Connecting to 5521A by Signalcore in Python

Instrument Card

The SC5520A and SC5521A are part of the ultra-high frequency synthesizer series (UHFS) of signal generators

Device Specification: here

Manufacturer card: SIGNALCORE

Founded in 2009, SignalCore, Inc. is a privately held company based in Georgetown, Texas. SignalCore designs and manufactures high quality, instrument grade RF and microwave subsystems. We serve customers worldwide in the industries of measurement, communications, aerospace, defense, academia, and electronics manufacturing. Our extensive engineering knowledge and experience in the design and manufacturing of high performance RF and microwave solutions ensures that our products are of the highest quality and reliability in the industry.

• Headquarters: Georgetown, Texas
• Yearly Revenue (millions, USD): 2.4
• Vendor Website: here

Connect to the 5521A in Python

Read our guide for turning Python scripts into Flojoy nodes.

Flojoy

PROTOCOLS > SCPI

📄 IDN

Query a device's identity through the universal *IDN? SCPI command.

📄 MEASURE VOLTAGE

Query an instrument's measured output voltage, such as a DMM or power supply.

📄 SCPI WRITE

Write a SCPI command to a connected bench-top instrument and return the result.

QCodes Community

Here is a Python script that uses Qcodes Community to connect to a 5521A RF Signal Generator:

from qcodes import Station, Instrument
from qcodes.instrument_drivers.SignalCore.SC5521A import SC5521A

# Create a station to hold the instrument
station = Station()

# Connect to the RF Signal Generator
signal_generator = SC5521A('signal_generator', dll_path='SignalCore\\SC5520A\\api\\c\\scipci\\x64\\sc5520a_uhfs.dll')
station.add_component(signal_generator)

# Access the parameters and methods of the RF Signal Generator
print(signal_generator.temperature())
print(signal_generator.status())
signal_generator.status('on')
print(signal_generator.status())
print(signal_generator.power())
signal_generator.power(-10)
print(signal_generator.power())
print(signal_generator.frequency())
signal_generator.frequency(1e9)
print(signal_generator.frequency())

# Close the connection to the RF Signal Generator
signal_generator.close()

Note: Make sure to replace the dll_path argument with the correct path to the instrument DLL on your system.