Agilent Technologies 8560E User Manual page 304

Programming
Data Transfer to Computer
Use the TDF (trace data format) command to specify the format
before sending data from the spectrum analyzer to the computer.
The examples in this section illustrate how to use this command.
The examples in this section use the ] (trace A) command. This
command transfers data to and from trace A. The TRB (trace B)
command is also available for transferring trace B data. It is possible
to read data from trace A and then send it to trace B, and also to
read data from trace B and send it to trace A. For simplicity, this
capability is not reflected in the programming examples in this
section.
The analyzer returns information as decimal values in fundamental
units shown in Table 5-1. The analyzer does not automatically apply
these units to data received from the computer; the user must specify
the units.
Table 5-1 Units for Returned Data
Measured
Data
Frequency
Power
Amplitude
Ratio
Voltage
Time
As indicated in Table 5-1, power and amplitude information can be
returned in several different units. The AUNITS (amplitude units)
command is used to select the desired unit. The AUNITS command can
either specify a single unit to be used for all power and amplitude
information, or it can be set to automatically select the units, based on
certain measurement settings. Refer to the description of the AUNITS
command in Chapter 7 of this manual for more information.
Parameter Units versus Measurement Units
All units referred to above are parameter units, which are standard
scientific units. Trace data can optionally be sent to and received from
the analyzer in non-standard units, measurement units, which are
used internally by the analyzer. The main advantage to communicating
with the analyzer in measurement units is speed; when the analyzer
communicates in parameter units, it must convert between internal
measurement units and parameter units.
304
Fundamental Unit
Hz
dBm, dBmV, dBµV, W
dBm, dBmV, dBµV, W, V
dB, unitless (voltage ratio)
V
s
Chapter 5