Remotely Specifying a Source Port
In the 'not-too-distant past', it was a simple task to specify a PNA source port. It was either port 1 or port 2. Now, for the following reasons, it is not so simple:
Internal 2nd sources are now offered on various PNA models. However, some source ports do not have a port number. One example is the second source on the PNA-X 2-port model (option 224). Learn more about Internal Second Sources.
External sources can now be controlled by the PNA as though they are internal sources. External sources do not have a source port number, but use String names as identifiers.
For FCA ONLY: Once configured using the Configuration dialog, an external source can be selected remotely and controlled by the PNA by specifying the LOName using SCPI or COM.
All other uses for External sources: The external source must be configured and selected from the External Source dialog. You can then save an Instrument State file, then recall that state file remotely.
Multiport test sets…choose between ports 1 through port N, where N is the number of ports on the test set. You still use a port number, but this port number refers to a logical port. The Port mapping feature maps the logical port to a physical port. Learn more about Multiport test sets.
iTMSA (Opt 460) When this option is present, the string names for balanced source ports are returned with the appropriate COM and SCPI commands. For example, "SE Port 1" is used to access 'Single-ended Port 1".
Source Port String Names
The PNA User Interface (UI) makes it easy to configure and select the sources and ports. Remotely however, string names are used now, in addition to port numbers, to specify a Source port.
COM - The existing COM commands specify source ports as numbers and they are still used. It is necessary to learn the port number from the string using the GetPortNumber Method. Port numbers are assigned dynamically depending on whether external sources are selected and the number of ports of the PNA.
SourcePortNames Property
GetPortNumber Method
SourcePortCount Property.
An example:
dim app
set app = CreateObject("Agilentpna835x.application")
dim channel
set channel = app.Channel
dim portnum
portnum = Channel.GetPortNumber("Src2 Out1")
app.CreateMeasurement 1,"A",portnum
SCPI - ALL of the existing SCPI commands that specify a source port are extended to also allow the source port to be specified using string names. For example, send the following command to set the power on Src2 Out1:
Use Source:Cat? to list the available source port string names.