18
8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes Programming Guide
1
Introduction to Programming
Slot and Channel Numbers
Each module is identified by a slot number and a channel number. For
commands that require you to specify a channel, the slot number is
represented by [
n
] in a command and the channel number is represented
by [
m
].
The slot number represents the module’s position in the mainframe. These
are:
• from one to two for the 8163A/B,
• from zero to four for the 8164A/B, and
• from one to seventeen for the 8166A/B.
These numbers are displayed on the front panel beside each module slot.
Channel numbers apply to modules that have two inputs/outputs, for
example, the Keysight 81635A Dual Power Sensor.
Modules with two channels, for example, the Keysight 81635A Dual Power
Sensor, use the channel number to distinguish between these channels.
For example, if you want to query slot 1, channel 2 with the command,
:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:WAVelength?
send the command:
• :sens1:chan2:pow:wav?
NOTE
The 8164A/B slot for a back-loadable tunable laser module is numbered zero.
NOTE
The channel number of single channel modules is always one.
