Specifications

Programming Guide 3-29
ESG Family Signal Generators Remote Data Transfer
Data Downloads Directly into Pattern RAM
Downloading in List Format
NOTE Because of parsing, list data format downloads are significantly slower than
block format downloads.
Data Requirements and Limitations Summary
1. Data must be 8-bit, unsigned integers, from 0 to 255.
This is because list format downloads are parsed prior to being loaded into PRAM.
2. For every bit of modulation data (bit 0), you must provide 7 bits of control information
(bits 1-7).
The signal generator processes data in 8-bit bytes. Each byte contains 1 bit of “data
field” information, and seven bits of control information associated with the data field
bit. See Table 3-2 for the required data and control bits.
Total (data bits plus control bits) download size limitations are 1 Mbyte for Option UN8
and 8 Mbytes for Option UN9.
Because waveforms containing 1 Mbyte of data for subsequent modulation must also
contain 7 Mbytes of control information, a file this size requires a signal generator with
Option UN9 and its 8 Mbyte pattern RAM. The largest amount of modulation data for a
waveform in an Option UN8 signal generator is approximately 1 Mbits, leaving enough
room for the required 7 Mbits control bits.
Preliminary Setup
It is important to set up the digital communications format before downloading data. This
allows the signal generator to define the modulation format, filter, and data clock.
Activating the digital communications format after the data has been downloaded to
PRAM may damage the downloaded data.
From the Front Panel Interface
To set up the TDMA format, press
Mode > desired format and toggle the format on.
To set up the custom modulation format, press
Mode > Custom and toggle the format on.
To adjust symbol rate, filtering, or other parameters, press the appropriate softkey and
adjust the value.
Via the Remote Interface
For TDMA formats, send the SCPI command:
[:SOURce]:RADio:<desired format>[:STATe]:ON
Or for custom modulation send:[:SOURce]:RADio:CUSTOm[:STATe]:ON
To adjust symbol rate, filtering, or other parameters, execute the appropriate SCPI
command.