General
This section is a general introduction to the operation of the generator, intended to be read
before using the instrument for the first time.
Switching On
The power switch is located at the bottom left of the front panel.
At power up the generator displays the installed software revision for 2 seconds before reverting
to the main menu. The factory default is for the RF OUT output to be always off at switch on but
this can be changed, see the RF OUT Setting at Switch On section; all the other settings will be
the same as when the instrument was last powered down. Should an error with the battery-
backed RAM be encountered at power up a message will be displayed, see the Error Messages
section.
The basic generator parameters can all be set from this main menu as described in the following
sections. The output is switched on with the RF OUT key; the ON lamp will light to show that the
output is on.
Keyboard Principles
The keys can be considered in the following groups:
•
The numeric/unit keys permit direct entry of a value for the parameter currently selected
(indicated by the ► cursor beside the parameter). Thus, with frequency selected,
123.45689 MHz is set by keying 1, 2, 3, • , 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 MHz. The parameter actually changes
only when the units key (dB, MHz, etc.) is pressed.
FREQUENCY can be entered in kHz, MHz, or GHz but will always be displayed in MHz.
LEVEL can be entered in dBm, mV or µV; mV values below 1.00mV will be displayed in µV
and µV values above 1000µV will be displayed in mV. With the ► cursor set to LEVEL the
value displayed can be switched from dBm to µV/mV and vice-versa by pressing the
appropriate key.
To enter negative numbers (for dB) the ± key can be used at any time during the number
entry.
ESCAPE aborts the entry and leaves the parameter at its previous setting.
•
To the left of the numeric keys are the 5 parameter keys which select the parameter to be
changed; the ► cursor moves to the selected parameter and that parameter can then be
changed as described above.
Next to the MODULATION TYPE key is the MODULATION ON/OFF key which turns
modulation on and off with alternate presses; the MODULATION lamp lights when modulation
is on.
•
The FIELD keys provide an alternative means of moving the ► cursor between parameters
on a menu. The rotary control and the ▲▼keys below it provide alternative means of
incrementing/decrementing the value of the currently selected parameter (for FREQUENCY
and LEVEL) or stepping through the parameter settings (for ADDRESS, etc.). When
incrementing/decrementing frequency and level the parameter value changes in steps set up
on the STEP SIZE menu, see Step Size section. During numeric entries the ▼ key also acts
as a backspace/delete.
•
The COMMS key selects the communications menu and allows the communication interface
parameters to be set up. When the instrument is in remote control the COMMS key doubles
as the LOCAL key, which returns the instrument to local (keyboard) control.
8
Operation