelines .................................................................................................4-2
Connecting the Ethernet Cables...........................................................................................4-3
Selecting the Ethernet Interface............................................................................................4-3
Entering the Ethernet Communication Settings....................................................................4-4
Using the IEEE-488 (GPIB) Interface.....................................................................................4-10
Basic GPIB Information.......................................................................................................4-10

1257 User Manual
iii
GPIB Cabling Guidelines ....................................................................................................4-10
Connecting the GPIB Cables..............................................................................................4-11
Selecting the GPIB Interface...............................................................................................4-11
Setting the GPIB Address...................................................................................................4-12
Service Request (SRQ).......................................................................................................4-13
Using the RS-232 Interface ....................................................................................................4-14
Basic RS-232 Information...................................................................................................4-14
Equipment Required ...........................................................................................................4-14
DTE Versus DCE.............................................................................................................4-14
Connecting to a Computer or Data Terminal ......................................................................4-14
Connecting to a Modem......................................................................................................4-15
Selecting the RS-232 Interface...........................................................................................4-17
Setting the Flow Control Option..........................................................................................4-18
Setting the Baud Rate.........................................................................................................4-20
Setting the Message Termination Characters.....................................................................4-21
Setting the Data Bits, Stop Bits, and Parity.........................................................................4-22
Using Microsoft HyperTerminal...........................................................................................4-24
Chapter 5..............................................................................................................................5-1
SCPI COMMAND BASICS .............................................................................................................5-1
SCPI Command Overview............................................................................................................5-1
Input Format .............................................................................................................................5-1
Command Keyword Long Form and Short Form......................................................................5-3
Case Sensitivity.....................................................................................................................5-3
Optional Keywords................................................................................................................5-4
Querying Parameter Setting..................................................................................................5-4
SCPI Command Terminator..................................................................................................5-4

1257 User Manual
iv
IEEE-STD-488.2 Common Commands ................................................................................5-6
IEEE 488.2 Common Commands.........................................................................................5-6
IEEE-488. 2 Status Description.............................................................................................5-7
Standard EVENT STATUS Register.....................................................................................5-9
STATUS BYTE Register.....................................................................................................5-11
SERVICE Register ENABLE Register ................................................................................5-13
*CLS Command...............................................................................................................5-13
*ESE Command ..............................................................................................................5-14
*ESE? Query...................................................................................................................5-15
*ESR? Query...................................................................................................................5-15
*SRE Command..............................................................................................................5-15
*SRE? Query...................................................................................................................5-16
*STB? Query ...................................................................................................................5-16
*OPC Command..............................................................................................................5-16
*OPC? Query...................................................................................................................5-16
*IDN? Query....................................................................................................................5-17
*RST Command ..............................................................................................................5-17
*TST? Query....................................................................................................................5-18
*RCL Command ..............................................................................................................5-18
*SAV Command ..............................................................................................................5-18
*SPE Command ..............................................................................................................5-19
*TRG Command..............................................................................................................5-20
*WAI Command...............................................................................................................5-20
SCPI Status Registers ........................................................................................................5-20
SCPI Parameter Type.........................................................................................................5-22
Numeric Parameters........................................................................................................5-22
Discrete Parameters........................................................................................................5-23

1257 User Manual
v
Boolean Parameters........................................................................................................5-24
Command Input Buffer........................................................................................................5-24
Reply Output Buffer.............................................................................................................5-26
Specifying Channels in Commands........................................................................................5-27
Naming The Drawer................................................................................................................5-28
Defining Drawer Names......................................................................................................5-28
Removing Drawer Names...................................................................................................5-29
Reading the Presently Defined Drawer Names ..................................................................5-30
Reading the Module Address for a Drawer Name ..............................................................5-30
Storing the Drawer Names in Non-Volatile Memory............................................................5-31
Naming a Path ....................................................................................................................5-31
Defining Path Names.......................................................................................................5-32
Removing Path Names....................................................................................................5-33
Reading the Presently Defined Path Names...................................................................5-33
Reading the Channel List for a Path Name.....................................................................5-34
Storing Path Names in Non-Volatile Memory..................................................................5-34
Closing Channels................................................................................................................5-35
Opening Channels ..............................................................................................................5-36
Checking for Installed Drawers...............................................................................................5-37
System Commands ................................................................................................................5-37
Reading Error Messages ....................................................................................................5-37
SCPI Version Information....................................................................................................5-38
User-Interface Lockout........................................................................................................5-39
Non-Volatile Update............................................................................................................5-40

1257 User Manual
vi
Chapter 6..............................................................................................................................6-1
SCPI COMMAND REFERENCE ....................................................................................................6-1
General ........................................................................................................................................6-1
Chapter 7..............................................................................................................................7-1
ADVANCED SCPI OPERATIONS..................................................................................................7-1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................7-1
Using ROUTE: CONFIGURE to Control Switching Sequence.................................................7-1
Include Lists..............................................................................................................................7-2
Using Exclude Lists ..................................................................................................................7-5
Using External Triggering.........................................................................................................7-7
Selecting the Trigger Source ................................................................................................7-7
Selecting the Trigger Count ..................................................................................................7-8
Selecting a Trigger Delay......................................................................................................7-8
Arming and Disarming the 1257............................................................................................7-9
Generating a Single Trigger ............................................................................................7-10
Output Trigger Signals from the 1257 .............................................................................7-11
Selecting an Output Trigger Destination..........................................................................7-11
Using Scan Lists and External Trigger Input ..........................................................................7-12
Scan Lists...............................................................................................................................7-12
Defining a Scan List............................................................................................................7-14
Advance Verification Features................................................................................................7-16
Confidence Mode................................................................................................................7-16
Using Relay Verification......................................................................................................7-17
Saving/Recalling the Verification Masks.............................................................................7-18
Automatically Recalling Verification Masks at Startup........................................................7-19

1257 User Manual
vii
Chapter 8..............................................................................................................................8-1
PRODUCT SUPPORT....................................................................................................................8-1
Product Support ...........................................................................................................................8-1
Warranty.......................................................................................................................................8-1
Appendix A.........................................................................................................................A-1
SPECIFICATIONS.........................................................................................................................A-1
General........................................................................................................................................A-1
System ........................................................................................................................................A-1
Remote Interface.........................................................................................................................A-1
Environmental .............................................................................................................................A-2
EMC ............................................................................................................................................A-3
Safety..........................................................................................................................................A-3
Mechanical..................................................................................................................................A-3
Appendix B.........................................................................................................................B-1
RACK MOUNTING ........................................................................................................................B-1
Items Included.............................................................................................................................B-1
Installing the 1257 Using Slides and Mounting Brackets ............................................................B-1
Installing the 1257 into a Rack without Slides.............................................................................B-3
Appendix C........................................................................................................................C-1
TROUBLESHOOTING...................................................................................................................C-1
How to Use this Section..............................................................................................................C-1
Power-Up ....................................................................................................................................C-1
Front-Panel Controls...................................................................................................................C-2

1257 User Manual
viii
RS-232 Remote Interface............................................................................................................C-3
IEEE-488 (GPIB) Remote Interface ............................................................................................C-5
Drawers.......................................................................................................................................C-5
Non-Volatile Memory...................................................................................................................C-6
Index............................................................................................................................................1

1257 User Manual
ix
List of Figures
Figure 1-1, 1257 Switching System.................................................................................................1-1
Figure 1-2, 1257 Features, Front Panel...........................................................................................1-3
Figure 1-3, 1257 Features, Rear Panel ...........................................................................................1-3
Figure 1-4, Dimensions....................................................................................................................1-4
Figure 1-5, 2U High Remote Unit.....................................................................................................1-5
Figure 1-6, Reverse Rack-Mounted.................................................................................................1-5
Figure 1-7, 5U Front Panel Display..................................................................................................1-6
Figure 1-8, 6U Front Panel Display..................................................................................................1-6
Figure 2-1, Changing Fuse for Main AC Power...............................................................................2-1
Figure 2-2, Inserting a Drawer.........................................................................................................2-3
Figure 2-3, Activating Main AC Power.............................................................................................2-4
Figure 3-1, Front-Panel Controls .....................................................................................................3-2
Figure 4-1, Connecting the Ethernet Interface.................................................................................4-3
Figure 4-2, Using the GPIB Interface.............................................................................................4-11
Figure 4-3, Using the RS-232 Interface.........................................................................................4-15
Figure 4-4a, Using the 1257 with a Computer...............................................................................4-16
Figure 4-4b, Using the 1257 with a Modem...................................................................................4-16
Figure 4-5, HyperTerminal Connection Dialog Box .......................................................................4-25
Figure 4-6, Phone Number Dialog Box..........................................................................................4-25
Figure 4-7, COM Properties Dialog Box ........................................................................................4-26
Figure 4-8, Main Communications Screen.....................................................................................4-27
Figure 4-9, Properties Dialog Box..................................................................................................4-28

1257 User Manual
x
Figure 4-10, Settings Dialog Box...................................................................................................4-28
Figure 4-11, ASCII Setup Dialog Box ............................................................................................4-29
Figure 5-1, IEEE-488.2 Status Reporting Model..............................................................................5-8
Figure 7-1, State Transition Diagram For Arming and Triggering the 1257...................................7-10
Figure 7-2, Using External Trigger In and External Trigger Out ....................................................7-12
Figure B-1, Installing the Slide Kit...................................................................................................B-2
Figure B-2, Rack Mounting.............................................................................................................B-3
List of Tables
Table 3-1, Accessibility of Features.................................................................................................3-1
Table 5-1, Power-On and Reset State...........................................................................................5-17
Table 6-1, Commands Implemented by the 1257............................................................................6-3

1257 User Manual
EADS North America Defense Introduction 1-1
Test and Services, Inc. ©2001
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Overview The 1257 Switching System is a high-performance switching and
control system in a compact 4U, 5U, or 6U rack-mountable
package. The 1257 is designed to accept removable microwave
and optical switching drawers customized to particular
applications. The 1257 has the following capabilities:
•Sources 150W at 12V
•240 controllable channels
•TTL, CMOS, or 2A open drain control signals
Figure 1-1, 1257 Switching System

1257 User Manual
Introduction 1-2 EADS North America Defense
Test and Services, Inc. ©2001
Features
Ease Of Use The 1257 Switching System has many design features to make it
easy and convenient to use:
•Fast Setup. There are no configuration jumpers or switches
to be set. The 1257 is ready to use as soon as the custom
drawer has been inserted.
•Flexible Controller Interface. The controller (host
computer) may communicate with the 1257 using either
IEEE-488 (GPIB) or RS-232 interfaces. This allows an
external computer to automate the operation of the 1257.
•Front-Panel Controls. The front-panel controls provide an
intuitive user interface for manually controlling the drawer
and setting user preferences. The front-panel controls
provide access to all interface parameters, such as GPIB
address and RS-232 baud rates. These controls are often
helpful during system setup.
•Command Set Commonality. The 1257 supports the
Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI)
Language. This command set is used in other switching
platforms such as the 1257 GPIB and 1260-Series VXI. For
an introduction to the SCPI command set and its usage, see
Chapter 5, SCPI COMMAND BASICS. For a complete
description of all SCPI commands for the 1257, see Chapter
6, SCPI COMMAND REFERENCE.

1257 User Manual
EADS North America Defense Introduction 1-3
Test and Services, Inc. ©2001
Figure 1-2, 1257 Features, Front Panel
Front and Rear
Panels Figures 1-2 and 1-3 show the features of the front and rear
panels, respectively for a standard forward-mounted unit with the
drawer located on the rear of the box. Figure 1-4 gives the
physical dimensions of the 1257 chassis in this configuration.
The 1257 is also available in a configuration where the system is
reverse rack-mounted, shown in Figure 1-6, and a separate 2U
high remote unit shown in Figure 1-5. These options are also
available in a standard 5U (Figure 1-7) and 6U (Figure 1-8) EIA
height.
Figure 1-3, 1257 Features, Rear Panel
Keypad and LEDs Knob
Speaker
Racal Instruments
Switching System
model 1257
Display
Fuse Cove
r
ON/OFF
A
C In
p
ut
Trigger IN
Trigger OUT
IEEE-488
Connection
RS-232 Connection
For The Custom Drawer
RJ45 Ethernet