Manual - 8500A Series Peak Power Meter - Giga-tronics

3
Remote Operation
3.1 Introduction
This chapter describes remote operation of the Series 8500A Peak Power Meters using the General
Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB), and provides all of the basic information required to begin programming
as easily as possible. After you are familiar with the Model 8501A/8502A Peak Power Meter (PPM)
commands and functions, controlling the instrument through the GPIB should be fairly simple. A
first-time user of the PPM should read the General Information in Section 3.2 before attempting to
operate the PPM over the GPIB.
Appendix A to this manual contains a summary of command codes.
This chapter contains the following information:
• General Information; Bus Functions; Menus; Modes of Operation; IEEE Output Modes; String
Formats; Data Formats; Descriptive material on how the PPM functions over the GPIB;
Simple Sample Programs
• Command Descriptions by Function; Command Syntax; Sample Programs
• Service Request (SRQ) Functions; Error Conditions
• Giga-tronics Model 1018B Emulation; Limitations; Explicit and Implied 1018B Emulation
• Status Code Values - Normal; Command Errors; Operation Errors; Task Completion Codes,
Normal and Abnormal; Critical Errors
• Summary of Bus Functions Implemented on the Model 8501A/8502A Power Meters
• Command Summary Table (Alphabetical Listing)
The PPM allows several modes of GPIB operation. Power measurements can be taken in a variety of
modes and formats. These range from simple CW measurements to complex graphic display capabilities
of pulse profiles, complete with timing information.
The 1018B emulation feature allows the 8501A/8502A to be installed in most test systems where the
1018B was previously used, without the need for immediate reprogramming. The emulation can facilitate
the usage of the PPM with the older 1018B software while writing new codes is under way.
Manual No. 20790, Rev C, November 1998 3-1
Superceded by Revision D, March 2009