Message Structure; Start Character; Device Address; Commands/Queries - Comtech EF Data DT-4500 Series Installation And Operation Manual

DT-4500 Series C- and Ku-Band Down Converters
Serial Interface Operation

8.6 Message Structure

The structure of a Command, Response, or Error Message is as follows:

• Start Character

• Device Address

• Command or Response
• End of Message String
8.6.1 Start Character
The Start Character begins each message:
< = Start of a user command or query.
> = Start of a converter response.
8.6.2 Device Address
The Device Address consists of a Physical Address or a Physical Address and an
appended Virtual Address. This chapter uses "DEV" for the generic case
examples.
• EXAMPLE:
8.6.3

Commands/Queries

A Command or Query is a variable length character string beginning with a
forward slash " / " – it contains either an instruction or an instruction with data
for a converter to act upon.
If data is passed by command, it is appended to the instruction by an underscore
"_".
For a Query, data is retrieved by command. The underscore follows the
instruction, flagging the converter to supply data in a response.
• COMMAND EXAMPLE: <DEV/COM_xxx{cr} (Sends command data to a
converter)
• QUERY EXAMPLE: <DEV/COM_{cr} (Queries information from a
converter)
<DEV
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