Installation manual

Model 8210A-2-5 IM-377
Aeroflex / Weinschel
29
7-12. Attenuator Control
ATTN Function: Set attenuation
Syntax: ATTN name atten (specific form) or ATTN atten (non-specific form)
Argument(s): name string10 attenuator or group name
atten real desired value, in dB
Remarks: This function sets the attenuation of attenuator name to atten. This command may be
used with both physical and virtual attenuation devices supporting the AttnProtocol. The parameter
name must have been previously assigned using either the ASSIGN, ASSIGN ATTN, or GROUP
command. The non-specific form of this command will set all attenuation devices found during the
configuration process to the value atten. It may be used to initialize the system, or as an easy method of
programming systems that contain a single attenuator. Also, this form allows the value of atten to be
specified as -1, which results in each device being programmed to it’s maximum attenuation value. If
name is a group name, then the command is performed on each attenuator of the group.
Return Value: none
Example(s): ATTN AT1 63
ATTN ChanTwo 12.25
ATTN 45.0
ATTN? Function: Read attenuation
Syntax: ATTN? name (specific form) or ATTN? (non-specific form)
Argument(s): name string10 attenuator name
Remarks: In the specific form, this function reads the attenuation of attenuator name. This
command may be used with both physical and virtual attenuation devices supporting the AttnProtocol.
The parameter name must have been previously assigned using either the ASSIGN or ASSIGN ATTN
command. The non-specific form may be used in systems where there is only a single attenuator.
Return Value: atten real attenuation value, in dB
Example(s): ATTN? AT1 returns ’63.00’
REF Function: Sets reference attenuation
Syntax: REF name
Argument(s): name string10 attenuator or group name
Remarks: This function is used to set the reference level of the attenuator specified by name to
the device’s current setting. This command may be used with both physical and virtual attenuation
devices supporting the AttnProtocol. The parameter name must have been previously assigned using
either the ASSIGN, ASSIGN ATTN, or GROUP command. The reference attenuation is used by the
RELATTN command to program an attenuation relative to a reference value. If name is a group name,
then the command is performed on each attenuator of the group.
Return Value: none
Example(s): REF AT1 sets reference level for AT1 to the current setting
REF? Function: Read reference setting
Syntax: REF? name
Argument(s): name string10 attenuator name
Remarks: This function reads the reference setting of attenuator name. This command may be
used with both physical and virtual attenuation devices supporting the AttnProtocol. The parameter
name must have been previously assigned using either the ASSIGN or ASSIGN ATTN command.
Return Value: refatten
real reference attenuation value, in dB
Example(s): REF? AT1 returns ’30.00’
RELATTN Function: Sets attenuation relative to a reference setting
Syntax: RELATTN name atten
Argument(s): name string10 attenuator or group name
atten real desired value, in dB
Remarks: This function sets the attenuation of attenuator name to atten, relative to the
reference value set by the REF command. This command may be used with both physical and virtual
attenuation devices supporting the AttnProtocol. The parameter name must have been previously
assigned using either the ASSIGN, ASSIGN ATTN, or GROUP command. If name is a group name,
then the command is performed on each attenuator of the group.
Return Value: none
Example(s): RELATTN AT1 10 increases the atten setting of AT1 10dB from reference setting
RELATTN AT1 -10 decreases the atten setting of AT1 by 10dB from the reference
setting