Siglent SDG2000X - Remote command for sending arbitrary waveform data? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Jope
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2015, 01:19:10 pm
content: Hi.I'm interested in buying a Siglent SDG2000X signal generator. I'm also interested in programming it via USB/Ethernet using the Agilent/NI VISA libraries.There is a "Remote Control Manual", but unfortunately Siglent either forgot or deliberatly not published the remote command for sendingarbitrary waveform data to the device (the same is true for their other signal generator lines, as far as I can see). You have to use theirEasyWavesoftware, and I don't want that. I want to 'build' the waveforms programmatically and then send it directly from my program.I have contacted Siglent and got nowhere; they referred multiple times to theirRemote Control Manualand I told them multiple times that the information is not in there.Has anybody here more information and/or reverse-engineered the command which is needed to remotely send arbitrary waveform data?I would really appreciate it.

author: billfernandez
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2015, 02:38:47 am
content: According to the user manual you can connect via USB or Ethernet. Both parts of the manual refer to VISA drivers and National Instrument's "Measurement and Automation Explorer". So I expect that you can make the control connection you want.I have not found anything in either the user manual or remote control manual that explains how to download a arbitrary waveform directly from a connected PC, so I can't help you there. I have no idea what EasyWave uses to send arbitrary waveforms to the unit.But, depending upon your needs maybe this workaround will suffice: According to the user manual, you can encode a desired waveform into a CSV file, place it on a USB flash drive, insert the flash drive, and use front-panel buttons to load it into the unit. According to the remote control manual you can issue "virtual key" commands -- essentially "pressing buttons" under remote control. By combining these two capabilities you could load prerecorded arbitrary waveforms by remote control. I haven't tried it, and this may not meet your needs, but it's all I could think of after looking through the manuals.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2015, 09:31:39 am
content: The CD that is shipped with a new unit normally has a copy of the programming manual.Siglent Tech support tells me not all manuals are complete for the SDG2000X series but they will soon be available on Siglent websites.Many existing manuals are available from:http://www.siglentamerica.com/down.aspx?id=29We'll let you know when they're available.

author: Jope
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2015, 01:17:46 pm
content: Quote from: billfernandez on December 14, 2015, 02:38:47 amI know that. That's not the problem. The problem is that Siglent (stupidly or deliberately) do not mention the command for sending waveform data in their programming manual.QuoteThanks, but no. The whole point of having aprogrammablearbitrary waveform generator with megabytes of memory for waveform data is to send that waveform data programmatically to it. I have never worked with an arb generator (Agilent,Tek,Keithley,Rigol,...) where the command for sending waveform data to the device was missing in the programming manual. That's just an incredible stupid oversight (or decision) of Siglent.BTW: This command is also missing in the programming manuals of the SDG800, SDG1000 and SDG5000 series.I did some research on my own and in another two-year-old thread somebody mentioned that LeCroy's Wavestation 2000 was a rebranded Siglent SDG1000.Guess what? LeCroy's programming manualdoesmention a command for sending waveform data to the device! The command is "WVCSV" forsend waveform in CSV format.You bet that's the command EasyWave is using for sending data.Quote from: tautechI have the programming manual. I have mentioned that in my first post.Regarding "not being complete": the programming manual of the SDG1000 (being on the market for over three years) still does not mention the command.And I guess it never will.

author: cnkz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2015, 03:56:30 pm
content: If you have - based on the LeCroy description - an example code, someone could try it out for you...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 15, 2015, 01:49:50 pm
content: Hi Jope.The factory has told me they are rewriting the programming manual.Until then, I have attached a page from the new manual.Let us know if you need anything else.Thanks.Steve

author: Jope
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2015, 04:27:38 pm
content: Quote from: Siglent America on December 15, 2015, 01:49:50 pmGreat! Thanks!That is exactly what I was looking for.

author: nazer
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 24, 2016, 12:08:05 pm
content: Quote from: Siglent America on December 15, 2015, 01:49:50 pmCould you please elaborate on WAVEDATA format? I also need to upload custom waveforms, but the format of WAVEDATA is not clear from the .pdf