Editing Agilent MSOX Arbitrary Waveform

[jstarr]

I stored a serial bus data 10 byte data packet (9600 Baud) as an Arbitrary waveform.  I now want to have it outputted --- pulsed every 1 second.  However when I use the Wavegen editor the only option I see is to change the frequency or period but doing this simultaneously stretches out the individual bits which of course distorts the BAUD rate between bits badly.  I used the maximum number of data points to capture the data packet (about 10 msecs long) so I can't add a 990 msec lead or tail to the waveform.  Can anyone tell me how to do this on the Agilent 2000x scope?

thanks

[alex.forencich]

Can you put it in external trigger mode and then trigger at 1 Hz with another generator?

[MarkL]

The wavegen feature on the Agilent/Keysight 2000/3000 scopes is weak compared to a real arb generator.  It's either in free-run or off, and has no external inputs that allow trigger/sync or modulation. It also has a very small number of points (8192).  (I suspect Agilent doesn't want to cannibalize their arb generator sales by giving it more functionality.)

I think the best you can do for simulating your data stream is to manually rebuild your 10-byte packet using the full 8192 point memory and arrange the timing so that you place one bit per arb point.  This would use up 10 bytes x 10 bits/byte = 100 points for the packet, and you would leave the other 8092 points at idle.

Still, this doesn't get you a full second, but it's close: 8192/9600 = ~0.85secs per repetition.

An easier alternative is to use a computer and a serial dongle or one of these FTDI serial dev boards (scroll down about half way):

  http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/DevelopmentModules.htm

I use the FT4232H Mini-Module which gives you 4 channels of RxD/TxD for serial data injection and monitoring.

[MarkL]

Actually... Does the 2000X series even have arb capability?

Maybe it does, but I don't see it in the datasheet or manual.  The only cababilities mentioned are pre-programmed waveforms.