Programming Fundamentals; Controller Capabilities - Agilent Technologies 8712ET Programmer's Manual

Introduction to GPIB Programming

Programming Fundamentals

Programming Fundamentals
This section includes specific information for programming your network
analyzer. It includes how the analyzer interacts with a controller, how
data is transferred between the analyzer and a controller, and how to use
the analyzer's status register structure to generate service requests.

Controller Capabilities

The analyzer can be configured as a GPIB system controller or as a
talker/listener on the bus. To configure the analyzer, select either the
System Controller or the Talker Listener softkey in the
GPIB menu.
SYSTEM OPTIONS
The analyzer is not usually configured as the system controller unless it
is the only controller on the bus. This setup would be used if the analyzer
only needed to control printers or plotters. It would also be used if HP
Instrument BASIC was being used to control other test equipment.
When the analyzer is used with another controller on the bus, it is
usually configured as a talker/listener. In this configuration, when the
analyzer is given control it can function as the active controller.
Programmer's Guide 1-9