Specifications

3-4 Programming Guide
Remote Data Transfer ESG Family Signal Generators
ARB Waveform Data Downloads
For Volatile and Nonvolatile ARB Memory Downloads
ARB waveform memory space (approximately 1 Mpoints) is allocated in 4096-point
(8192 byte) segments. Accordingly, regardless of how small the waveform is, it always
occupies at least 4096 points of volatile ARB memory. If a waveform file is too large to fit
into a 4096-point memory segment, additional memory space is allocated in multiples of
4096 points. For example, a waveform of 4100 points, is allocated to a 8192-point memory
segment.
When played back through the sequencer, smaller waveforms play back only the number of
points occupied by their waveform data, not the full 4096 points. See the following table.
NOTE It is important to remember that, if there are many small waveform files
stored in volatile ARB memory, the total memory usage may be much more
than the sum of the points that make up the actual waveform data. There will
not be as much memory available as perhaps expected, based on the combined
sum of the individual waveform data files.
Data Volatility
Waveform data stored in ARB memory is volatile. This data is destroyed whenever the
signal generator’s line power is cycled. Waveform data in ARB memory can be downloaded,
sequenced, and played back through the signal generator’s I/Q baseband generator section.
Information stored in NVARB memory is nonvolatile. This data survives a line power cycle,
and remains in the memory catalog until you delete the file, or until the signal generator’s
internal battery expires. To be sequenced and played, waveforms in NVARB memory must
first be moved to ARB memory.
Downloading Waveforms into Volatile and Nonvolatile ARB Memory
NOTE Downloads into volatile ARB memory are significantly faster than downloads
into nonvolatile NVARB memory, due to the data parsing required by
nonvolatile ARB memory.
Waveform Number of Points
Memory Space
(in points)
wfm1 32 4096
wfm2 128 4096
wfm3 4096 4096
wfm4 4098 8192
Total Points 8354 20480