How to create an arbitrary waveform with the Agilent 33250A function Generator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: daveyk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 01:58:00 pm
content: I’ve used my favorite function generator, the Agilent 33250A, for years as a Sine-wave generator in trigger and gated modes. It’s hard to beat it.Now I am curious if it is capable of creating a triggered signal such as this:Wait maybe 4us after trigger, create two or three 5MHz Sine-waves 4vP-P, wait 6us and create two or three 5MHz sine-waves 2vP-P?It sounds simple enough but I don’t have instructions to get me started. If someone can give me some instructions, I can probably take it from there. I may only need help getting started.I think Intuilink software could help, but I don’t think it can be downloaded anymore. Keysight new software is uber expensive and I think really supports the newest generators.Thanks kindly guys,DaveSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 04:11:47 pm
content: Hello,I think is approximately possible.As I dont know the Agilent 33250A I post only one example. Perhaps there exist simpler solution.You need the Burst Mode with trigger and the Arbitrary Waveform and the Remote Interface.As your Agilent 33250A has 200MS/s you need 2400 data points.Every points duration is 5ns.The 2400 points give you 12 us.From point 800 to 920 you create 3 sine periodsFrom point 2120 to 2200 you create 2 sine periods with half amplitude.The other points are 0.With this data you create with the Remote Interface an Arbitrary Waveform and with trigger you start the Arbitrary Waveform.Enclosed a sample data file and the scope picture.Best regardsegonotto

author: daveyk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 04:33:18 pm
content: Thank you. I can’t give it a try right now, but I will soon. How do I use that text file to load it in to the generator? What software are you using?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 06:59:55 pm
content: Hello,I dont have an Agilent 33250A, I use the function generator from my DSO-2074Ghttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/experience-with-dso-2074g/and I use a C-program that is in the SDK of this DSO-2074G.Do you have the CD-ROM shipped with the Agilent 33250A?If not perhaps you can it download from Keysight.Do you have a GPIB interface in your PC?If not I think you have to use the RS-232 interface with SCPI Commands.I think you can use putty if you dont have a better solution.Best regardsegonotto

author: daveyk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 07:19:42 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 24, 2017, 06:59:55 pmYes, all my equipment is tied together with GPIB and I have written test software in VBA and VB6. I have zero experience with creating arbitrary waveforms but would love to able to create a 2:1 signal for certain tests. I’m not sure the programmers manual on the 33250s gives examples. The example in the first replay might be good if I can figure out how to implement it.I think I can still download the free intuilink software. I think I saw how on Keysight web site (on iPhone not at computer at home). According the sales flyer for the 33250 that program is supposed to help create arbitrary waveforms. I suspect that it won’t be well documented though -lolSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 09:21:11 pm
content: I thought I could help but then realised that I have the Agilent 33522A not the Agilent 33250A - they are practically anagrams of each other. Arbs for the 33522A are simply numbers in text form, for example this code snippet generates a 99MHz sin (the official maximum frequency is 30MHz but you can get up to around 100MHz out at low amplitude): (Note it is based on 250MSamples/sec hence the dt of 1/250)fp = fopen("99MHz_sin.dat","w");n_points = 250;freq = 99.0;ifreq = 99; // MHztwo_pi = 6.28318530718L;omega = two_pi * freq;dt = 1.0/250.0;for(int i=0; i < n_points; i++){long int num = i*ifreq;long int den = 250;long int ix = num % den;long double dx = ((long double)(ix) * two_pi)/((long double)(250));long double sx = sin(dx);fprintf(fp,"%+f\n",sx);}fclose(fp);Perhaps the 33250A uses the same format?

author: rickells
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 02:58:32 pm
content: hi Dave,Were you able to get a copy of the 33250a Intuilink software and make it work ?I have a similar issue with my 33250a.

author: Keysight DanielBogdanoff
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 11:05:20 pm
content: Quote from: daveyk on October 24, 2017, 04:33:18 pmLoading arb data into the 33200A series:http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5989-9760EN.pdf?id=1708090