Knowledge Base SPD3000X/X-E Series

Testing Open Socket Communications Using PuTTY

Posted on: December 15th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
15/12/2020
Many instruments include the ability to be controlled via a remote connection to a computer using an Ethernet connection. In many cases, these instruments require a special software library that can help establish and maintain the communications link between the instrument and controlling computer. This can be annoying for a few reasons… the software library is likely to occupy a large amount of...

Verification of a LAN connection using Telnet

Posted on: December 15th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
15/12/2020
Automating a test can dramatically increase the productivity, throughput, and accuracy of a process. Automating a setup involves connecting a computer to the test instrumentation using a standard communications bus like USB or LAN and then utilizing code entered via a software layer (like LabVIEW, .NET, Python, etc..) to sequence the specific instrument commands and process data. This process n...

Programming Example: List connected VISA compatible resources using PyVISA

Posted on: December 15th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
15/12/2020
PyVISA is a software library that enables Python applications to communicate with resources (typically instruments) connected to a controlling computer using different buses, including: GPIB, RS-232, LAN, and USB. This example scans and lists the available resources. It requires PyVISA to be installed (see the PyVISA documentation for more information) *** #Example that scans a compute...

Power Supply Design: Load Step Response with a SIGLENT DC Electronic Load

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Building a power supply that can handle various loads without oscillating can be a challenge. Computational models and computer simulations can help get your design headed in the right direction, but physical testing is essential to proving the performance of your design. One method of quickly determining stability is to use a load step response. In this test, a DC electronic load is used to...

Programming Example: Open Socket LAN connection using Python

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Automating a test can dramatically increase the productivity, throughput, and accuracy of a process. Automating a setup involves connecting a computer to the test instrumentation using a standard communications bus like USB or LAN and then utilizing code entered via a software layer (like LabVIEW, .NET, Python, etc..) to sequence the specific instrument commands and process data. In this note, ...

Programming Example: Using VXI11 (LXI) and Python for LAN control without sockets

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
In an effort to meet the demands of remote monitoring and control, modern test instrumentation is leveraging more communications busses and than ever before. Each type of bus can also have numerous layers that can be utilized for specific advantages. The VXI bus and subsequent software drivers form a convenient software API that can make remote control of instrumentation over LAN quite simple...