Knowledge Base

Testing Open Socket Communications Using PuTTY

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
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...

Measuring the Modulation Index of an AM Signal using an FFT

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
In AM schemes, the modulation index refers to the amplitude ratio of the modulating signal to the carrier signal. With the help of Fast-Fourier-Transforms (FFT), the modulation index can be obtained by measuring the sideband amplitude and the carrier amplitude. In this application note, we are going to show a convenient method of using the new Peaks/Markers function (Available on the 4 channel SIG...

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, ...

Verification of a LAN connection using Telnet

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. This process n...

Measuring Power Supply Control Loop Response with Bode Plot II

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Stability is one of the most important characteristics in power supply design. Traditionally, stability measurements require expensive frequency response analyzers (FRA) which are not always available in a laboratory. Now, using a Siglent oscilloscope, like the SDS1204X-E with the newly released Bode Plot Ⅱ software, together with a Siglent arbitrary waveform generator (SDG or SAG) and a Picotes...

Using EasyScope X to retrieve Average Waveform Data

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Waveform averaging can be a useful method to decrease noise in a particular signal. The SIGLENT SDS series of oscilloscopes can easily collect average waveform data using EasyScope X software. NOTE: At this time, average waveform data is not able to be saved in CSV format via the front panel USB connection to a USB memory stick. Initial Setup – Download NI-VISA Runtime Engine t...

Quick remote computer control using LXI Tools

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Introduction: There are many options for people considering remote communication and control of test and measurement instrumentation. In most cases, a computer is used to communicate to test instrumentation using USB or LAN connections. The computer can configure the instruments, collect and organize data, and present it in a useful and flexible way. Remote control provides: Inc...

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...

Programming Example: List connected VISA compatible resources using PyVISA

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
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...

Programming Example: SDS Oscilloscope screen image capture using Python

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
Here is a brief code example written in Python 3.4 that uses a socket to pull a display image (screenshot) from a SIGLENT SDS1000X-E scope via LAN and save it to the local drive of the controlling computer. NOTE: This program saves the picture/display image file in the same directory that the .py file is being run from. It will overwrite any existing file that has the same name. Download Py...

X-Y Display mode on Scopes – additional features with RIGOL DS1000Z-series oscilloscope (DS1074, DS1074Z-S, DS1104Z, DS1104Z-S)

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by Doug Lovell
14/12/2020
New DS1000Z series offers more in X-Y mode: In this mode, the Rigol DS1074Z oscilloscope changes 2 of the 4 channels from voltage-time display mode to voltage-voltage display mode. The phase deviation between two signals with the same frequency can be easily measured via Lissajous method. The figure b...

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