Agilent 86120B
Multi-Wavelength Meter
User’s Guide
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The Agilent 86120B—At a Glance
The Agilent 86120B—At a Glance
The Agilent 86120B Multi-Wavelength Meter measures the wavelength and
optical power of laser light in the 700-1650 nm wavelength range. Because the
Agilent 86120B simultaneously measures multiple laser lines, you can charac-
terize wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) systems and the multiple lines
of Fabry-Perot lasers.
NOTE
The front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector uses a single-mode input fiber.
What’s new with the Agilent 86120B
This book directly applies to Agilent 86120B instruments with firmware ver-
sion number 2.0. When first turned on, the instrument briefly displays the
firmware version. These instruments have the added capability of measuring
broadband devices and chirped lasers. Refer to “Measuring broadband devices
and chirped lasers” on page 2-10.
Characterize laser lines easily
With the Agilent 86120B you can quickly and easily measure any of the follow-
ing parameters:
• Wavelengths and powers
• Average wavelength
• Total optical power
• Laser line separation
• Laser drift (wavelength and power)
• Signal-to-noise ratios
• Coherence length
iii
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The Agilent 86120B—At a Glance
In addition to these measurements, a “power bar” is displayed that shows
power changes like a traditional analog meter. You can see the power bar
shown in the following figure of the Agilent 86120B’s display.
C A U T I O N
The input circuitry of the Agilent 86120B can be damaged when total input
power levels exceed +18 dBm. To prevent input damage, this specified level
must not be exceeded.
Print measurement results
Program the instrument for automatic measurements
The Agilent 86120B offers an extensive set of GPIB programming commands.
These commands allow you to perform automated measurements on manufac-
turing production lines and remote sites. Chapter 4, “Programming” and Chap-
ter 5, “Programming Commands” provide all the information you’ll need to
know in order to program the Agilent 86120B.
Display wavelengths as if measured in vacuum or standard air
Although all measurements are made in air, displayed results are corrected for
air dispersion to accurately show wavelength values in vacuum or in “standard
air.” To ensure accurate wavelength measurements, make sure that you enter
the elevation from which you will be making measurements as described in
Chapter 1, “Getting Started”.
iv
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The Agilent 86120B—At a Glance
Measurement accuracy—it’s up to you!
Fiber-optic connectors are easily damaged when connected to dirty or damaged cables
and accessories. The Agilent 86120B’s front-panel INPUT connector is no exception.
When you use improper cleaning and handling techniques, you risk expensive instru-
ment repairs, damaged cables, and compromised measurements.
Before you connect any fiber-optic cable to the Agilent 86120B, refer to “Cleaning Con-
nections for Accurate Measurements” on page 1-13.
v
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General Safety Considerations
General Safety Considerations
This product has been designed and tested in accordance with IEC Publica-
tion 1010, Safety Requirements for Electronic Measuring Apparatus, and has
been supplied in a safe condition. The instruction documentation contains
information and warnings which must be followed by the user to ensure safe
operation and to maintain the product in a safe condition.
Laser Classification: This product is classified FDA Laser Class I (IEC Laser
Class 1).
W A R N I N G
W A R N I N G
If this instrument is not used as specified, the protection provided by
the equipment could be impaired. This instrument must be used in a
normal condition (in which all means for protection are intact) only.
No operator serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
personnel. To prevent electrical shock, do not remove covers.
There is no output laser aperture
The Agilent 86120B does not have an output laser aperture. However, light less than
1 nw escapes out of the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector. Operator maintenance or
precautions are not necessary to maintain safety. No controls, adjustments, or perfor-
mance of procedures result in hazardous radiation exposure.
vi
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General Safety Considerations
W A R N I N G
W A R N I N G
To prevent electrical shock, disconnect the Agilent 86120B from
mains before cleaning. Use a dry cloth or one slightly dampened with
water to clean the external case parts. Do not attempt to clean
internally.
This is a Safety Class 1 product (provided with a protective earthing
ground incorporated in the power cord). The mains plug shall only be
inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact.
Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the
product is likely to make the product dangerous. Intentional
interruption is prohibited.
W A R N I N G
For continued protection against fire hazard, replace line fuse only
with same type and ratings, (type T 0.315A/250V for 100/120V
operation and 0.16A/250V for 220/240V operation). The use of other
fuses or materials is prohibited. Verify that the value of the line-
voltage fuse is correct.
• For 100/120V operation, use an IEC 127 5×20 mm, 0.315 A, 250 V, Agilent
part number 2110-0449.
• For 220/240V operation, use an IEC 127 5×20 mm, 0.16 A, 250 V, Agilent
Technologies part number 2110-0448.
C A U T I O N
Before switching on this instrument, make sure that the line voltage selector
switch is set to the line voltage of the power supply and the correct fuse is
installed. Assure the supply voltage is in the specified range.
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
This product is designed for use in Installation Category II and Pollution
Degree 2 per IEC 1010 and 664 respectively.
VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS: When installing the product in a cabinet, the
convection into and out of the product must not be restricted. The ambient
temperature (outside the cabinet) must be less than the maximum operating
vii
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General Safety Considerations
temperature of the product by 4°C for every 100 watts dissipated in the
cabinet. If the total power dissipated in the cabinet is greater than 800 watts,
then forced convection must be used.
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
Always use the three-prong ac power cord supplied with this instrument.
Failure to ensure adequate earth grounding by not using this cord may cause
instrument damage.
Do not connect ac power until you have verified the line voltage is correct as
described in “Line Power Requirements” on page 1-6. Damage to the
equipment could result.
This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage
is within the specified range.
viii
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Contents
Step 5. Turn on the Agilent 86120B 1-8
Defining Laser-Line Peaks 2-16
4 Programming
Addressing and Initializing the Instrument 4-3
Making Measurements 4-5
Monitoring the Instrument 4-16
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules 4-23
Example Programs 4-28
Contents-1
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Contents
Lists of Commands 4-43
READ Measurement Instruction 5-69
STATus Subsystem 5-74
SYSTem Subsystem 5-79
UNIT Subsystem 5-86
6 Performance Tests
Test 2. Sensitivity 6-4
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity 6-9
Specifications 7-6
8 Reference
Instrument Preset Conditions 8-2
Menu Maps 8-4
Error Messages 8-9
Front-Panel Fiber-Optic Adapters 8-15
Contents-2
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Contents
Power Cords 8-16
Agilent Technologies Service Offices 8-18
Contents-3
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1
Step 5. Turn on the Agilent 86120B 1-8
Step 6. Enter Your Elevation 1-10
Step 7. Select Medium for Wavelength Values 1-11
Step 8. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting 1-12
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements 1-13
Returning the Instrument for Service 1-23
Getting Started
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Getting Started
Getting Started
Getting Started
The instructions in this chapter show you how to install your Agilent 86120B.
You should be able to finish these procedures in about ten to twenty minutes.
After you’ve completed this chapter, continue with Chapter 2, “Using the
Multi-Wavelength Meter”. Refer to Chapter 7, “Specifications and Regulatory
Information” for information on operating conditions such as temperature.
If you should ever need to clean the cabinet, use a damp cloth only.
W A R N I N G
C A U T I O N
To prevent electrical shock, disconnect the Agilent 86120B from
mains before cleaning. Use a dry cloth or one slightly dampened with
water to clean the external case parts. Do not attempt to clean
internally.
Ventilation Requirements. When installing the product in a cabinet, the
convection into and out of the product must not be restricted. The ambient
temperature (outside the cabinet) must be less than the maximum operating
temperature of the product by 4°C for every 100 watts dissipated in the
cabinet. If the total power dissipated in the cabinet is greater than 800 watts,
then forced convection must be used.
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
This product is designed for use in INSTALLATION CATEGORY II and
POLLUTION DEGREE 2, per IEC 1010 and 664 respectively.
Install the instrument so that the ON/OFF switch is readily identifiable and is
easily reached by the operator. The ON/OFF switch or the detachable power
cord is the instrument disconnecting device. It disconnects the mains circuits
from the mains supply before other parts of the instrument. Alternately, an
externally installed switch or circuit breaker (which is really identifiable and is
easily reached by the operator) may be used as a disconnecting device.
C A U T I O N
Install the instrument according to the enclosure protection provided. This
instrument does not protect against the ingress of water. This instrument
protects against finger access to hazardous parts within the enclosure.
1-2
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Getting Started
Step 1. Inspect the Shipment
Step 1. Inspect the Shipment
1 Verify that all system components ordered have arrived by comparing the
shipping forms to the original purchase order. Inspect all shipping containers.
If your shipment is damaged or incomplete, save the packing materials and
notify both the shipping carrier and the nearest Agilent Technologies sales
and service office. Agilent Technologies will arrange for repair or
replacement of damaged or incomplete shipments without waiting for a
settlement from the transportation company. Notify the Agilent
Technologies customer engineer of any problems.
2 Make sure that the serial number and options listed on the instrument’s rear-
panel label match the serial number and options listed on the shipping
document. The following figure is an example of the rear-panel serial number
label:
1-3
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Getting Started
Step 1. Inspect the Shipment
Table 1-1. Options and Accessories Available for the Agilent 86120B
Agilent Technologies
Part Number
Item
Quantity
Option 010 Delete FC/PC connector
—
1
—
Option 011 Diamond HMS-10 connector interface
Option 013 DIN 47256 connector interface
Option 014 ST connector interface
08154-61701
08154-61703
08154-61704
08154-61708
—
1
1
Option 017 SC connector interface
1
Option 022 Replace flat physical contact interface with
angled physical contact interface
—
Option 900 Great Britain power cord
Option 901 Australia, New Zealand, China power cord
Option 902 European power cord
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8120-1703
8120-0696
8120-1692
8120-2296
8120-2957
8120-4600
8120-4754
8120-5181
9211-7314
—
Option 906 Switzerland power cord
Option 912 Denmark power cord
Option 917 India, South Africa power cord
Option 918 Japanese power cord
Option 919 Israel power cord
Option UK5 Protective soft carrying case
Option UK6 Commercial calibration certificate with
calibration data
Option AXE Rack mount kit with handles
Option IX4 Rack mount kit without handles
Option OB2 Additional user’s manual
1
1
1
1
86120-60031
86120-60030
86120-90001
1005-0587
Option 412 Add 10 dB external attenuator (FC/PC
interface connector)
1-4
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Getting Started
Step 2. Check the Fuse
Step 2. Check the Fuse
1 Locate the line-input connector on the instrument’s rear panel.
2 Disconnect the line-power cable if it is connected.
3 Use a small flat-blade screwdriver to open the pull-out fuse drawer.
4 Verify that the value of the line-voltage fuse in the pull-out drawer is correct.
The recommended fuse is an IEC 127 5×20 mm, 6.3A, 250 V, Agilent
Technologies part number 2110-0703.
Notice that an extra fuse is provided in a drawer located on the fuse holder.
W A R N I N G
For continued protection against fire hazard, replace line fuse only
with same type and ratings, (type T 6.3A/250V for 100/240V
operation). The use of other fuses or materials is prohibited.
1-5
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Getting Started
Step 3. Connect the Line-Power Cable
Step 3. Connect the Line-Power Cable
W A R N I N G
This is a Safety Class 1 Product (provided with a protective earthing
ground incorporated in the power cord). The mains plug shall only be
inserted in a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact.
Any interruption of the protective conductor inside or outside of the
instrument is likely to make the instrument dangerous. Intentional
interruption is prohibited.
C A U T I O N
Always use the three-prong AC power cord supplied with this instrument.
Failure to ensure adequate earth grounding by not using this cord may cause
instrument damage.
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
Do not connect ac power until you have verified the line voltage is correct as
described in the following paragraphs. Damage to the equipment could result.
This instrument has autoranging line voltage input. Be sure the supply voltage
is within the specified range.
1 Verify that the line power meets the requirements shown in the following table.
Line Power Requirements
Power:
115 VAC: 110 VA MAX. / 60 WATTS MAX. / 1.1 A MAX.
230 VAC: 150 VA MAX. / 70 WATTS MAX. / 0.6 A MAX.
Voltage
nominal: 115 VAC / 230 VAC
range 115 VAC: 90-132 V
range 230 VAC: 198-254 V
Frequency
nominals: 50 Hz / 60 Hz
range: 47-63 Hz
2 Connect the line-power cord to the instrument’s rear-panel connector.
1-6
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Getting Started
Step 4. Connect a Printer
3 Connect the other end of the line-power cord to the power receptacle.
outlets unique to specific geographic areas. The cable appropriate for the area
to which the Agilent 86120B is originally shipped is included with the unit.
The cable shipped with the instrument also has a right-angle connector so that
the Agilent 86120B can be used while sitting on its rear feet. You can order
additional ac power cables for use in different geographic areas. Refer to
“Front-Panel Fiber-Optic Adapters” on page 8-15.
Step 4. Connect a Printer
The Agilent 86120B can print hardcopies of measurement results on a printer.
The output is ASCII text. If you don’t have a printer, continue with “Step 5.
Turn on the Agilent 86120B” on page 1-8.
• Using a standard parallel printer cable, connect the printer to the
Agilent 86120B’s rear-panel PARALLEL PRINTER PORT connector.
1-7
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Getting Started
Step 5. Turn on the Agilent 86120B
Step 5. Turn on the Agilent 86120B
C A U T I O N
The front panel LINE switch disconnects the mains circuits from the mains
supply after the EMC filters and before other parts of the instrument.
1 Press the front-panel LINE key. After approximately 20 seconds, the display
should look similar to the following figure:
The front-panel LINE switch disconnects the mains circuits from the mains sup-
ply after the EMC filters and before other parts of the instrument.
2 If the Agilent 86120B fails to turn on properly, consider the following
possibilities:
• Is the line fuse good?
• Does the line socket have power?
• Is it plugged into the proper ac power source?
If the instrument still fails, return it to Agilent Technologies for repair. Refer to
“Returning the Instrument for Service” on page 1-23.
1-8
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Getting Started
Step 5. Turn on the Agilent 86120B
Instrument firmware version
When the instrument is first turned on, the display briefly shows the instrument’s firm-
ware version number. In the unlikely event that you have a problem with the
Agilent 86120B, you may need to indicate this number when communicating with Agi-
lent Technologies.
There is no output laser aperture
The Agilent 86120B does not have an output laser aperture. However, light less than
1 nw escapes out of the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector. Operator maintenance or
precautions are not necessary to maintain safety. No controls, adjustments, or perfor-
mance of procedures result in hazardous radiation exposure.
Measurement accuracy—it’s up to you!
Fiber-optic connectors are easily damaged when connected to dirty or damaged cables
and accessories. The Agilent 86120B’s front-panel INPUT connector is no exception.
When you use improper cleaning and handling techniques, you risk expensive instru-
ment repairs, damaged cables, and compromised measurements.
Before you connect any fiber-optic cable to the Agilent 86120B, refer to “Cleaning Con-
nections for Accurate Measurements” on page 1-13.
1-9
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Getting Started
Step 6. Enter Your Elevation
Step 6. Enter Your Elevation
In order for your Agilent 86120B to accurately measure wavelengths and meet
its published specifications, you must enter the elevation where you will be
performing your measurements.
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the CAL softkey.
4 Press ELEV.
5 Use the
and
softkeys to enter the elevation in meters. Entries jump in
500 meter steps from 0 m to 5000 m.
The elevation value selected with the softkeys must be within 250 meters of the
actual elevation.
6 Press RETURN to complete the entry.
Converting feet to meters
If you know your elevation in feet, you can convert this value to meters by using the fol-
lowing equation:
ft
m = --------------
3.281
1-10
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Getting Started
Step 7. Select Medium for Wavelength Values
Step 7. Select Medium for Wavelength Values
Because wavelength varies with the material that the light passes through, the
Agilent 86120B offers wavelength measurements in two mediums: vacuum
and standard air.
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the CAL softkey.
4 Make the following selection:
• Press VACUUM for wavelength readings in a vacuum.
• Press STD AIR for wavelength readings in standard air.
5 Press RETURN to complete the entry.
Definition of standard air
Standard air is defined to have the following characteristics:
Barometric pressure: 760 torr
Temperature: 15°C
Relative humidity: 0%
1-11
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Getting Started
Step 8. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting
Step 8. Turn Off Wavelength Limiting
After the Preset key is pressed, the input wavelength range is limited to mea-
suring lasers between 1200 nm and 1650 nm. You can easily expand the input
range to the full 700 nm to 1650 nm range with the following steps:
1 Press the Preset key.
2 Press the Setup key.
3 Press the WL LIM softkey.
4 Press LIM OFF to remove the limits on wavelength range.
All responses in the full 700 nm to 1650 nm range are now displayed.
1-12
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Cleaning Connections for Accurate
Measurements
Today, advances in measurement capabilities make connectors and connec-
tion techniques more important than ever. Damage to the connectors on cali-
bration and verification devices, test ports, cables, and other devices can
degrade measurement accuracy and damage instruments. Replacing a dam-
aged connector can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention lost time! This
expense can be avoided by observing the simple precautions presented in this
book. This book also contains a brief list of tips for caring for electrical connec-
tors.
Choosing the Right Connector
A critical but often overlooked factor in making a good lightwave measure-
tor types are mainly in the mechanical assembly that holds the ferrule in
position against another identical ferrule. Connectors also vary in the polish,
curve, and concentricity of the core within the cladding. Mating one style of
cable to another requires an adapter. Agilent Technologies offers adapters for
most instruments to allow testing with many different cables. Figure 1-1 on
page 1-14 shows the basic components of a typical connectors.
The system tolerance for reflection and insertion loss must be known when
selecting a connector from the wide variety of currently available connectors.
Some items to consider when selecting a connector are:
• How much insertion loss can be allowed?
• Will the connector need to make multiple connections? Some connectors are
better than others, and some are very poor for making repeated connections.
• What is the reflection tolerance? Can the system take reflection degradation?
• Is an instrument-grade connector with a precision core alignment required?
• Is repeatability tolerance for reflection and loss important? Do your specifica-
1-13
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
tions take repeatability uncertainty into account?
• Will a connector degrade the return loss too much, or will a fusion splice be re-
quired? For example, many DFB lasers cannot operate with reflections from
connectors. Often as much as 90 dB isolation is needed.
Figure 1-1. Basic components of a connector.
Over the last few years, the FC/PC style connector has emerged as the most
popular connector for fiber-optic applications. While not the highest perform-
ing connector, it represents a good compromise between performance, reli-
ability, and cost. If properly maintained and cleaned, this connector can
withstand many repeated connections.
However, many instrument specifications require tighter tolerances than most
tolerate connectors with the large non-concentricities of the fiber common
with ceramic style ferrules. When tighter alignment is required, Agilent
Technologies instruments typically use a connector such as the Diamond
HMS-10, which has concentric tolerances within a few tenths of a micron. Agi-
lent Technologies then uses a special universal adapter, which allows other
cable types to mate with this precision connector. See Figure 1-2.
1-14
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Figure 1-2. Universal adapters to Diamond HMS-10.
The HMS-10 encases the fiber within a soft nickel silver (Cu/Ni/Zn) center
which is surrounded by a tough tungsten carbide casing, as shown in Figure
1-3.
Figure 1-3. Cross-section of the Diamond HMS-10 connector.
The nickel silver allows an active centering process that permits the glass fiber
to be moved to the desired position. This process first stakes the soft nickel
silver to fix the fiber in a near-center location, then uses a post-active staking
to shift the fiber into the desired position within 0.2 µm. This process, plus the
keyed axis, allows very precise core-to-core alignments. This connector is
found on most Agilent Technologies lightwave instruments.
1-15
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
The soft core, while allowing precise centering, is also the chief liability of the
connector. The soft material is easily damaged. Care must be taken to mini-
mize excessive scratching and wear. While minor wear is not a problem if the
glass face is not affected, scratches or grit can cause the glass fiber to move
out of alignment. Also, if unkeyed connectors are used, the nickel silver can be
pushed onto the glass surface. Scratches, fiber movement, or glass contamina-
tion will cause loss of signal and increased reflections, resulting in poor return
loss.
Inspecting Connectors
Because fiber-optic connectors are susceptible to damage that is not immedi-
ately obvious to the naked eye, poor measurements result without the user
being aware. Microscopic examination and return loss measurements are the
ensure that optimum connector performance is maintained. With glass-to-
glass interfaces, any degradation of a ferrule or the end of the fiber, any stray
particles, or finger oil can have a significant effect on connector performance.
Where many repeat connections are required, use of a connector saver or
patch cable is recommended.
Figure 1-4 shows the end of a clean fiber-optic cable. The dark circle in the
the light. The surrounding area is the soft nickel-silver ferrule. Figure 1-5
shows a dirty fiber end from neglect or perhaps improper cleaning. Material is
smeared and ground into the end of the fiber causing light scattering and poor
reflection. Not only is the precision polish lost, but this action can grind off the
glass face and destroy the connector.
Figure 1-6 shows physical damage to the glass fiber end caused by either
improper cleaning tools. When severe, the damage of one connector end can
be transferred to another good connector endface that comes in contact with
the damaged one. Periodic checks of fiber ends, and replacing connecting
cables after many connections is a wise practice.
The cure for these problems is disciplined connector care as described in the
following list and in “Cleaning Connectors” on page 1-20.
1-16
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Use the following guidelines to achieve the best possible performance when
making measurements on a fiber-optic system:
• Never use metal or sharp objects to clean a connector and never scrape the
connector.
• Avoid matching gel and oils.
Figure 1-4. Clean, problem-free fiber end and ferrule.
Figure 1-5. Dirty fiber end and ferrule from poor cleaning.
1-17
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Figure 1-6. Damage from improper cleaning.
While these often work well on first insertion, they are great dirt magnets. The
oil or gel grabs and holds grit that is then ground into the end of the fiber.
Also, some early gels were designed for use with the FC, non-contacting con-
nectors, using small glass spheres. When used with contacting connectors,
these glass balls can scratch and pit the fiber. If an index matching gel or oil
must be used, apply it to a freshly cleaned connector, make the measurement,
and then immediately clean it off. Never use a gel for longer-term connections
and never use it to improve a damaged connector. The gel can mask the extent
of damage and continued use of a damaged fiber can transfer damage to the
instrument.
• When inserting a fiber-optic cable into a connector, gently insert it in as
straight a line as possible. Tipping and inserting at an angle can scrape material
off the inside of the connector or even break the inside sleeve of connectors
made with ceramic material.
• When inserting a fiber-optic connector into a connector, make sure that the fi-
ber end does not touch the outside of the mating connector or adapter.
• Avoid over tightening connections.
Unlike common electrical connections, tighter is not better. The purpose of
the connector is to bring two fiber ends together. Once they touch, tightening
only causes a greater force to be applied to the delicate fibers. With connec-
tors that have a convex fiber end, the end can be pushed off-axis resulting in
misalignment and excessive return loss. Many measurements are actually
improved by backing off the connector pressure. Also, if a piece of grit does
happen to get by the cleaning procedure, the tighter connection is more likely
to damage the glass. Tighten the connectors just until the two fibers touch.
1-18
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
• Keep connectors covered when not in use.
• Use fusion splices on the more permanent critical nodes. Choose the best con-
nector possible. Replace connecting cables regularly. Frequently measure the
return loss of the connector to check for degradation, and clean every connec-
tor, every time.
All connectors should be treated like the high-quality lens of a good camera.
The weak link in instrument and system reliability is often the inappropriate
use and care of the connector. Because current connectors are so easy to use,
there tends to be reduced vigilance in connector care and cleaning. It takes
only one missed cleaning for a piece of grit to permanently damage the glass
and ruin the connector.
Measuring insertion loss and return loss
Consistent measurements with your lightwave equipment are a good indica-
tion that you have good connections. Since return loss and insertion loss are
key factors in determining optical connector performance they can be used to
determine connector degradation. A smooth, polished fiber end should pro-
duce a good return-loss measurement. The quality of the polish establishes
the difference between the “PC” (physical contact) and the “Super PC” con-
nectors. Most connectors today are physical contact which make glass-to-glass
connections, therefore it is critical that the area around the glass core be clean
and free of scratches. Although the major area of a connector, excluding the
glass, may show scratches and wear, if the glass has maintained its polished
smoothness, the connector can still provide a good low level return loss con-
nection.
If you test your cables and accessories for insertion loss and return loss upon
receipt, and retain the measured data for comparison, you will be able to tell in
the future if any degradation has occurred. Typical values are less than 0.5 dB
of loss, and sometimes as little as 0.1 dB of loss with high performance con-
nectors. Return loss is a measure of reflection: the less reflection the better
(the larger the return loss, the smaller the reflection). The best physically
contacting connectors have return losses better than 50 dB, although 30 to
40 dB is more common.
1-19
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Visual inspection of fiber ends
Visual inspection of fiber ends can be helpful. Contamination or imperfections
on the cable end face can be detected as well as cracks or chips in the fiber
itself. Use a microscope (100X to 200X magnification) to inspect the entire
end face for contamination, raised metal, or dents in the metal as well as any
other imperfections. Inspect the fiber for cracks and chips. Visible imperfec-
tions not touching the fiber core may not affect performance (unless the
imperfections keep the fibers from contacting).
W A R N I N G
Always remove both ends of fiber-optic cables from any instrument,
system, or device before visually inspecting the fiber ends. Disable all
optical sources before disconnecting fiber-optic cables. Failure to do
so may result in permanent injury to your eyes.
Cleaning Connectors
The procedures in this section provide the proper steps for cleaning fiber-
optic cables and Agilent Technologies universal adapters. The initial cleaning,
using the alcohol as a solvent, gently removes any grit and oil. If a caked-on
layer of material is still present, (this can happen if the beryllium-copper sides
of the ferrule retainer get scraped and deposited on the end of the fiber during
insertion of the cable), a second cleaning should be performed. It is not
uncommon for a cable or connector to require more than one cleaning.
C A U T I O N
Agilent Technologies strongly recommends that index matching compounds
not be applied to their instruments and accessories. Some compounds, such as
gels, may be difficult to remove and can contain damaging particulates. If you
think the use of such compounds is necessary, refer to the compound
manufacturer for information on application and cleaning procedures.
Table 1-2. Cleaning Accessories
Item
Agilent Technologies Part Number
Pure isopropyl alcohol
Cotton swabs
—
8520-0023
9300-1223
8500-5262
Small foam swabs
Compressed dust remover (non-residue)
1-20
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
Table 1-3. Dust Caps Provided with Lightwave Instruments
Item
Agilent Technologies Part Number
Laser shutter cap
FC/PC dust cap
Biconic dust cap
DIN dust cap
08145-64521
08154-44102
08154-44105
5040-9364
HMS10/dust cap
ST dust cap
5040-9361
5040-9366
To clean a non-lensed connector
C A U T I O N
Do not use any type of foam swab to clean optical fiber ends. Foam swabs can
leave filmy deposits on fiber ends that can degrade performance.
1 Apply pure isopropyl alcohol to a clean lint-free cotton swab or lens paper.
Cotton swabs can be used as long as no cotton fibers remain on the fiber end
after cleaning.
2 Clean the ferrules and other parts of the connector while avoiding the end of
the fiber.
3 Apply isopropyl alcohol to a new clean lint-free cotton swab or lens paper.
4 Clean the fiber end with the swab or lens paper.
Do not scrub during this initial cleaning because grit can be caught in the
swab and become a gouging element.
5 Immediately dry the fiber end with a clean, dry, lint-free cotton swab or lens
paper.
6 Blow across the connector end face from a distance of 6 to 8 inches using
filtered, dry, compressed air. Aim the compressed air at a shallow angle to the
fiber end face.
Nitrogen gas or compressed dust remover can also be used.
1-21
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Getting Started
Cleaning Connections for Accurate Measurements
C A U T I O N
Do not shake, tip, or invert compressed air canisters, because this releases
particles in the can into the air. Refer to instructions provided on the
compressed air canister.
7 As soon as the connector is dry, connect or cover it for later use.
If the performance, after the initial cleaning, seems poor try cleaning the con-
nector again. Often a second cleaning will restore proper performance. The
second cleaning should be more arduous with a scrubbing action.
To clean an adapter
The fiber-optic input and output connectors on many Agilent Technologies
instruments employ a universal adapter such as those shown in the following
picture. These adapters allow you to connect the instrument to different types
of fiber-optic cables.
Figure 1-7. Universal adapters.
1 Apply isopropyl alcohol to a clean foam swab.
Cotton swabs can be used as long as no cotton fibers remain after cleaning. The
foam swabs listed in this section’s introduction are small enough to fit into
adapters.
Although foam swabs can leave filmy deposits, these deposits are very thin, and
the risk of other contamination buildup on the inside of adapters greatly out-
weighs the risk of contamination by foam swabs.
2 Clean the adapter with the foam swab.
3 Dry the inside of the adapter with a clean, dry, foam swab.
4 Blow through the adapter using filtered, dry, compressed air.
Nitrogen gas or compressed dust remover can also be used. Do not shake, tip,
or invert compressed air canisters, because this releases particles in the can
into the air. Refer to instructions provided on the compressed air canister.
1-22
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Getting Started
Returning the Instrument for Service
Returning the Instrument for Service
ment for repair or calibration. Always call the Agilent Technologies Instrument
Support Center first to initiate service before returning your instrument to a
service office. This ensures that the repair (or calibration) can be properly
tracked and that your instrument will be returned to you as quickly as possi-
ble. Call this number regardless of where you are located. Refer to “Agilent
Technologies Service Offices” on page 8-18 for a list of service offices.
Agilent Technologies Instrument Support Center. . . . . . . . . . . (800) 403-0801
If the instrument is still under warranty or is covered by an Agilent Technolo-
gies maintenance contract, it will be repaired under the terms of the warranty
or contract (the warranty is at the front of this manual). If the instrument is
no longer under warranty or is not covered by an Agilent Technologies mainte-
nance plan, Agilent Technologies will notify you of the cost of the repair after
examining the unit.
When an instrument is returned to a Agilent Technologies service office for
servicing, it must be adequately packaged and have a complete description of
the failure symptoms attached. When describing the failure, please be as spe-
cific as possible about the nature of the problem. Include copies of additional
failure information (such as the instrument failure settings, data related to
instrument failure, and error messages) along with the instrument being
returned.
Preparing the instrument for shipping
1 Write a complete description of the failure and attach it to the instrument.
Include any specific performance details related to the problem. The following
1-23
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Getting Started
Returning the Instrument for Service
information should be returned with the instrument.
• Type of service required.
• Date instrument was returned for repair.
• Description of the problem:
• Whether problem is constant or intermittent.
• Whether instrument is temperature-sensitive.
• Whether instrument is vibration-sensitive.
• Instrument settings required to reproduce the problem.
• Performance data.
• Company name and return address.
• Name and phone number of technical contact person.
• Model number of returned instrument.
• Full serial number of returned instrument.
• List of any accessories returned with instrument.
2 Cover all front or rear-panel connectors that were originally covered when you
first received the instrument.
C A U T I O N
C A U T I O N
Cover electrical connectors to protect sensitive components from electrostatic
damage. Cover optical connectors to protect them from damage due to physical
contact or dust.
Instrument damage can result from using packaging materials other than the
original materials. Never use styrene pellets as packaging material. They do not
adequately cushion the instrument or prevent it from shifting in the carton.
They may also cause instrument damage by generating static electricity.
3 Pack the instrument in the original shipping containers. Original materials are
available through any Agilent Technologies office. Or, use the following
guidelines:
• Wrap the instrument in antistatic plastic to reduce the possibility of damage
caused by electrostatic discharge.
• For instruments weighing less than 54 kg (120 lb), use a double-walled, cor-
rugated cardboard carton of 159 kg (350 lb) test strength.
• The carton must be large enough to allow approximately 7 cm (3 inches) on
all sides of the instrument for packing material, and strong enough to accom-
modate the weight of the instrument.
• Surround the equipment with approximately 7 cm (3 inches) of packing ma-
terial, to protect the instrument and prevent it from moving in the carton. If
packing foam is not available, the best alternative is S.D-240 Air Cap™ from
1-24
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Getting Started
Returning the Instrument for Service
Sealed Air Corporation (Commerce, California 90001). Air Cap looks like a
plastic sheet filled with air bubbles. Use the pink (antistatic) Air Cap™ to
reduce static electricity. Wrapping the instrument several times in this ma-
terial will protect the instrument and prevent it from moving in the carton.
4 Seal the carton with strong nylon adhesive tape.
5 Mark the carton “FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE”.
6 Retain copies of all shipping papers.
1-25
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2
Defining Laser-Line Peaks 2-16
Measuring Laser Separation 2-20
Measuring Modulated Lasers 2-23
Measuring Total Power Greater than 10 dBm 2-25
Calibrating Measurements 2-26
Printing Measurement Results 2-28
Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
points:
• 700 nm to 1650 nm maximum input wavelength range
The range is normally limited from 1200 nm to 1650 nm. To use the full range,
refer to “Measuring lasers between 700 nm and 1200 nm” on page 2-8 and to
“To use the full wavelength range” on page 2-8.
• +10 dBm maximum total displayed input power
• Laser linewidths assumed to be less than 10 GHz
• If you change the elevation where you will be using your Agilent 86120B, refer
• Press the green Preset key to return the Agilent 86120B to its default state.
C A U T I O N
Do not exceed +18 dBm source power. The Agilent 86120B’s input circuitry can
be damaged when total input power exceeds 18 dBm. You can measure power
levels that are greater by adding attenuation and entering a power offset as
described in “To measure total power exceeding 10 dBm” on page 2-25.
2-2
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Displaying Wavelength and Power
This section gives you step-by-step instructions for measuring peak wave-
length, average wavelength, peak power, and total input power. There are
three display modes:
• Peak wavelength
• List-by-wavelength or power
nector.
This section includes:
Measuring lasers between 700 nm and 1200 nm 2-8
Limiting the wavelength range 2-9
Measuring broadband devices and chirped lasers 2-10
Graphical display of optical power spectrum 2-11
Instrument states 2-12
Power bar 2-12
2-3
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Peak WL mode
When Peak WL is pressed, the display shows the largest amplitude line in the
spectrum. This is the peak wavelength mode. The word PEAKis shown on the
screen. If multiple laser lines are present at the input, the number of lines
located will be shown along the right side of the screen.
Display after “Peak WL” key pressed
In addition to the digital readouts, there is a power bar. It provides a conve-
nient analog “meter movement” for tuning laser power.
Although the Peak WL mode shows one signal at a time, softkeys are provided
that allow you to scroll through and display all the measured laser lines. You
can scroll through the list according to the wavelengths or powers measured.
The signals are displayed in order from shortest to longest wavelengths. The
Agilent 86120B can measure up to 100 laser lines simultaneously.
To display peak wavelength and power
1 Connect the fiber-optic cable to the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector.
2 To display the peak wavelength and power, do one of the following:
• Press the green Preset key.
• Press Peak WL.
2-4
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
3 To move the cursor to view other signals, press:
• PREV WL to select next (previous) shorter wavelength.
• NEXT WL to select next longer wavelength.
• PEAK to signal with greatest power.
• PREV PK to select next lower power signal.
• NEXT PK to select next higher power signal.
2-5
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
List by WL or power modes
In the list-by-wavelength or list-by-power modes, the measurements of five
laser lines can be displayed at any one time. In list by wavelength mode, the
signals are displayed in order from shortest to longest wavelengths. The
Agilent 86120B can measure up to 100 laser lines simultaneously. Use the
and
softkeys to move the cursor
through the list of signals; the list can
contain up to 100 entries. Press the SELECT key, and the display changes to
peak wavelength mode with the signal at the cursor displayed.
Annotation in the upper right corner of the display indicates whether the sig-
nals are ordered according to wavelength (BY WL) or power (BY PWR). The
cursor shows the currently selected laser line. As you scroll through the
responses, the current position of the selection cursor is shown along the
screen’s right side.
Display after “List by WL” key pressed
Also notice that power bars graphically show the relative power levels
between laser lines.
To display multiple laser lines
1 Connect the fiber-optic cable to the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector.
2 Press the green Preset key.
3 Press List by WL to display the laser lines from the shortest wavelength to the
longest wavelength.
2-6
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
4 Press List by Power to display the laser lines in order of decreasing amplitudes.
Total power and average wavelength
In the third available display mode, the Agilent 86120B displays the average
wavelength as shown in the following figure. The displayed power level is the
total input power to the instrument. It is the sum of the powers of each laser
line; it is not a measure of the average power level of the laser lines.
The following equation shows how individual wavelengths of laser lines are
summed together to obtain the average wavelength value:
n
Pi λi
∑
i = 1
λavg = --------------------
n
Pi
∑
i = 1
where,
n is the number of laser lines included in the average.
Pi is the peak power of an individual laser line. Power units are in Watts (lin-
ear).
The following equation shows how individual powers of laser lines are
summed together to obtain the total power value:
n
Ptotal
=
Pi
∑
i = 1
2-7
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
where,
n is the number of laser lines included in the measurement.
Pi is the peak power of an individual laser line. Power units are in Watts (lin-
ear).
To display average wavelength and total power
• Press the Avg WL key.
Measuring lasers between 700 nm and 1200 nm
After the Preset key is pressed, the input wavelength range is limited to mea-
suring lasers between 1200 nm and 1650 nm. This prevents the accidental dis-
play of spurious signals that may not exist. You can easily expand the input
range to the full 700 nm to 1650 nm range, however you should learn how to
identify spurious signals.
Spurious signals below 1200 nm may be displayed whenever low-power laser
lines (power levels near the Agilent 86120B’s specified sensitivity) are present
at the input. For example, a low-power laser line at 1550 nm has a second har-
monic line at 775 nm. If this second harmonic is above the peak threshold level
relative to the fundamental line, it is considered a peak. Its displayed power
interferometer is less sensitive at 775 nm).
You can also avoid displaying this second harmonic line by reducing the peak
threshold below its preset value. Because the peak threshold level is used to
determine which signals are to be displayed before amplitude corrections are
applied, the harmonic will be eliminated. Refer to “Defining Laser-Line Peaks”
on page 2-16.
To use the full wavelength range
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the WL LIM softkey.
3 Press LIM OFF to remove the limits on wavelength range. All responses in the full
700 nm to 1650 nm range are now displayed.
2-8
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Limiting the wavelength range
limit function. Both start and stop wavelengths can be chosen. The units of
wavelength start and stop are the same as the currently selected wavelength
units. If wavelength units are later changed, the start and stop wavelength
units will change accordingly. Note that a start wavelength limit in nm will
become a stop wavelength limit if THz or cm-1 is chosen. See “To change the
units of measure” on page 2-13.
The wavelength limit can be useful when laser modulation causes spurious
wavelengths to be displayed. Reducing the wavelength range to the region of
interest minimizes the number of spurious wavelengths displayed. Also, the
graphical display uses these start and stop wavelength values to plot the
power spectrum, whether the wavelength limit function is on or off.
Preset will turn the wavelength limit on and will set the start wavelength to
1200 nm and the stop wavelength to 1650 nm.
To limit the wavelength range
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the WL LIM softkey.
3 Press the LIM ON softkey if it is not already highlighted.
4 Press the STARTWL softkey to adjust the start wavelength value.
5 Press the STOP WL softkey to adjust the stop wavelength value.
2-9
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Measuring broadband devices and chirped lasers
When first turned on (or the green Preset key is pressed), the Agilent 86120B
is configured to measure narrowband devices such as DFB lasers and modes
of FP lasers. If you plan to measure broadband devices such as LEDs, optical
filters, and chirped lasers, use the Setup menu first to reconfigure the instru-
ment. When broadband devices are selected, the display shows the BROAD
annotation on the screen.
length based upon the center-of-mass of the power spectrum. The peak excur-
sion function is used to determine the value of the integration limits. Care
must be taken to ensure that the integration limits are above any noise. This is
especially true when measuring devices with sloping noise floors, like an
EDFA amplifier. For more information on peak excursion, refer to “Defining
Laser-Line Peaks” on page 2-16.
Instrument specifications apply when the Agilent 86120B is configured to
measure narrowband devices. Specifications do not apply when the instru-
ment is configured to measure broadband devices.
This feature applies to Agilent 86120B instruments with firmware version
number 2.0. When first turned on, the instrument briefly displays the firmware
version. Instruments with a firmware version number less than 2.0 do not have
this feature.
To measure broadband devices
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press MORE twice, and then the DEVICE softkey.
3 Press the BROAD softkey.
To return to measuring narrowband devices, press NARROW.
2-10
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Graphical display of optical power spectrum
A graphical display of optical power versus wavelength is shown from the start
wavelength value to the stop wavelength value. The start wavelength value is
shown in the upper left corner of the graphical display, and the stop wave-
length value is shown in the upper right corner of the graphical display. The
power scale is a fixed dB scale, with +10 dBm at the display top and –53 dBm
at the display bottom. The power scale is not affected by the Power Offset
value. In most cases, the noise floor will be visible if the total input power is
greater than about –5 dBm.
The Agilent 86120B graphical display.
The Peak Threshold value is displayed as a dotted line. All peaks above this
dotted line are displayed in the List by Wavelength and List by Power modes.
All peaks below this line are not displayed. Adjust the Peak Threshold value
with the Setup key, and the THRSHLD softkey.
The wavelength limit start and stop wavelength values are used for the graph-
ical display even if the wavelength limit function is off.
The graphical display cannot be printed.
To see the graphical display
1 Press the List by WL or List by Power key.
2 Press the GRAPH softkey.
3 To exit the graphical display, press any softkey.
2-11
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Displaying Wavelength and Power
Four different instrument states can be saved and recalled at a later time. The
actual instrument conditions that are saved are identical to those saved from
the previous state after power is turned on. These conditions are shown in
Table 8-1 on page 8-2. If drift measurements or an application (such as signal-
to-noise) is on when an instrument state is saved, it is off when that state is
recalled.
To save an instrument state
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the SAV/RCL softkey.
3 Press the SAVE softkey.
4 Press one of the four SAVE softkeys to save the instrument state.
To recall a state
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the SAV/RCL softkey.
3 Press the RECALL softkey.
4 Press one of the four RCL softkeys to recall an instrument state.
Power bar
To control the power bar
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press MORE twice, and then PWR BAR.
3 Press BAR ON to display the power bar, and press BAR OFF to hide the power bar
display.
2-12
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Changing the Units and Measurement Rate
Changing the Units and Measurement Rate
measurement rate.
This section includes:
Displayed units 2-13
Measurement rate 2-14
Continuous or single measurements 2-15
Displayed units
As described below, it’s easy to change the wavelength and amplitude units.
You can choose between the following units:
Table 2-1. Available Units
Wavelength
Power
nm
dBm
mW
cm–1
THz
µW
To change the units of measure
1 Press Setup.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the UNITS softkey.
2-13
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Changing the Units and Measurement Rate
4 Press WL and select one of the following units. Then, press RETURN to complete
your selection:
• NM for nanometers
• THZ for terahertz
• CM –1 for wave number
5 Press POWER and select one of the following units:
• DBM for decibels relative to a milliwatt
• MW for milliwatts
• UW for microwatts
Measurement rate
Under normal operation, the Agilent 86120B makes a measurement and dis-
plays the results about once every second. It is in this normal update mode
that maximum accuracy and wavelength resolution are achieved. However,
should a faster update be desired, for example when real-time feedback is
required to tune a laser to its designated channel, the Agilent 86120B can be
set to update approximately three times per second. This reduces both wave-
length resolution and accuracy but can be beneficial in some applications.
When FAST update is selected, one less digit of resolution is displayed. Also, if
multiple wavelengths are present, these individual responses, with the
reduced resolution, may no longer be recognized.
To change the measurement speed
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the UPDATE softkey.
4 Select either NORMAL or FAST.
2-14
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Changing the Units and Measurement Rate
Continuous or single measurements
The Agilent 86120B continuously measures the input spectrum at the front-
panel OPTICAL INPUT connector. Whenever measurements are being acquired,
an asterisk (*) is displayed in the display’s upper right corner. When you
switch between normal and fast update modes the rate that the asterisk blinks
changes.
You can specify that the instrument perform a measurement only when the
front-panel Single key is pressed. This is the single-acquisition measurement
mode, and it is useful for capturing and preserving data. After capturing the
data, you can display it using many of the procedures included in this chapter.
You can return to continuous measurement mode at any time by pressing the
Cont key.
To select single measurement acquisition
• Press the Single key.
2-15
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Defining Laser-Line Peaks
Defining Laser-Line Peaks
The Agilent 86120B uses two rules to identify valid laser-line peaks. Under-
standing these rules is essential to getting the most from your measurements.
For example, these rules allow you to “hide” AM modulation sidebands or
locate laser lines with small amplitudes.
In order to identify a laser line, the laser-line must meet both of the following
rules:
• Power must be greater than the power established by the peak threshold limit
• Power must rise and then fall by at least the peak excursion value
In addition, the input wavelength range can be limited as described in this sec-
tion.
Peak threshold
limit
The peak threshold limit is set by subtracting the peak threshold value from
the power of the largest laser line. So, if the largest laser line is 2 dBm and the
peak threshold value is 10 dB, the peak threshold limit is –8 dBm
(–8 dBm = 2 dBm – 10 dB ) . You can set the peak threshold value between 0 to
40 dB.
The peak threshold’s default value is 10 dB. This ensures that any modulated
signals being measured are not confused with their AM sidebands. For unmod-
ulated lasers, or Fabry-Perot lasers, it may be desirable to increase this
threshold to look for responses that are more than 10 dB from the peak.
Peak threshold can be used to suppress spurious signals. For example, a laser
that is amplitude modulated in the audio frequency range can cause spurious
wavelengths to be displayed below and above the correct wavelength. The
power of these spurious wavelengths is below that of the correct wavelength.
These spurious signals can be eliminated by decreasing Peak threshold from
its Preset value.
Peak excursion
The peak excursion defines the rise and fall in amplitude that must take place
in order for a laser line to be recognized. The rise and fall can be out of the
noise, or in the case of two closely spaced signals, out of the filter skirts of the
2-16
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Defining Laser-Line Peaks
adjacent signal. The peak excursion’s default value is 15 dB. Any laser line that
rises by 15 dB and then falls by 15 dB passes the rule. You can set the peak
excursion value from 1 to 30 dB.
Examples of valid In the following figure, three laser lines are identified: responses ➀, ➂, and ➃.
and invalid signals Response ➁ is not identified because it is below the peak threshold. The por-
tion of each signal that is within the peak excursion limits is shown in bold
lines.
Because of the peak excursion rule, responses ➃ and ➄ are identified as one
laser line—the minimum point between ➃ and ➄ does not drop to the peak
excursion limit. This response has the highest power shown which is peak ➃.
Whenever the peak threshold limit or peak excursion value is changed, the
new limits are applied to the current displayed measurements even if the
instrument is in the Single measurement mode.
The following figure shows the same laser lines as the previous figure, but the
peak-excursion value has been changed from 15 to 3 dB. Four laser lines are
now identified with responses ➃ and ➄ identified as two distinct laser lines.
2-17
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Defining Laser-Line Peaks
wavelength range range from 1200 nm to 1650 nm. You can expand the wavelength range to
cover the entire 700 nm to 1650 nm range. Although wavelength range limit-
ing reduces the number of laser lines found, its main purpose is to eliminate
the identification of second harmonic distortion products as described in the
following sidebar. To set the wavelength range, refer to “To use the full wave-
length range” on page 2-8.
Distortion caused by low-power laser lines
Low-power laser lines (power level near the Agilent 86120B’s specified sensitivity) may
be accompanied by second harmonic (or other) distortion. For example, a low-power
laser line at 1550 nm has a second harmonic line at 775 nm. If this second harmonic is
above the peak threshold level relative to the fundamental line, it is considered a peak.
Its displayed power level may be greater than that of the fundamental because the
amplitude correction at 775 nm is much greater (by about 15 dB) than that at 1550 nm
(the interferometer is less sensitive at 775 nm).
To avoid displaying this second harmonic line, limit the input wavelength range from
1200 nm to 1650 nm as described in “To use the full wavelength range” on page 2-8.
Or, reduce the peak threshold below its preset value. Because the peak threshold level is
used to determine which signals are to be displayed before amplitude corrections are
applied, the harmonic will be eliminated.
2-18
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Defining Laser-Line Peaks
To define laser-line peaks
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the THRSHLD softkey.
3 Press PX EXC, and enter the peak excursion value. Use the
the digit that requires editing. Use the and softkeys to change the value.
softkey to select
The peak excursion value can range from 1 to 30 dB. The default value is 15 dB.
4 Press RETURN.
5 Press PK THLD and then enter the peak threshold value.
The peak threshold value can range from 0 to 40 dB. Setting this value to 0 dB
ensures that only the peak wavelength is identified. The default value is 10 dB.
Pressing the green PRESET key changes the peak excursion and peak threshold
values to their default settings. It also turns wavelength range limiting on.
Turning the Agilent 86120B’s power off and then on does not change these
settings.
If too many lines are identified
If the following message is displayed, too many laser lines have been identified:
E15 MAX NUMBER OF SIGNALS FOUND
The maximum number of laser lines that the instrument can measure is 100. If this mes-
sage appears, decrease the peak threshold value, increase the peak excursion value, or
decrease the wavelength range of operation with the WL LIM ....START WL and STOP
WL functions.
2-19
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Laser Separation
Measuring Laser Separation
It is often important to measure the wavelength and power separation
between multiple laser lines. This is especially true in wavelength-division-
multiplexed (WDM) systems where channel spacing must be adhered to. The
Agilent 86120B can display the wavelength and amplitude of any laser line rel-
ative to another. In fact, the following types of relative measurements can be
made compared to the reference:
• Relative power, absolute wavelength
• Relative wavelength and power
This section includes:
Channel separation 2-21
Measuring flatness 2-22
2-20
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Laser Separation
Channel separation
Suppose that you want to measure separation on a system having the spec-
trum shown in the following figure.
The Agilent 86120B displays separation on this spectrum as shown in the fol-
lowing figure. Notice that the 1541.747 nm laser line is selected as the refer-
ence. It is shown in absolute units. The wavelengths and powers of the
remaining responses are shown relative to this reference. For example, the
first response is 2.596 nm below the reference.
To determine channel spacing, simply read the relative wavelength measure-
ment of the laser lines immediately preceding and following the reference. Use
the
,
, and SELECT softkeys to change the reference laser line and read the
channel spacing between each channel.
2-21
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Laser Separation
To measure channel separation
1 Press the front-panel Preset key.
2 Press List by WL.
3 Press the Delta On key.
Use the Off key to turn off the measurement.
4 Select the type of separation to observe:
• ∆ WL displays channel separation.
• ∆ WL / ∆ PWR displays both channel separation and differences in power.
5 Use the
and
softkeys to select the reference laser line.
6 Press SELECT.
Press SELECT at any time to select a new reference. Press RESET at any time to
turn off the delta calculation.
Measuring flatness
You can use relative power measurements to measure flatness (pre-emphasis)
in a WDM system. Simply select one carrier as the reference and measure the
remaining carriers relative to the reference level. The power differences rep-
resent the system flatness. Press RESET to turn off the delta calculations so
that all responses are shown in absolute wavelength and powers.
To measure flatness
1 Press the front-panel Preset key.
2 Press List by Power.
This lists the input signals by power with the largest response listed first.
3 Press the Delta On key.
4 Select ∆ PWR.
5 Use the
and
softkeys to select the first laser line.
6 Press SELECT.
7 Since the largest power signal is the reference, the relative power
measurements for the other responses shows system flatness.
2-22
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Modulated Lasers
Measuring Modulated Lasers
Lasers modulated A laser that is amplitude modulated at low frequencies (for example, modu-
at low frequencies lated in the audio frequency range) can cause spurious wavelengths to be dis-
played below and above the correct wavelength. The power of these spurious
wavelengths is below that of the correct wavelength. These spurious signals
can be eliminated by decreasing the peak threshold. Refer to “Defining Laser-
Line Peaks” on page 2-16. Even when the laser is amplitude modulated, the
correct wavelength and power is displayed.
The spurious wavelengths caused by low frequency amplitude modulation will
be located above and below the correct wavelength by the following wave-
length spacing:
spacing = 6×10–10Fλ2
where F is the modulation frequency in Hz, and λ is the correct wavelength
in nm. For example, an amplitude modulation of 10 kHz on a 1550 nm laser
will produce spurious wavelengths spaced by 15 nm from the correct wave-
length, and the spurious wavelengths will be at 1535 and 1565 nm.
Low frequency (10 kHz) AM modulation graph showing rounded sideband spurs.
2-23
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Modulated Lasers
The graphical display is useful for locating these spurious wavelengths. Their
amplitude will be below that of the correct wavelength and they will be broad,
rounded peaks compared to the sharp peak of the correct wavelength. Use the
Peak Threshold function to place the dotted line above the spurious peaks so
they will not be displayed in the List by WL or List by Power table.
Lasers modulated A laser modulated at high frequency (in the RF or microwave range) can also
at high
frequencies
of a repetitive nature such as that of PRBS or SONET digital formats. In gen-
eral, no spurious wavelengths will be displayed using preset instrument condi-
tions. The preset condition includes peak excursion, peak threshold, and
wavelength range limiting. However, increasing peak threshold can cause spu-
rious wavelengths to be displayed. To control the wavelength range, refer to
“To use the full wavelength range” on page 2-8.
Even when the laser being tested is modulated with repetitive formats, the
carrier’s correct wavelength and power is displayed; the wavelength and
power of the spurious sidebands are incorrect.
The graphical display is useful to see the effects of high frequency modulation.
Without modulation, the noise floor is typically 45 dB below the laser power. In
general, high frequency modulation will raise the noise floor to about 25 dB
below the laser power. The noise floor is typically flat, or white. The actual
level of the noise floor depends on the type of data format and the data rate.
PRBS modulation graph showing raised noise floor.
Directly
Directly modulated lasers exhibit a linewidth that is broadband. To measure
modulated lasers directly modulated lasers, refer to “Measuring broadband devices and chirped
lasers” on page 2-10.
2-24
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Measuring Total Power Greater than 10 dBm
Measuring Total Power Greater than 10 dBm
The maximum total power that can be measured by the Agilent 86120B is
10 dBm. However, with the addition of an external attenuator, more power can
be applied. This may be necessary at the transmit end of a wavelength-divi-
sion-multiplexed system where large signal levels are present. By entering an
amplitude offset equal to the amount of attenuation at the instrument’s input,
accurate amplitude measurements are shown on the display. Additional ampli-
fication can also be accounted for.
To measure total power exceeding 10 dBm
C A U T I O N
The maximum total input power that can be applied to the Agilent 86120B
before damage occurs is 18 dBm. The maximum total input power that can be
measured is 10 dBm.
1 Connect an optical attenuator between the front-panel OPTICAL INPUT connector
and the fiber-optic cable.
The attenuator must reduce the total input power to the Agilent 86120B so that
it is below +10 dBm.
2 Press Setup, MORE, CAL, and then PWR OFS.
Notice that the PWR OFSannotation appears on the screen to indicate an offset
is applied.
3 Use the
4 Use the
softkey to select the digit that requires editing.
and softkeys to change the value.
Power offset values are added to the display power readings. For example, if
you placed a 10 dB attenuator on the front-panel connector, enter a power off-
set value of +10 dB. Negative values can also be entered if you connect an
amplifier instead of an attenuator.
2-25
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Calibrating Measurements
Calibrating Measurements
The wavelength of light changes depending on the material that the light is
passing through. To display meaningful wavelength measurements, the
Agilent 86120B performs two steps:
1 Measures the wavelength in air.
2 Converts the wavelength to show values in either a vacuum or “standard air”.
For example, a laser line with a wavelength of 1550.000 nm in a vacuum would
have a wavelength in standard air of 1549.577 nm.
Because all measurements made inside the Agilent 86120B are performed in
air, the density of air, due to elevation, affects the wavelength results. You
must calibrate the Agilent 86120B by entering the elevation. Elevations from
0 to 5000 meters can be entered. The elevation correction is immediately
applied to the current measurement even if the instrument is in the single
measurement acquisition mode.
Annotation on the display shows the current calibration elevation in meters
and whether the wavelength measurements are shown for a vacuum (VAC) or
standard air (STD AIR).
If you select frequency instead of wavelength measurements, switching
between vacuum and standard air will not affect the measurement results.
This is because the frequency of an optical signal does not change in different
mediums—only the wavelength changes.
Definition of standard air
Standard air is defined to have the following characteristics:
Barometric pressure: 760 torr
Temperature: 15°C
Relative humidity: 0%
2-26
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Calibrating Measurements
To enter the elevation
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the CAL softkey.
4 Press ELEV.
5 Use the
and
softkeys to enter the elevation in meters. Entries jump in
500 meter steps from 0 m to 5000 m.
In order for the Agilent 86120B to meet its published specifications, the eleva-
tion value selected with the softkeys must be within 250 meters of the actual
elevation.
6 Press RETURN to complete the entry.
Converting feet to meters
If you know your elevation in feet, you can convert this value to meters by using the fol-
lowing equation:
ft
m = --------------
3.281
To select the medium for light
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press the MORE softkey.
3 Press the CAL softkey, and make the following selection:
• Press VACUUM for wavelengths in a vacuum.
• Press STD AIR for wavelengths in standard air.
4 Press RETURN to complete the entry.
2-27
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Printing Measurement Results
Printing Measurement Results
Measurement results can be sent directly to a printer. Simply connect a com-
patible printer to the rear-panel PARALLEL PRINTER PORT connector. The output
is ASCII text. An example of a compatible printer is Hewlett-Packard®’s Laser-
Jet1 series printer. Be sure to use a parallel printer cable to connect the
printer.
The printer output is not a copy of the display. Rather, it is a listing of all sig-
nals present at the input (up to 100). The measurement values printed
depend on the settings of the instrument when the Print key is pressed.
The following is an example of a typical printout:
Agilent 86120B SER US36151025
Firmware Ver. 2.000
List By Wavelength
8 Lines
Power Offset 0.0 dB
Vacuum
Elevation 0 Meters
Update Normal
Peak Excursion 15 dB
Peak Threshold 10 dB
Device Narrow
Input
Wavelength
-----------
Power
----------
-16.97dBm
1280.384nm
1281.473
1282.569
1283.651
1284.752
1285.840
1286.944
1288.034
-13.14
-13.92
-13.34
-11.69
-8.11
-10.38
-14.65
1. Hewlett-Packard and LaserJet are registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company.
2-28
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Using the Multi-Wavelength Meter
Printing Measurement Results
To create a hardcopy
1 Connect the printer to the Agilent 86120B’s rear-panel PARALLEL PRINTER PORT
connector.
2 Press Print.
You can use the ABORT and CONT softkey to stop and restart a print job that is
in progress.
2-29
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Measurements Applications
Measurements Applications
Measurements Applications
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to make a variety of fast, accurate measure-
ments using the measurement tools accessed by pressing the Appl’s key.
3-2
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios
Signal-to-noise measurements provide a direct indication of system perfor-
mance. Signal-to-noise measurements are especially important in WDM sys-
tems because there is a direct relation between signal-to-noise and bit error
rate. The Agilent 86120B displays signal-to-noise measurements in the third
column. For example, the selected signal in the following figure has a signal-
to-noise ratio of 30.0 dB.
Signal-to-noise display.
During a signal-to-noise measurement, the absolute power of the carrier, in
dBm, is compared to the absolute power of the noise at the carrier wave-
length. See the following figure. The noise power at the carrier must be deter-
mined by interpolation because the carrier, in most cases, can not or should
not be turned off.
You can select one of two methods used to determine the wavelength where
the noise is measured: automatic interpolation or a user-entered wavelength.
In the figure above, notice that “S/N AUTO” is displayed to indicate that
automatic interpolation is selected.
3-3
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios
Location of noise measurements
Automatic
interpolation
When the signal-to-noise “auto” function is selected, the Agilent 86120B first
determines the proximity of any adjacent signal. If the next closest signal is
≤200 GHz (approximately 1.6 nm at 1550 nm) away from the signal of interest,
then the noise power is measured half way between the two channels and an
equal distance to the other side of the signal of interest. See points Pn1 and Pn2
in the following figure.
If the closest signal is more than 200 GHz from the signal of interest, or if there
is no other signals present, then the noise power is measured at 100 GHz on
either side of the signal of interest. The two measured noise power levels are
then averaged to estimate the noise power level at the signal wavelength. The
noise power measurements use linear interpolation to estimate the noise
power level at the signal of interest’s wavelength.
Automatic interpolation
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios
User-entered
wavelength
When the signal-to-noise “user” function is selected, the Agilent 86120B uses
only one wavelength to measure the noise power for all signals. This wave-
length is set by the user and all signals are compared to the noise level at this
wavelength to determine their corresponding signal-to-noise ratios.
Noise bandwidth
When measuring noise power, the Agilent 86120B must account for the noise
bandwidth used during the measurement. Because noise bandwidth varies
with measurement bandwidth (a wide bandwidth allows more noise to the
Agilent 86120B’s detector than a narrow bandwidth), the Agilent 86120B nor-
malizes all noise power measurements to a bandwidth of 0.1 nm. The annota-
tion 0.1 nmis displayed to show that the noise bandwidth is being
normalized to a 0.1 nm bandwidth.
Repetitive data formats
The Agilent 86120B signal-to-noise application works best when the laser being tested
is not modulated, or modulated with non-repetitive data formats. With repetitive data
formats, such as PRBS data and SONET formats, there is significant low-frequency
amplitude modulation of the laser. This modulation raises the noise floor of the
Agilent 86120B significantly. The signal-to-noise measured can be limited to about
15 dB while measuring lasers modulated by repetitive data formats. For improved perfor-
mance when the laser is modulated with repetitive data formats, use the Signal-to-
Noise with Averaging application.
To measure signal-to-noise
1 Press the front-panel Preset key.
2 Press List by WL or List by Power.
3 Press Appl’s and then S/N.
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios
4 To select the wavelength reference for measuring the noise, do the following
steps:
a Press WL REF, and
• press AUTO to let the instrument interpolate the wavelength,
or
• press USER to select the last wavelength manually entered.
b If you chose USER, you can specify the wavelength by pressing USER WL. Use
the
softkey to select the digit that requires editing. Use the
and
softkeys to change the value.
c Press RETURN.
5 While the signal-to-noise measurements are displayed, you can press PEAK
anytime to select the signal with the highest power.
3-6
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios with Averaging
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios with
Averaging
When the lasers being measured are modulated, especially with repetitive
data formats such as SONET or PRBS, the noise floor is raised. Averaging
reduces the noise floor and allows an improvement of greater than 10 dB in a
signal-to-noise measurement. In general, averaging will decrease the noise
floor caused by modulation until the true optical noise level is reached. The
displayed signal-to-noise will improve with each average until the true optical
noise level is reached, and then the displayed signal-to-noise will remain
approximately constant. If, however, the true signal-to-noise is below the
instrument sensitivity of approximately 40 dB (in a 0.1 nm noise bandwidth),
it will not be measured.
Averaging can also improve the accuracy of measuring signal-to-noise of
unmodulated lasers.
Signal-to-noise with averaging display.
Averaging is performed on the noise, not on the wavelength or power of the
laser signals.
The signal-to-noise with averaging measurement uses the automatic interpola-
tion method to determine the wavelengths where the noise is measured. Refer
to “Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios” on page 3-3 for a description of auto-
matic interpolation. There is no user-entered wavelength selection in signal-
to-noise with averaging.
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Signal-to-Noise Ratios with Averaging
During a signal-to-noise with averaging measurement, the display indicates
S/N A xx, where A indicates averaging and xx is the number of averages
taken so far. The maximum number of averages is 900, the minimum number
of averages is 10, and the default (Preset) value is 100 averages. A measure-
ment with 100 averages takes about 2 minutes to complete. When the mea-
surement is complete, the instrument switches to single measurement mode.
Then, pressing the Cont key will start a completely new measurement. During a
measurement and before the number of averages has been reached, pressing
the Single key will stop the measurement. Then, pressing the Cont key will con-
tinue with the current measurement.
While making a signal-to-noise with averaging measurement, the number of
averages can be changed. As long as the new number of averages is greater
than the number of averages taken so far, the measurement continues. If the
new number of averages selected is less than the number of averages taken so
far, the measurement stops and the instrument switches to single measure-
ment mode. Then, pressing the Cont key will start a completely new measure-
ment.
Noise bandwidth
affects
measurement
When measuring noise power, the Agilent 86120B must account for the noise
bandwidth used during the measurement. Because noise bandwidth varies
with measurement bandwidth (a wide bandwidth allows more noise to the
Agilent 86120B’s detector than a narrow bandwidth), the Agilent 86120B nor-
malizes all noise power measurements to a bandwidth of 0.1 nm. The annota-
tion 0.1 nmis displayed to show that the noise bandwidth is being
normalized to a 0.1 nm bandwidth.
To measure signal-to-noise with averaging
1 Press the front panel Preset key.
2 Press List by WL or List by Power.
3 Press Appl's and then S/N AVG.
4 To change the number of averages, press NUM AVG. The default (Preset) value
is 100.
5 To stop the measurement at the current number of averages shown, press the
Single key. Then press the Cont key to continue the present measurement.
6 When the measurement is complete, the instrument will switch to the single
measurement mode and stop.
7 To make a new measurement, press the Cont key.
8 To exit, press the EXIT softkey, then press the Cont key for continuous
measurement.
3-8
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Laser Drift
Measuring Laser Drift
In this section, you’ll learn how the Agilent 86120B can be used to monitor
drift (changes to a laser’s wavelength and amplitude over time). Drift is mea-
sured simultaneously for every laser line that is identified at the input. The
Agilent 86120B keeps track of each laser line’s initial, current, minimum, and
maximum values and displays their differences relative to itself. This allows
the Agilent 86120B to be used for laser transmitter evaluation, burn-in, or
development. In addition, you can monitor system performance over time,
temperature, or other condition.
The following display shows power and wavelength drift measured on five
laser lines. The DRIFTannotation, item ➀, tells you that drift measurements
are being performed. The current relative drift values for wavelength and
power are shown in items ➁ and ➂ respectively. Item ➃ indicates the absolute
reference values for the laser line indicated by the cursor
values are measured before the measurement starts.
. The reference
You can restart the drift measurement at any time by pressing the RESET soft-
key. All minimum and maximum values are reset to the reference values, and
the Agilent 86120B begins to monitor drift from the current laser line values.
Move the cursor up and down the listing to see the reference wavelength and
power of each laser line.
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Laser Drift
If measurement updating stops or the values become blanked
If, in the middle of a measurement, the number of laser lines present changes, the mea-
surement stops until the original number of lines returns. You’ll notice that a CLEAR soft-
key appears and one of the following message is displayed:
E46 NUM LINES < NUM REFS
E47 NUM LINES > NUM REFS
To view the data measured before the conditions changed, press CLEAR and then MAX-
MIN. Notice that the measurement acquisition is changed from continuous to single.
To restart testing, press CLEAR, the CONT key, and then RESET to use the new number of
lines as the reference. Pressing CONT restarts continuous measurement acquisition. Or,
you can restore the original number of lines on the input so that the drift measurement
can continue.
To measure drift
1 Press the front-panel Preset key.
2 Press Peak WL, List by WL, or List by Power to select the display style for observing
drift.
3 Press Appl’s and then DRIFT.
Pressing DRIFT sets the current laser-line values as the reference from which to
compare all drift.
4 Press MAX-MIN for the desired type of drift measurement as described in the
following paragraphs:
Display shows the current values of laser lines relative to
the wavelength and power values measured when the test
was begun or the RESET softkey was pressed.
Display shows absolute maximum values since the drift
measurement was started. This measurement gives the
longest wavelength and greatest power measured. The
laser line of interest may have since drifted to a lesser
value. Note that the maximum wavelength and maximum
power may not have occurred simultaneously.
Display shows absolute minimum values since the drift
measurement was started. This measurement gives the
shortest wavelength and smallest power measured. The
3-10
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Laser Drift
laser line of interest may have since drifted to a greater
value. Note that the minimum wavelength and minimum
power may not have occurred simultaneously.
Display shows the total drift from the reference since the
drift measurement was started. Values represent the
minimum wavelength and power drift values subtracted
from the maximum drift values.
5 In the List by WL and List by Power displays, use the
and
softkeys to view
the reference values (wavelength and power values of each laser line before the
test was started).
During the measurement, you can change the display mode to Peak WL, List by
WL, List by Power, or Avg WL. When List by WL or List by Power is selected, the signal
list is sorted by reference values and not by the current, maximum, or minimum
values.
To restart the drift measurements, press RESET. This resets the reference val-
ues.
3-11
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Coherence Length
Measuring Coherence Length
Coherence length is a measure of the distance over which a laser’s light retains
the phase relationships of its spectrum. The Agilent 86120B measures coher-
ence length of Fabry-Perot semiconductor diode lasers. The Agilent 86120B
cannot measure coherence length of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or distrib-
uted feedback (DFB) lasers.
When you select coherence length measurements, the Agilent 86120B dis-
plays the following four values:
• Coherence length (Lc)
• Round trip optical length of diode laser cavity (2nLd)
• Alpha factor
• Beta factor
Coherence length in the region of 1 mm to 200 mm can be measured. The fol-
lowing figure shows a coherence length measurement.
To measure coherence length
1 Press the front-panel Preset key.
2 Press Appl’s and then COH LEN.
3-12
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Coherence Length
Coherence length The interferogram of the laser being tested is sampled and the envelope of the
(Lc)
interferogram is found. This envelope has peaks (regions of high fringe visibil-
ity) at zero optical path delay and at delays equal to multiples of the laser cav-
ity round-trip optical length. This is shown in the following figure of the
interferogram envelope:
The amplitudes of the peaks decreases exponentially from the largest peak at
zero path delay. The exponential decay constant is defined as the coherence
length, Lc. The curve that connects the tops of the envelope peaks is given by
the following equation:
OPD
–-----------
Lc
decay curve = e
OPD is the optical path delay and Lc is the coherence length. Thus, at an opti-
cal path delay equal to the coherence length, the envelope peaks are down to
1 ⁄ e of their value at zero path delay peak. All envelope peaks found are used
to determine the exponential decay constant (coherence length) using a least
squares fit.
Round trip optical The average optical path delay spacing of the envelope peaks is measured.
length of diode
laser cavity
(2nLd)
This is equal to the diode laser cavity round trip optical length, 2nLd.
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Measurements Applications
Measuring Coherence Length
Alpha factor
The alpha factor is defined as the height of the first envelope peak away from
zero path delay relative to the height of the envelope peak at zero path delay.
The alpha factor is always between 0 and 1.
The smaller the alpha factor, the shorter the coherence length.
VA
Alpha factor = ------
Vo
Beta factor
The beta factor is defined as the height of the fringe visibility envelope mid-
way between the zero optical path delay peak and the next peak relative to the
height of the envelope peak at zero path delay. The beta factor is always
between 0 and 1.
The smaller the beta factor, the more longitudinal modes (wavelengths) the
laser has.
VB
Beta factor = ------
Vo
3-14
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4
Measurement instructions give quick results 4-9
The format of returned data 4-15
Monitoring the Instrument 4-16
Status registers 4-16
Queues 4-21
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules 4-23
Example Programs 4-29
Example 1. Measure a DFB laser 4-31
Example 2. Measure WDM channels 4-33
Example 3. Measure WDM channel drift 4-35
Example 4. Measure WDM channel separation 4-38
Example 5. Measure SN ratio of WDM channels 4-40
Example 6. Increase a source’s wavelength accuracy 4-42
Lists of Commands 4-44
Programming
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Programming
Programming
Programming
This chapter explains how to program the Agilent 86120B. The programming
syntax conforms to the IEEE 488.2 Standard Digital Interface for Programma-
ble Instrumentation and to the Standard Commands for Programmable Instru-
ments (SCPI).
Where to begin…
The programming examples for individual commands in this manual are writ-
ten in HP®1 BASIC 6.0 for an HP 9000 Series 200/300 Controller.
For more detailed information regarding the GPIB, the IEEE 488.2 standard,
or the SCPI standard, refer to the following books:
Hewlett-Packard Company. Tutorial Description of Hewlett-Packard Inter-
face Bus, 1987.
Hewlett-Packard Company. SCPI—Standard Commands for Programmable
Instruments, 1995.
International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. IEEE Standard
488.1-1987, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instru-
mentation. New York, NY, 1987.
International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. IEEE Standard
488.2-1987, IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, Protocols and Common com-
mands For Use with ANSI/IEEE Std 488.1-1987. New York, NY, 1987.
Types of commands
• Common commands
• Measurement instructions
• Subsystem commands
All of these commands are documented in Chapter 5, “Programming Com-
mands”.
1. HP is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.
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Programming
Addressing and Initializing the Instrument
Addressing and Initializing the Instrument
The Agilent 86120B’s GPIB address is configured at the factory to a value of
20. You must set the output and input functions of your programming lan-
guage to send the commands to this address.
To change the GPIB address
1 Press the Setup key.
2 Press MORE twice, then GPIB.
3 Use the
and
softkeys to change the GPIB address.
4 Press RETURN.
Remote mode and front-panel lockout
Whenever the instrument is controlled by a computer, the Remotemessage is
displayed on the instrument’s screen and the softkey menu is blanked except
for the LOCAL softkey. This softkey can be pressed by the user to restore front
panel control of the instrument.
You can specify a local lockout mode that prevents the LOCAL softkey from
being displayed. If the instrument is in local lockout mode, all the softkeys
may be blanked. For example, if the instrument is first placed in local lockout
mode and then placed in remote mode, no softkeys are displayed.
Consult the documentation for your programming environment to determine
which commands are used to put an instrument in the remote and local lock-
out modes. These are not Agilent 86120B commands; they control GPIB con-
trol lines and do not send any characters to the Agilent 86120B.
Initialize the instrument at start of every program
It is good practice to initialize the instrument at the start of every program.
This ensures that the bus and all appropriate interfaces are in a known state.
HP BASIC provides a CLEAR command which clears the interface buffer and
also resets the instrument’s parser. (The parser is the program that reads the
instructions that you send.) Whenever the instrument is under remote pro-
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Programming
Addressing and Initializing the Instrument
gramming control, it should be in the single measurement acquisition mode.
This is automatically accomplished when the *RST common command is used.
The *RST command initializes the instrument to a preset state:
CLEAR 720
OUTPUT 720;”*RST”
Notice in the example above, that the commands are sent to an instrument
address of 720. This indicates address 20 on an interface with select code 7.
Pressing the green Preset key does not change the GPIB address.
Set single acquisition mode
An advantage of using the *RST command is that it sets the Agilent 86120B
into the single measurement acquisition mode. Because the READ and MEA-
Sure data queries expect this mode, their proper operation is ensured.
Establish the wavelength range
mand to off enables the full wavelength range of the instrument. If you are
measuring signals over a narrow wavelength range, use this command to
ensure that spurious second harmonic peaks are not identified. Refer to
“WLIMit[:STATe]” on page 5-36, “WLIMit:STARt[:WAVelength]” on page 5-38,
and “WLIMit:STOP[:WAVelength]” on page 5-41. Refer also to “To limit the
wavelength range” on page 2-9.
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Programming
Making Measurements
Making Measurements
Making measurements remotely involves changing the Agilent 86120B’s set-
tings, performing a measurement, and then returning the data to the com-
puter. The simplified block diagram of the Agilent 86120B shown here lists
some of the available programming commands. Each command is placed next
to the instrument section it configures or queries data from.
Notice that there are two buffers from which data can be queried: an uncor-
rected data buffer and a corrected data buffer. With each scan of the input
wavelength range, the analog-to-digital converter loads 65,536 data values into
the uncorrected data buffer. This is considered to be one “measurement”. A
fast-update measurement mode is available for quicker measurement acquisi-
tion. But, because only 8,192 data values are collected in fast-update measure-
ment mode, the ability to resolve closely spaced signals is reduced.
After collecting the uncorrected data, the Agilent 86120B searches the data
for the first 100 peak responses. (Searching starts at 1700 nm and progresses
towards 700 nm for WLIMit OFF. If WLIMit is on, searching starts at
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Programming
Making Measurements
WLIMit:STARt to WLIMit:STOP). These peak values are then placed into the
corrected data buffer. Each peak value consists of an amplitude and wave-
length measurement. Amplitude and wavelength correction factors are
applied to this data.
For a listing of the programming commands (including a cross reference to
front-panel keys), refer to the following tables:
Table 4-7, “Programming Commands,” on page 4-44
Table 4-8, “Keys Versus Commands,” on page 4-48
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Programming
Making Measurements
Commands are grouped in subsystems
The Agilent 86120B commands are grouped in the following subsystems. You’ll
find a description of each command in Chapter 5, “Programming Commands”.
Subsystem
Purpose of Commands
Measurement
Instructions
Perform frequency, wavelength, wavenumber, and
coherence length measurements.
CALCulate1
CALCulate2
CALCulate3
DISPlay
Queries uncorrected frequency-spectrum data.
Queries corrected peak data and sets wavelength limits.
Performs delta, drift, and signal-to-noise measurements.
Applies markers and displays power bars.
HCOPy
Prints measurement results.
SENSe
Sets elevation-correction values, selects readings for air or
vacuum, and enters amplitude offsets. Configures
instrument for measuring broadband devices and chirped
lasers. Queries time-domain values of the input data.
STATus
SYSTem
TRIGger
Queries instrument status registers.
Presets Agilent 86120B and queries error messages.
Stops current measurement. Acquires new measurement
data. Also used to select single or continuous acquisition of
measurement data.
UNIT
Sets the amplitude units to watts or dBm.
Table 4-1 on page 4-8 shows the kinds of measurements that the
Agilent 86120B can perform and the associated programming commands used
to return that data. In some cases, there is more than one method that can be
used to obtain the desired data. Refer to Chapter 5, “Programming Com-
mands” for the correct syntax for these commands.
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Programming
Making Measurements
Table 4-1. Commands for Capturing Data
Desired
Measurement
Command to Configure Measurement
(partial listing)
Command to Query Data
Wavelength (nm)
Frequency (THz)
Wavenumber (m–1)
Coherence Length (m)
Power (W, dBm)
CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEASure
CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEASure
CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEASure
CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEASure
CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEASure
CALCulate2:PWAVerage:STATe
MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WAVelength?
MEASure:ARRay:POWer:FREQuency?
MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WNUMber?
FETCh, READ, or MEASure
MEASure:ARRay:POWer?
CALCulate2:DATA?
Average Wavelength,
Wavenumber, or Frequency
Total Power (W, dBm)
Laser-Line Separation
Laser-Line Drift
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Average
Time-Domain Data
CALCulate2:PWAVerage:STATe
CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence
CALCulate3:DRIFt:STATe
CALCulate3:SNR:STATe
CALCulate3:ASNR:STATe
CALCulate2:DATA?
CALCulate3:DATA?
CALCulate3:DATA?
CALCulate3:DATA?
CALCulate3:DATA?
SENSe:DATA?
CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
Corrected Frequency Domain Data CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
CALCulate2:DATA?
CALCulate1:DATA?
Uncorrected Frequency Domain
Data
CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
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Programming
Making Measurements
The easiest way to measure wavelength, frequency, power, or coherence
length is to use the MEASure command. The MEASure command is one of
four measurement instructions: MEASure, READ, FETCh, and CONFigure.
The syntax for measurement instructions is documented in “Measurement
Instructions” on page 5-15.
Each measurement instruction has an argument that controls the measure-
ment update rate. This is equivalent to using the NORMAL and FAST softkeys.
:MEASure command
MEASure configures the Agilent 86120B, captures new data, and queries the
data all in one step. For example, to measure the longest wavelength, send the
following command:
:MEASure:SCALar:POWer:WAVelength? MAX
Table 4-2. The Different Forms of MEASure
Desired
Measurement Data
Use this
MEASure Query
Display Format
Power (W, dBm)
Frequency (Hz)
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer?
List by Power
:MEASure:SCALar:POWer?
single wavelength mode
List by WL (frequency)
single wavelength mode
List by WL
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:FREQuency?
:MEASure:SCALar:POWer:FREQuency?
MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WAVelength?
MEASure:SCALar:POWer:WAVelength?
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WNUMber?
:MEASure:SCALar:POWer:WNUMber?
:MEASure:LENGth:COHerence?
Wavelength (m)
Wavenumber (m–1)
Coherence Length (m)
single wavelength mode
List by WL
single wavelength mode
coherence length
Specifying SCALar places the display in the single wavelength format and
returns a single value to the computer. Specifying ARRay places the display in
the List by Power or List by WL modes; an array of data is returned to the com-
puter.
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Programming
Making Measurements
A common programming error is to send the :MEASure command when the
instrument is in the continuous measurement acquisition mode. Because
:MEASure contains an :INIT:IMM command, which expects the single mea-
surement acquisition mode, an error is generated, and the INIT command is
ignored.
:READ command
The READ command works like the MEASure command except that it does
not configure the instrument’s settings. You can use the CONFigure command
to configure the instrument for a particular measurement without returning
any data.
The MEASure and READ commands are identical to combining the following
commands:
Command
:MEASure
:READ
Equivalent Commands
:ABORt;:CONFigure;:READ
:ABORt;:INITiate:IMMediate;:FETCh
A common programming error is to send the :READ command when the
instrument is in the continuous measurement acquisition mode. Because
:READ contains an :INIT:IMM command, which expects the single measure-
ment acquisition mode, an error is generated, and the INIT command is
ignored.
:FETCh command
The FETCh command returns data from previously performed measurements;
it does not initiate the collection of new data. Because FETCh does not config-
ure the instrument or acquire new input data, you can use FETCh repeatedly
on the same set of acquired data. For example, use two FETCh commands to
return wavelength and then power values for the same measurement. This is
shown in the following program fragment:
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:CONT OFF;”
OUTPUT 720;”:CONF:ARR:POW MAX”
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
OUTPUT 720;”:FETC:ARR:POW?”
ENTER 720:powers$
OUTPUT 720;”:FETC:ARR:POW:WAV?”
ENTER 720:wavelengths$
In the example above, the data in the power and wavelength arrays are
returned in the same order so that powers can be matched to wavelengths.
Also, because new data is not collected, FETCh is especially useful when char-
acterizing transient data.
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Programming
Making Measurements
FETCh does not reconfigure the display. For example, if the display is in the
Peak WL mode, sending :FETCh:ARRay does not configure the display to the
List by WL even though an array of data is returned to the computer.
A common programming error occurs when the :FETCh command is used
after an *RST command. This generates error number –230, “Data corrupt or
stale”. In this instance, you must send :INIT:IMM after the *RST command and
before :FETCh command to capture a new array of measurement data.
:CONFigure command
The CONFigure command changes measurement settings without taking a
measurement. The instrument is placed in the List by WL, List by Ampl, Peak WL
display, or in the coherence length application.
CONFigure can be queried. The query returns the last configuration setup by
the CONFigure command. The instrument returns a string which is the last
instrument function sent by a CONFigure command or MEASure query. The
returned string is in the short command form. Use caution when using this
query, because if any instrument settings were changed since the last CONFig-
ure command or MEASure query these changes may not be included in the
returned string.
For example, if the last CONFigure command was
:CONFigure:SCALar:POWer:WAVelength 1300NM, MAX
a CONFigure? query would return a string that is similar to the following line:
“POW:WAV 1.300000e-6,0.01”
The 1300NM and resolution values track the actual instrument settings and
input signals. Notice that the quotation marks are part of the returned string.
Return single or multiple measurement values
You can specify whether FETCh, READ, or MEASure returns a single value
(SCALar) or multiple values (ARRay). The following example specifies SCA-
Lar data which returns a single value.
:MEASure:SCALar:POWer:WAVelength? MAX
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Programming
Making Measurements
ARRay and the SCPI standard
According to the SCPI command reference, ARRay command causes an instrument to
take multiple measurements. (A <size> parameter indicates the number of measure-
ments to take.) However, the Agilent 86120B’s ARRay command refers to the measure-
ments performed for one measurement sweep; this results in an array of measured
signals. Because the <size> parameter does not apply, any <size> parameter sent will be
ignored by the instrument. No syntax error will be generated if a <size> parameter is
sent.
Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential com-
mands
The Agilent 86120B normally processes its remote programming commands
sequentially. The instrument waits until the actions specified by a particular
command are completely finished before reading and executing the next com-
mand. However, there are a few non-sequential commands where this is not
true. Non-sequential commands do not finish executing before the next com-
mand is interpreted.
The following is a list of the Agilent 86120B’s non-sequential commands:
:CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINTs
:CALCulate2:PEXCursion
:CALCulate2:PTHReshold
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STATe
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:FREQuency
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:WAVelength
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:WNUMber
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:FREQuency
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:WAVelength
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:WNUMber
:CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO
:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation
:INITiate:CONTinuous
:INITiate[:IMMediate]
The following additional commands are also non-sequential commands if
CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO is set to OFF:
:CALCulate3:REFerence:FREQuency
:CALCulate3:REFerence:WAVelength
:CALCulate3:REFerence:WNUMber
The benefit of non-sequential commands is that, in some situations, they can
reduce the overall execution times of programs. For example, you can set the
peak excursion, peak threshold, and elevation and use a *WAI command at the
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Programming
Making Measurements
end to save time. However, non-sequential commands can also be a source of
annoying errors. Always use the *OPC query or *WAI command with the non-
sequential commands to ensure that your programs execute properly.
For example, suppose that you wanted to set the elevation correction value
and then send an :INIT:IMM command. The following programming fragment
results in an error –213 “Init ignored”. This occurs because the :ELEVation
command causes the recalculation of the data which is like sending the
:INIT:IMM command. When the actual :INIT:IMM is sent, the error occurs
because the command is already in progress.
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
OUTPUT 720;”:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation 1000”
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
Use an *OPC? query to ensure that the :ELEVation command has completed
as shown in the following lines:
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
OUTPUT 720;”:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation 1000”
OUTPUT 720;”*OPC?”
ENTER 720;Response$
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
Or, the *WAI command could be used:
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
OUTPUT 720;”:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation 1000”
OUTPUT 720;”*WAI?”
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
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Programming
Making Measurements
Measure delta, drift, and signal-to-noise
To select a measurement, use one of the following STATe commands:
CALC3:DELT:POW:STAT (delta power)
CALC3:DELT:WAV:STAT (delta wavelength)
CALC3:DELT:WPOW:STAT (delta power and wavelength)
CALC3:DRIF:STAT (drift)
CALC3:SNR:STAT (signal-to-noise ratios)
CALC3:ASNR:STAT (signal-to-noise ratio averaging)
If you select a drift measurement, you can additionally select one of the fol-
lowing additional states:
CALC3:DRIF:DIFF:STAT (difference)
CALC3:DRIF:MAX:STAT (maximum drift)
CALC3:DRIF:MIN:STAT (minimum drift)
CALC3:DRIF:REF:STAT (drift reference values)
The :CALCulate3:DRIFt:PRESet command turns off the minimum, maximum,
difference, and reference states but leaves the drift state on.
Attempting to turn more than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Set-
tings Conflict” error.
The *RST and SYSTem:PRESet commands turn all calculations off.
CALCulate3:PRESet turns off any CALCulate3 calculations.
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Programming
Making Measurements
The format of returned data
Measurements are returned as strings
All measurement values are returned from the Agilent 86120B as ASCII
strings. When an array is returned, the individual values are separated by the
comma character.
Determine the number of data points
When a FETCh, READ, or MEASure command is used (with ARRay speci-
fied), the first returned value indicates the total number of measurement val-
ues returned in the query.
If you use the:CALCulate1:DATA?, :CALCulate2:DATA?, or
:CALCulate3:DATA? queries to query data, send the :POINts? query first to
determine the number of values returned in the string. The string does not
contain a first value which specifies the string length. This is shown in the fol-
lowing example:
OUTPUT 720;”:CALCulate1:POINts?”
ENTER 720;Length
OUTPUT 720;”:CALCulate1:DATA?”
ENTER 720;Result$
Data can be corrected for elevation and vacuum
Normally, the Agilent 86120B provides measurement values calculated for
conditions in air at sea level. Use the :SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation com-
mand to compensate for air dispersion. Altitudes up to 5000 meters can be
entered. Use the :SENSe:CORRection:MEDium command to switch to read-
ings in a vacuum.
Amplitude units
The default amplitude units are dBm. If you need measurements in watts, use
the :UNIT:POWer command. When the Agilent 86120B is turned on, the ampli-
tude units are automatically set to the units used before the instrument was
last turned off.
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Programming
Monitoring the Instrument
Monitoring the Instrument
and determining whether or not measurements have been completed. Several
status registers and queues are provided to accomplish these tasks.
In this section, you’ll learn how to enable and read these registers. In addition
to the information in this section, you should review the commands docu-
mented in “Common Commands” on page 5-3 and “STATus Subsystem” on
page 5-74.
Status registers
The Agilent 86120B provides four registers which you can query to monitor
the instrument’s condition. These registers allow you to determine the follow-
ing items:
• Status of an operation
• Availability of the measured data
• Reliability of the measured data
All three registers are shown in the figure on the following page and have the
following uses:
Register
Definition
Status Byte
Monitors the status of the other three registers.
Standard Event Status
This is the standard IEEE 488.2 register. Con-
tains bits which indicate the status of the other
two registers.
OPERation Status
Contains bits that report on the instrument’s
normal operation.
QUEStionable Status
Contains bits that report on the condition of the
signal.
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Programming
Monitoring the Instrument
Status Byte register
The Status Byte Register contains summary bits that monitor activity in the
other status registers and queues. The Status Byte Register’s bits are set and
cleared by the presence and absence of a summary bit from other registers or
queues. Notice in the following figure that the bits in the Standard Event Sta-
tus, OPERation status, and QUEStionable status registers are “or’d” to control
a bit in the Status Byte Register.
If a bit in the Status Byte Register goes high, you can query the value of the
source register to determine the cause.
The Status Byte Register can be read using either the *STB? common com-
mand or the GPIB serial poll command. Both commands return the decimal-
weighted sum of all set bits in the register. The difference between the two
methods is that the serial poll command reads bit 6 as the Request Service
(RQS) bit and clears the bit which clears the SRQ interrupt. The *STB? com-
mand reads bit 6 as the Master Summary Status (MSS) and does not clear the
bit or have any effect on the SRQ interrupt. The value returned is the total bit
weights of all of the bits that are set at the present time.
OPERation Status and QUEStionable Status registers
You can query the value of the OPERation Status and QUEStionable Status
registers using commands in the STATus subsystem.
The STATus subsystem also has transition filter software which give you the
ability to select the logic transitions which set bits in the OPERation Status
and QUEStionable Status registers. For example, you can define the POWer
bit of the QUEStionable Status register to report an event when the condition
transitions from false to true. This is a positive transition. You can also specify
a negative transition where the bit is set when the condition transitions from
true to false.
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Programming
Monitoring the Instrument
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Monitoring the Instrument
Table 4-3. Bits in Operation Status Register
Bit
Definition
0
1
not used
SETTling - indicating that the instrument is waiting for the motor to reach the
proper position before beginning data acquisition.
2
RANGing - indicating the instrument is currently gain ranging.
3
not used
4
MEASuring - indicating that the instrument is making a measurement.
5 through 8
9
not used
Processing - indicating that the instrument is currently processing the data
acquired.
10
Hardcopy - indicating that the instrument is currently printing the data to the
parallel port.
11
Averaging - indicating that the instrument is in the process of averaging the
noise for the signal-to-noise ratio calculation.
12 through 16
not used
Standard Event Status register
The Standard Event Status Register monitors the following instrument status
events:
• OPC - Operation Complete
• RQC - Request Control
• QYE - Query Error
• DDE - Device Dependent Error
• EXE - Execution Error
• CME - Command Error
• URQ - User Request
• PON - Power On
When one of these events occur, the event sets the corresponding bit in the
register. If the bits are enabled in the Standard Event Status Enable Register,
the bits set in this register generate a summary bit to set bit 5 (ESB) in the
Status Byte Register.
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Programming
Monitoring the Instrument
Table 4-4. Bits in Questionable Status Register
Bit
Definition
0, 1, and 2
not used
3
POWer - indicating that the instrument is measuring too high of a power.
4 through 8
9
not used
Maximum signals - indicating that the instrument has found the maximum
number of signals.
10
Drift Reference - indicating that the number of reference signals is different
from the current number of input signals.
11
Delta Reference - indicating that there is no delta reference signal.
12 through 13
14
not used
Command Warning - indicating that the instrument has received some extra
unexpected parameters for one of the measurement functions.
15
not used
The contents of the Standard Event Status Register can be read and the regis-
ter cleared by sending the *ESR? query. The value returned is the total bit
weights of all of the bits that are set at the present time.
Enabling register bits with masks
Several masks are available which you can use to enable or disable individual
bits in each register. For example, you can disable the Hardcopy bit in the
OPERation Status Register so that even though it goes high, it can never set
the summary bit in the status byte high.
Use the *SRE common command to set or query the mask for the Status Byte
Register.
The masks for the OPERation Status and QUEStionable Status registers are
set and queried using the STATus subsystem’s ENABle commands.
Use the *ESE common command to set or query the mask for the Standard
Event Status Register.
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Monitoring the Instrument
The *CLS common command clears all event registers and all queues except
the output queue. If *CLS is sent immediately following a program message
terminator, the output queue is also cleared. In addition, the request for the
*OPC bit is also cleared.
For example, suppose your application requires an interrupt whenever any
type of error occurs. The error related bits in the Standard Event Status Reg-
ister are bits 2 through 5. The sum of the decimal weights of these bits is 60.
Therefore, you can enable any of these bits to generate the summary bit by
sending the *ESE 60command.
Whenever an error occurs, it sets one of these bits in the Standard Event Sta-
tus Register. Because the bits are all enabled, a summary bit is generated to
set bit 5 in the Status Byte Register.
If bit 5 (ESB) in the Status Byte Register is enabled (via the *SRE command),
an SRQ service request interrupt is sent to the external computer.
Standard Event Status Register bits that are not enabled still respond to their
corresponding conditions (that is, they are set if the corresponding event
occurs). However, because they are not enabled, they do not generate a sum-
mary bit to the Status Byte Register.
Queues
There are two queues in the instrument: the output queue and the error
queue. The values in the output queue and the error queue can be queried.
Output queue
The output queue stores the instrument responses that are generated by cer-
tain commands and queries that you send to the instrument. The output
queue generates the Message Available summary bit when the output queue
contains one or more bytes. This summary bit sets the MAV bit (bit 4) in the
Status Byte Register. The method used to read the Output Queue depends
upon the programming language and environment. For example, with HP
BASIC, the output queue may be read using the ENTER statement.
Error queue
As errors are detected, they are placed in an error queue. Instrument specific
errors are indicated by positive values. General errors have negative values.
You can clear the error queue by reading its contents, sending the *CLS com-
mand, or by cycling the instrument’s power.
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Programming
Monitoring the Instrument
The error queue is first in, first out. If the error queue overflows, the last error
in the queue is replaced with error -350, “Queue overflow”. Any time the
queue overflows, the least recent errors remain in the queue, and the most
recent error is discarded. The length of the instrument’s error queue is 30
(29 positions for the error messages, and 1 position for the “Queue overflow”
message).
The error queue is read with the SYSTEM:ERROR? query. Executing this
query reads and removes the oldest error from the head of the queue, which
opens a position at the tail of the queue for a new error. When all the errors
have been read from the queue, subsequent error queries return 0, “No error.”
For more information on reading the error queue, refer to “ERRor” on page
5-79. For a list of errors messages, refer to “Error Messages” on page 8-9.
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Programming
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
SCPI command are grouped in subsystems
In accordance with IEEE 488.2, the instrument’s commands are grouped into
“subsystems.” Commands in each subsystem perform similar tasks. The fol-
lowing subsystems are provided:
Measurement Instructions
Calculate1 Subsystem
Calculate2 Subsystem
Calculate3 Subsystem
Display Subsystem
Hcopy Subsystem
Sense Subsystem
Status Subsystem
System Subsystem
Trigger Subsystem
Unit Subsystem
Sending a command
It’s easy to send a command to the instrument. Simply create a command
string from the commands listed in this book, and place the string in your pro-
gram language’s output statement. For commands other than common com-
mands, include a colon before the subsystem name. For example, the
following string places the cursor on the peak laser line and returns the power
level of this peak:
OUTPUT 720;”:MEAS:SCAL:POW? MAX”
Use either short or long forms
Commands and queries may be sent in either long form (complete spelling) or
short form (abbreviated spelling). The description of each command in this
manual shows both versions; the extra characters for the long form are shown
in lowercase. The following is a long form of a command:
OUTPUT 720;”:MEASure:SCALar:POWer? MAXimum”
And this is the short form of the same command:
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Programming
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
OUTPUT 720;”:MEAS:SCAL:POW? MAX”
Programs written in long form are easily read and are almost self-document-
ing. Using short form commands conserves the amount of controller memory
needed for program storage and reduces the amount of I/O activity.
The rules for creating short forms from the long form is as follows:
The mnemonic is the first four characters of the keyword unless the fourth
character is a vowel, in which case the mnemonic is the first three char-
acters of the keyword.
This rule is not used if the length of the keyword is exactly four characters.
Table 4-5. Examples of Short Forms
Long Form
Equivalent Short Form
ROUTE
LAYER
ROUT
LAY
SYSTEM
ERROR
SYST
ERR
You can use upper or lowercase letters
Program headers can be sent using any combination of uppercase or lower-
case ASCII characters. Instrument responses, however, are always returned in
uppercase.
Combine commands in the same subsystem
You can combine commands from the same subsystem provided that they are
both on the same level in the subsystem’s hierarchy. Simply separate the com-
mands with a semi-colon (;). For example, the following two lines,
OUTPUT 720;”:CALC2:PEXC 12”
OUTPUT 720;”:CALC2:PTHR 20”
can be combined into one line:
OUTPUT 720;”:CALC2:PEXC 12;PTHR 20”
The semicolon separates the two functions.
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Programming
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
Combine commands from different subsystems
You can send commands and program queries from different subsystems on
the same line. Simply precede the new subsystem by a semicolon followed by
a colon. In the following example, the colon and semicolon pair before DISP
allows you to send a command from another subsystem.
OUTPUT 720;”:CALC2:PEXC 12;:DISP:WIND:GRAP:STAT OFF”
Sending common commands
If a subsystem has been selected and a common command is received by the
instrument, the instrument remains in the selected subsystem. For example, if
the program message
”DISPLAY:MARK:MAX:LEFT;*CLS;DISP:MARK:MAX:RIGH”
is received by the instrument, the Display subsystem remains selected.
If some other type of command is received within a program message, you
must reenter the original subsystem after the command.
Adding parameters to a command
Many commands have parameters that specify an option. Use a space charac-
ter to separate the parameter from the command as shown in the following
line:
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:CONT ON”
Separate multiple parameters with a comma (,). Spaces can be added around
the commas to improve readability.
OUTPUT 720;”:MEAS:SCAL:POW:FREQ? 1300, MAX”
White space
White space is defined to be one or more characters from the ASCII set of 0
through 32 decimal, excluding 10 (NL). White space is usually optional, and
can be used to increase the readability of a program.
Numbers
All numbers are expected to be strings of ASCII characters. Thus, when send-
ing the number 9, you would send a byte representing the ASCII code for the
character “9” (which is 57). A three-digit number like 102 would take up three
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Programming
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
bytes (ASCII codes 49, 48, and 50). This is taken care of automatically when
you include the entire instruction in a string. Several representations of a
number are possible. For example, the following numbers are all equal:
28
0.28E2
280E-1
28000m
0.028K
28E-3K
If a measurement cannot be made, no response is given and an error is placed
into the error queue. For example,
*RST
FETCh:POW?
will timeout the controller and place a Data stale or corrupt error in the error
queue.
Table 4-6. Suffix Multipliers
Multiplier
Mnemonic
1E18
1E15
1E12
1E9
EX
PE
T
G
1E6
MA
K
1E3
1E-3
1E-6
1E-9
1E-12
1E-15
1E-18
M
U
N
P
F
A
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Programming
Reviewing SCPI Syntax Rules
Program message terminator
The string of instructions sent to the instrument are executed after the
instruction terminator is received. The terminator may be either a new-line
(NL) character, the End-Or-Identify (EOI) line asserted, or a combination of
the two. All three ways are equivalent. Asserting the EOI sets the EOI control
line low on the last byte of the data message. The NL character is an ASCII
linefeed (decimal 10). The NL terminator has the same function as an EOS
(End Of String) and EOT (End Of Text) terminator.
Querying data
Data is requested from the instrument using a query. Queries can be used to
find out how the instrument is currently configured. They are also used to get
results of measurements made by the instrument, with the query actually acti-
vating the measurement. String responses are returned as upper-case letters.
Queries usually take the form of a command followed by a question mark (?).
After receiving a query, the instrument places the answer in its output queue.
The answer remains in the output queue until it is read or another command is
issued. For example, the query
OUTPUT 720;”:CALCULATE2:POINTS?”
places the number of points in the data set in the output queue. In HP BASIC,
the controller input statement:
ENTER 720;Range
passes the value across the bus to the controller and places it in the variable
Range. A newline character is appended to the response.
Sending another command or query before reading the result of a query
causes the output queue to be cleared and the current response to be lost.
This also generates an error in the error queue.
The output of the instrument may be numeric or character data depending on
what is queried. Refer to the specific commands for the formats and types of
data returned from queries.
You can send multiple queries to the instrument within a single program mes-
sage, but you must also read them back within a single program message. This
can be accomplished by either reading them back into a string variable or into
multiple numeric variables. When you read the result of multiple queries into
string variables, each response is separated by a semicolon.
4-27
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Programming
Example Programs
Example Programs
Example 1. Measure a DFB laser 4-30
Example 2. Measure WDM channels 4-32
Example 3. Measure WDM channel drift 4-34
Example 4. Measure WDM channel separation 4-37
Example 5. Measure SN ratio of WDM channels 4-39
Example 6. Increase a source’s wavelength accuracy 4-41
These programs are provided to give you examples of using Agilent 86120B
remote programming commands in typical applications. They are not meant to
teach general programming techniques or provide ready-to-use solutions.
They should allow you to see how measurements are performed and how to
return data to the computer.
All of the examples are written in the HP BASIC programming language.
Many subroutines are repeated in the examples
The first five example programs contain several common subroutines. These
routines, along with one function, are described in the rest of this introduc-
tion. The descriptions are listed in the general order that the subroutines are
called in the programs.
Error_msg subroutine
This function is found in examples 2, 3, 4, and 5. It displays an error message
on the computer’s screen explaining the reason that the program’s execution
stopped.
Set_ese subroutine
The subroutine sets the enable mask for the event status register to a value of
52. This allows bits 2, 4, and 5 to be set whenever a query error (QYE), execu-
tion error (EXE), or command error (CME) respectively occurs. All this is
accomplished using the *ESE common command.
The Err_mngmt subroutine is used to actually read the value of the event sta-
tus register. Examples 1 through 5 call this subroutine.
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Programming
Example Programs
FNIdentity function
When this function is called, it resets the instrument and queries the instru-
ment’s identification string which is displayed on the computer’s screen by the
calling function. To accomplish this task, the FNIdentity function uses the
*RST, *OPC?, and *IDN? common commands. This function is called from
examples 1 through 5.
Err_mngmt subroutine
This subroutine checks to make sure that no errors have set bits in the event
status register and that there are no errors in the queue. Exiting this subrou-
tine is only possible if no errors have occurred. Notice that the logic test in the
subroutine tests for the same event status register bits enabled by the Set_ese
subroutine: BIT(Cme,5), BIT(Cme,4), BIT(Cme,2).
This subroutine is called in examples 1 through 5. However, it is modified in
examples 3, 4, and 5 to allow it to indicate the last programming command
that was sent to the instrument before an error occurred. This is accomplished
by adding an optional argument string.
Cmd_opc subroutine
The Cmd_opc subroutine, found in examples 3, 4, and 5, pauses the program
until a non-sequential command has finished executing on the
Agilent 86120B. It uses the *OPC? query. For more information on non-
sequential commands, refer to “Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for
non-sequential commands” on page 4-12.
Tempo subroutine
This subroutine, which is only found in example 3, pauses the program for a
few seconds while the Agilent 86120B measures the drift on a laser. The argu-
ment in the example sets the pause for 10 seconds.
4-29
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 1. Measure a DFB laser
This program measures the power and wavelength of a DFB laser. It first sets
the Agilent 86120B in the single-acquisition measurement mode. Then, it trig-
gers the Agilent 86120B with the MEASure command to capture measure-
ment data of the input spectrum. Because the data is stored in the
instrument’s memory, it can be queried as needed.
Refer to the introduction to this section for a description of each subroutine
that is contained in this program.
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
Set_ese
PRINT USING "37A,33A";"Multi-Wavelength Meter Identity is : ";FNIdentity$
OUTPUT @Mwm;":INIT:CONT OFF"
ON TIMEOUT 7,5 CALL Err_mngmt
OUTPUT @Mwm;":MEAS:SCAL:POW:WAV?"
ENTER @Mwm;Current_wl
OUTPUT @Mwm;":FETC:SCAL:POW?"
ENTER @Mwm;Current_pwr
OFF TIMEOUT
PRINT USING "20A,4D.3D,3A,19A,M2D.2D,4A";"The wavelength is : ";Current_wl /1.0E-9;" nm";" with a
power of : ";Current_pwr;" dBm"
END
Err_mngmt:SUB Err_mngmt
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Err_msg$[255]
INTEGER Cme
CLEAR 7
REPEAT !
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Cme
OUTPUT @Mwm;":SYST:ERR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Err_msg$
PRINT Err_msg$
UNTIL NOT BIT(Cme,2) AND NOT BIT(Cme,4) AND NOT BIT(Cme,5) AND POS(Err_msg$,"+0")
Subend:SUBEND
Set_ese:SUB Set_ese
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESE ";IVAL("00110100",2)
SUBEND
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Programming
Example Programs
Identity:DEF FNIdentity$;
COM /Instrument/ @MwmV
DIM Identity$[50]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
RETURN Identity$
FNEND
4-31
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 2. Measure WDM channels
This program measures the multiple laser lines of a WDM system. It measures
both the power and wavelengths of each line. First, the program sets the
Agilent 86120B in the single-acquisition measurement mode. Then, it triggers
the Agilent 86120B with the MEASure command to capture measurement
data of the input spectrum. Because the data is stored in the instrument’s
memory, it can be queried as needed.
Refer to the introduction to this section for a description of each subroutine
that is contained in this program.
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
ON ERROR GOTO Error_msg,
Set_ese
PRINT USING "37A,33A";"Multi-Wavelength Meter Identity is : ";FNIdentity$
OUTPUT @Mwm;":INIT:CONT OFF"
ON TIMEOUT 7,5 CALL Err_mngmt
OUTPUT @Mwm;":MEAS:ARR:POW:WAV?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_wl
ALLOCATE Current_wl(1:Nb_wl)
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_wl(*)
OUTPUT @Mwm;":FETC:ARR:POW?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_wl
ALLOCATE Current_pwr(1:Nb_wl)
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_pwr(*)
FOR I=1 TO Nb_wl
PRINT USING "22A,2D,6A,4D.2DE,4A,S2D.2D,3A";"The wavelength number ";Current_wl(I);" at
";Current_pwr(I);"dBm"
NEXT I
OFF TIMEOUT
STOP
Error_msg:
PRINT "the prgm is aborted due to : ";ERRM$
END
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Programming
Example Programs
Err_mngmt:SUB Err_mngmt
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Err_msg$[255]
INTEGER Cme
CLEAR 7
REPEAT
OUTPUT @Mwm; "*ESR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Cme
OUTPUT @Mwm; ":SYST:ERR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Err_msg$
PRINT Err_msg$
UNTIL NOT BIT(Cme,2) AND NOT BIT(Cme,4) AND NOT BIT(Cme,5) AND Err$,"+0")
Subend:SUBEND
Set_ese:SUB Set_ese
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm; "*ESE";IVAL("00110100",2)
SUBEND
Identity:DEF FNIdentity$;
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Identity$[50]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
RETURN Identity$
FNEND
4-33
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 3. Measure WDM channel drift
This program measures the drift of channels in a WDM system. It measures
drift in both power and wavelength of each line. First, the program sets the
Agilent 86120B in the continuous-acquisition measurement mode. Then, it
measures drift using commands from the CALCulate3 subsystem.
Notice the use of the Tempo subroutine to pause the program for 10 seconds
while the Agilent 86120B measures the drift on the laser.
The use of the Err_mngmt subroutine is optional. Refer to the introduction to
this section for a description of each subroutine that is contained in this pro-
gram.
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
DIM Key$[1]
ON ERROR GOTO Error_msg
Set_ese
PRINT USING "37A,33A";"Multi-Wavelength Meter Identity is: " ;FNIdentity$
ON TIMEOUT 7,5 CALL Err_mngmt
Cmd_opc("*RST")
Cmd_opc(":INIT:IMM")
Cmd_opc("*OPC")
Cmd_opc(":CONF:ARR:POW:WAV")
! Turn on the drift calculation
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DRIF:STAT ON")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:DRIF:STAT ON")
! Turn off all drift states
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DRIF:PRES")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:DRIF:PRES")
! Turn on drift reference state
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DRIF:REF:STAT ON")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:DRIF:REF:STAT ON")
! Query the number of data points
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:POIN?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_pt
ALLOCATE Current_ref_wl(1:Nb_pt)
ALLOCATE Current_ref_pwr(1:Nb_pt)
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Programming
Example Programs
! Query reference wavelengths and powers
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? WAV"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_ref_wl(*)
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? POW"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_ref_pwr(*)
! Turn off drift reference state
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DRIF:REF:STAT OFF")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:DRIF:REF:STAT OFF")
! Turn on drift max min calculation
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DRIF:DIFF:STAT ON")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:DRIF:DIFF:STAT ON")
Tempo(10)
ALLOCATE Current_diff_wl(1:Nb_pt)
ALLOCATE Current_diff_pw(1:Nb_pt)
! Query drift wavelengths and powers
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? WAV"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_diff_wl(*)
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? POW"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_diff_pw(*)
OFF TIMEOUT
FOR I=1 TO Nb_pt
PRINT USING "18A,2D,6A,M4D.2DE,3A,21A,MDD.3DE,3A";"Wavelength number "
;I;" is : ";Current_ref_wl(I);" m";" with a drift from : ";Current_diff_wl(I);" m"
PRINT USING "28A,SDD.2DE,4A,20A,MDD.3DE,3A,/";"it has a power level of
: ";Current_ref_pwr(I);" dBm";" with a drift from : ";Current_diff_pw(I);" dB";
NEXT I
STOP
Error_msg: !
PRINT "The program is aborted due to : ";ERRM$
END
4-35
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Programming
Example Programs
Err_mngmt:SUB Err_mngmt(OPTIONAL Cmd_msg$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwmt
DIM Err_msg$[255]
INTEGER Cme
CLEAR @Mwm
REPEAT
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Cme
OUTPUT @Mwm;":SYST:ERR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Err_msg$
IF NPAR>0 AND NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT "This command ";Cmd_msg$;" makes
the following error :"
IF NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT Err_msg$
UNTIL NOT BIT(Cme,2) AND NOT BIT(Cme,4) AND NOT BIT(Cme,5) AND POS(Err_msg$,"+0")
Subend:SUBEND
Set_ese:SUB Set_ese
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESE ";IVAL("00110100",2)
SUBEND
Identity:DEF FNIdentity$;
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Identity$[50]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
RETURN Identity$
FNEND
Cmd_opc:SUB Cmd_opc(Set_cmd$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;Set_cmd$
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done$
SUBEND
Tempo:SUB Tempo(Temp)
FOR I=Temp TO 0 STEP -1)
DISP "Waiting for ";VAL$(I);" sec . . . "
WAIT 1
NEXT I
DISP ""
SUBEND
4-36
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 4. Measure WDM channel separation
This program measures the line separations on a WDM system. It measures
separation (delta) between power and wavelength of each line using com-
mands from the CALCulate3 subsystem.
Refer to the introduction to this section for a description of each subroutine
that is contained in this program.
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
DIM Key$[1]
ON ERROR GOTO Error_msg
Set_ese
PRINT USING "37A,33A";"Multi-Wavelength Meter Identity is : ";FNIdentity$
ON TIMEOUT 7,5 CALL Err_mngmt
Cmd_opc("*RST")
! Change to list-by-wavelength display
Cmd_opc(":CONF:ARR:POW:WAV")
! Trigger and wait for one measurement
Cmd_opc(":INIT")
Cmd_opc("*WAI")
! Turn on delta mode
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DELT:WPOW:STAT ON")
! Set first wavelength as reference
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:DELT:REF:WAV MIN")
! Query number of data points
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:POIN?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_pt
ALLOCATE Delta_wl(1:Nb_pt)
ALLOCATE Delta_pwr(1:Nb_pt)
! Query wavelengths and powers
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? WAV"
ENTER @Mwm;Delta_wl(*)
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? POW"
ENTER @Mwm;Delta_pwr(*)
OFF TIMEOUT
FOR I=1 TO Nb_pt-1
PRINT USING "6A,2D,17A,M4D.3D,31A,S2D.2D,4A";"Line :";I;" wavelength is : ";(Delta_wl(I)+((NOT
4-37
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Programming
Example Programs
I=1)*Delta_wl(1)))/1.0E-9;" nm. Absolute line level is : ";Delta_pwr(I)+(NOT I=1)*Delta_pwr(1);"
dBm"
PRINT USING "17A,2D,6A,M4D.3D,23A,2D,6A,S2D.2D,3A";"Delta Wl to line ",I+1," is :
";(Delta_wl(I+1)-(NOT I=1)*Delta_wl(I))/1.E-9;" nm, Delta Pwr to line ",I+1," is :
";(I=1)*(Delta_pwr(I+1))+(NOT I=1)*(Delta_pwr(I+1)-Delta_pwr(I));" dB"
NEXT I
PRINT USING "6A,2D,17A,M4D.3D,31A,S2D.2D,4A";"Line : ";I;" wavelength is :
";(Delta_wl(1)+Delta_wl(Nb_pt))/1.0E-9;" nm. Absolute line level is :
";Delta_pwr(1)+Delta_pwr(Nb_pt);" dBm"
STOP
Error_msg: !
PRINT "The program is aborted due to : ";ERRM$
END
Err_mngmt:SUB Err_mngmt(OPTIONAL Cmd_msg$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwmt
DIM Err_msg$[255]
INTEGER Cme
CLEAR @Mwm
REPEAT
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Cme
OUTPUT @Mwm;":SYST:ERR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Err_msg$
IF NPAR>0 AND NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT "This command ";Cmd_msg$;" makes
the following error :"
IF NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT Err_msg$
UNTIL NOT BIT(Cme,2) AND NOT BIT(Cme,4) AND NOT BIT(Cme,5) AND POS(Err_msg$,"+0")
Subend:SUBEND
Set_ese:SUB Set_ese
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESE ";IVAL("00110100",2)
SUBEND
Identity:DEF FNIdentity$;
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Identity$[33]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
RETURN Identity$
FNEND
Cmd_opc:SUB Cmd_opc(Set_cmd$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;Set_cmd$
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done$
SUBEND
4-38
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 5. Measure SN ratio of WDM channels
This program measures signal-to-noise ratios on a WDM system. It measures
the ratio for each line using commands from the CALCulate3 subsystem.
Refer to the introduction to this section for a description of each subroutine
that is contained in this program.
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
DIM Key$[1]
ON ERROR GOTO Error_msg,
Set_ese
PRINT USING "37A,33A";"Multi-Wavelength Meter Identity is : ";FNIdentity$
ON TIMEOUT 7,5 CALL Err_mngmt
Cmd_opc("*RST")
OUTPUT @Mwm;":MEAS:ARR:POW:WAV?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_pt
ALLOCATE Current_wl(1:Nb_pt)
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_wl(*)
OUTPUT @Mwm;":FETC:ARR:POW?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_pt
ALLOCATE Current_pwr(1:Nb_pt)
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Current_pwr(*)
! Turn signal-to-noise ratio on
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:SNR:STAT ON")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:SNR:STAT ON")
! Set first wavelength as noise reference
Cmd_opc(":CALC3:SNR:REF:WAV MIN")
Err_mngmt(":CALC3:SNR:REF:WAV MIN")
! Query number of data points
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:POIN?"
ENTER @Mwm USING "#,K";Nb_pt
ALLOCATE Snr_pwr(1:Nb_pt)
! Query signal-to-noise values
OUTPUT @Mwm;":CALC3:DATA? POW"
ENTER @Mwm;Snr_pwr(*)
OFF TIMEOUT
4-39
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Programming
Example Programs
FOR I=1 TO Nb_pt
PRINT USING "7A,2D,17A,M4D.3D,25A,S2D.2D,22A,2D.2D,3A";"Line : ";I;" wavelength is :
";Current_wl(I)/1.0E-9;" nm, absolute level is : ";Current_pwr(I);" dBm, with a SNR of : ";Snr_pwr(I);"
dB"
NEXT I
STOP
Error_msg: !
PRINT "The program is aborted due to : ";ERRM$
END
Err_mngmt:SUB Err_mngmt(OPTIONAL Cmd_msg$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwmt
DIM Err_msg$[255]
INTEGER Cme
CLEAR @Mwm
REPEAT !
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Cme
OUTPUT @Mwm;":SYST:ERR?"
ENTER @Mwm;Err_msg$
IF NPAR>0 AND NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT "This command ";Cmd_msg$;" makes
the following error :"
IF NOT POS(Err_msg$,"+0") THEN PRINT Err_msg$
UNTIL NOT BIT(Cme,2) AND NOT BIT(Cme,4) AND NOT BIT(Cme,5) AND POS(Err_msg$,"+0")
Subend:SUBEND
Set_ese:SUB Set_ese
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*ESE ";IVAL("00110100",2)
SUBEND
Identity:DEF FNIdentity$;
COM /Instrument/ @Mwm
DIM Identity$[50]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
RETURN Identity$
FNEND
Cmd_opc:SUB Cmd_opc(Set_cmd$)
COM /Instrument/ @Mwmd
OUTPUT @Mwm;Set_cmd$
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*OPC?"
ENTER @Mwm;Opc_done$
SUBEND
4-40
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Programming
Example Programs
Example 6. Increase a source’s wavelength accuracy
This example program uses the Agilent 86120B to increase the absolute wave-
length accuracy of Agilent 8167A, 8168B, and 8168C Tunable Laser Sources.
Essentially, the Agilent 86120B’s accuracy is transferred to the tunable laser
source. The absolute accuracy of the tunable laser source is increased from
< 0.1 nm to < 0.005 nm which is the Agilent 86120B’s absolute accuracy (at
1550 nm).
In order to run this program, the tunable laser source’s firmware must support
the automatic alignment command, WAVEACT.
The program uses the following measurement algorithm:
Identify and initialize the Agilent 86120B and tunable laser source
Ask user for desired wavelength
Set wavelength of tunable laser source
Turn tunable laser source’s output on
Enter loop
Measure wavelength
Compare wavelength to desired wavelength
Realign tunable laser source’s wavelength
Check if wavelength changed from last pass
Repeat until (delta wavelength < 0.0015 nm or wavelength is stable)
4-41
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Programming
Example Programs
COM Current_wl,Diff_wl.Target_wl,Previous_diff,Diff_diff
Current_wl=0
Diff_wl=0
Target_wl=0
Previous_diff=O
Diff_diff=0
ASSIGN @Tls TO 724
ASSIGN @Mwm TO 720
! Initialize instrument
DIM Identity$[50]
Identity$=""
OUTPUT @Tls;"*CLS"
OUTPUT @Tls;"*IDN?"
ENTER @TLS;identity$
PRINT "TLS IS A ";identity$
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*RST"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*CLS"
OUTPUT @Mwm;"*IDN?"
ENTER @Mwm;Identity$
PRINT "MWM IS A ";identity$
! Ask user for desired wavelength
INPUT "What wavelength (nm)do you wish to have",Target_wl
Target_wl=Target_wl*1.OE-9
PRINT "the target wavelength is : ";Target_wl
! Set wavelength of tunable laser source
OUTPUT @Tls; ":WAVE ";VAL$(Target_wl)
OUTPUT @Tls; ":OUTP ON"
! Enter realignment loop
REPEAT
OUTPUT @Mwm;":MEAS:SCAL:POW:WAV?"
ENTER @Mwm;Current_wl
PRINT "The current wavelength is : ";VAL$(Current_wl)
Diff_wl=PROUND(ABS(Target_wl-Current_wl),-16)
PRINT "Diff between target & Current is (+ or -) : ";VAL$(Diff_wl)
OUTPUT @Tls;":WAVEACT ";VAL$(Current_wl)
Diff_diff=PROUND(ABS(Diff_wl-Previous_diff),-16)
PRINT "differential difference between two turn : ";VAL$(Diff_diff)
Previous_diff=Diff_wl
UNTIL (Diff_wl<1.5*1.0E-12) OR (Diff_diff=0)
END
4-42
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Lists of Commands
Table 4-7. Programming Commands (1 of 4)
Command
Description
Code
Codes: S indicates a standard SCPI command. I indicates an instrument specific command.
Common Commands
*CLS
*ESE
*ESR?
*IDN?
*OPC
*RCL
*RST
*SAV
*SRE
*STB
*TRG
*TST?
*WAI
Clears all event registers and the error queue.
Sets the bits in the standard-event status enable register
Queries value standard-event status register.
Queries instrument model number and firmware version.
Sets operation complete bit of the standard-event status register
Recalls a saved instrument state.
Resets instrument.
Saves an instrument state.
Sets bits in service-request enable register
Queries value of status byte
Triggers acquisition of measurement data.
Performs an instrument self test
Causes instrument to finish processing current command before
continuing.
Measurement Instructions
:CONFigure
Configures instrument for wavelength, wavenumber, frequency,
power, and coherence length measurements.
Queries wavelength, wavenumber, frequency, power, and
coherence length measurements that have already been
captured.
I
I
:FETCh
:MEASure
:READ
Configures, measures, and queries wavelength, wavenumber,
frequency, power, and coherence length measurements.
I
I
Measures and queries wavelength, wavenumber, frequency,
power, and coherence length measurements.
4-43
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-7. Programming Commands (2 of 4)
Command
Description
Code
Codes: S indicates a standard SCPI command. I indicates an instrument specific command.
CALCulate1 Subsystem
:CALCulate1:DATA?
Queries the uncorrected frequency-spectrum data of the input
signal.
S
S
:CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts?
CALCulate2 Subsystem
Sets and queries the number of points in the data set.
:CALCulate2:DATA?
Queries the corrected frequency-spectrum data of the input
signal.
S
:CALCulate2:PEXCursion
:CALCulate2:POINts?
:CALCulate2:PTHReshold
:CALCulate2:PWAVerage[:STATe]?
Sets the peak excursion limit.
Queries the number of points in the data set.
Sets the peak threshold limit.
I
I
I
I
Places the instrument in the average-wavelength mode. Data
queries return the power-weighted average frequency,
wavelength, or wavenumber or total power.
:CALCulate2:WLIMit[:STATe]
Limits input wavelength range of the Agilent 86120B.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:FREQuency
CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt[:WAVelength]
CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:WNUMber
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:FREQuency
CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP[:WAVelength]
CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:WNUMber
Sets the starting frequency for the wavelength limit range.
Sets the starting wavelength for the wavelength limit range.
Sets the starting wavenumber for the wavelength limit range.
Sets the stopping frequency for the wavelength limit range.
Sets the stopping wavelength for the wavelength limit range.
Sets the stopping wavenumber for the wavelength limit range.
CALCulate3 Subsystem
CALCulate3:ASNR:CLEar
CALCulate3:ASNR:COUNt
Resets and restarts the signal-to-noise ratio averaging
I
I
Sets the number of measurements to average the signal-to-
noise ratio
CALCulate3:ASNR:[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DATA?
Turns signal-to-noise ratio averaging mode on and off
Queries the data resulting from delta, drift, and signal-to-noise
measurements.
I
S
:CALCulate3:DELTa:POWer[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:FREQuency
Turns the delta power measurement mode on and off.
Selects the signal to be used as the reference for the DELTa
calculations.
I
I
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:POWer?
Queries the power level of the reference signal.
I
I
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence[:WAVelength]
Selects the signal to be used as the reference for the DELTa
calculations.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:WNUMber
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WAVelength[:STATe]
Selects the signal to be used as the reference for the DELTa
calculations.
I
I
Turns the delta wavelength measurement mode on and off.
4-44
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-7. Programming Commands (3 of 4)
Command
Description
Code
Codes: S indicates a standard SCPI command. I indicates an instrument specific command.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WPOWer[:STATe]
Turns the delta wavelength and power measurement mode on
and off.
Sets the drift calculation to subtract the minimum values
measured from the maximum values measured.
Sets the drift calculation to return the maximum power
(frequency) values measured.
Sets the drift calculation to return the minimum power
(frequency) values measured.
Turns off all the drift states for DIFFerence, MAXimum,
MINimum, and REFerence.
I
I
I
I
I
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:DIFFerence[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MAXimum[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MINimum[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:PRESet
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:REFerence:RESet
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:REFerence[:STATe]
Places the current list of signals into the reference list.
I
I
Turns the drift state on and off so that CALC3:DATA? will return
the reference signal list.
:CALCulate3:DRIFt[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:POINts?
CALCulate3:PRESet
Turns the drift measurement calculation on and off.
Queries the number of points in the data set.
Turns off any CALCulate3 calculation that is on.
I
I
I
I
:CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO
Selects the internal or externally entered frequency value for the
noise measurement reference in the SNR calculation.
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence:FREQuency
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence[:WAVelength]
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence:WNUMber
Sets the frequency used for the noise measurement reference in
the SNR calculation.
I
I
I
I
Sets the wavelength used for the noise measurement reference
in the SNR calculation.
Sets the wave number used for the noise measurement
reference in the SNR calculation.
:CALCulate3:SNR[:STATe]
Turns the SNR calculation on and off.
DISPlay Subsystem
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:LEFT
Sets the marker to the signal with the largest power.
Moves marker to signal with the next lower wavelength or
frequency.
I
I
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:NEXT
Moves the marker to the signal with the closest power level just
below the power level of the signal at the current marker
position.
I
I
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:PREVious
Moves the marker to the signal with the closest power level just
above the power level of the signal at the current marker
position.
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:RIGHt
:DISPlay[:WINDow]:GRAPhics:STATe
Moves marker to the next higher wavelength or frequency.
Turns the instrument display of the power bars on and off.
I
S
4-45
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-7. Programming Commands (4 of 4)
Command
Description
Code
Codes: S indicates a standard SCPI command. I indicates an instrument specific command.
HCOPy Subsystem
:HCOPy:IMMediate
Starts a printout.
S
SENSe Subsystem
:SENSe:CORRection:DEVice
Configures wavelength measurements for narrowband or
broadband devices.
Sets the elevation value used by the instrument to compensate
for air dispersion.
I
I
:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation
:SENSe:CORRection:OFFSet:MAGNitude
:SENSe:CORRection:MEDium
Sets the power offset value used by the instrument.
Sets the instrument to return the wavelength reading in a
S
I
vacuum when the parameter is on. Parameters are VAC and AIR.
:SENSe:DATA?
Queries the time domain samples of the input signal.
I
STATus Subsystem
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:CONDition?
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:EVENt?
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:ENABle
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:PTRansition
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:NTRansition
:STATus:PRESet
Returns the value for the condition register for the node.
Returns the value of the event register for the node.
Sets the enable register.
Sets the positive transition filter register.
Sets the negative transition filter register.
Presets the enable registers for all status nodes.
S
S
S
S
S
S
SYSTem Subsystem
:SYSTem:ERRor?
:SYSTem:HELP:HEADers?
Queries an error from the error queue.
Queries an ASCII listing of all Agilent 86120B remote
commands.
S
I
:SYSTem:PRESet
:SYSTem:VERSion
Performs the equivalent of a front-panel PRESET key press.
S
S
Queries the version of SCPI with which this instrument is
compliant.
TRIGger Subsystem
:ABORt
Stops the current measurement sequence.
S
S
:INITiate:IMMediate
Places the instrument into the initiated state and initiates a new
measurement sequence.
:INITiate:CONTinuous
UNIT Subsystem
:UNIT[:POWer]
Sets the instrument for single or continuous measurement.
S
S
Sets the power units to watts (linear) or dBm (logarithmic).
4-46
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-8. Keys Versus Commands (1 of 3)
Key
Equivalent Command
:CALCulate3:DELTa:POWer[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WAVelength[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WPOWer[:STATe]
See COH LEN, DRIFT, and S/N
:CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO ON
:CALCulate2:PWAVerage[:STATe]
:DISPlay[:WINDow]:GRAPhics:STATe
:DISPlay[:WINDow]:GRAPhics:STATe
:SENSe:CORRection:DEVice BROad
See ELEV, PWR OFS, STD AIR, and VACUUM
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WNUMber
:MEASure:LENGth:COHerence:CLENgth
:INITiate:CONTinuous ON
∆ PWR
∆ WL
∆ WL/PWR
Appl's
AUTO
Avg WL
BAR OFF
BAR ON
BROAD
CAL
CM-1
COH LEN
Cont
DBM
UNIT:POWer
DEVICE
DRIFT
:SENSe:CORRection:DEVice
:CALCulate3:DRIFt[:STATe]
ELEV
:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation
none
EXIT
FAST
See UPDATE
GPIB
none
LIM OFF
LIM ON
List by Power
List by WL
:CALCulate2:WLIMit[:STATe] OFF
:CALCulate2:WLIMit[:STATe] ON
:CONFigure:ARRay:POWer
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WAVelength
4-47
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-8. Keys Versus Commands (2 of 3)
Key
Equivalent Command
MAX-MIN
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MINimum[:STATe] and
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MAXimum[:STATe]
MW
UNIT:POWer
NARROW
NEXT PK
NEXT WL
NM
:SENSe:CORRection:DEVice NARRow
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:NEXT
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:RIGHt
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:WAVelength
See UPDATE
NORMAL
OFF
:CALCulate3:DELTa:POWer[:STATe]
:CALCulate3:DELTa:POWer[:STATe]
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum
See NEXT PK, NEXT WL, PEAK, PREV PK, and PREV WL
:CALCulate2:PEXCursion
ON
PEAK
Peak WL
PK EXC
PK THLD
POWER
Preset
:CALCulate2:PTHReshold
:UNIT:POWer
:SYSTem:PRESet
PREV PK
PREV WL
Print
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:PREVious
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:LEFT
:HCOPy:IMMediate
PWR BAR
PWR OFF
RESET
See BAR ON and BAR OFF
:SENSe:CORRection:OFFSet:MAGNitude
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:REFerence:RESet
:CALCulate3:SNR:STATe
S/N
S/N AVG
SELECT
:CALCulate3:ASNR:STATe
:CONFigure:POWer
4-48
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Programming
Lists of Commands
Table 4-8. Keys Versus Commands (3 of 3)
Key
Equivalent Command
Setup
See CAL, UNITS, and UPDATE
:INITiate:CONTinuous OFF
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP
:SENSe:CORRection:MEDium AIR
See PK EXC and PK THLD
:MEASure:ARRay:POWer:FREQuency
:UNIT:POWer
Single
START WL
STOP WL
STD AIR
THRSHLD
THZ
UNITS
UPDATE
USER
Measurement Instructions and :CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
:CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO OFF
USER WL
UW
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence[:WAVelength]
UNIT:POWer
VACUUM
WL
:SENSe:CORRection:MEDium VACuum
See CM, NM, and THZ
WL LIM
WL REF
CALCulate2:WLIMit[:STATe]
See AUTO, USER, and USER WL
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Programming Commands
Programming Commands
Programming Commands
This chapter is the reference for all Agilent 86120B programming commands.
Commands are organized by subsystem.
Table 5-1. Notation Conventions and Definitions
Convention
Description
< >
|
Angle brackets indicate values entered by the programmer.
”Or” indicates a choice of one element from a list.
[ ]
Square brackets indicate that the enclosed items are optional.
{ }
When several items are enclosed by braces, one, and only one of these elements
must be selected.
<integer>
<real>
An ASCII string representing an integer. This is defined by the IEEE 488.2 <NR1>
format.
An ASCII string representing a real number. This is defined by the IEEE 488.2
<NR2> or <NRf> formats.
5-2
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
Common Commands
Common commands are defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard. They control
generic device functions which could be common among many different types
of instruments. Common commands can be received and processed by the
instrument whether they are sent over the GPIB as separate program mes-
sages or within other program messages.
*CLS
The *CLS (clear status) command clears all the event status registers summa-
rized in the status byte register.
*CLS
Syntax
Description
With the exception of the output queue, all queues that are summarized in the
status byte register are emptied. The error queue is also emptied. Neither the
event status enable register, nor the service request enable register are
affected by this command.
After the *CLS command, the instrument is left in the idle state. The com-
mand does not alter the instrument setting. *OPC and *OPC? actions are can-
celled.
This command cannot be issued as a query.
*ESE
The *ESE (event status enable) command sets the bits in the event status
enable register and enables the corresponding bits in the event status register.
*ESE <integer>
*ESE?
Syntax
5-3
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
<integer> is a mask from 0 to 255.
Description
The event status enable register contains a mask value for the bits to be
enabled in the event status register. A bit set to one (1) in the event status
enable register enables the corresponding bit in the event status register to
set the event summary bit in the status byte register. A zero (0) disables the
bit. Refer to the following table for information about the event status enable
register bits, bit weights, and what each bit masks. The event status enable
register is cleared at power-on. The *RST and *CLS commands do not change
the register. The *ESE? query returns the value of the event status enable reg-
ister.
Table 5-2. Event Status Enable Register
Bita
Bit Weight
Enables
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
128
64
32
16
8
PON – Power On
Not Used
CME – Command Error
EXE – Execution Error
DDE – Device Dependent Error
QYE – Query Error
Not Used
4
2
1
OPC – Operation Complete
a. A high enables the event status register bit.
<integer> is a mask from 0 to 255.
OUTPUT 720;”*ESE 32”
Query Response
Example
In this example, the *ESE 32 command enables CME (event summary bit) bit
5 of the event status enable register. Therefore, when an incorrect program-
ming command is received, the CME (command error bit) in the status byte
register is set.
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
*ESR?
The *ESR (event status register) query returns the value of the event status
register.
*ESR?
Syntax
Description
When you read the standard event status register, the value returned is the
total of the bit weights of all of the bits that are set to one at the time you read
the byte. The following table shows each bit in the event status register and its
bit weight. The register is cleared when it is read.
Table 5-3. Standard Event Status Register
Bit
Bit Weight
Condition
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
128
64
32
16
8
PON – Power On
Not Used
CME – Command Error
EXE – Execution Error
DDE – Device Dependent Error
QYE – Query Error
Not Used
4
2
1
OPC – Operation Complete
Query Response
<integer> ranges from 0 to 255.
5-5
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
OUTPUT 720;”*ESR?”
ENTER 720;Event
PRINT Event
Example
*IDN?
The *IDN? (identification number) query returns a string value which identi-
fies the instrument type and firmware version.
*IDN?
Syntax
Description
An *IDN? query must be the last query in a program message. Any queries
after the *IDN? query in a program message are ignored.
The maximum length of the identification string is 50 bytes.
Query Response
Example
The following identification string is returned. The third entry is the instru-
ment’s serial number. The last entry in the string is the firmware version num-
ber; this value may vary between instruments.
HEWLETT-PACKARD, 86120B, USaaaabbbb, 2.000
DIM Id$[50]
OUTPUT 720;”*IDN?”
ENTER 720;Id$
PRINT Id$
*OPC
The *OPC (operation complete) command sets the operation complete bit in
the event status register when all pending device operations have finished.
*OPC
*OPC?
Syntax
Description
The *OPC? query places an ASCII “1” in the output queue when all pending
device operations have finished.
This command is useful when the computer is sending commands to other
instruments. The computer can poll the event status register to check when
the Agilent 86120B has completed the operation. Use the *OPC? query to
5-6
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
ensure all operations have completed before continuing the program. By fol-
lowing a command with an *OPC? query and an ENTER statement, the pro-
gram will pause until the response (ASCII “1”) is returned by the instrument.
Be sure the computer’s timeout limit is at least two seconds, since some of the
Agilent 86120B commands take approximately one second to complete.
1
Query Response
Example
OUTPUT 720;”*OPC?”
ENTER 720;Op$
*RCL
This command recalls a saved instrument state.
Syntax
*RCL <integer>
<integer> range is 1 to 4.
Description
For a description of an instrument state, see *SAV command.
5-7
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
*RST
The *RST (reset) command returns the Agilent 86120B to a known condition.
*RST
Syntax
Description
For a listing of reset conditions, refer to the following table. This command
cannot be issued as a query. Since this command places the instrument in sin-
gle measurement acquisition mode, any current data is marked as invalid and
a measurement query such as :FETCh? results in error number –230, “Data
corrupt or stale”. You must initiate a new sweep with :INIT:IMM before you can
use the :FETCh command.
*SAV
This command saves an instrument state.
Syntax
*SAV <integer>
<integer> range is 1 to 4.
Description
The following constitutes an instrument state: single/continuous measure-
ment mode, power bar on/off, vacuum/STD air mode, normal/fast update, list
by WL, list by Pwr, peak, or avg display mode, frequency units, power units,
elevation, peak excursion, peak threshold, power offset, signal-to-noise auto
mode on/off, wavelength limit on/off, wavelength limit start, wavelength limit
stop, and signal-to-noise average count.
5-8
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
Table 5-4. Conditions Set by *RST Reset
Item
Setting
Display mode
single wavelength
on
Wavelength range limiting
Start wavelength
1200 nm
1650 nm
off
Stop wavelength
Graphical display
Measurement acquisition
Wavelength calibration
Elevation correction value
Wavelength units
single
vacuum
0 meters
nm
Amplitude units
dBm
Power offset
0 dB
Peak threshold
10 dB
Peak excursion
15 dB
Measurement speed
Number of uncorrected data points
Delta Measurements:
∆ power
normal
34123
off
off
∆ wavelength
off
∆ wavelength and power
reference signal position
Drift measurements
Coherence length measurements
700 nm
off
off
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
Table 5-4. Conditions Set by *RST Reset (Continued)
Item
Setting
Signal-to-Noise Measurements:
measurement
off
wavelength reference
reference (user) wavelength
number of averages (count)
GPIB address
auto
1550 nm in vacuum
100
not affected
on
Power-bar display
*SRE
The *SRE (service request enable) command sets the bits in the service
request enable register.
*SRE <integer>
*SRE?
Syntax
<integer> is defined as an integer mask from 0 to 255.
Description
The service request enable register contains a mask value for the bits to be
enabled in the status byte register. A bit set to one in the service request
enable register enables the corresponding bit in the status byte register to
generate a service request. A zero disables the bit. The following table lists the
bits in the service request enable register and what they mask.
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
The service request enable register is cleared when the instrument is turned
on. The *RST and *CLS commands do not change the register. The *SRE?
query returns the value of the service request enable register.
Table 5-5. Service Request Enable Register
Bita
Bit Weight
Enables
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
128
64
32
16
8
Not Used
Not Used
Event Status Bit (ESB)
Message Available (MAV)
Not Used
4
Error queue status
Not Used
2
1
Not Used
a. High enables the status byte register bit.
Query Response
Example
<integer> from 0 to 63 or from 128 to 191.
OUTPUT 720;”*SRE 32”
In this example, the command enables ESB (event summary) bit 5 in the sta-
tus byte register to generate a service request.
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
*STB?
The *STB (status byte) query returns the current value of the instrument’s
status byte.
*STB?
Syntax
Description
The master summary status (MSS) bit 6 indicates whether or not the device
has at least one reason for requesting service. When you read the status byte
register, the value returned is the total of the bit weights of all of the bits set to
one at the time you read the byte. The following table shows each bit in the
status byte register and its bit weight. The *STB? query does not affect the
contents of the status byte register.
Table 5-6. Status Byte Register
Bit
Bit Weight
Condition
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
128
64
32
16
8
Not Used
Master Summary Status (MSS)
Event Status Bit (ESB)
Message Available (MAV)
Not Used
4
Error queue status
Not Used
2
1
Not Used
Query Response
Example
<integer> from 0 to 255.
OUTPUT 720;”*STB?”
ENTER 720;Value
PRINT Value
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
*TRG
The *TRG (trigger) command is identical to the group execute trigger (GET)
message or RUN command.
*TRG
Syntax
Description
This command acquires data according to the current settings. This command
cannot be issued as a query. If a measurement is already in progress, a trigger
is ignored, and an error is generated.
Example
The following example starts the data acquisition according to the current set-
tings.
OUTPUT 720;”*TRG”
*TST?
The *TST (test) query starts a self-test on the instrument.
*TST?
Syntax
Description
The result of the test is placed in the output queue. A zero indicates the test
passed and a non-zero value indicates the test failed. The instrument will ini-
tiate a measurement and check for any hardware errors after the measure-
ment is complete.
Query Response
Example
<integer>
OUTPUT 720;”*TST?”
ENTER 720;Result
PRINT Result
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Programming Commands
Common Commands
*WAI
The *WAI command prevents the instrument from executing any further com-
mands until the current command has finished executing.
*WAI
Syntax
Description
All pending operations are completed during the wait period. This command
cannot be issued as a query.
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
Measurement Instructions
Use the measurement instructions documented in this section to perform
measurements and return the desired results to the computer. Four basic
measurement instructions are used: CONFigure, FETCh, READ, and MEA-
Sure. Because the command trees for each of these four basic measurement
instructions are identical, only the MEASure tree is documented.
or LENGth function. The POWer functions select power, frequency, wave-
length, or wave number measurements. Use the LENGth functions to config-
ure the instrument to measure coherence length. The instrument measures
the coherence length in the time domain by rectifying and low-pass filtering
the interferogram. The resulting waveform is then curve fit into a decaying
exponential. Refer to “Measuring Coherence Length” on page 3-12.
When the :SCALar command is used, data for a single measurement value is
returned. When the :ARRay command is used, multiple data values are
returned.
The MEASure measurement instruction always acquires new measurement
data. In order to obtain both wavelength and power values from the same mea-
surement data, use two FETCh commands. This is shown in the following pro-
gram fragment:
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:CONT OFF;”
OUTPUT 720;”:CONF:ARR:POW MAX”
OUTPUT 720;”:INIT:IMM”
OUTPUT 720;”:FETC:ARR:POW?”
ENTER 720:powers$
OUTPUT 720;”:FETC:ARR:POW:WAV?”
ENTER 720:wavelengths$
In the example above, the data in the power and wavelength arrays are
returned in the same order so that powers can be matched to wavelengths.
You can also send a MEASure command followed by a FETCh command.
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
{:MEASure | :READ[?] | :FETCh[?] | :CONFigure[?]}
{:ARRay | [:SCALar] }
:POWer[?]
:FREQuency[?]
:WAVelength[?]
:WNUMber[?]
[SCALar]:LENGth
:COHerence
:ALPHa?
:BETA?
[:CLENgth]?
:DELay?
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
MEASure{:ARRay | [:SCALar]} :POWer?
Returns amplitude values.
Syntax
:POWer? [<expected_value>[,<resolution>]]
Used With
<expected_value>
<resolution>
SCALar
ARRay
optional
ignored
ignored
ignored
Description
When used with a :SCALar command, a single value is returned. The display is
placed in the single-wavelength mode, and the marker is placed on the signal
having a power level that is closest to the <expected_value> parameter.
When used with an :ARRay command, an array of amplitudes is returned. The
display is placed in the list-by-power mode.
Returned values are in the current power units. Wavelength units are not
affected.
CONFigure command
When this function is used with the CONFigure command, the query question mark char-
acter “?” must not be included in the string. However, the FETCh, READ, and MEASure
command are queries and require the question mark. Refer to the examples for this com-
mand.
<expected_value> MAXimum
Displays the highest power signal
Constants
MINimum
Displays the lowest power signal
DEFault
Displays the signal at the current marker position
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
Examples
:CONF:ARR:POW
:FETC:ARR:POW?
:READ:ARR:POW?
:MEAS:ARR:POW?
:CONF:SCAL:POW -10 dBm
:FETC:SCAL:POW? MAX
:READ:SCAL:POW? MIN
:MEAS:SCAL:POW? DEF
Query Response
The following line is an example of a returned string when :MEAS:SCAL:POW?
MAX is sent:
-5.88346500E+000
If six laser lines are located and :MEAS:ARR:POW? is sent, the following string
could be returned. Notice that the first returned number indicates the number
of laser-line values returned in the query. The measurement units are in dBm.
6,-1.37444400E+001,-1.10996100E+001,-9.62396600E+000,
-7.94024500E+000,-7.01303200E+000,-1.04536200E+001
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
MEASure{:ARRay | [:SCALar]} :POWer:FREQuency?
Returns frequency values.
Syntax
:POWer:FREQuency? [<expected_value>[,<resolution>]]
Used With
<expected_value>
<resolution>
SCALar
ARRay
optional
ignoreda
optional
optional
a. Although ignored, this argument must be present if the resolution argument is specified.
Description
When used with a :SCALar command, a single value is returned. The display is
placed in the single-wavelength mode, and the marker is placed on the signal
having a frequency that is closest to the <expected_value> parameter.
Default units for <expected_value> parameter are in Hz. When used with an
:ARRay command, an array of frequencies is returned. The display is placed in
the list-by-wavelength mode.
The <resolution> parameter sets the resolution of the measurement. It is a
unitless number whose value will be limited to either 0.01 or 0.001 (whichever
is closer). MAXimum resolution is equivalent to the FAST measurement update
mode. MINimum resolution is equivalent to the NORMAL measurement update
mode.
Returned values are in Hz (display is in THz). Power units are not affected.
CONFigure command
When this function is used with the CONFigure command, the query question mark char-
acter “?” must not be included in the string. However, the FETCh, READ, and MEASure
command are queries and require the question mark. Refer to the examples for this com-
mand.
<expected_value> MAXimum
The highest frequency signal
The lowest frequency signal
The current marker position
Constants
MINimum
DEFault
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
<resolution>
Constants
MAXimum
MINimum
DEFault
0.01 resolution (fast update)
0.001 resolution (normal)
Current resolution
Examples
:CONF:ARR:POW:FREQ DEF MIN
:FETC:ARR:POW:FREQ? DEF MAX
:READ:ARR:POW:FREQ?
:MEAS:ARR:POW:FREQ?
:CONF:SCAL:POW:FREQ 230.8THZ, MAX
:FETC:SCAL:POW:FREQ? 230.8THZ, MIN
:READ:SCAL:POW:FREQ? 230.8THZ
:MEAS:SCAL:POW:FREQ? 230.8THZ
Query Response
The following line is an example of a returned string when
:MEAS:SCAL:POW:FREQ? MAX is sent:
+1.94055176E+014
If six laser lines are located and :MEAS:ARR:POW:FREQ? is sent, the following
string is an example of the returned data. Notice that the first returned num-
ber indicates the number of laser-line values returned in the query.
6,+1.94055100E+014,+1.93854100E+014,+1.93653000E+014,+1.93452000E+014,+1.93250900E+014,+1.
93050000E+014
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
MEASure{:ARRay | [:SCALar]} :POWer:WAVelength?
Returns wavelength values.
Syntax
:POWer:WAVelength? [<expected_value>[,<resolution>]]
Used With
<expected_value>
<resolution>
SCALar
ARRay
optional
ignoreda
optional
optional
a. Although ignored, this argument must be present if the resolution argument is specified.
Description
When used with a :SCALar command, a single value is returned. The display is
placed in the single-wavelength mode, and the marker is placed on the signal
having a wavelength that is closest to the <expected_value> parameter.
Default units for <expected_value> parameter are in meters.
When used with an :ARRay command, an array of wavelengths is returned.
The display is placed in the list-by-wavelength mode.
The <resolution> parameter sets the resolution of the measurement. It is a
unitless number whose value will be limited to either 0.01 or 0.001 (whichever
is closer).
Returned values are in meters. Displayed units are nanometers. Power units
are not affected.
CONFigure command
When this function is used with the CONFigure command, the query question mark char-
acter “?” must not be included in the string. However, the FETCh, READ, and MEASure
command are queries and require the question mark. Refer to the examples for this com-
mand.
<expected_value> MAXimum
The highest wavelength signal
The lowest wavelength signal
The current marker position
Constants
MINimum
DEFault
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
<resolution>
Constants
MAXimum
MINimum
DEFault
0.01 resolution (fast update)
0.001 resolution (normal)
Current resolution
Examples
:CONF:ARR:POW:WAV DEF MAX
:FETC:ARR:POW:WAV? DEF MIN
:READ:ARR:POW:WAV?
:MEAS:ARR:POW:WAV?
:CONF:SCAL:POW:WAV 1300NM, MAX
:FETC:SCAL:POW:WAV? 1300NM, MIN
:READ:SCAL:POW:WAV? 1300NM
:MEAS:SCAL:POW:WAV? 1300NM
Query Response
The following line is an example of a returned string when
:MEAS:SCAL:POW:WAV? MAX is sent:
+1.5529258E-006
If six laser lines are located and :MEAS:ARR:POW:WAV? is sent, the following
string could be returned. Notice that the first returned number indicates the
number of laser-line values returned in the query.
6,+1.54488100E-006,+1.54648400E-006,+1.54809000E-006,+1.54969900E-006,+1.55131100E-
006,+1.55292600E-006
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
MEASure{:ARRay | [:SCALar]} :POWer:WNUMber?
Returns a wave number value.
Syntax
:POWer:WNUMber? [<expected_value>[,<resolution>]]
Used With
<expected_value>
<resolution>
SCALar
ARRay
optional
ignoreda
optional
optional
a. Although ignored, this argument must be present if the resolution argument is specified.
Description
When used with a :SCALar command, a single value is returned. The display is
placed in the single-wavelength mode, and the marker is placed on the signal
having a wave number that is closest to the <expected_value> parameter.
Default units for <expected_value> parameter are in m–1.
When used with an :ARRay command, an array of wave number is returned.
The display is placed in the list-by-wavelength mode.
The <resolution> parameter sets the resolution of the measurement. It is a
unitless number whose value will be limited to either 0.01 or 0.001 (whichever
is closer).
Returned values are in inverse meters. Displayed units are inverse centime-
ters. Power units are not affected.
CONFigure command
When this function is used with the CONFigure command, the query question mark char-
acter “?” must not be included in the string. However, the FETCh, READ, and MEASure
command are queries and require the question mark. Refer to the examples for this com-
mand.
<expected_value> MAXimum
The laser line having the largest wave number
The laser line having the smallest wave number
The current marker position
Constants
MINimum
DEFault
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
<resolution>
Constants
MAXimum
MINimum
DEFault
0.01 resolution (fast update)
0.001 resolution (normal)
Current resolution
Examples
:CONF:ARR:POW:WNUM DEF MAX
:FETC:ARR:POW:WNUM? DEF MIN
:READ:ARR:POW:WNUM?
:MEAS:ARR:POW:WNUM?
:CONF:SCAL:POW:WNUM 6451, MAX
:FETC:SCAL:POW:WNUM? 6451, MIN
:READ:SCAL:POW:WNUM? 6451
:MEAS:SCAL:POW:WNUM? 6451
Query Response
If the :MEAS:SCAL:POW:WNUM? 6451 command is sent, and a 1550 nm laser
line is present, the following response would be returned to the computer:
+6.45286262E+005
Notice that the returned units are m–1. If six laser lines are measured and
:MEAS:ARR:POW:WNUM? is sent, the following response is returned. Notice
that the first returned number indicates the number of laser-line values
returned in the query.
6,+6.47298400E+005,+6.46627900E+005,+6.45957000E+005,+6.45286300E+005,+6.44615600E+005,+6.
43945300E+005
MEASure[:SCALar]:LENGth:COHerence:ALPHa?
Queries the alpha constant.
Syntax
:LENGth:COHerence:ALPHa?
Attribute
Summary
Query Only
Description
The alpha constant is a unitless ratio.
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Programming Commands
Measurement Instructions
MEASure[:SCALar]:LENGth:COHerence:BETA?
Queries the beta constant.
Syntax
:LENGth:COHerence:BETA?
Attribute
Summary
Query Only
Description
The beta constant is a unitless ratio.
MEASure[:SCALar]:LENGth:COHerence[:CLENgth]?
Queries the coherence length of the input signal in meters.
Syntax
:LENGth:COHerence:CLENgth?
Attribute
Summary
Query Only
MEASure[:SCALar]:LENGth:COHerence:DELay?
Queries the round-trip path delay in the laser chip.
Syntax
:LENGth:COHerence:DELay?
Attribute
Summary
Query Only
Description
The units of the returned value are in meters.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate1 Subsystem
CALCulate1 Subsystem
Use the CALCulate1 commands to query uncorrected frequency-spectrum
data. In NORMAL measurement update mode, 34,123 values are returned. If the
Agilent 86120B is set for FAST measurement update mode (low resolution),
4,268 values are returned.
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
:CALCulate1
:DATA?
:TRANsform
:FREQuency
:POINts
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Programming Commands
CALCulate1 Subsystem
DATA?
Queries uncorrected frequency-spectrum data of the input laser line.
Syntax
:CALCulate1:DATA?
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
The returned values are in squared Watts (linear) units. No amplitude or fre-
quency correction is applied to the values. To obtain the logarithmic (dB)
the logarithm of the returned values.
Be prepared to process a large amount of data when this query is sent. The
amount of data returned depends on the measurement update state of the
instrument which can be set using the :CALCulate1:TRANsform:FRE-
Quency:POINts command or the resolution argument of an instrument func-
tion. Refer to “Measurement Instructions” on page 5-15.
When NORMAL measurement update is specified, over 580 kilobytes of data
(34,123 values) can be returned to the computer. When FAST measurement
update is specified, over 72 kilobytes of data (4,268 values) can be returned.
The following string is a typical example of the first few returned values:
+4.02646500E+001,+6.78125100E+001,+6.17986600E+001,+4.26768200E+001,+4.80245300E+001,+3.1
0491300E+001,+1.13409400E+001,+5.07832500E+001,+2.77746200E+001,+3.89150500E+001,+3.50217
600E+001,+7.34649800E-001,+5.64983800E+000,
Notice that only measurement values are returned to the computer. There is
no first value that indicates the number of values contained in the string as
there is, for example, with the FETCh, READ, and MEASure commands. Use
the :CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINTs command to query the
number of points the :CALC1:DATA? returns.
When NORMAL measurement mode is selected, the uncorrected frequency
domain data consists of 64K (65,536) values. Only the frequency domain data
corresponding to 700-1650 nm wavelength (in vacuum) is returned (34,123
values). In FAST measurement mode, the data consists of 8K (8,192) values of
which 4,268 values are returned.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate1 Subsystem
The frequency spacing between values is uniform and is equal to the reference
laser frequency (473.6127 THz) divided by 64K, or 7.226756 GHz. Note the
spacing between values is not uniform in wavelength units. The values
returned are in ascending optical frequency.
The first value of the uncorrected frequency data corresponds to an optical
frequency of 181.6879 THz (1650.041 nm). The last value of the uncorrected
frequency data corresponds to an optical frequency of 428.2793 THz (699.993
nm). For example, a laser line peak located at the 1,500th returned value has
an optical frequency of:
frequency = 181.6879 THz + 1, 499(7.226756 GHz)
= 192.5208 THz
or, 1557.195 nm (in vacuum).
When FAST measurement mode is selected, the uncorrected frequency domain
data consists of 8K (8,192) values. The frequency spacing between elements
is uniform and is equal to the reference laser frequency (473.6127 THz)
divided by 8K, or 57.81405 GHz. Note the spacing between values is not uni-
form in wavelength units. The values returned are in ascending optical fre-
quency. Only the frequency domain data corresponding to 700-1650 nm
wavelength (in vacuum) is returned (4,268 values). The first value of the
uncorrected frequency data corresponds to an optical frequency of 181.652
THz (1650.37 nm). The last value of the uncorrected frequency data corre-
sponds to an optical frequency of 428.344 THz (699.89 nm). For example, a
laser line peak located at the 200th returned value has an optical frequency of:
frequency = 181.652 THz + 199(57.81405 GHz)
= 193.157 THz
or, 1551.07 nm (in vacuum).
If your program is aborted or interrupted after sending this query, the
Agilent 86120B continues to process the data but does not place it in the out-
put buffer. Because of the amount of data processed, the instrument will not
respond to any new commands in its input buffer for up to 20 seconds.
This query will generate a “Settings conflict” error if the instrument is in
either the coherence length or the signal-to-noise average application.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate1 Subsystem
TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
Sets the size of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) performed by the instru-
ment.
Syntax
:CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINTs{?| {<integer> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<integer> Sets FFT size. Must be either 34123 or 4268. Other values result in
an error.
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
4,268
34,123
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: array size set to 34,123
*RST State: 34,123
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
A NORMAL updated display corresponds to an FFT size of 34,123. A FAST
updated display corresponds to an FFT size of 4,268. These values are a sub-
set of the uncorrected-data buffer shown in the figure that is located in “Mak-
ing Measurements” on page 4-5. Changing the number of points causes the
instrument to reprocess the current set of data.
The query form of the command returns the number of points in the data set. This is
the number of measurement points that will be returned by the CALC1:DATA?
query.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate1 Subsystem
Query Response
For normal update:
+34123
For fast update:
+4268
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
CALCulate2 Subsystem
Use the CALCulate2 commands to query corrected values frequency-spec-
trum data.
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
:CALCulate2
:DATA?
:PEXCursion
:POINts?
:PTHReshold
:PWAVerage
[:STATe]
:WLIMit
[:STATe]
:STARt
:FREQuency
[:WAVelength]
:WNUMber
:STOP
:FREQuency
[:WAVelength]
:WNUMber
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
DATA?
Queries the corrected peak data of the input laser line.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:DATA? {FREQuency | POWer | WAVelength | WNUMber}
Constant
Description
FREQuency
Queries the array of laser-line frequencies after the peak
search is completed. If :CALC2:PWAV:STAT is on, the
power-weighted average frequency is returned.
POWer
Queries the array of laser-line powers after the peak search
is completed. If :CALC2:PWAV:STAT is on, the total input
power is returned.
WAVelength
WNUMber
Queries the array of laser-line wavelengths after the peak
search is completed. If :CALC2:PWAV:STAT is on, the
power-weighted average wavelength is returned.
Queries the array of laser-line wave numbers after the peak
search is completed. If :CALC2:PWAV:STAT is on, the
power-weighted average wave number is returned.
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
Use the CALC2:POIN? query to determine the number of points the
CALC2:DATA? query will return. The following string is a typical example of
the first few returned values returned when WAVelength is specified:
+1.54488600E-006,+1.54649100E-006,+1.54808300E-006,+1.54969600E-006,+1.55131200E-
006,+1.55293000E-006
This next string resulted by specifying the WNUMber argument:
+6.47296600E+005,+6.46625000E+005,+6.45959900E+005,+6.45287500E+005,+6.44615500E+005,+6.4
3943900E+005
Notice that only measurement values are returned to the computer. There is
no first value that indicates the number of values contained in the string as
there is, for example, with the FETCh, READ, and MEASure commands.
When there is no input signal, the POWer query returns –200 dBm; the WAVe-
length query returns 100 nm (1.0E–7).
5-32
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
PEXCursion
Sets the peak excursion limit used by the Agilent 86120B to determine valid
laser line peaks.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:PEXCursion{?| {<integer> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}}
<integer> represents logarithmic units in dB. Valid range is 1 to 30 dB.
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
DEFault
Description
1 dB
30 dB
15 dB
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 15 dB
*RST State: 15 dB
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
A laser line is identified as a valid peak if its amplitude is greater than the peak
excursion plus the amplitudes of the closest local minima on either side of the
peak. This command works in conjunction with the peak threshold setting.
Refer to “PTHReshold” on page 5-34. Changing the peak excursion limit
causes the instrument to reprocess the current set of data. Refer also to
“Defining Laser-Line Peaks” on page 2-16.
The query response is the current value. For example, if the current value is
set to 15 dB, the following value is returned:
15
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
5-33
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
POINts?
Queries the number of points in the data set.
:CALCulate2:POINts?
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected
*RST State: unaffected
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Query Only
Description
This is the number of points that will be returned by the CALC2:DATA? query.
Query Response
For example, if six laser lines are located:
+6
PTHReshold
Sets the peak threshold limit used by the instrument to determine valid laser
line peaks.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:PTHReshold{?| {<integer> | MINimum | MAXimum | DEFault}}
<integer> represents logarithmic units in dB. Valid range is 0 to 40.
5-34
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
DEFault
Value
0 dB
40 dB
10 dB
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 10 dB
*RST State: 10 dB
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
A laser line is identified as a valid peak if its amplitude is above the maximum
amplitude minus the peak threshold value. The subtraction is done in dB
units. This setting works in conjunction with the peak excursion setting to
determine which responses are located. Refer to “PEXCursion” on page 5-33.
Changing the peak threshold limit causes the instrument to reprocess the cur-
rent set of data. Refer also to “Defining Laser-Line Peaks” on page 2-16.
The query response is the current value. For example, if the current value is
set to 15 dB, the following value is returned:
15
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
PWAVerage[:STATe]
Places the instrument in the power-weighted average mode.
:CALCulate2:PWAVerage[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
5-35
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
Description
When the state is on, the CALC2:DATA? POW query returns the total power
and the CALC2:DATA? WAV, FREQ, or WNUM query returns the power-
weighted average wavelength, frequency, or wave number values.
Turning power-weighted average mode on while making delta, coherence
length, or signal-to-noise measurements results in a “–221 Settings conflict”
error.
WLIMit[:STATe]
Limits input wavelength range of the Agilent 86120B.
:CALCulate2:WLIMit[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: on
*RST State: on
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When this function is on, the Agilent 86120B has an input range from the
WLIMit STARt to the WLIMit STOP. When this function is off, the instrument
displays peaks over the full wavelength range. If you want to measure signals
over a narrower wavelength range, set this function on to avoid identifying
spurious second harmonic peaks.
Whenever the Agilent 86120B receives this command, it reprocesses the data
and performs a new peak search.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STARt:FREQuency
Sets the starting frequency for the wavelength limit range.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:FREQuency{?|{ <real>| MINimum| MAXimum}}
<real> is a frequency value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
181.6924 THz
wavelength limit stop value
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 181.6924 THz
*RST State: 181.6924 THz
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the starting range for the wavelength limit in Hertz. The
start frequency value must be less than or equal to the stop frequency value or
the start frequency will be clipped to the stop frequency and a “Data out of
range” error will be generated. The default units for the <real> parameter are
hertz.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STARt[:WAVelength]
Syntax
CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt[:WAVelength] {?|{<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wavenumber value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
700.0 nm
wavelength limit stop value
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 700 nm
*RST State: 700 nm
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the starting range for the wavelength limit. The start
wavelength value must be less than or equal to the stop wavelength value or the
start wavelength will be clipped to the stop wavelength and a “Data out of
range” error will be generated. Setting the start wavelength is equivalent to
setting the stop frequency/wavenumber because of the inverse relationship of
meters.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STARt:WNUMber
Sets the starting wavenumber for the wavelength limit range.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STARt:WNUMber {?|{<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wavenumber value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
6060 cm-1
wavelength limit stop value
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 6.060606E5 m-1
*RST State: 6.060606E5 m-1
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the starting range for the wavelength limit. The default
units for the <real> parameter value are m-1. The start wavenumber value
must be less than or equal to the stop wavenumber value or the start wave-
number will be clipped to the stop wavenumber and a “Data out of range”
error will be generated.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STOP:FREQuency
Sets the stopping frequency for the wavelength limit range.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:FREQuency {?|{<real> | MINimum | MAXimum }}
<real> is a frequency value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
start wavelength limit
428.2750 THz
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 249.8271 THz
*RST State: 249.8271 THz
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the stopping range for the wavelength limit. The default
units for the <real> parameter are Hz. The stop frequency value must be
greater than or equal to the start frequency value or the stop frequency will be
clipped to the start frequency and a “Data out of range” error will be gener-
ated.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STOP[:WAVelength]
Sets the stopping wavelength for the wavelength limit range.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP[WAVelength] {?|{<real> | MINimum | MAXimum }}
<real> is a wavelength value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
start wavelength limit
1650.0 nm
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 1650 nm
*RST State: 1650 nm
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the stopping range for the wavelength limit. The default
units for the <real> parameter are meters. The stop wavelength value must be
greater than or equal to the start wavelength value or the stop wavelength will
be clipped to the start wavelength and a “Data out of range” error will be gen-
erated. Setting the start wavelength is equivalent to setting the start fre-
quency/wavenumber because of the inverse relationship of frequency to
wavelength.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate2 Subsystem
WLIMit:STOP:WNUMber
Sets the stopping wavenumber for the wavelength limit range.
Syntax
:CALCulate2:WLIMit:STOP:WNUMber {?|{<real> | MINimum | MAXimum }}
<real> is a wavenumber value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
start wavelength limit
14286 cm-1 (700 nm)
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: 8.333335E5 m-1
*RST State: 8.333335E5 m-1
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the stopping range for the wavelength limit. The default
units for the <real> parameter are inverse meters. The stop wavenumber
value must be less than or equal to the start wavenumber value or the stop
wavenumber will be clipped to the start wavenumber and a “Data out of
range” error will be generated.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
CALCulate3 Subsystem
Use the CALCulate3 commands to perform delta, drift, and signal-to-noise
measurements. The commands in this subsystem have the following command
hierarchy:
:CALCulate3
:ASNR
:CLEar
:COUNt
[:STATe]
:DATA?
:DELTa
:POWer
[:STATe]
:PRESet
:REFerence
:FREQuency
:POWer?
[:WAVelength]
:WNUMber
:WAVelength
[:STATe]
:WPOWer
[:STATe]
:DRIFt
:DIFFerence
[:STATe]
:MAXimum
[:STATe]
:MINimum
[:STATe]
:PRESet
:REFerence
:RESet
[:STATe]
[:STATe]
:POINts?
:PRESet
:SNR
:AUTO
:REFerence
:FREQuency
[:WAVelength]
:WNUMber
[:STATe]
5-43
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
ASNR:CLEar
Clears the number of measurements used in the average signal-to-noise calcu-
lation.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:ASNR:CLEar
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
*RST State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command clears the number of measurements used in the average signal-
to-noise calculation. The current measurement is used as the new reference
for the average signal-to-noise calculation.
ASNR:COUNt
Sets the number of measurements to be used for the average signal-to-noise
calculation.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:ASNR:COUNt {?|{<integer> | MINimum | MAXimum }}
<integer> is a value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
10
900
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: 100
*RST State: 100
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command sets the number of measurements to be used for the average
signal-to-noise calculation. If this count is changed while the average signal
calculation is on, and the new count is less than the number of measurements
already taken, the instrument will go into single measurement mode.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
ASNR[:STATe]
Turns the average signal-to-noise ratio on or off.
:CALCulate3:ASNR[:STATe] {?|{ ON | OFF | 1 | 0 }}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
This command turns the average signal-to-noise calculation on or off. Only
one of the CALCulate3 calculations (ASNR, DELTa, DRIFt, or SNR) can be
turned on at a time. Turning on the ASNR calculation while another calcula-
tion is on will generate a “Settings conflict” error.
When the calculation is first turned on, the lines measured in the current mea-
surement will be used as the reference values for the signal-to-noise ratio.
Subsequent measurements will average the noise values. The signal values are
not updated until the number of measurements used to average the noise is
greater than or equal to the COUNt value.
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DATA?
Queries the data resulting from delta, drift, and signal-to-noise measurements.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DATA? {POWer | FREQuency | WAVelength | WNUMber}
Argument
Description
POWer
Queries the array of laser-line powers after the calculation
is completed.
FREQuency
WAVelength
WNUMber
Queries the array of laser-line frequencies after the
calculation is completed.
Queries the array of laser-line wavelengths after the
calculation is completed.
Queries the array of laser-line wave numbers after the
calculation is completed.
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
The data returned by the query depends upon which calculation state is on. If
no calculation state is on, an error is generated. The returned data is comma
delimited. The following string is a typical example of six values returned
when POWer is specified from a delta power measurement:
-7.42833100E+000,-1.00087200E+000,-2.52121400E+000,
-3.41918900E+000,-3.80437200E+000,-6.36282900E+000
Notice that only measurement values are returned to the computer. There is
no first value that indicates the number of values contained in the string as
there is, for example, with the FETCh, READ, and MEASure commands. Use
the CALC3:POIN? query to determine the number of points the CALC3:DATA?
query returns.
In the SNR or ASNR calculation, only the POWer argument is valid. The other
arguments will generate a “Settings conflict” error. Use the CALC2:DATA?
query to retrieve the signal wavelengths and powers.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:POWer[:STATe]
Turns the delta-power measurement mode on and off.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:POWer[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When this state is on, the power of the reference laser line is subtracted from
the power values of all laser lines except the reference.
The power data returned by the CALC3:DATA? query is the array of laser line
power levels normalized to the power level of the reference laser line. The
power of the reference laser line is returned as an absolute power (unnormal-
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
DELTa:PRESet
Turns off all delta measurement states.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:PRESet
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
*RST State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:REFerence:FREQuency
Selects the reference laser line for DELTa calculations.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:FREQuency{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a frequency value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
181.6924 THz
428.6 THz
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: 428.6 THz (700 nm)
*RST State:428.6 THz (700 nm)
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
The reference will be the laser line at the frequency closest to the frequency
entered. Subsequent measurements will use the frequency closest to the ref-
erence frequency used for the previous measurement.
The query returns the reference laser line’s frequency. The default units for
the <real> parameter are Hz.
DELTa:REFerence:POWer?
Queries the reference laser line’s power level.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:POWer?
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
*RST State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Query Only
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:REFerence[:WAVelength]
Selects the reference laser line for DELTa calculations.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence[:WAVelength]{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wavelength value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
700.0 nm
1650.0 nm
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: 700 nm (428.6 THz)
*RST State: 700 nm (428.6 THz) laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
The reference will be the laser line at the wavelength closest to the wave-
length entered. Subsequent measurements will use the wavelength closest to
the reference wavelength used for the previous measurement.
The query returns the current wavelength of the reference laser line. The
default units for the <real> parameter are meters.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:REFerence:WNUMber
Selects the reference laser line for delta calculations.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DELTa:REFerence:WNUMber{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wave number value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
6,061 cm-1
14,286 cm-1
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: 14,286 cm–1 (700 nm)
*RST State: 14,286 cm–1 (700 nm)
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
The reference will be the laser line at the wave number closest to the wave
number entered. Subsequent measurements will use the wave number closest
to the reference wave number used for the previous measurement.
The query returns the current wave number of the reference laser line. The
default units for the <real> parameter are m–1.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:WAVelength[:STATe]
Turns the delta wavelength measurement mode on and off.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WAVelength[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When on, the wavelength of the reference laser line is subtracted from the
wavelength values of all laser lines except the reference.
For the CALC3:DATA? query, the power data returned is the array of absolute
powers measured for each laser line. The frequency data is the array of fre-
quency values normalized to the frequency of the reference laser line. The fre-
quency of the reference laser line is returned as an absolute frequency
(unnormalized).
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DELTa:WPOWer[:STATe]
Turns the delta wavelength and power measurement mode on and off.
:CALCulate3:DELTa:WPOWer[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When on, the wavelength of the reference laser line is subtracted from the
wavelength values of all laser lines except the reference. The power value of
the reference is subtracted from the power values of all laser lines except the
reference.
For the CALC3:DATA? query, the power data returned is the array of powers
normalized to the power of the reference laser line. The power of the refer-
ence laser line is returned as an absolute power (unnormalized).
The frequency data is the array of frequency values normalized to the fre-
quency of the reference laser line. The frequency of the reference laser line is
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt:DIFFerence[:STATe]
Sets the drift calculation to subtract the minimum values measured from the
maximum values measured.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:DIFFerence[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
Use the CALC3:DRIF:PRES command to turn off all the drift states before
turning on this state. The CALC3:DATA? query returns the maximum power
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt:MAXimum[:STATe]
Sets the drift calculation to return the maximum power and frequency values
measured.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MAXimum[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
Use the CALC3:DRIF:PRES command to turn off all the drift states before
turning on this state. The CALC3:DATA? query returns the maximum power
and frequency.
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt:MINimum[:STATe]
Sets the drift calculation to return the minimum power and frequency values
measured.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:MINimum[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
Use the CALC3:DRIF:PRES command to turn off all the drift states before
turning on this state. The CALC3:DATA? query returns the minimum power or
frequency.
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt:PRESet
Turns off all the drift states for DIFFerence, MAXimum, MINimum, and REF-
erence.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:PRESet
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST State: unaffected by
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
Description
This command allows the CALC3:DATA? query to return the difference
between the current measurement and the reference.
DRIFt:REFerence:RESet
Places the current list of laser lines into the reference list.
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:REFerence:RESet
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST State: unaffected by
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt:REFerence[:STATe]
Turns on and off the drift reference state.
:CALCulate3:DRIFt:REFerence[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When this command is set to on, the CALC3:DATA? command returns the ref-
erence laser lines. Use the CALC3:DRIF:PRES command to turn off all the
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
DRIFt[:STATe]
Turns on and off the drift measurement calculation.
:CALCulate3:DRIFt[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
When the drift mode is first turned on, the current list of laser lines is placed
into the reference. All subsequent measurements take the new data, subtract
the reference data, and display the differences in wavelengths and powers.
The CALC3:DATA? query returns the power and frequency of the current
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
POINts?
Queries the number of points in the data set.
:CALCulate3:POINts?
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
RST State: unaffected by
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Query Only
Description
The value returned is the number of points returned by the CALC3:DATA?
query.
PRESet
Turns off any CALCulate3 calculation that is on.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:PRESet
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
RST State: unaffected by
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
Description
This command turns off any CALCulate3 calculation (delta, drift, signal-to-
noise, or coherence length) that is on.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
SNR:AUTO
Selects the reference frequency value for measuring noise in the signal-to-
noise calculation.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:SNR:AUTO{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Constant
ON
Description
Selects internally generated reference frequency.
Selects user-entered reference frequency.
OFF
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: on
*RST State: on
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
The command argument allows you to select either an internally generated or
a user-entered frequency reference for measuring the noise. To enter a value
to use as the reference, use the SNR:REFerence:FREQuency, SNR:REFer-
ence:WAVelength, and SNR:REFerence:WNUMber commands.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
SNR:REFerence:FREQuency
Enters a frequency that can be used for the noise measurement reference in
signal-to-noise calculations.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence:FREQuency{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a frequency value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
181.6924 THz
428.2750 THz
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST State: 193.4145 THz (1550.0 nm in a vacuum).
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
After entering this value, use the SNR:AUTO command to configure the
instrument to use this value in subsequent signal-to-noise calculations.
The default units for the <real> parameter are Hz.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
SNR:REFerence[:WAVelength]
Sets the wavelength used for the noise measurement reference in the signal-
to-noise calculation.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence[:WAVelength]{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wavelength value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
700.0 nm
1650.0 nm
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST State: 1550.0 nm in a vacuum.
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
After entering this value, use the SNR:AUTO command to configure the
instrument to use this value in subsequent signal-to-noise calculations. The
number entered is converted internally to the corresponding frequency.
The default units for the <real> parameter are meters.
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Programming Commands
CALCulate3 Subsystem
SNR:REFerence:WNUMber
Sets the wave number used for the noise measurement reference in the signal-
to-noise calculation.
Syntax
:CALCulate3:SNR:REFerence:WNUMber{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is a wave number value that is within the following limits:
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
6060 cm-1 (1650 nm)
14286 cm-1 (700 nm)
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST State: 6451.614 cm-1
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
After entering this value, use the SNR:AUTO command to configure the
instrument to use this value in subsequent signal-to-noise calculations. The
wave number entered is converted internally to the corresponding frequency.
The default units for the <real> parameter are m–1.
SNR[:STATe]
Turns the signal-to-noise calculation on and off.
:CALCulate3:SNR[:STATe]{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: off
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
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Programming Commands
CONFigure Measurement Instruction
Note
Only one STATe command can be turned on at any one time. Attempting to turn more
than one state on at a time results in a “–221 Settings Conflict” error. Refer to “Measure
delta, drift, and signal-to-noise” on page 4-14 for additional information on selecting
measurements.
CONFigure Measurement Instruction
For information on the CONFigure measurement instruction, refer to “Mea-
surement Instructions” on page 5-15.
DISPlay Subsystem
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
:DISPlay
:MARKer:
:MAXimum
:LEFT
:NEXT
:PREVious
:RIGHt
[:WINDow]
:GRAPhics
:STATe
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Programming Commands
DISPlay Subsystem
MARKer:MAXimum
Sets the marker to the laser line that has the maximum power.
Syntax
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
*RST State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
MARKer:MAXimum:LEFT
Moves the marker left to the next laser line.
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:LEFT
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
*RST State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
Description
Moves the marker from the current marker position to the next laser line hav-
ing the following characteristic:
• shorter wavelength
• lower frequency
• lower wave number
If the display is in the List by Ampl mode, it will be changed to List by WL before
the marker is moved.
MARKer:MAXimum:NEXT
Moves the marker to the laser line with the next lower power level.
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Programming Commands
DISPlay Subsystem
Syntax
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:NEXT
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
*RST State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
Description
If the display is in the List by WL mode, it will be changed to List by Ampl before
the marker is moved.
MARKer:MAXimum:PREVious
Moves the marker to the laser line that has the next higher power level.
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:PREVious
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
*RST State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
Description
If the display is in the List by WL mode, it will be changed to List by Ampl before
the marker is moved.
MARKer:MAXimum:RIGHt
Moves the marker right to the next laser line.
:DISPlay:MARKer:MAXimum:RIGHt
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
*RST State: marker set to maximum-power laser line
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Command Only
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Programming Commands
FETCh Measurement Instruction
Description
Moves the marker from the current marker position to the next laser line hav-
ing the following characteristic:
• longer wavelength
• higher frequency
• higher wave number
If the display is in the List by Ampl mode, it will be changed to List by WL before
the marker is moved.
[WINDow]:GRAPhics:STATe
Turns on and off the display of the power bars.
:DISPlay[:WINDow]:GRAPhics:STATe{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: on
*RST State: on
SCPI Compliance: standard
Description
Specifying on displays the power bars in all modes except the drift and signal-
to-noise modes. Specifying off prevents the display of power bars for all instru-
ment modes.
FETCh Measurement Instruction
For information on the FETCh measurement instruction, refer to “Measure-
ment Instructions” on page 5-15.
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Programming Commands
HCOPy Subsystem
HCOPy Subsystem
Use the command in this subsystem to print the displayed measurement
results to a printer. This subsystem has the following command hierarchy:
:HCOPy
[:IMMediate]
[:IMMediate]
Prints measurement results on a printer.
:HCOPy:IMMediate
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Command Only
Description
Connect the printer to the Agilent 86120B’s rear-panel PARALLEL PRINTER PORT
connector. The output to the printer is ASCII text.
MEASure Measurement Instruction
For information on the MEASure measurement instruction, refer to “Measure-
ment Instructions” on page 5-15.
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Programming Commands
READ Measurement Instruction
READ Measurement Instruction
For information on the READ measurement instruction, refer to “Measure-
ment Instructions” on page 5-15.
SENSe Subsystem
Use the SENSe commands to correct measurement results for elevation above
sea level and to select between measurements in air or vacuum. You can also
enter an amplitude offset. The commands in this subsystem have the following
command hierarchy:
[:SENSe]
:CORRection
:DEVice
:ELEVations
:MEDium
:OFFSet
[:MAGNitude]
:DATA?
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Programming Commands
SENSe Subsystem
CORRection:DEVice
Selects the wavelength measurement algorithm. This command applies to
Agilent 86120B instruments with firmware version number 2.0. When first
turned on, the instrument briefly displays the firmware version. Instruments
with a firmware version number less than 2.0 do not have this feature.
Syntax
:SENSe:CORRection:[DEVice]{?| {NARRow | BROad}}
Constant
Description
NARRow
Selects wavelength measurements for narrowband devices
such as DFB lasers and modes of FP lasers.
BROad
Selects wavelength measurements for broadband devices
such as optical filters and LEDs.
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: NARRow
*RST sets this value to NARRow.
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
The narrow bandwidth algorithm, used for measuring lasers, determines the
wavelength based upon the peak.
determines the wavelength based upon the center-of-mass of the power spec-
trum. The peak excursion function is used to determine the value of the inte-
gration limits. Care must be taken to ensure that the integration limits are
above any noise. This is especially true when measuring devices with sloping
noise floors, like an EDFA amplifier. For more information on peak excursion,
refer to “PEXCursion” on page 5-33.
Instrument specifications apply when the device is set to NARRow. Specifica-
tions do not apply in BROad mode.
Query Response
The query form returns the previously selected device.
NARRow
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Programming Commands
SENSe Subsystem
CORRection:ELEVation
Sets the elevation value used by the instrument to compensate for air disper-
sion.
Syntax
:SENSe:CORRection:ELEVation{?| {<integer> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<integer> is the altitude in meters.
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
0 m
5000 m
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: unaffected by
*RST sets this value to the minimum.
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
Changing the elevation value causes the current data to be reprocessed.
Query Response
The query form returns the current elevation setting as shown in the following
example:
+1500
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
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Programming Commands
SENSe Subsystem
CORRection:MEDium
Sets the Agilent 86120B to return wavelength readings in a vacuum or stan-
dard air.
Syntax
:SENSe:CORRection:MEDium{?| {AIR | VACuum}}
Argument
AIR
Description
Selects wavelength values in standard air.
Selects wavelength values in a vacuum.
VACuum
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: VAC
*RST State: VAC
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Description
Standard air is defined to have the following characteristics:
Barometric pressure: 760 torr
Temperature: 15°C
Relative humidity: 0%
CORRection:OFFSet[:MAGNitude]
Enters an offset for amplitude values.
Syntax
:SENSe:CORRection:OFFSet:MAGNitude{?| {<real> | MINimum | MAXimum}}
<real> is the logarithmic units in dB.
Constant
MINimum
MAXimum
Description
−40.0 dB
40.0 dB
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: 0.0
*RST State: 0.0
SCPI Compliance: standard
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Programming Commands
SENSe Subsystem
Query Response
The query form returns the current offset setting as shown in the following
example:
+5.00000000E+000
DATA?
Queries the time domain samples of the input laser line.
Syntax
:SENSe:DATA?
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Query Only
Description
Be prepared to process a large amount of data when this query is sent. The
amount of data returned depends on the measurement update state of the
instrument which is set using the resolution argument of an instrument func-
tion. Refer to “Measurement Instructions” on page 5-15.
When NORMAL measurement update is specified, over 2,200 kilobytes of data
(128K values) can be returned to the computer. When FAST measurement
update is specified, over 250 kilobytes of data (16K values) can be returned.
The floating point values are scaled from 1.000 to 1.999 (1 + 1023/1024).
Amplitude values are not calibrated.
The input laser line(s) generate an interference pattern on the photodetector
as a function of the Michelson interferometer optical path delay. The time
domain data is sampled at uniform optical path delay increments of half the
reference laser wavelength, or 0.316495 microns. When NORMAL measurement
update is selected, the first data value is sampled at –20.74 mm optical path
delay, and the last value is sampled at +20.74 mm optical path delay. When
FAST measurement update is selected, the first data value is sampled at +2.59
mm optical path delay, and the last value is sampled at –2.59 mm optical path
delay. The data value that corresponds to zero optical path delay is approxi-
mately, but not exactly, located in the center of the time domain data.
If your program is aborted or interrupted after sending this query, the
Agilent 86120B continues to process the data but does not place it in the out-
put buffer. Because of the amount of data processed, the instrument will not
respond to any new commands in its input buffer for 30 or 40 seconds.
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Programming Commands
STATus Subsystem
Query Response
The following string shows an example of the first few measurements returned
by this query.
+1.51367200E+000,+1.51855500E+000,+1.49902300E+000,+1.47949200E+000,+1.50488300E+000,+1.5
3320300E+000,+1.50097700E+000,+1.47265600E+000,+1.50293000E+000,+1.50781300E+000,+1.51171
900E+000,+1.48242200E+000,+1.50097700E+000,+1.51855500E+000,+1.50683600E+000,+1.48632800E
+000,+1.50488300E+000
Notice that only values are returned to the computer. There is no first value
that indicates the number of values contained in the string as there is, for
example, with the FETCh, READ, and MEASure commands.
STATus Subsystem
Use the commands in this subsystem to control the Agilent 86120B’s status-
reporting structures. These structures provide registers that you can use to
determine if certain events have occurred.
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
:STATus
:OPERation
:CONDition?
:ENABle
[:EVENt]?
:PTRansition
:NTRansition
:PRESet
:QUEStionable
:CONDition?
:ENABle
[:EVENt]?
:PTRansition
:NTRansition
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Programming Commands
STATus Subsystem
{OPERation | QUEStionable}:CONDition?
Queries the value of the questionable or operation condition register.
Syntax
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:CONDition?
Query Response
0 to 32767
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
Example
Use this command to read the value of the OPERation Status or QUEStionable
Status registers. Refer to “Monitoring the Instrument” on page 4-16.
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:OPERATION:CONDITION?”
{OPERation | QUEStionable}:ENABle
Sets the enable mask for the questionable or operation event register.
Syntax
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:ENABle{?| <value>}
<integer> an integer from 0 to 65535.
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Description
Example
The enable mask selects which conditions in the event register cause the sum-
mary bit in the status byte to be set. If a bit in the enable mask is set true and
the corresponding event occurs, the summary bit (bit 3 for the questionable
status or bit 7 for the operation status) in the status byte will be set.
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:QUESTIONABLE:ENABLE 1024”
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Programming Commands
STATus Subsystem
Query Response
When queried, the largest value that can be returned is 65535. This is because
the most-significant register bit cannot be set true.
{OPERation | QUEStionable}[:EVENt]
Queries the contents of the questionable or operation event registers.
Syntax
:STATus:{OPERation | QUEStionable}:EVENt?
0 to 32767
Query Response
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
Example
The response will be a number from 0 to 32767 indicating which bits are set.
Reading the register clears the register.
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:OPERATION:EVENT?”
{OPERation | QUEStionable}:NTRansition
Selects bits in the event register which can be set by negative transitions of
the corresponding bits in the condition register.
Syntax
:STATus:OPERation:NTRansition{?| <integer>}
<integer> an integer from 0 to 65535.
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
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Programming Commands
STATus Subsystem
Description
Changes in the state of a condition register bit causes the associated OPERa-
tion Status or QUEStionable Status register bit to be set. This command allows
you to select a negative bit transition to trigger an event to be recognized. A
negative transition is defined to occur whenever the selected bit changes
states from a 1 to a 0. You can enter any value from 0 to 65535.
When queried, the largest value that can be returned is 32767. This is because
the most-significant register bit cannot be set true.
Example
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:OPER:NTRansition 16”
{OPERation | QUEStionable}:PTRansition
Selects bits in the event register which can be set by positive transitions of the
corresponding bits in the condition register.
Syntax
:STATus:OPERation:PTRansition{?| <integer>}
<integer> an integer from 0 to 65535.
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Description
Changes in the state of a condition register bit causes the associated OPERa-
tion Status or QUEStionable Status event register bit to be set. This command
allows you to select a positive bit transition to trigger an event to be recog-
nized. A positive transition is defined to occur whenever the selected bit
changes states from a 0 to a 1. You can enter any value from 0 to 65535.
When queried, the largest value that can be returned is 32767. This is because
the most-significant register bit cannot be set true.
Example
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:OPER:PTRansition 16”
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Programming Commands
STATus Subsystem
PRESet
Presets the enable registers and the PTRansition and NTRansition filters.
Syntax
:STATus:PRESet
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Command Only
Description
The PRESet command is defined by SCPI to affect the enable register. If you
want to clear all event registers and queues, use the *CLS command.
Table 5-7. Preset Values
Status Node
Preset Value
Operation enable register
Questionable enable register
PTRansition filters
0
0
32767
0
NTRansition filters
Example
OUTPUT 720;”:STATUS:PRESET”
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Programming Commands
SYSTem Subsystem
SYSTem Subsystem
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
:SYSTem
:ERRor?
:HELP
:HEADers?
:PRESet
:VERSion?
ERRor
Queries an error from the error queue.
:SYSTem:ERRor?
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
The Agilent 86120B has a 30 entry error queue. The queue is a first-in, first-
out buffer. Repeatedly sending the query :SYSTEM:ERROR? returns the error
numbers and descriptions in the order in which they occur until the queue is
empty. Any further queries returns +0, “No errors”until another error
occurs.
For a complete list of error messages, refer to “Error Messages” on page 8-9.
Query Response
<value>, <string>
<value> is an integer. <string> is the text of the error message. The following
is an example of a response:
-113,”Undefined header”
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Programming Commands
SYSTem Subsystem
Example
DIM Error$[250]
OUTPUT 720;”:SYSTEM:ERROR?”
ENTER 720;Error$
PRINT Error$
HELP:HEADers?
Queries a listing of all the remote programming commands available for the
Agilent 86120B.
Syntax
:SYSTem:HELP:HEADers?
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: instrument specific
Query Only
Description
The returned ASCII string of commands is in the IEEE 488.2 arbitrary-block
data format. The first line indicates the total number of bytes returned to the
computer. That is, the # character is followed by one digit which indicates how
many of the following digits convey the byte count. The next digits give the
actual byte count. For example, in the listing below, 4387 bytes are indicated
in the file.
Each command in the listing is separated by a linefeed character.
The following is an example of the first few lines and last few lines returned in
the string. The term nquery indicates that a command cannot be sent as a
query. The term qonly indicates that a command can only be sent as a query.
#44387
:ABORt/nquery/
:CALCulate:DATA?/qonly/
:CALCulate:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
:CALCulate1:DATA?/qonly/
:CALCulate1:TRANsform:FREQuency:POINts
:CALCulate2:DATA?/qonly/
.
.
.
*IDN?/qonly/
*OPC
*RCL/nquery/
*RST/nquery/
*SAV/nquery/
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Programming Commands
SYSTem Subsystem
*SRE
*STB?/qonly/
*TRG/nquery/
*TST?/qonly/
*WAI/nquery/
PRESet
Performs the equivalent of pressing the front-panel PRESET key.
Syntax
:SYSTem:PRESet
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Command Only
Description
The instrument state is set according to the settings shown in the following
table.
Table 5-8. Instrument Conditions (1 of 2)
Settings after Preset
Key Pressed
Settings after Power
Turned On
Item
last statea
last state
last state
last state
off
Display mode
single wavelength
on
Wavelength range limiting
Start wavelength
1200 nm
1650 nm
off
Stop wavelength
Graphical display
Measurement acquisition
Wavelength calibration
Elevation correction value
Wavelength units
continuous
vacuum
not affected
nm
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
Amplitude units
dBm
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Programming Commands
SYSTem Subsystem
Table 5-8. Instrument Conditions (2 of 2)
Item
Settings after Preset
Key Pressed
Settings after Power
Turned On
Power offset
0 dB
10 dB
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
off
Peak threshold
Peak excursion
15 dB
Measurement speed
Device bandwidth
Drift measurements
Coherence length measurements
Delta Measurements:
∆ power
normal
narrowband
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
∆ wavelength
off
off
∆ wavelength and power
reference signal position
Signal-to-Noise Measurements
measurement
700 nm
700 nm
off
auto
off
wavelength reference
user wavelength
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
not affected
100
number of averages
GPIB address
not affected
on
Power-bar display
a. The term “last state” refers to the last setting that this parameter was in before the instrument power was
turned off.
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Programming Commands
SYSTem Subsystem
VERSion
Queries the version of SCPI that the Agilent 86120B complies with.
Syntax
:SYSTem:VERSion
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: none
*RST State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Query Only
Description
The SCPI version used in the Agilent 86120B is 1995.0.
Table 5-9. SCPI Version Numbers
SCPI Version
Instrument Serial Prefix
1995.0
US3545 and above
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Programming Commands
TRIGger Subsystem
TRIGger Subsystem
The SCPI definition defines the TRIGger subsystem to include ABORt, ARM,
INITiate, and TRIGger commands. The Agilent 86120B has no ARM or TRIG-
ger commands.
The commands in this subsystem have the following command hierarchy:
ABORt
INITiate
:CONTinuous
[:IMMediate]
ABORt
Halts the current measurement sequence and places the instrument in the
idle state.
Syntax
:ABORt
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: not affected
SCPI Compliance: standard
Command Only
Description
If the instrument is configured for continuous measurements, a new measure-
ment sequence will begin. Otherwise, the instrument stays in the idle state
until a new measurement is initiated.
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Programming Commands
TRIGger Subsystem
INITiate:CONTinuous
Selects single or continuous measurement acquisition.
:INITiate:CONTinuous{?| {ON | OFF | 1 | 0}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: on
*RST State: off
SCPI Compliance: standard
Description
When on is specified, the instrument continuously measures the input spec-
trum.
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
INITiate[:IMMediate]
Initiates a new measurement sequence.
:INITiate:IMMediate
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Non-sequential command
Preset State: none
SCPI Compliance: standard
Command Only
5-85
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Programming Commands
UNIT Subsystem
Non-sequential command
Always use an *OPC? query or a *WAI command to ensure that this command has the
time to complete before sending any more commands to the instrument. Refer to
“Always force the Agilent 86120B to wait for non-sequential commands” on page 4-12
for more information.
UNIT Subsystem
The only command provided in this subsystem is the POWer command as
shown in the following command hierarchy:
:UNIT
[:POWer]
[:POWer]
Sets the power units to watts (linear) or dBm (logarithmic).
:UNIT[:POWer]{?| {W | DBM}}
Syntax
Attribute
Summary
Preset State: dBm
*RST State: dBm
SCPI Compliance: standard
5-86
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Performance Tests
Performance Tests
Performance Tests
The procedures in this chapter test the Agilent 86120B’s performance using
the specifications listed in Chapter 7, “Specifications and Regulatory Informa-
tion” as the performance standard. All of the tests are done manually without
the aid of a computer. None of these tests require access to the interior of the
instrument.
Test 1. Absolute Wavelength Accuracy
Test 2. Sensitivity
Test 3. Polarization Dependence
Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity
Allow the Agilent 86120B to warm up for 15 minutes before doing any of the
performance tests.
Calibration Cycle
This instrument requires periodic verification of performance. The instrument
should have a complete verification of specifications once every two years.
6-2
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Performance Tests
Test 1. Absolute Wavelength Accuracy
Test 1. Absolute Wavelength Accuracy
Description
Wavelength accuracy is verified using traceable light sources such as the fol-
lowing devices:
• Stable lasers
• Gas lamps
• HeNe gas lasers
C A U T I O N
Do not exceed +18 dBm source power. The Agilent 86120B’s input circuitry can
be damaged when total input power exceeds 18 dBm.
Procedure
Use three or four light standards that cover the Agilent 86120B’s wavelength
range. Connect the traceable sources to the Agilent 86120B and verify that the
Agilent 86120B is reading the sources to within the absolute wavelength accu-
racy specification.
6-3
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Performance Tests
Test 2. Sensitivity
Test 2. Sensitivity
Description
Sensitivity is verified using the following devices:
• Optical power meter
• Optical attenuator
• 1310 nm and 1550 nm lasers (>0 dBm output power)
C A U T I O N
Do not exceed +18 dBm source power. The Agilent 86120B’s input circuitry can
be damaged when total input power exceeds 18 dBm.
Procedure
Perform the following procedure first using the 1310 nm laser and then repeat
the steps using the 1550 nm laser.
1 Connect the laser’s output to the optical attenuator’s input.
2 Connect the optical attenuator’s output to the optical power meter.
3 Adjust the attenuator for a reading of 0 dBm on the power meter. Record the
attenuator’s setting.
Attenuation at 0 dBm: ____________
4 Adjust the attenuator for a reading of –35 dBm on the power meter. Record the
attenuator’s setting.
Attenuation at –35 dBm: ____________
cable to the Agilent 86120B being tested.
6 Reset the optical attenuator to the setting recorded in Step 3.
Regulatory Information”.
8 Reset the optical attenuator to the setting recorded in Step 4.
9 Read the power and wavelength measured on the Agilent 86120B, and
compared them to the specifications listed in Chapter 7, “Specifications and
Regulatory Information”.
6-4
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Performance Tests
Test 3. Polarization Dependence
Test 3. Polarization Dependence
Description
Polarization Dependence is verified using the following devices:
• 1310 nm and 1550 nm DFB lasers
• Optical attenuator
• Agilent 11896A Polarization Controller
C A U T I O N
Do not exceed +18 dBm source power. The Agilent 86120B’s input circuitry can
be damaged when total input power exceeds 18 dBm.
Procedure
Perform the following procedure first using the 1310 nm laser and then repeat
the steps using the 1550 nm laser.
1 Turn on the lasers and allow them to warm up.
2 Set the polarization controller to a scan rate of 5.
3 On the Agilent 86120B, press the Preset key.
4 Connect the laser’s optical output to the polarization controller’s optical input.
5 Connect the polarization controller’s optical output to the Agilent 86120B
being tested.
6 Set the polarization controller to autoscan.
7 On the Agilent 86120B, press Peak WL, Appl’s, and then DRIFT. Press MAX-MIN so
that both MAX and MIN in the softkey label are highlighted. The display shows
the total drift since the drift measurement was started.
8 Wait five minutes, read the peak amplitude drift from the Agilent 86120B, and
compare with the specification listed in Chapter 7, “Specifications and
Regulatory Information”.
6-5
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Performance Tests
Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss
Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss
Description
Procedure:
Input return loss is verified using the following devices:
• Agilent 8153A Lightwave Multimeter
• Agilent 81553SM 1550 nm Fabry-Perot laser, SM 9/125 µm Source Module
• Agilent 81534A Return Loss Model
Standard instruments (flat contacting connectors)
1 Turn the source module’s output off.
2 Connect a single-mode patchcord between the source module’s optical output
and the return-loss module’s INPUT SOURCE connector.
3 Set the return-loss module’s wavelength to 1550 nm, and select an average time
of 1 second.
4 Locate an HMS-10/HRL to FC/PC patchcord. Connect the HMS-10/HRL end of
the patchcord to the return-loss module’s OUTPUT connector. Terminate the
other end of the cable.
5 Zero the return-loss module.
6 Turn on the source module.
7 Remove the termination from the cable, and leave the cable’s free end
uncovered.
8 The return-loss module measures the reflection reference (14.6 dB return loss
of the patchcord’s FC/PC connector in air).
9 Make a low-reflection termination in the HMS-10/HRL to FC/PC patchcord. Do
this by wrapping the cable 6 times around a 5 mm diameter mandrel.
11 Connect the HMS-10/HRL to FC/PC patchcord to the Agilent 86120B’s front
panel OPTICAL INPUT connector.
12 The lightwave multimeter measures the return loss. Compare this
measurement with the specification listed in Chapter 7, “Specifications and
Regulatory Information”.
6-6
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Performance Tests
Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss
Procedure:
Option 022 instruments (angled contacting connectors)
1 Turn the source module’s output off.
2 Connect a single-mode patchcord between the source module’s optical output
and the return-loss module’s INPUT SOURCE connector.
3 Set the return-loss module’s wavelength to 1550 nm, and select an average time
of 1 second.
4 Locate an HMS-10/HRL to FC/APC (angled FC) patchcord. Connect the HMS-
10/HRL end of the patchcord to the return-loss module’s OUTPUT connector.
Terminate the FC/APC end of the cable.
5 Zero the return-loss module.
6 Turn on the source module.
7 Remove the termination from the cable, and connect the FC/APC end of an FC/
APC to FC/PC cable to the free end of this cable. Leave the cable’s free end
uncovered.
8 The return-loss module measures the reflection reference (14.6 dB return loss
of the patchcord’s FC/PC connector in air).
9 Disconnect the FC/APC to FC/PC cable.
10 Make a low-reflection termination in the HMS-10/HRL to FC/APC patchcord.
Do this by wrapping the cable 6 times around a 5 mm diameter mandrel.
12 Connect the HMS-10/HRL to FC/APC patchcord to the Agilent 86120B’s front
panel OPTICAL INPUT connector.
13 The lightwave multimeter measures the return loss. Compare this
measurement with the specification listed in Chapter 7, “Specifications and
Regulatory Information”.
6-7
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Performance Tests
Test 4. Optical Input Return Loss
FC/APC patchcord loss
The effect of having loss in the FC/APC patchcord 1 to 2 connector pair is to under mea-
sure the return loss by twice the FC/APC patchcord 1 to 2 loss. For example, if this con-
nector pair loss is 0.5 dB, then the actual return loss caused by the 14.6 dB Fresnel
reflection is 15.6 dB, but we enter 14.6 dB as an R value. Then, if the DUT return loss is
exactly 40 dB below that of the 14.6 Fresnel reflection, the optical return loss module
will display 53.6 dB because the 0.5 dB connector pair loss (seen twice) is removed. In
reality, the return loss is 54.6 dB (exactly 40 dB below 14.6 dB), better than that dis-
played.
6-8
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Performance Tests
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity
Equipment
Procedure
Amplitude linearity is performed using the following devices:
• 1550 nm DFB lasers
• Optical attenuator
• Agilent 11896A Polarization Controller
• Optical power meter
Polarization sensitivity
To ensure measurement accuracy, minimize the movement of any fiber-optic cables dur-
ing this procedure. Moving cables causes polarization changes which affect amplitude
measurements.
1 Turn on the laser and allow it to warm up.
2 Connect the laser’s output to the optical attenuator’s input.
3 Connect the optical attenuator’s output to the polarization controller’s optical
input.
4 Connect the polarization controller’s optical output to the optical power meter.
5 Configure the optical power meter for 1550 nm.
6 Adjust the optical attenuator so that the power meter measures a power level
of 0 dBm.
7 Enter the attenuator setting and the measured power level in the first row of
Table 6-1 on page 6-11. Be sure to enter these values into the “Attenuator
Settings” and “Power Meter Readings” columns.
8 Enter the measured power on the following line:
Pwr: ____________
9 Change the attenuator in 1 dB steps as shown in Table 6-1, and enter the
attenuator settings and power measurements.
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Performance Tests
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity
After completing this step, the first two columns of the table should be com-
pletely filled in.
10 Disconnect the fiber-optic cable from the optical power meter and connect it
to the Agilent 86120B’s OPTICAL INPUT connector.
11 Set the optical attenuator for the value that you recorded in Step 8.
12 Place the polarization controller in the auto scan mode.
13 Press the Agilent 86120B’s front-panel Preset key.
14 Press List by Power, Appl’s, and then DRIFT.
15 After two minutes, stop the polarization controller’s auto scan function.
16 Press the MAX-MIN softkey so that MAX is highlighted. Enter the maximum drift
reading on the following line:
maximum drift: ____________
17 Press the MAX-MIN softkey so that MIN is highlighted. Enter the minimum drift
reading on the following line:
minimum drift: ____________
18 Use the values recorded in Step 8, Step 16, and Step 17 to calculate the power-
correction offset value as shown in the following equation:
minimum drift + maximum drift
offset = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ – Pwr
2
Enter the calculate value on the following line:
power-correction offset: ____________
19 Change the attenuator to the settings shown in Table 6-1. For each setting,
record the power measured on the Agilent 86120B.
After completing this step, the table’s column titled “Agilent 86120B Power
Reading” should be completely filled in.
Linearity = Power Meter Reading – HP 86120B Power Reading – offset
21 Compare the linearity values with the specification listed in Chapter 7,
“Specifications and Regulatory Information”. The data may show multiple
6-10
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Performance Tests
Test 5. Amplitude Accuracy and Linearity
amplitude plateaus separated by small amplitude steps. This is not a problem
as long as the amplitude steps are within the linearity specification.
Table 6-1. Linearity Data Values
Desired Power
(dBm)
Power Meter
Reading
Agilent 86120B
Power Reading
Attenuator Setting
Linearity
0
–1
–2
–3
–4
–5
–6
–7
–8
–9
–10
–11
–12
–13
–14
–15
–16
–17
–18
–19
–20
6-11
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications and Regulatory Information
This chapter lists specification and characteristics of the instrument. The dis-
tinction between these terms is described as follows:
• Specifications describe warranted performance over the temperature range
0°C to +55°C and relative humidity <95% (unless otherwise noted). All speci-
fications apply after the instrument’s temperature has been stabilized after 15
minutes of continuous operation.
• Characteristics provide useful information by giving functional, but nonwar-
ranted, performance parameters. Characteristics are printed in italics.
Calibration Cycle
This instrument requires periodic verification of performance. The instrument
should have a complete verification of specifications once every two years.
7-2
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Definition of Terms
Definition of Terms
Wavelength
Range refers to the allowable wavelength range of the optical input signal.
Absolute accuracy indicates the maximum wavelength error over the allowed
environmental conditions. The wavelength accuracy is based on fundamental
physical constants, which are absolute standards not requiring traceability to
artifacts kept at national standards laboratories. Four He-Ne gas lasers are
used. First, there is an internal 632.991 nm-vacuum (473.6127 THz) reference
laser1. To verify absolute wavelength accuracy, three external lasers are mea-
sured during manufacturing with these wavelengths:
730.685 nm, or 410.2896 THz2
1152.591 nm, or 260.1032 THz3
1523.488 nm, or 196.7804 THz3
Differential Accuracy indicates the maximum wavelength error in measuring
the wavelength difference between two signals that are simultaneously
present.
Minimum Resolvable Separation indicates the minimum wavelength separa-
tion of two laser lines required to measure each wavelength simultaneously.
Two laser lines closer in wavelength than the minimum resolvable separation
are not resolved and one average wavelength is displayed.
Display Resolution indicates the minimum incremental change in displayed
wavelength.
1. Obarski, G. E. 1990. “Wavelength Measurement System for Optical Fiber Communications”
NIST Technical Note 1336 (February): 18. Take the average of the two frequencies strad-
dling gain center.
2. Moore, C. E. 1971. “Atomic Energy Levels as Derived from the Analysis of Optical Spectra:
Vol. 1” NSRDS-NBS 35, Vol. 1 (COM-72-51282) (December): 77.
3. D. A. Jennings, F. R. Peterson, and K. M. Evenson. 1979. “Frequency measurement of the
260-THz (1.15 micron) He-Ne laser” Optics Letters Vol. 4, No. 5 (May): 129-130.
7-3
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Definition of Terms
Amplitude
Calibration Accuracy indicates the maximum power calibration error at the
specified wavelengths over the allowed environmental conditions. The ampli-
tude calibration accuracy is traceable to a National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) calibrated optical power meter. NIST is the national stan-
dards laboratory of the United States.
Flatness refers to the maximum amplitude error in a measurement between
two lines that are separated in wavelength by no more than the specified
amount.
Linearity indicates the maximum power error in measuring the change in
power of one laser line.
Polarization Dependence indicates the maximum displayed power variation
as the polarization of the input signal is varied.
Display Resolution indicates the minimum incremental change in displayed
power.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is defined as the minimum power level of a single laser-line input
to measure wavelength and power accurately. A laser line with less than the
minimum power may be measured but with reduced wavelength and power
accuracy. For multiple laser-lines input, sensitivity may be limited by total
input power.
Selectivity
Selectivity indicates the ability to measure the wavelength and power of a
weak laser line in the proximity of a specified stronger laser line and separated
by the specified amount.
Input Power
Maximum displayed level indicates the maximum total input power (total of
all laser lines present) to accurately measure wavelength and power.
Maximum safe input power indicates the maximum total input power (total
of all laser lines present) to avoid permanent optical damage to the instru-
ment.
Maximum Number Maximum number of lines input is the maximum number of displayed lines.
of Lines Input
If more than 100 lines are input, only the 100 longest wavelength lines are dis-
played.
Input Return Loss Input Return Loss indicates the optical power reflected back to the user’s
fiber cable relative to the input power. It is limited by the return loss of the
front-panel connector, and assumes the user’s connector is good.
7-4
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Definition of Terms
Measurement
Cycle Time
Measurement cycle time refers to the cycle time when measuring wavelength
and power of laser lines. Specific advanced applications may require longer
cycle times.
7-5
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications
Specifications
Each laser line is assumed to have a linewidth (including modulation side-
All specifications apply when the instrument is in the following modes:
• NORMAL update mode unless noted. Refer to “Measurement rate” on page 2-14.
• Configured to measure narrowband devices. Specifications do not apply when
the instrument is configured to measure broadband devices. Refer to “Measur-
ing broadband devices and chirped lasers” on page 2-10.
Wavelength
Range
700-1650 nm (182-428 THz)
Absolute accuracy (lines separated by ≥30 GHz)
Differential accuracy (characteristic)
3 ppm ( 0.005 nm at 1550 nm, 0.004 nm at 1310 nm)
2 ppm
Minimum resolvable separationa (characteristic)
20 GHz (0.16 nm at 1550 nm, 0.11 nm at 1300 nm)
0.001 nm, normal update mode
0.01 nm, fast update mode
Display resolution
a. Signals of equal amplitude. For lines that are separated by less than 30 GHz, wavelength accuracy is reduced.
7-6
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications
Amplitude
Calibration accuracy at calibration wavelengths 30 nm
1310 and 1550 nm
0.5 dB
780 nm (characteristic)
0.5 dB
Flatness, 30 nm from any wavelength
1200-1600 nm (characteristic)
0.2 dB
0.5 dB
0.3 dB
700-1650 nm (characteristic)
Linearity, 1200 nm to 1600 nm, lines above –30 dBm
Polarization dependence
1200-1600 nm
0.5 dB
1.0 dB
700-1650 nm (characteristic)
Display resolution
0.01 dB
Sensitivity
700-900 nm, single line input
–20 dBm
900-1200 nm, single line input
–25 dBm
–40 dBm
–30 dBm
1200-1600 nm, single line inputa
1600-1650 nm, single line inputa
700-1650 nm, multiple lines input (characteristic)
30 dB below total input power, but not less than
single line input sensitivity.
a. Spurious free under Preset conditions
7-7
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications
Selectivity
25 dB (characteristic)
10 dB (characteristic)
Two lines input separated by ≥100 GHz (characteristic)
Two lines input separated by ≥30 GHz (characteristic)
Input Power
+10 dBm
+18 dBm
100
Maximum displayed level (sum of all lines)
Maximum safe input level (sum of all lines)
Maximum Number of Laser Lines Input
Input Return Loss
With flat contacting connectors
35 dB
50 dB
With angled contacting connectors (Option 022)
Measurement Cycle Time
Normal update mode (characteristic)
Fast update mode (characteristic)
1.0 s (1 measurement-per-second)
0.33 s (3 measurements-per-second)
Measurement Applications
>35 dB (0.1 nm noise bandwidth), lines above –25
dBm
Signal-to-Noise, channel spacing ≥200 GHz (characteristic)
Signal-to-noise with Averaging, modulated lasers, 100 averages, channel
spacing ≥200 GHz (characteristic)
>35 dB (0.1 nm noise bandwidth) lines above -25
dBm
Coherence Length (characteristic)
Fabry-Perot lasers, 1 to 200 mm coherence length,
accuracy 5%, 0.75s cycle time
7-8
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Specifications
Operating Specifications
Use
indoor
Power:
115 VAC: 110 VA MAX. / 60 WATTS MAX. / 1.1 A MAX.
230 VAC: 150 VA MAX. / 70 WATTS MAX. / 0.6 A MAX.
Voltage
nominal: 115 VAC / 230 VAC
range 115 VAC: 90-132 V
range 230 VAC: 198-254 V
Frequency
nominals: 50 Hz / 60 Hz
range: 47-63 Hz
Altitude
Up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters)
Operating temperature
Maximum relative humidity
0°C to +55°C
80% for temperatures up to 31°C decreasing linearly to 50% relative
humidity at 40°C
Laser classification
FDA Laser Class I according to 21 CFR 1040.10
IEC Laser Class 1 according to IEC 60825
Weight
8.5 kg (19 lb)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
140 x 340 x 465 mm (5.5 x 13.4 x 18.3 in)
7-9
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Regulatory Information
Regulatory Information
• Laser Classification: This product contains an FDA Laser Class I (IEC Laser
Class 1) laser.
• This product complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11.
Notice for Germany: Noise Declaration
Acoustic Noise Emission
LpA < 70 dB
Geraeuschemission
LpA < 70 dB
Operator position
Normal position
per ISO 7779
am Arbeitsplatz
normaler Betrieb
nach DIN 45635 t.19
7-10
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Specifications and Regulatory Information
Regulatory Information
Declaration of Conformity
7-11
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Reference
Reference
Reference
Preset
Instrument
Conditions
Table 8-1. Instrument Preset Conditions (1 of 2)
Settings after Preset
Key Pressed
Settings after Power
Turned On
Item
last statea
last state
last state
last state
off
Display mode
single wavelength
on
Wavelength range limiting
Start wavelength
1200 nm
1650 nm
off
Stop wavelength
Graphical display
Measurement acquisition
Wavelength calibration
Elevation correction value
Wavelength units
Amplitude units
continuous
vacuum
not affected
nm
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
dBm
Power offset
0 dB
Peak threshold
10 dB
8-2
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Reference
Instrument Preset Conditions
Table 8-1. Instrument Preset Conditions (2 of 2)
Item
Settings after Preset
Key Pressed
Settings after Power
Turned On
Peak excursion
15 dB
normal
narrowband
off
last state
last state
last state
off
Measurement speed
Device bandwidth
Drift measurements
Coherence length measurements
Delta Measurements:
∆ power
off
off
off
off
off
off
∆ wavelength
off
off
∆ wavelength and power
reference signal position
Signal-to-Noise Measurements
measurement
700 nm
700 nm
off
auto
off
wavelength reference
user wavelength
last state
last state
last state
last state
last state
not affected
100
number of averages
GPIB address
not affected
on
Power-bar display
a. The term “last state” refers to the last setting that this parameter was in before the instrument power
was turned off.
8-3
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Reference
Menu Maps
Menu Maps
This section provides menu maps for the Agilent 86120B softkeys. The maps
show which softkeys are displayed after pressing a front-panel key; they show
the relationship between softkeys. The softkeys in these maps are aligned ver-
tically instead of horizontally as on the actual display. This was done to con-
serve space and to make the maps easier to interpret.
Appl’s Menu
8-4
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Reference
Error Messages
Error Messages
In this section, you’ll find all the error messages that the Agilent 86120B can
display on its screen. Table 8-2 on page 8-9 lists all instrument-specific errors.
Table 8-3 on page 8-12 lists general SCPI errors.
Table 8-2. Instrument Specific Error Messages (1 of 3)
Error Number
Error Message
1
2
BAD CHECKSUM FROM MOTOR
MOTOR COMMUNICATION PROBLEM
MOTOR NOT MOVING
3
4
MOTOR INDEX PULSE NOT FOUND
MOTOR CHIP SET INIT FAILED
MOTOR COMMUTATION FAILURE
MOTOR NOT SETTLED
5
6
7
8
MOTOR DID NOT STOP
9
MOTOR MOTION ERROR
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
MOTOR POSITION LIMIT FAILED
MOTOR POSITION WRAP FAILED
POWER LEVEL TOO HIGH
DATA DOWNLOAD PROBLEM
DATA ACQUISITION PROBLEM
MAX NUMBER OF SIGNALS FOUND
MOTOR INTERRUPT RECEIVED
8-9
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Reference
Error Messages
Table 8-2. Instrument Specific Error Messages (2 of 3)
Error Number
Error Message
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
36
37
38
39
40
41
ROM BYTE UNERASED
ROM WRITE OPERATION FAILED
ROM DEFECTIVE
ROM DATA INVALID
ROM VERSION INCOMPATIBLE
ROM POLLING LIMITED OUT
INPUT OUT OF RANGE
BAD CAL ROM DATA
BAD CAL ROM DATA
BAD CAL ROM DATA
BAD CAL ROM DATA
BAD CAL ROM DATA
BAD CAL ROM DATA
NVSRAM WRITE OPERATION FAILED
SOFTWARE INITIALIZATION FAIL
HARDWARE INITIALIZATION FAIL
INITIALIZATION TIMEOUT
BATTERY FAILED
TOO MANY ERRORS
FUNCTION NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
PRINTER OFF LINE
PRINTER OUT OF PAPER
PRINTER ERROR DETECTED
PRINTER TIMED OUT
8-10
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Reference
Error Messages
Table 8-2. Instrument Specific Error Messages (3 of 3)
Error Number
Error Message
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
PRINTOUT WAS ABORTED
NOT ALLOWED IN COH LEN
NOT ALLOWED IN S/N
UNKNOWN KEYPRESS
NUM LINES < NUM REFS
NUM LINES > NUM REFS
NO REFERENCE SIGNAL
GAIN RANGING ERROR
INCOMPATIBLE HARDWARE
UNKNOWN ERROR
8-11
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Reference
Error Messages
Table 8-3. General SCPI Error Messages (1 of 3)
Error Number
Description
+0
“No errors”
–100
–101
–102
–103
–104
–105
–108
–109
–112
–113
–120
–121
–123
–124
–128
–131
–134
–138
–141
–148
–150
–151
“Command error (unknown command)“
“Invalid character“
“Syntax error“
“Invalid separator“
“Data type error“
“GET not allowed“
“Parameter not allowed“
“Missing parameter“
“Program mnemonic too long“
“Undefined header“
“Numeric data error”
“Invalid character in number“
“Exponent too large“
“Too many digits“
“Numeric data not allowed“
“Invalid suffix“
“Suffix too long”
“Suffix not allowed“
“Invalid character data“
“Character data not allowed“
“String data error“
“Invalid string data“
8-12
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Reference
Error Messages
Table 8-3. General SCPI Error Messages (2 of 3)
Error Number
Description
–158
–161
–168
–170
–171
–178
–200
–211
“String data not allowed“
“Invalid block data“
“Block data not allowed“
“Expression error“
“Invalid expression“
“Expression data not allowed“
“Execution error“
“Trigger ignored”
Caused by sending the *TRG command when the instrument is already taking
a measurement or when the instrument is in continuous measurement mode.
–213
–221
“Init ignored”
Caused by sending an INIT:IMM, READ, or MEASure command while a
measurement is already in progress or while the instrument is in continuous
measurement mode.
“Settings conflict”
Caused by trying to set the instrument to a state that is not allowed. For
example, turning on drift maximum and drift minimum state simultaneously
or turning on SNR state while drift or delta state is on.
–222
–223
–224
– 230
“Data out of range“
“Too much data“
“Illegal parameter value”
“Data corrupt or stale”
Caused by trying to query measurement data immediately after a *RST
command. For example, sending *RST; FETCh or sending *RST;
:CALC2:DATA? pow.
–232
“Data questionable”
Caused by sending a resolution value in one of the measurement functions
that is outside the instrument’s range.
–273
–310
“Illegal macro label”
“System error“
8-13
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Reference
Error Messages
Table 8-3. General SCPI Error Messages (3 of 3)
Error Number
Description
–321
–350
–400
–410
–420
–430
–440
“Out of memory”
“Too many errors“
“Query error“
“Query INTERRUPTED“
“Query UNTERMINATED“
“Query DEADLOCKED“
“Query UNTERMINATED after indef resp“
Query was unterminated after an indefinite response.
8-14
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Reference
Front-Panel Fiber-Optic Adapters
Front-Panel Fiber-Optic Adapters
Front Panel
Fiber-Optic Adapter
Description
Agilent Part Number
Diamond HMS-10
81000AI
FC/PCa
D4
81000FI
81000GI
81000KI
81000SI
81000VI
81000WI
SC
DIN
ST
Biconic
a. The FC/PC is the default front-panel optical connector.
Dust Covers
Agilent Part Number
FC connector
Diamond HMS-10 connector
DIN connector
ST connector
SC connector
1005-0594
1005-0593
1005-0595
1005-0596
1005-0597
8-15
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Reference
Power Cords
Power Cords
Cable Part
No.
Length
(in/cm)
Plug Type
Plug Description
Color
Country
250V
8120-1351
8120-1703
Straight *BS1363A
90°
90/228
90/228
Gray
United Kingdom,
Cyprus, Nigeria,
Zimbabwe,
Mint Gray
Singapore
250V
250V
8120-1369
8120-0696
Straight *NZSS198/ASC
90°
79/200
87/221
Gray
Australia, New
Zealand
Mint Gray
8120-1689
8120-1692
8120-2857p
Straight *CEE7-Y11
90°
79/200
79/200
79/200
Mint Gray
Mint Gray
Coco Brown
East and West
Europe, Saudi
Arabia, So. Africa,
India (unpolarized
in many nations)
Straight (Shielded)
125V
8120-1378
8120-1521
8120-1992
Straight *NEMA5-15P
90°
90/228
90/228
96/244
Jade Gray
Jade Gray
Black
United States,
Canada, Mexico,
Philippines,
Taiwan
Straight (Medical) UL544
250V
220V
8120-2104
8120-2296
Straight *SEV1011
1959-24507
79/200
79/200
Mint Gray
Mint Gray
Switzerland
Type 12 90°
8120-2956
8120-2957
Straight *DHCK107
90°
79/200
79/200
Mint Gray
Mint Gray
Denmark
* Part number shown for plug is the industry identifier for the plug only. Number shown for
cable is the Agilent Technologies part number for the complete cable including the plug.
8-16
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Reference
Power Cords
Cable Part
No.
Length
(in/cm)
Plug Type
Plug Description
Color
Country
250V
8120-4211
8120-4600
Straight SABS164
90°
79/200
79/200
Jade Gray
Republic of South
Africa
India
100V
8120-4753
8120-4754
Straight MITI
90°
90/230
90/230
Dark Gray
Japan
* Part number shown for plug is the industry identifier for the plug only. Number shown for
cable is the Agilent Technologies part number for the complete cable including the plug.
8-17
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Reference
Agilent Technologies Service Offices
Agilent Technologies Service Offices
Before returning an instrument for service, call the Agilent Technologies
Instrument Support Center at (800) 403-0801, visit the Test and Measurement
Web Sites by Country page at http://www.tm.agilent.com/tmo/country/English/
index.html, or call one of the numbers listed below.
Agilent Technologies Service Numbers
Austria
01/25125-7171
32-2-778.37.71
(11) 7297-8600
86 10 6261 3819
45 99 12 88
Belgium
Brazil
China
Denmark
Finland
358-10-855-2360
01.69.82.66.66
0180/524-6330
080-34 35788
+39 02 9212 2701
01 615 8222
France
Germany
India
Italy
Ireland
Japan
(81)-426-56-7832
82/2-3770-0419
(5) 258-4826
Korea
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Russia
020-547 6463
22 73 57 59
+7-095-797-3930
(34/91) 631 1213
08-5064 8700
(01) 735 7200
01 344 366666
(800) 403-0801
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
8-18
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Index
AUTO
Numerics
A
ABORT softkey, 2-29
ac power cables, 1-7
adapters
BAR OFF softkey, 2-12
fiber optic, 8-15
Agilent offices, 8-18
amplitude
offset, 2-25
annotation
1 nm, 3-5, 3-8
AVERAGE, 2-7
BROAD, 2-10
BY PWR, 2-6
5-43
calibration
accuracy, 7-4
care
of fiber optics, v
case sensitivity, 4-24
channel spacing, 2-21
characteristics, 7-6
chirped lasers, 2-10
classification
BY WL, 2-6
DRIFT, 3-9
M, 2-4
PEAK, 2-4
PWR OFS, 2-25
Remote, 4-3
S/N AUTO, 3-3
S/N USER, 3-3
STD AIR, 2-26
VAC, 2-26
Appl’s
menu map, 8-4
ARRay programming command, 5-15
ASNR
CLEar programming command, 5-44
COUNt programming command, 5-44
STATe programming command, 5-45
* (asterisk), 2-4, 2-6, 2-15
attenuation. See external attenuation
audio modulation, effects of, 2-16, 2-23
laser, vi, 7-9
product, vii
cleaning
Index-1
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Index
adapters, 1-22
cabinet, vii, 1-2
5-46, 5-73
CLEAR softkey, 3-10
*CLS, 4-21, 5-3
CM –1 softkey, 2-14
Cmd_opc subroutine, 4-29
colon, 4-25
commands
combining, 4-24
common, 4-23
measurement instructions, 4-23
5-37, 5-38, 5-39, 5-40, 5-41, 5-42, 5-71,
5-85, 5-86
standard SCPI, 4-23
termination, 4-27
drift, laser. See laser drift
dust caps, 1-21
common commands
*CLS (clear status), 5-3
*RST (reset), 4-29, 5-8
*STB (status byte), 5-12
*TRG (trigger), 5-13
*TST (test), 5-13
definition, 4-23
sending, 4-25
computer control, 4-5
connector
care, 1-13
Cont key, 2-15, 3-10
CONT softkey, 2-29
CONTinuous programming command, 5-85
cotton swabs, 1-20
covers, dust, 8-15
message, 2-19
E47 NUM LINES > NUM REFS message, 3-10
EDFA amplifier, 2-10
ELEV softkey, 1-10, 2-27
elevation
changing feet to meters, 1-10, 2-27
effects of, 2-26
entering, 1-10, 2-27
cursor, 2-6
ELEVation programming command, 5-70, 5-71
Index-2
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Index
EOI signal, 4-27
Err_mngmt subroutine, 4-29
error
values, vii
messages, 8-9
queue, 4-21
ERRor programming command, 5-79
Error_msg subroutine, 4-28
*ESE, 4-28, 5-3
*ESR, 5-5
example programs, 4-28
increase source accuracy, 4-41
measure DFB laser, 4-30
measure SN ratio, 4-39
H
5-80
*IDN?, 4-29, 5-6
F
coherence length, 3-12
measuring, 2-16
fiber optics
adapters, 8-15
care of, v
cleaning connections, 1-13
firmware version, iii, 2-10, 5-70
displayed, 1-9
over GPIB, 5-6
flatness, 7-4, 7-7
foam swabs, 1-20
FREQuency programming command, 5-19,
5-48, 5-61
front panel
adapters, 8-15
inspecting
installing, 1-2
instrument
rear view, 7-12
returning for service, 1-23
state when turned on, 5-81, 8-2
integration limits, 2-10
labels, 7-12
lockout, 4-3
fuse, 1-5
drawer, 1-5
L
laser
Index-3
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Index
aperture, vi, 1-9
channel spacing, 2-21
classification, vi, 7-9
drift, iii, 3-9, 3-10
linewidth, 2-2
LIM OFF softkey, 1-12, 2-8
LIM ON softkey, 1-12, 2-8
LINE key, 1-8
linearity, 7-4, 7-7
line-power
cable, 1-6
instructions, 4-23, 5-15
cables, 8-16
input connector, 1-5
requirements, 1-6
specifications, 7-9
linewidth, 2-2
List by Power
menu map, 8-5
mode, 4-9
softkey, 2-7, 3-10
List by WL
key, 2-6
menu map, 8-5
single acquisition, 2-15
in vacuum, 2-26
mode, 4-9
softkey, 2-6, 3-10
LOCAL softkey, 4-3
long form commands, 4-23
lowercase letters, 4-24
low-power laser lines, 2-18
measuring
messages, error, 8-9
M
M annotation, 2-4
maximum power input, iv
MAXimum programming command, 5-65
MAX-MIN softkey, 3-10
MEASure measurement instruction, 4-30,
4-32, 5-15
measurement
accuracy, 1-9
air, in, 2-26
AM modulation, 2-16, 2-23
monitoring the instrument, 4-16
MW softkey, 2-14
N
nanometers, 2-14
NARROW softkey, 2-10
narrowband mode, 2-10
Index-4
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Index
NEXT PK softkey, 2-5
key, 2-4
NEXT programming command, 5-65
noise declaration, 7-10
noise power
5-59
power
bar, iv, 2-4, 2-12
automatic interpolation, 3-4
bandwidth, 3-5, 3-8
user entered wavelength, 3-5
5-35, 5-36, 5-37, 5-38, 5-39, 5-40, 5-41,
5-42, 5-71, 5-85, 5-86
NORMAL softkey, 2-14, 4-9, 5-73
notation definitions, 5-2
NUM LINES > NUM REFS, 3-10
numbers, 4-25
maximum measurable, 2-2
peak, 2-4
separation, 2-20
5-86
PRBS, 2-24, 3-5
O
Off
key, 2-22
menu map, 8-6
On
key, 2-22
Preset
conditions set by, 5-81, 8-2
menu map, 8-6
*OPC, 4-29, 5-3, 5-6
options, 1-4
5-78, 5-81
PREV WL softkey, 2-5
key, 2-28
programming, 4-2
command notation convention, 5-2
equivalent softkeys, 4-47
examples. See example programs
list of commands, 4-43
measurement instructions, 5-15
PTRansition programming command, 5-77
PWR BAR softkey, 2-12
output queue, 4-21, 4-27
P
2-29
parameters, adding, 4-25
PEAK
annotation, 2-4
softkey, 2-5, 3-6
peak
definition of, 2-16
excursion, 2-10, 2-16
power, iii, 2-4
threshold limit, 2-16, 2-19, 2-24
wavelength, iii, 2-4
Index-5
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Index
PWR OFS
∆sPoWftkResyo,f2tk-2e5y, 2-22
SENSe subsystem, 5-69
sensitivity, 7-4, 7-7
serial number
Q
queries, 4-27
multiple, 4-27
queues, 4-21
sales and service offices, 8-18
5-51, 5-52, 5-54, 5-55, 5-57, 5-58, 5-64,
8-13
R
radiation exposure, vi, 1-9
range, wavelength, 4-4, 5-36
range, wavelengths, 2-8
rear panel
shipping
labels, 7-12
regulatory duration, 7-2
Remote annotation, 4-3
repetitive data formats, 3-5
RESET softkey, 2-22, 3-9, 3-11
return loss, 7-4, 7-8
returning
data, 4-27
returning for service, 1-23
RF modulation, 2-24
*RST, 4-4, 4-29, 5-8
signal-to-noise
ratios, iii
specification, 7-8
Single key, 2-15, 2-17
softkey
operating, 7-9
S
S/N AUTO annotation, 3-3
S/N softkey, 3-5
safety, vi, vii, 1-9
*SRE, 5-10
SCALar programming command, 5-15
SCPI (standard commands for programmable
instruments)
standard, 4-2
syntax rules, 4-23
second harmonic distortion, 2-18
SELECT softkey, 2-6, 2-21
selectivity, 7-4, 7-8
SCPI commands, 4-23
STATe programming command, 5-35, 5-47,
5-51, 5-52, 5-53, 5-54, 5-55, 5-57, 5-58,
5-63, 5-67
status
byte register, 5-12
reporting, 4-16
STATus subsystem, 5-74
Index-6
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Index
*STB, 5-12
wavelength
STD AIR
definition of, 7-3
input range, 2-2
peak, 2-4
annotation, 2-26
softkey, 1-11, 2-27
subsystems, 4-23
swabs, 1-20
SYSTem subsystem, 5-79
5-49, 5-62
T
terahertz, 2-14
THRSHLD softkey, 2-19
total power, iii, 2-7
maximum measurable, 2-25
measuring, 2-7
transient data, 4-10
*TRG, 5-13
trigger ignore, 8-13
TRIGger subsystem, 5-84
*TST, 5-13
∆ WL softkey, 2-22
WL softkey, 2-14
∆ WL/PWR softkey, 2-22
5-39, 5-40, 5-41, 5-42
5-63
U
units of measure, 2-13
UNITS softkey, 2-13
up-arrow softkey, 2-6
UPDATE softkey, 2-14
uppercase letters, 4-24
USER softkey, 3-6
USER WL softkey, 3-6
UW softkey, 2-14
V
VAC annotation, 2-26
VACUUM softkey, 1-11, 2-27
vacuum, measurements in, 2-26
VERSion programming command, 5-83
W
*WAI, 5-14
wave number, 2-14
Index-7
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