Hameg HMC8012 User Manual

Also see for HMC8012: User manual Programmer's manual

Contents

Hameg HMC8012 User Manual Manual pdf 13 page image

46General Instrument Settings9 Remote Controlvia InterfacesAs a standard feature, the HMC8012 is equipped with abuilt-in interface card which includes an Ethernet and aUSB connection.9 2 USBIn addition to a LAN interface, the HMC8012 includes aUSB device port. For this interface, the user can selectif the instrument is accessed via virtual COM port (VCP)or via USB TMC class. The traditional version of the VCPallows the user to communicate with the HMC using anyterminal program via SCPI commands once the corres-ponding Windows drivers have been installed. These com-mands are generally compatible with the Agilent multime-ters 34401A and 34410A. In addition, you may use the freeHAMEG software „HMExplorer“. This Windows applicationoffers HMC8012 instruments a terminal function, the op-tion to create screenshots and to sort the measured datastorage.A modern alternative to the virtual COM port (VCP) is thecontrol via USB TMC class. TMC stands for „Test & Mea-surement Class“ which indicates that the connectedmeasurement instrument can be recognized withoutspecial Windows drivers if VISA drivers are installed andthat it can be used directly in corresponding environments.The GPIB interface serves as model to the structure of theTMC design. A major benefit of the USB TMC class is thatby sampling specific registers the user can determine ifcommands have been terminated and if they have beenprocessed correctly. However, the communication via VCPrequires analysis and polling mechanisms within the cont-rolling software which may significantly strain the interfaceof the measurement instruments. The TMC status registerssolve this problem with the USB TMC in the same manneras is the case with the GPIB interface for the hardware,namely via corresponding control lines.9 1 EthernetIn addition to the USB interface, the interface card includesan Ethernet interface. Select Ethernet as interface andpress the soft menu key Parameter to then determine thesettings for the necessary parameters directly within theTo enable communication, the selected interface and the respec-tive settings in the instrument must be identical to the selectionsfor the PC.All currently available USB drivers have been fully tested andreleased for Windows XP™, Windows VISTA™ and Windows 7™(32 + 64 bit).Device NameIn this menu, you can select an instrument name. Pressingthe soft menu key DEVICE NAME opens a keypad. Use theknob to select the letters. You can confirm each letter viaENTER key (SHIFT). Press the soft menu key ACCEPT toconfirm the entered instrument name.