SA44B python API

Hi Gal,

There are potentially two ways to accomplish this in Python: using Spike’s SCPI interface or with the device API. The SDK contains the needed resources for both, and can be downloaded here.

1. SCPI

Spike can be programmatically controlled with SCPI commands. Presets can be loaded using the following commands, for named and quick presets respectively:

:SYSTem:PRESet[:USER]:LOAD
*RCL

Then, an acquisition command such as :TRACe[:DATA]? would be used to get the sweep data, which Python could then output to CSV.

An example to get you started is in the SDK at scpi/Spike/examples/python/scpi_simple_sweep.py. The Spike SCPI Programming Manual is also there as a command reference.

2. API

This is a direct connection to the device that is an alternative to Spike.

The configuration functions would be used to replicate the Spike preset, followed by an acquisition function to get the data, and then output CSV from Python.

An example to get you started is in the SDK at device_apis/sa_series/examples/python/sweep_plot.py. The API documentation is available there and online here.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Roger

The concept of a preset does not exist in the API, that is only in the Spike software.

Also, you are correct, the API provides just the sweep and I/Q data from the instrument. Any measurements on the data need to be performed in your application.

As Roger noted, the SCPI commands support both loading presets and exporting trace data.

Let us know if you have follow up questions.

Galc,

Spike has a “hidden” mode in which you can launch the software and it only appears in the task list. You can read more about this in the manual. If the issue is that the software is visible and you want just your application showing, that might be interesting.

If Spike is set to hidden mode, that dialog will not appear, but I also believe it will not automatically enter demo mode. There is not a way to automatically enter demo mode. The only way to bypass that dialog into an active state is with 1 Signal Hound device connected.