Tektronix WCA230A Operating and maintenance manual

Programmer Manual
WCA230A & WCA280A
3 GHz & 8 GHz
Portable Wireless Communication Analyzers
071-1255-08
This document applies to firmware version 3.30
and above.
www.tektronix.com

Copyright ©Tektronix. All rights reserved. Licensed software products are owned by Tektronix or its subsidiaries or
suppliers, and are protected by national copyright laws and international treaty provisions.
Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this publication supercedes
that in all previously published material. Specifications and price change privileges reserved.
TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.
Contacting Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc.
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR 97077
USA
For product information, sales, service, and technical support:
HIn North America, call 1-800-833-9200.
HWorldwide, visit www.tektronix.com to find contacts in your area.

WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual i
Table of Contents
Preface ix...................................................
Related Manual ix..................................................
Difference between WCA230A and WCA280A ix........................
Getting Started
Overview of the Manual 1--2...........................................
Connecting the Interface 1--4..........................................
Using the GPIB Port 1--5..............................................
Setting the GPIB Parameters from the Front Panel 1--6......................
Using TekVISA 1--8..................................................
Syntax and Commands
Command Syntax 2--1.........................................
Backus-Naur Form Definition 2--1......................................
SCPI Commands and Queries 2--2......................................
IEEE 488.2 Common Commands 2--10...................................
Constructed Mnemonics 2--10...........................................
Command Groups 2--11.........................................
Measurement Mode 2--12..............................................
Functional Groups 2--13...............................................
IEEE Common Commands 2--14........................................
:ABORt Commands 2--14..............................................
:CALCulate Commands 2--15...........................................
:CALibration Commands 2--16..........................................
:CONFigure Commands 2--16...........................................
:DISPlay Commands 2--17.............................................
:FETCh Commands 2--24..............................................
:FORMat Commands 2--25.............................................
:HCOPy Commands 2--26..............................................
:INITiate Commands 2--26.............................................
:INPut Commands 2--26...............................................
:INSTrument Commands 2--27..........................................
:MMEMory Commands 2--27...........................................
:PROGram Commands 2--28............................................
:READ Commands 2--28...............................................
:SENSe Commands 2--29..............................................
:STATus Commands 2--36..............................................
:SYSTem Commands 2--36.............................................
:TRACe Commands 2--37..............................................
:TRIGger Commands 2--37.............................................
:UNIT Commands 2--38...............................................

Table of Contents
ii WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
IEEE Common Commands 2--39.................................
:ABORt Commands 2--49........................................
:CALCulate Commands 2--51....................................
:CALibration Commands 2--67...................................
:CONFigure Commands 2--75....................................
:DISPlay Commands 2--89.......................................
:FETCh Commands 2--245.......................................
:FORMat Commands 2--295......................................
:HCOPy Commands 2--297.......................................
:INITiate Commands 2--301.......................................
:INPut Commands 2--305.........................................
:INSTrument Commands 2--311...................................
:MMEMory Commands 2--315....................................
:PROGram Commands 2--325.....................................
:READ Commands 2--331........................................
:SENSe Commands 2--371........................................
:STATus Commands 2--529.......................................
:SYSTem Commands 2--537.......................................
:TRACe Commands 2--547.......................................
:TRIGger Commands 2--553......................................
:UNIT Commands 2--569.........................................
Retrieving Response Message 2--571................................
Status and Events
Status and Event Reporting System 3--1..................................
Registers 3--5.......................................................
Status Registers 3--5..................................................
Enable Registers 3--9.................................................
Transition Registers 3--11..............................................
Queues 3--12........................................................
Status and Event Processing Sequence 3--13...............................
Synchronizing Execution 3--14..........................................
Error Messages and Codes 3--17..................................
Command Errors 3--18.................................................
Execution Errors 3--20.................................................
Device Specific Errors 3--22............................................
Query Errors 3--22....................................................

Table of Contents
WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual iii
Programming Examples
General Programming Procedure 4--2....................................
Application Program Sample 4--3.......................................
Macro Program Execution Sample 4--15..................................
Appendices
Appendix A: Character Charts A--1..............................
Appendix B: GPIB Interface Specification B--1.....................
Interface Functions B--1...............................................
Interface Messages B--3...............................................
Appendix C: Factory Initialization Settings C--1....................
Appendix D: Setting Range D--1.................................
Display Format and Scale D--1..........................................
RBW D--4..........................................................
Appendix E: SCPI Conformance Information E--1..................
Glossary and Index

Table of Contents
iv WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
List of Figures
Figure 1--1: Command parts 1--2.................................
Figure 1--2: Functional groupings and an alphabetical list of
commands 1--2............................................
Figure 1--3: Event-driven program 1--3...........................
Figure 1--4: Sample program (Visual C++ source code) 1--3..........
Figure 1--5: GPIB connector (rear panel) 1--4......................
Figure 1--6: GPIB connection 1--5................................
Figure 1--7: Typical GPIB network configurations 1--5..............
Figure 1--8: Remote Setup menu 1--6.............................
Figure 1--9: Setting the GPIB parameters 1--7......................
Figure 2--1: Example of SCPI subsystem hierarchy tree 2--2..........
Figure 2--2: Example of abbreviating a command 2--6...............
Figure 2--3: Example of chaining commands and queries 2--7.........
Figure 2--4: Example of omitting root and lower-level nodes in a
chained message 2--7.......................................
Figure 2--5: View number assignments 2--51........................
Figure 2--6: Horizontal scale setting requirements 2--90...............
Figure 2--7: Horizontal scale setting requirements for spectrum
view 2--91..................................................
Figure 2--8: :DISPlay:CCDF command setting 2--92..................
Figure 2--9: :DISPlay:DDEMod command setting 2--100...............
Figure 2--10: :DISPlay:OVIew command setting 2--128................
Figure 2--11: :DISPlay:PULSe:SPECtrum command setting 2--150......
Figure 2--12: :DISPlay:SPECtrum command setting 2--186.............
Figure 2--13: :DISPlay:TFRequency command setting 2--229...........
Figure 2--14: View display formats 2--239............................
Figure 2--15: :DISPlay:WAVeform command setting 2--240.............
Figure 2--16: Setting up the ACPR measurement 2--374................
Figure 2--17: Defining the analysis range 2--377......................
Figure 2--18: Setting up the channel power measurement 2--393.........
Figure 2--19: Setting up the C/N measurement 2--396..................
Figure 2--20: Defining the analysis range 2--406......................
Figure 2--21: Setting up the EBW measurement 2--425................
Figure 2--22: Setting frequency and span 2--427......................
Figure 2--23: Setting up the OBW measurement 2--437................

Table of Contents
WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual v
Figure 2--24: Setting up the spurious signal measurement 2--496........
Figure 2--25: Defining the analysis range 2--524......................
Figure 2--26: Trigger mask setting example 2--557....................
Figure 2--27: Retrieving response message 2--571.....................
Figure 3--1: Status/Event reporting mechanism 3--2.................
Figure 3--2: The Status Byte Register (SBR) 3--6....................
Figure 3--3: The Standard Event Status Register (SESR) 3--7.........
Figure 3--4: The Operation Condition Register (OCR) 3--8...........
Figure 3--5: The Event Status Enable Register (ESER) 3--9...........
Figure 3--6: The Service Request Enable Register (SRER) 3--10........
Figure 3--7: Operation Enable Register (OENR) 3--10................
Figure 3--8: Operation Transition Register (OTR) 3--11...............
Figure 3--9: Status and event processing sequence 3--13...............
Figure 4--1: Saving the macro programs 4--15.......................

Table of Contents
vi WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
List of Tables
Table 2--1: BNF symbols and meanings 2--1.......................
Table 2--2: Query response examples 2--3.........................
Table 2--3: Parameter types used in syntax descriptions 2--4.........
Table 2--4: Available units 2--8..................................
Table 2--5: Available SI prefixes 2--8.............................
Table 2--6: Constructed mnemonics 2--10..........................
Table 2--7: Measurement mode 2--12..............................
Table 2--8: List of command groups 2--13..........................
Table 2--9: IEEE common commands 2--14.........................
Table 2--10: :ABORt commands 2--14.............................
Table 2--11: :CALCulate commands 2--15..........................
Table 2--12: :CALibration commands 2--16........................
Table 2--13: :CONFigure commands 2--16..........................
Table 2--14: :DISPlay commands 2--17............................
Table 2--15: :FETCh commands 2--24.............................
Table 2--16: :FORMat commands 2--25............................
Table 2--17: :HCOPy commands 2--26.............................
Table 2--18: :INITiate commands 2--26............................
Table 2--19: :INPut commands 2--26..............................
Table 2--20: :INSTrument commands 2--27.........................
Table 2--21: :MMEMory commands 2--27..........................
Table 2--22: :PROGram commands 2--28..........................
Table 2--23: :READ commands 2--28..............................
Table 2--24: :SENSe commands 2--29..............................
Table 2--25: :STATus commands 2--36.............................
Table 2--26: :SYSTem commands 2--36............................
Table 2--27: :TRACe commands 2--37.............................
Table 2--28: :TRIGger commands 2--37............................
Table 2--29: :UNIT commands 2--38...............................
Table 2--30: :DISPlay command subgroups 2--89....................
Table 2--31: Main view display formats 2--103.......................
Table 2--32: Subview display formats 2--117.........................
Table 2--33: Subview display format 2--146..........................
Table 2--34: Subview display formats 2--170.........................
Table 2--35: Subview display formats in the signal source analysis 2--206.

Table of Contents
WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual vii
Table 2--36: Queried information on the digital modulation analysis
results 2--254................................................
Table 2--37: Queried information 2--261............................
Table 2--38: RFID measurement selections 2--268.....................
Table 2--39: Symbol value definition 2--271..........................
Table 2--40: Signal source analysis 2--283...........................
Table 2--41: Input attenuation settings 2--306........................
Table 2--42: Mixer level settings 2--309.............................
Table 2--43: Reference level range 2--310............................
Table 2--44: Measurement mode 2--312.............................
Table 2--45: Queried information on the digital modulation analysis
results 2--340................................................
Table 2--46: Signal source analysis 2--363...........................
Table 2--47: :SENSe command subgroups 2--371.....................
Table 2--48: Measurement item selections 2--382.....................
Table 2--49: Block size setting range 2--387..........................
Table 2--50: Modulation selections 2--413...........................
Table 2--51: Communication standard selections 2--422...............
Table 2--52: Measurement frequency bands 2--428....................
Table 2--53: Span setting 2--434...................................
Table 2--54: RFID measurement items 2--457........................
Table 2--55: Decoding format 2--463................................
Table 2--56: Modulation format 2--464..............................
Table 2--57: RFID demodulation standard 2--468.....................
Table 2--58: FFT windows 2--489..................................
Table 2--59: S/A mode measurement items 2--491.....................
Table 2--60: Analysis length setting range 2--511.....................
Table 2--61: SSOurce measurement items 2--512.....................
Table 2--62: Bin number setting range 2--556........................
Table 3--1: SBR bit functions 3--6................................
Table 3--2: SESR bit functions 3--7...............................
Table 3--3: OCR bit functions 3--8...............................
Table 3--4: Command errors 3--18................................
Table 3--5: Execution errors 3--20.................................
Table 3--6: Device specific errors 3--22.............................
Table 3--7: Query errors 3--22....................................
Table A--1: ASCII & GPIB code chart A--2.........................

Table of Contents
viii WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
Table B--1: GPIB interface function implementation B--1............
Table B--2: Standard interface messages B--3......................
Table C--1: Factory initialization settings — IEEE common
commands C--1............................................
Table C--2: Factory initialization settings — :CALibration
commands C--1............................................
Table C--3: Factory initialization settings — :DISPlay commands C--1.
Table C--4: Factory initialization settings — :FORMat commands C--3
Table C--5: Factory initialization settings — :INITiate commands C--4.
Table C--6: Factory initialization settings — :INPut commands C--4...
Table C--7: Factory initialization settings — :SENSe commands C--4..
Table C--8: Factory initialization settings — :STATus commands C--10.
Table C--9: Factory initialization settings — :TRACe commands C--10..
Table C--10: Factory initialization settings — :TRIGger commands C--10
Table C--11: Factory initialization settings — :UNIT commands C--11..
Table D--1: Display format and scale D--1.........................
Table D--2: Display format and scale: RFID Measurements D--2......
Table D--3: Display format and scale: Signal source analysis D--3.....
Table D--4: RBW setting range D--4..............................
Table E--1: SCPI 1999.0-defined commands E--1...................

WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual ix
Preface
This programmer manual is for the WCA230A and WCA280A Portable Wireless
Communication Analyzers. It provides information on operating your analyzer
using the General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB).
This manual is composed of the following sections:
HGetting Started outlines how to use the GPIB interface.
HSyntax and Commands defines the syntax used in command descriptions,
presents a list of all command subsystems, and presents detailed descriptions
of all programming commands.
HStatus and Events describes how the status and Events Reporting system
operates and presents a list of all system errors.
HProgramming Examples describes some example analyzer programs.
HAppendices provides additional information including character charts, GPIB
interface specification, and factory initialization settings.
Related Manual
WCA230A and WCA280A User Manual
(Standard accessory; Tektronix part number 071-1253-XX)
Describes how to install the analyzer and how to work with the menus and
details the functions.
Difference between WCA230A and WCA280A
WCA230A and WCA280A have the same functions except for their measure-
ment frequency ranges:
WCA230A DC to 3 GHz.........
WCA280A DC to 8 GHz.........
Unless otherwise noted, descriptions in this manual apply to both.

Preface
xWCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
Notice for Trigger Function
The trigger functions vary according to the product serial numbers due to the
different hardware as follows (the serial number is labeled on the bottom-right
corner of the rear panel):
HS/N B020000 and above
HS/N below B020000 and J300100 and above
In this manual, descriptions of the trigger commands are marked with the
appropriate serial number if necessary.

Getting Started

WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual 1-1
Getting Started
You can write computer programs that remotely set the analyzer front panel
controls or that take measurements and read those measurements for further
analysis or storage.
To help you get started with programming the analyzer, this section includes the
following sections:
HOverview of the Manual
Summarizes the type of programming information contained in each major
section of this manual.
HConnecting the Interface
Describes how to physically connect the analyzer to a controller.
HUsing GPIB Ports
Describes how to use the GPIB port.
HSetting the GPIB Parameters from the Front Panel
Describes how to set the GPIB parameters from the front panel.
HUsing TekVISA
Describes how to use the TekVISA communication protocol.

Getting Started
1-2 WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
Overview of the Manual
The information contained in each major section of this manual is described
below.
Section 2, Syntax and Commands, describes the structure and content of the
messages your program sends to the analyzer. Figure 1--1 shows command parts
as described in the Command Syntax subsection.
Comma
:MMEMory:COPY FILE1,FILE2
Header
Mnemonics ArgumentsSpace
Command parts
Figure 1- 1: Command parts
Section 2 also describes the effect of each command and provides examples of
how you might use it. The Command Groups section provides lists by functional
areas. The IEEE Common Commands and the subsequent sections arrange
commands alphabetically (Figure 1--2).
:TRIGger
:CALCulate:DLINe
:CALCulate:MARKer:AOFF
:CALCulate:MARKer:X
IEEE Common Commands
*CAL?
*CLS
*ESE
*ESR
*IDN?
*OPC
:ABORt Commands
:CALCulate Commands
Syntax:...
Examples:...
S
E
S
E
Commands grouped in functional areas Commands listed alphabetically
Arguments:
A
A
Figure 1- 2: Functional groupings and an alphabetical list of commands
Syntax and Commands

Getting Started
WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual 1-3
The program may request information from the analyzer. The analyzer provides
information in the form of status and error messages. Figure 1--3 illustrates the
basic operation of this system.
Section 3, Status and Events, describes how to get status or event information
from the program and details the event and error messages.
Your program requests
status and event reports.
The analyzer sends status and event reports.
GPIB cable
Controller
WCA230A/WCA280A
Figure 1- 3: Event-driven program
Section 4, Programming Examples, includes Visual C++ source code as well as
sample programs for running macro programs.
GpibWrite("INSTrument 'SANORMAL'");
GpibWrite("*RST");
GpibTimeOut(NORMAL_TIME);
GpibWrite("CONFigure:SPECtrum:CHPower");
GpibWrite("FREQuency:BAND RF1B");
GpibWrite("FREQuency:CENTer 1GHz");
GpibWrite("FREQuency:SPAN 1MHz");
GpibWrite("*CAL?");
GpibRead(readBuf, MAX_BUF);
printf("*CAL? result = %s\n", readBuf);
GpibWrite("CHPower:BANDwidth:INTegration 300kHz");
GpibWrite("SPECtrum:AVERage ON");
Figure 1- 4: Sample program (Visual C++ source code)
Status and Events
Programming Examples

Getting Started
1-4 WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
Connecting the Interface
The analyzer has a 24-pin GPIB connector on its rear panel, as shown in
Figure 1--5. This connector has a D-type shell and conforms to IEEE Std
488.1--1987.
Attach an IEEE Std 488.1-1987 GPIB cable (Tektronix part number
012-0991-00) to this connector.
GPIB connector
Figure 1- 5: GPIB connector (rear panel)
Appendix B: GPIB Interface Specifications gives more information on the GPIB
configuration of the analyzer.
For the other interfaces, refer to the WCA230A and WCA280A User Manual.

Getting Started
WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual 1-5
Using the GPIB Port
The analyzer has Talker/Listener functions through which it can communicate
with other devices, as well as the external controller, located on the bus.
GPIB
Controller Using the analyzer as a talker or listener
Figure 1- 6: GPIB connection
Observe these rules when you use your analyzer with a GPIB network:
HAssign a unique device address to each device on the bus. No two devices
can share the same device address.
HDo not connect more than 15 devices to any one bus.
HConnect one device for every 2 meters (6 feet) of cable used.
HDo not use more than 20 meters (65 feet) of cable to connect devices to a
bus.
HTurn on at least two-thirds of the devices on the network while using the
network.
HConnect the devices on the network in a star or linear configuration as shown
in Figure 1--7. Do not use loop or parallel configurations.
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
GPIB Device
Figure 1- 7: Typical GPIB network configurations
GPIB Requirements

Getting Started
1-6 WCA230A & WCA280A Programmer Manual
Setting the GPIB Parameters from the Front Panel
Use the SYSTEM →Remote Setup menu to set the GPIB parameters as
required for the bus configuration. Once you have set the parameters, you can
control the analyzer through the GPIB interface.
Display Brightness
Reset All to Factory Defaults
Remote Setup...
Version and Installed Options...
Instrument Setup...
Remote Interface
GPIB Setup...
Ethernet Setup...
Off/On
GPIB Port
TekVISA
GPIB Address
Connection Mode...
Figure 1- 8: Remote Setup menu
The Remote Setup menu contains the following controls:
Remote Interface. Turns on or off the connection between the analyzer and the
interface bus.
GPIB Setup... Sets the GPIB address and connection mode.
GPIB Address. Sets the GPIB address of the analyzer when GPIB Port is
selected as the Connection Mode. Range: 0 to 30 (default: 1)
Connection Mode. Selects the physical GPIB port or the virtual (TekVISA)
connection method.
HGPIB Port. Default. Uses the IEEE488.2 connector on the rear panel of the
analyzer to communicate with an external controller.
Refer to the next section Setting up the GPIB port for the procedure.
HTekVISA. Uses TekVISA to communicate with test instrumentation through
Ethernet (LAN connector on the side panel of the analyzer), and also to run a
control program locally on the analyzer.
Refer to Using TekVISA on page 1--8 for more information.
Remote Setup Menu