Publication No. 980855 Rev. A 1256 User Manual
EADS North America Test and Services GPIB and RS-232 Interfaces 4-1
Chapter 4
GPIB and RS-232 INTERFACES
Introduction
The 1256 Switching System provides two remote interfaces that
may be used for controlling the 1256:
•
IEEE-488.
Also known as the General-Purpose Interface
Bus (GPIB), commonly used in test and measurement
applications.
•
RS-232.
A serial bus used by modems and data terminals.
The remote interface allows access to the operating features of the
1256 by sending commands manually or automatically via a
computer program.
Commands
The 1256 remote interfaces comply with the Standard Commands
for Programmable Instruments (SCPI), a universal programming
language for test and measurement instruments.
Chapter 5, SCPI COMMAND BASICS
introduces SCPI and
discusses the commands most frequently used with the 1256. For
a discussion of all commands that may be used via the 1256
remote interfaces, see
Chapter 6, SCPI COMMAND
REFERENCE.
Using the IEEE-
488 (GPIB)
Interface
Basic GPIB
Information
The GPIB standard permits up to 15 devices (including the
controller) to interconnect and reside on a single bus. GPIB cables
have identical stackable connectors at each end, allowing several
cables to connect to a single source. System devices and
instruments may be interconnected in almost any desired
configuration. There must be a path from the controller to every
device residing on the bus.
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