Specifications

Sheet 12 of 39 Document 12245 Rev. I
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XAMPLE: An enumerated control currently has settings for “OFF” (30) and “ON” (31). In the future, a
third choice may be added, called “STANDBY” (32). “OFF” and “ON” will retain their same values (30)
and (31), and “STANDBY” will use a new code value (32).
Make no assumptions about the presence of hardware or options in a particular model.
There are messages that can be used to determine the number of power supplies, current stages,
etc., and the presence or absence of various pieces of hardware. Use these messages, if necessary,
to prevent problems with your software should something be added or removed in a future product
release.
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XAMPLE: An amplifier currently has 8 current stages, so the message that requests currents returns
8 values. Due to improvements in technology, the same amplifier, purchased at some point in the
future, may have been reduced to only 6 current stages, so the same message will return 6 values.
2.4 Instruction Codes
All VertexRSI (MAXTECH) equipment uses a common set of instruction codes. Some equipment types do not
use all messages. Refer to the specific equipment’s manual for the instruction codes used.
Unless otherwise indicated, a reply will contain the same instruction code as the host message.
Some of these instruction codes require a sub-instruction that is dependent on the type of equipment. Again,
refer to the protocol document from the specific equipment for more information.
Instr
Code
Sub
instr Type Description
04
NO Command Reset Unit
07
NO Status Unit Type
08
NO Status Get Faults
09
NO Command Clear Service Request
0A
NO Command Fault Reset
0B
NO Command Self Tests
0E
NO Control Local Lockout
16
YES Status Get Measured Data
17
YES Configuration Set/Read Configuration
18
YES Control Set/Read Controls
19
YES Command Unit Commands
1C
- Status/Special RC Panel Status/Message
20
NO Status Unit Status
2.5 Message Table
The following table summarizes the messages used to control and monitor the amplifier via serial I/O. The
first column shows the message instruction code, which is described above. The second column shows the
sub-instruction, if one is needed. The third column shows the name of the function performed by the
message, and which section you should read in the Message Details for more information. The last column
briefly describes the data values sent to or received from the amplifier in that message. Data values in the last
column are preceded with a
 for message being sent to the amplifier, and a  for messages being returned
by the amplifier.
Remember that Control or Configuration messages can either receive a value (if the host computer wishes to
change the control or setting) or return a value (if the host computer is just checking to see what the current
setting is). In the first case, no response will be returned (other than an ACK, if requested). In this table, the
two forms of these messages are represented by showing the Data Values as being optional in both
directions.