Programming: Getting Started Guide for E1968A GSM/GPRS Mobile Test Application Revision A.02 and E6701C GSM/GPRS Lab Application Revision C.02

Programming: Getting Started Guide for E1968A GSM/GPRS Mobile Test Application Revision A.02 and E6701C GSM/GPRS Lab Application Revision C.02

Last updated: December 3, 2008

Introduction

The Getting Started Guide is organized around the basic set of tasks a control program normally performs when testing a mobile station in a manufacturing environment.

Click on any step in the flowchart below to learn more about how to program the Agilent Technologies 8960 to perform these tasks.

Programming Flowchart

You can also use the buttons on each page to navigate between steps, return to the flowchart, or to find more detailed information about each step.

How to use the programming flowchart for testing GSM and GPRS

It is important for you to understand how to utilize the programming flowchart when designing a control program that tests both GSM and GPRS mobile station capability. In steps 1,2, and 3 of the programming flowchart, you set up the test set and configure parameters for GSM and GPRS all at once. In contrast, you implement steps 4-7 for only one connection type at a time. Flowchart for performing GSM and GPRS testing illustrates in greater detail how to perform these steps for each format. Example code for both GSM and GPRS is contained in steps 4-7 of this guide.

Flowchart for performing GSM and GPRS testing

Conventions used in this Getting Started Guide

Throughout this Getting Started Guide the term "test set" refers to an Agilent Technologies 8960 Series 10 wireless communications test set with either the E1968A GSM/GPRS mobile test application or the E6701C GSM/GPRS Lab Application installed.

The variable Test_set used in the steps of the Getting Started Guide refers to the test set's GPIB address.

About the Programming Examples Presented in this Guide

Programming Language:

Programming examples presented in this guide are written in the HP BASIC programming language, also known as RMB or Rocky Mountain BASIC. The use of HP BASIC is not an endorsement of the HP BASIC product.

Line Numbers

All of the programming examples in the guide with line numbers are sections from a control program example available on-line for you to download.

Code that is not part of the download control program example does not have line numbers. This code may represent an alternate method of performing the task or may illustrate a feature not used by the control program example.

Syntax used in Programming Examples:

  • The programming examples use the shortened form of the command syntax to minimize GPIB bus transactions. The shortened form of a command is defined by use of capital letters in the command syntax. For the command syntax:

     
     RFANalyzer:CONTrol:MEASurement:FREQuency:AUTO?

    the shortened form would be:

     
     RFAN:CONT:MEAS:FREQ:AUTO?
  • The programming examples do not include optional nodes. Optional nodes in the command syntax are defined by enclosing the node inside the [ ] brackets. For example, the command syntax:
     
     CALL[:CELL]:POWer[:SAMPlitude] -80dBm

    appears in the programming examples as:

     
     CALL:POW -80dBm
  • Programming examples make extensive use of compound commands using the ; and the ;: separators. Refer to the on-line information for the definition and use of these command separators.

Complex Commands

Complex commands are used to configure the state and assign values to parameters simultaneously. Complex commands can be used to save programming steps and minimize GPIB bus transactions.

  • The syntax below turns the state of the parameter on.

    OUTPUT Test_set;"SET:DTXP:TIM:STAT ON"

  • The syntax below is used to assign a value to the parameter.

    OUTPUT Test_set;"SET:DTXP:TIM:TIME 10 S"

  • Both of the above actions can be accomplished with one syntax command:

    OUTPUT Test_set;"SET:DTXP:TIM:STIM 10 S"

    The command above sets the parameter state to ON and the value of the parameter to 10 seconds. Note that in this example the optional command mnemonic :STIMe has been included to clarify that this complex command was used to set both the state and the value.

  • This command can be shortened further by removing the optional command mnemonic :STIMe, as shown below.

    OUTPUT Test_set;"SET:DTXP:TIM 10 S"

    This is the format that will be used throughout this guide.