R&S NGE100B User Manual page 59

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R&S NGE100B
The USB virtual COM port (USB-VCP) is a software interface that allows the communi-
cation to the R&S NGE100B using any terminal program (e.g. HMExplorer) via SCPI
commands once the corresponding Windows drivers have been installed. The actual
USB-VCP driver and software HMExplorer can be downloaded for free from the prod-
uct homepage (http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/product/nge100b).
If a connection between PC and the instrument has been established and no R&S
NGE100B USB-VCP driver is installed, the PC operating system displays a "Found
New Hardware" wizard. In this case, the R&S NGE100B USB-VCP driver must be
installed.
The HMExplorer window application provides the R&S NGE100B a terminal function
and also the option to create screenshots and editor function to create the EasyArb
table.
For more information of the driver installation and HMExplorer window application, see
the installation guide of the driver file and the internal HMExplorer help.
USB TMC
The USB Test & Measurement class (USB-TMC) is a protocol that allows GPIB-like
communication via USB interfaces and is a separate instrument class of the USB spec-
ification. The USB-TMC protocol supports service queries, triggers, and other GPIB-
specific instructions.
VISA drivers are installed and that it can be used directly in the corresponding environ-
ments. The driver is included in the NI-VISA package and can be downloaded at
www.ni.com/downloads/ni-drivers/.
A major benefit of the USB TMC class is that by sampling specific registers, the con-
trolling software can determine if commands have been terminated and if they have
been processed correctly. With USB-VCP, communication with instrument requires
analysis and polling mechanisms within the controlling software which may significantly
strain the interface of the measurement instruments. The TMC status registers solve
this problem with the USB TMC in the same manner as in the case with the GPIB inter-
face for the hardware via the corresponding control lines.
HMExplorer
The window application supports the communication via LAN, USB VCP and WLAN
only.
For more information of the VISA driver installation, see the installation guide of the
VISA driver file.
Once the driver is installed, the "USB Test and Measurement Device (IVI)" is displayed
in the "Device Manager" window, see
User Manual 5601.1343.02 ─ 09
Figure 6-19.
Instrument functions
Interfaces and protocols
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