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04 | Keysight | Comparison: 33220A/33250A to 33500B/33600A Trueform Series Waveform Generators – Migration Guide
Key differences
– The Trueform generators use different signal generation technology than the older
33220A/33250A. The older generators use DDS-based technology, while the Trueform
technology is unique to Keysight generators. Trueform offers greater waveform integrity
than DDS architectures. For more information on these differences see: Trueform Wave-
form Generation Technology Overview, publication number 5991-0852EN.
– Trueform generators offer two channels of waveform output and phase synchronous two
channel behavior (phase sync, 90 degrees phase offset, Combine, Sum and modulation by
“other” channel, etc.)
– 33500B and 33600A generators offer Trueform arbitrary waveforms with higher signal
delity, waveform sequencing, much larger memory and much lower jitter than DDS
waveforms in 33220A/33250A.
– Time to power up is longer in Trueform generators than in their predecessors.
– For sinewave outputs the 33250A offers 10 Vpp up to 80 MHz, while the 33600A Series
offers 10 Vpp to 60 MHz, 8 Vpp from 60 MHz to 80 MHz, and 4 Vpp up to 120 MHz.
– For square wave outputs the 33250A offers 10 Vpp up to 80 MHz, while the 33600A Series
offers 10 Vpp to 50 MHz, and 4 Vpp up to 100 MHz.
– The 33220A, 33250A, and Trueform Series generators use different calibration procedures
with different default passwords.
– Internal amplitude range changes are different for each set of generators. Most users will
not notice a difference, but those that expect a certain range of voltages before internal
generator relay state changes should take notice.
– Some specications vary between the 33220A/33250A and Trueform Series generators. In
general, the Trueform specications equal or exceed those of the 33220A/33250A.
– The timing of responses is different, including power on, conguration and signal output
changes.
– Save and recall instrument congurations are different.
Key programming differences
– Response to the *IDN? Command is unique and specic to each instrument. No IDN
emulation mode is offered.
– The different waveform generators have different calibration procedures.
– Response times may be different on programming interfaces on identical SCPI commands.
– The 33220A/33250A uses MEMory commands to congure power-on state recall; whereas
the Trueform generators uses MMEMory commands to congure from either the internal or
USB le systems.
– LAN was available on the 33220A. The following LAN setup commands are no longer
supported with the Trueform generators.
– SYSTem:COMMunicate:LAN
– :AUTOip[:STATe] {OFF|0|ON|1}
– :AUTOip[:STATe]?
– :LIPaddress?
– :MEDiasense {OFF|0|ON|1}
– :MEDiasense?
– :NETBios {OFF|0|ON|1}
– :NETBios?