The R&S NRX power meter offers a remote emulation feature that makes it possible to
control the instrument by commands other than the built-in native SCPI commands.
This feature allows the user to replace power meters, e.g. from other manufacturers,
with the R&S NRX power meter without having to change the remote control code.
This application sheet describes how to use the remote emulation feature in general.
Furthermore, it describes in detail the remote emulation for each supported instrument,
limitations of the individual emulations and the remaining differences between the emulated and the original commands.
Table 1-1: Abbreviated product names
Product short
name
E4418BPower meterKeysight TechnologiesChapter 8, "Emulating the Keysight
E4419BPower meterKeysight TechnologiesChapter 8, "Emulating the Keysight
N432APower meterKeysight TechnologiesChapter 9, "Emulating the Keysight
Product typeManufacturerFor details, see
Technologies E4418B/E4419B",
on page 13
Technologies E4418B/E4419B",
on page 13
Technologies N432A", on page 25
N1911APower meterKeysight TechnologiesChapter 10, "Emulating the Keysight
Technologies N1911A/N1912A",
on page 37
N1912APower meterKeysight TechnologiesChapter 10, "Emulating the Keysight
Technologies N1911A/N1912A",
on page 37
3Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Overview
Product short
name
R&S NRXPower meterRohde & SchwarzThis document and the R&S NRX
R&S NRP2Power meterRohde & SchwarzChapter 6, "Emulating the R&S
R&S NRPPower meterRohde & SchwarzChapter 7, "Emulating the R&S
Power sensorRohde & SchwarzR&S NRPxxS(N)/T(N)/A(N) user
manuals
2Overview
Power meters are often used in automated test applications that are used for at least
several years or even decades. Software written for such applications is often used
without any or only few modifications during the entire lifetime. Any modification of
these applications therefore requires special care to be taken. The replacement of
instruments, e.g. due to malfunction, or a standard replacement with a similar instrument from another vendor/manufacturer requires 100 % compatibility, at least in:
●
Electrical features
●
Functional features
●
Remote control features
To fulfill the last requirement, the R&S NRX offers the remote emulation feature.
This feature allows you to control the R&S NRX by using the exact same commands
that were implemented in the original instrument. Therefore, the R&S NRX operates in
the same way as the original instrument, e.g. a N1911A.
As a result, total costs for maintenance and service for those applications can
decrease.
An overview of implemented remote emulations is given in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1: Remote emulations in the R&S NRX
ManufacturerInstrumentLanguage
Rohde & SchwarzR&S NRPSCPI
R&S NRXSCPI
Keysight TechnologiesE4418BSCPI
E4419BSCPI
N432ASCPI
4Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Power sensor substitution
ManufacturerInstrumentLanguage
N1911ASCPI
N1912ASCPI
3Power sensor substitution
When a power meter is replaced with the R&S NRX, also the power sensor used along
with the power meter needs to be replaced with an appropriate R&S power sensor.
Since Rohde & Schwarz offers a comprehensive portfolio of state-of-the-art power sensors, the following tables serve as a guideline to make it easier to select a sensor. The
tables give an overview of Keysight Technologies power sensors and propose R&S
power sensors that could be used as an adequate substitute. Note that the proposed
R&S power sensors do not exactly match the Keysight Technologies sensors in all their
specifications. Therefore, we strongly recommend checking the data sheets of the proposed R&S power sensors to find the best substitute that fulfills the application requirements.
Table 3-1: 8480 series thermocouple power sensors and their closest sensor substitutes
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
8481AR&S NRP18T
R&S NRP-Z51
8482AR&S NRP18T
R&S NRP-Z51
8483A-75 ohm impedance
8485AR&S NRP33T
R&S NRP-Z52
R8486A
Q8486A
V8486A
W8486A
8487AR&S NRP50T
8481HR&S NRP18T
R&S NRP110TWG
R&S NRP-Z58
R&S NRP-Z56
R&S NRP18S
R&S NRP-Z21
Max. power: +20 dBm
Max. power: +20 dBm
Max. power: +20 dBm, 3.5 mm connector
WR10 connector
1 mm connector, waveguide adapter required
Max. power: +20 dBm, 2.4 mm connector
Max. power: +20 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +23 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +23 dBm
R&S NRP18S-10
R&S NRP-Z22
R&S NRP18S-20
R&S NRP-Z23
Diode sensor, max. power: +33 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +33 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +42 dBm
Diode sensor
5Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
Power sensor substitution
8482HR&S NRP6A
R&S NRP-Z92
8481BR&S NRP18S-20
R&S NRP-Z23
R&S NRP18S-25
R&S NRP-Z24
8482BR&S NRP18S-25
R&S NRP-Z24
R&S NRP6A
R&S NRP-Z92
Table 3-2: 8480 series diode power sensors and their closest sensor substitutes
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
8481DR&S NRP8S
R&S NRP-Z11
R&S NRP18S
R&S NRP-Z21
8485DR&S NRP33S
R&S NRP-Z31
Diode sensor, max. power: +23 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +33 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +42 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +42 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +45 dBm
Diode sensor
Diode sensor, 10 MHz to 18 GHz, max. power +45 dBm
Diode sensor, min. frequency: 10 MHz
Diode sensor, 8 kHz to 6 GHz, max. power: +23 dBm
Diode sensor, max. power: +33 dBm
Min. power: -70 dBm, max. frequency: 8 GHz
Min. power: -67 dBm, max. frequency: 8 GHz
Min. power: -70 dBm, max. frequency: 18 GHz
Min. power: -67 dBm, max. frequency: 18 GHz
Min. power: -70 dBm
Min. power: -67 dBm
R8486D
Q8486D
8487DR&S NRP50T
Table 3-3: E9300 series average power sensors and their closest sensor substitutes
Thermal sensor, 1 mm connector, waveguide adapter required
Thermal sensor, min. power -30 dBm, 2.4 mm connector
Thermal sensor, min. power: -35 dBm
Max. frequency 6 GHz
Max. frequency 18 GHz
Frequency: 8 kHz to 6 GHz
Frequency: 9 kHz to 6 GHz
6Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
Power sensor substitution
E9300HR&S NRP18S-20
R&S NRP-Z22
E9301HR&S NRP6A
R&S NRP-Z92
R&S NRP18A
R&S NRP18S
R&S NRP-Z11
R&S NRP18S-10
R&S NRP-Z22
E9300BR&S NRP18S-20
R&S NRP-Z23
R&S NRP18S-25
R&S NRP-Z24
E9301BR&S NRP18S-20
R&S NRP-Z23
R&S NRP18S-25
R&S NRP-Z24
R&S NRP18S-10
R&S NRP6A
R&S NRP-Z92
Max. power: +33 dBm
Frequency 8 kHz to 6 GHz, max. power +20 dBm
Frequency 9 kHz to 6 GHz, max. power +33 dBm
Max. power: +23 dBm
Max. power: +33 dBm
Max. power: +42 dBm
Max. power: +45 dBm
Max. power: +42 dBm
Max. power: +45 dBm
Max. power: +33 dBm
Max. power: +20 dBm, frequency 8 kHz to 6 GHz
Max. power: +33 dBm, frequency 9 kHz to 6 GHz
Table 3-4: E9320 series peak and average power sensors and their closest sensor substitutes
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
E9321AR&S NRP-Z81Min. power: -60 dBm
E9322AR&S NRP-Z81
E9323AR&S NRP-Z81
E9325AR&S NRP-Z81Min. power: -60 dBm
E9326AR&S NRP-Z81
E9327AR&S NRP-Z81
7Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Table 3-5: E4410 series CW power sensors and their closest sensor substitutes
Keysight TechnologiesRohde & SchwarzNote
Power sensor substitution
E4412AR&S NRP18S
R&S NRP-Z21
R&S NRP8S
R&S NRP-Z11
E4413AR&S NRP33S
R&S NRP-Z31
Instead of the R&S NRP-Z11 and R&S NRP-Z21 three-path diode power sensors listed
in the above tables, the corresponding R&S NRP-Z211 and R&S NRP-Z221 two-path
diode power sensors (dynamic range: -60 dBm to +20 dBm) can be used alternatively.
Min. power: -70 dBm, max. frequency: 18 GHz
Min. power: -67 dBm, max. frequency: 18 GHz
Min. power: -70 dBm, max. frequency: 8 GHz
Min. power: -67 dBm, max. frequency: 8 GHz
Min. power: -70 dBm, max. frequency: 33 GHz, 3.5 mm connector
Min. power: -67 dBm, max. frequency: 33 GHz, 3.5 mm connector
8Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
4Basics
4.1Remote control languages
Instruments implement different kinds of remote control languages. These languages
are grouped into two basic categories:
●
SCPI-compatible
Commands are routed directly from the remote interface to the R&S NRX SCPI
command processing unit; responses are routed in the reverse direction.
●
Non-SCPI-compatible
Older instruments often implement a simple, unstructured and non-SCPI-compatible language.
The R&S NRX offers a solution for SCPI-compatible languages only.
Basics
Remote emulation compatibility
Table 4-1: Command examples
FunctionN1911A / N1911A SCPIR&S NRX SCPI
Resetting the instrument.
Selecting manual range mode.
Selecting logarithmic units.
Triggering a measurement and
reading the result value.
*RST*RST
:SENS1:RANG 0
:SENS1:RANG:AUTO OFF
:UNIT1:POW DBM
:UNIT1:POW:RAT DB
:INIT1:CONT OFF
:TRIG1:SOUR BUS
:INIT1:IMM
:TRIG1:IMM
:FETC1?
4.2Remote emulation compatibility
An emulated instrument having fewer features than, or the same features as, the R&S
NRX can be replaced without special care.
However, replacing an emulated instrument having more features than the R&S NRX
or features that differ from those of the R&S NRX requires additional care. Do the following:
:SENS1:RANG 0
:SENS1:RANG:AUTO OFF
:UNIT1:POW DBM
:UNIT1:POW:RAT DB
:INIT1:CONT OFF
:TRIG1:SOUR BUS
:INIT1:IMM
:TRIG1:IMM
:FETC1?
●
Ensure that the R&S NRX complies with the functional requirements.
●
Verify that the application code does not use features of the emulated instrument
which are not available in R&S NRX.
9Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
4.2.1Command compatibility
In certain remote emulations, the R&S NRX acts as follows:
●
Does not support all commands.
●
Does not support all parameters of a command.
●
Shows a different behavior for a command.
In the command tables of the different remote emulations, the status column gives
compatibility information to a command.
Table 4-2: Command compatibility status
StatusComment
Basics
Remote emulation compatibility
✓
See item n
O
✗
+Command has been added to enhance the functionality of the emulated instrument.
Command implementation is fully compatible.
Command implementation is not fully compatible. The implementation in the R&S NRX is
as follows:
●
Does not support the same parameters as the emulated instrument does.
●
Has different functionality than the emulated instrument.
●
Reports an invalid parameter or execution error if possible.
Command is implemented without any functionality. The implementation in the R&S NRX
is as follows:
●
Ignores setting commands.
●
Returns default value in query commands.
●
Does not report errors.
●
Does not change any operating mode of the instrument.
●
Does not change any system state of the instrument.
Command is not implemented. The implementation in the R&S NRX reports an unknown
command error if possible.
If the application software uses commands that are fully compatible, no special care
has to be taken. The application software can be used as is.
If the application software uses commands that are not fully compatible, the application
software must be verified and normally also modified. If the required modifications to
the application software are infeasible, the R&S NRX cannot be used as replacement
for another instrument.
4.2.2IDN and OPT strings
The remote emulation provides user-defined responses to *IDN? and *OPT? queries.
This feature is of informational character only and has no impact on the functionality of
the R&S NRX.
10Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
4.3Preset and reset
Changing the remote emulation does not automatically trigger a reset operation to the
instrument. Therefore, execute a reset to the R&S NRX manually after changing the
remote emulation. Apply the default state of a particular remote emulation as follows:
●
Press the [Preset] key on the front panel of the R&S NRX.
●
Send the corresponding command using the remote control interface, e.g. the
*RST command in SCPI-compatible languages.
4.4Switching on and off
The selected remote emulation and the user-defined response to *IDN? and *OPT?
queries are saved when the R&S NRX is switched off.
When the R&S NRX is switched on again, it starts up with the same settings that were
active before it was switched off.
Enabling a remote emulation
Modifying remote emulation parameters
5Enabling a remote emulation
To use a specific remote emulation, you have to enable it first as follows:
●
Manually at the R&S NRX front panel.
●
Remotely using SCPI commands.
For a detailed description, refer to the R&S NRX user manual.
5.1Modifying remote emulation parameters
Use the following commands to modify the remote emulation parameters.
Table 5-1: Commands to modify remote emulation-relevant settings
CommandComment
SYSTem:IDN:ANSWer <value>
SYSTem:IDN:ANSWer?
Sets the user-defined response to a *IDN? query.
The string-type parameter <value> allows up to 128 characters.
Enclose the parameter in single or double quotes.
Gets the user-defined response to a *IDN? query.
11Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Enabling a remote emulation
Modifying remote emulation parameters
CommandComment
SYSTem:IDN:AUTO <value>
SYSTem:IDN:AUTO?
SYSTem:OPT:ANSWer <value>
SYSTem:OPT:ANSWer?
SYSTem:OPT:AUTO <value>
:SYSTem:OPT:AUTO?Gets the state of the user-defined response to a *OPT? query.
Sets the state of the user-defined response to a *IDN? query.
If the user-defined response is enabled, the value provided with
the SYSTem:IDN <value> command is returned.
If the user-defined response is disabled, the factory default setting is returned.
The value range of the boolean-type parameter <value> is:
●
ON or 1
●
OFF or 0
Gets the state of the user-defined response to a *IDN? query.
Sets the user-defined response to a *OPT? query.
The string-type parameter <value> allows up to 128 characters.
Enclose the parameter in single or double quotes.
Gets the user-defined response to a *OPT? query.
Sets the state of the user-defined response to a *OPT? query.
If the user-defined response is enabled, the value provided with
the SYSTem:OPT <value> command is returned.
If the user-defined response is disabled, the factory default setting is returned.
The value range of the boolean-type parameter <value> is:
●
ON or 1
●
OFF or 0
SYSTem:LANGuage "<value>"
SYSTem:LANGuage?
Enables the remote emulation to be used for further communications.
The value range of the character-type parameter <value> is:
NRX
●
NRP
●
NRP2
●
E4418B
●
E4419B
●
N432A
●
N1911A
●
N1912A
●
Attention:
The remote emulation is changed immediately after parsing this
command. Switching the language does not automatically perform a reset of the device.
After sending this command, apply a delay of two seconds to
the application software before sending the next command.
Gets the current remote emulation.
The upper-case and lower-case notation serves to distinguish between the long and
the short form of a command. The instrument itself does not distinguish between
upper-case and lower-case notation.
12Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Emulating the R&S NRP2
6Emulating the R&S NRP2
The R&S NRP2 command set is compatible to the original R&S NRX command set.
For information about commands and parameters, refer to [2].
However, there are some differences in detail, e.g. the interpretation of the SCPI suffix
with INIT, TRIGger and UNIT commands. Therefore, the R&S NRX must be
switched to emulation mode anyway.
7Emulating the R&S NRP
The R&S NRP command set is compatible to the original R&S NRX command set. For
information about commands and parameters, refer to [1].
However, there are some differences in detail, e.g. the interpretation of the SCPI suffix
with INIT, TRIGger and UNIT commands. Therefore, the R&S NRX must be
switched to emulation mode anyway.
8Emulating the Keysight Technologies
E4418B/E4419B
The remote emulation is based on the E4418B and E4419B firmware version A1.09.01
and A2.09.01.
One or two sensors connected to plug A or B are supported.
Table 8-1: Sensor/connector mapping
E4418BR&S NRX
Sensor ASensor A
Table 8-2: Sensor/connector mapping
E4419BR&S NRX
Sensor ASensor A
Sensor BSensor B
Table 8-3: Sensor/window mapping
E4418B / E4419BR&S NRX
Upper window / upper measurementWindow 1
Upper window / lower measurementWindow 3
13Application Sheet 1179.3238.02 ─ 03
R&S®NRX
Emulating the Keysight Technologies E4418B/E4419B
Commands
E4418B / E4419BR&S NRX
Lower window / upper measurementWindow 2
Lower window / lower measurementWindow 4
8.1Limitations
Display management commands (DISPlay subsystem) are currently extremely restricted.
8.2Commands
The following tables show the current implementation status of each command.