Printing Screens

Printing Screens

Last updated: January 15, 2009

Printing and Saving Screen Images

The test set's local area network (LAN) connection can be used to dump the currently-displayed screen image into a personal computer's web browser. The computer must either be connected to an existing LAN or have a LAN adapter installed that can be connected directly to the test set.

Computer Requirements for LAN Communications with the Test Set

The computer used to capture screen images from the test set must meet the following requirements:

  • 10 Base-T, IEEE 802.3 compliant, ethernet network interface using TCP/IP protocol and configured to run in half-duplex mode.
  • Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT 4.0 (Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.)

Test Set to Computer Connections

The test set's LAN connection can be made at either the rear-panel LAN PORT or at the front-panel DATA port. When using the DATA port, be sure to have the factory supplied jumper cable installed between the rear-panel LAN PORT and the ETHERNET TO FRONT PANEL port.

Connections from the test set to the computer must be made using the correct type of LAN cable:

  • If the test set is being connected to the computer through an existing network, use a standard LAN cable.
  • If the test set is being connected directly to the computer's LAN adapter, use a crossover LAN cable (such as the one shipped with the test set or with an older test application upgrade kit).

Capturing the Screen Image

  1. Press the test set's SYSTEM CONFIG key to display the test set's LAN settings, and record the LAN IP Address for use later in this procedure.
  2. Start a web browser application on your computer.
  3. Display the test set screen that you want to capture.
  4. Enter the following address/location into your web browser: http://<lan address>/display.htm
    where <lan address> is the LAN IP address of the test set .
  5. Within a few seconds, the test set's screen image appears in your browser. If the image does not appear on your browser within 30 seconds, refer to Test Your LAN Connections and Configuration by "Pinging" the Test Set below.
  6. To print the image, select File , Print .
  7. To save the file:
    1. Select File , or right-click on the image, and select Save As or Save Picture As .
    2. Enter the desired file name and directory path for saving the image as a GIF file.

The image can now be retrieved from your directory and used as needed.

Test Your LAN Connections and Configuration by "Pinging" the Test Set

Perform this operation only if you were not successful in downloading the test set screen image into your browser.

  1. Display the Command Prompt window on your computer. This is typically done in the Microsoft Windows operating system by selecting Start -> Programs -> Command Prompts .
  2. At the command prompt, enter the following command: ping <lan address>. The <lan address> is the test set's LAN IP address. (The command prompt does not have to be at the root (c:\) level before entering the command.)

    This example shows what should happen when you enter the ping command for a test set with the LAN IP address of 111.22.333.44. The test set should reply back to the Command Prompt screen indicating that data was received.
  3. If the message " Request Timed Out " is displayed instead of a reply from the test set, try entering the command again. If the request times out again, your LAN connections are incorrect and/or your LAN settings for the two devices do not match.

Troubleshooting LAN Connections

If your web browser did not display the test set's screen, or you could not "ping" your test set from your browser, refer to the following information to find the cause and fix the problem.

Try Altering Connections

  • If you are using the test set's front panel DATA port, make sure the jumper between the rear-panel LAN PORT and ETHERNET TO FRONT PANEL port is in place; or try connecting directly to the rear-panel LAN PORT.
  • Try using a different type of LAN cable. If you were using a crossover cable, try using a standard LAN cable; if using a standard LAN cable, try using a crossover cable. If this doesn't fix the problem, be sure to replace the cable with the type recommended in Test Set to Computer Connections above.

Reconfigure the Computer and Test Set LAN Settings

If the test set's image is still not displayed on your web browser, and the ping command still indicates that the test set is not communicating with the computer, you need to verify that the LAN settings for the computer and the test set are compatible. The following sections provide general guidelines in getting the LAN settings configured for both instruments to communicate with each other.

Perform the configuration in the following order:

  1. Configure the computer's LAN settings.
  2. Restart Windows on the computer to start using the new LAN configuration.
  3. Configure the test set's LAN settings to work with the computer's settings. (It is important that the computer be configured and re-started before configuring the test set's LAN settings.)
  4. Turn the test set off and back on to make sure it finds the computer's newly-configured LAN card on power up.

LAN Setting Guidelines

  • It is highly recommended that the Subnet Mask be set to 255.255.248.0 for the test set and the computer when using a direct computer-to-test set connection.
  • The first three groups of numbers for the LAN IP Address of the test set and the computer must match. Example; if the test set's LAN IP Address is set to 130.29.189.33, the computer's LAN IP address must begin with 130.29.189.

    The number in the fourth group of digits in the computer's and test set's LAN IP Addresses must NOT match. Example; if the test set is set to LAN IP Address 130.29.189.33, set the computer's LAN IP Address to 130.29.183.34 (or 130.29.183.77, 130.29.183.42...- just so the last number is not also set to 33). The last entry in the IP Address must not be >254 or 0.

Changing the LAN Setting on Your Computer

Network configuration procedures vary between operating systems. You may have to refer to your computer's help system, or your LAN adapter card's documentation, for assistance.

Perform the following steps to alter the network settings for most PCs using a Microsoft Windows operating system.

Access the Network Settings

  1. Double-click on the My Computer icon on the Windows desk top.
  2. Double-click on the Control Panel icon.
  3. Double-click on the Network icon.
  4. Select the TCP/IP -> [your Ethernet network adapter] entry from the list of components. Note: Do not select TCP/IP Dial-Up Adapter settings if present.
  5. Select Properties to access the TCP/IP settings screen.
Accessing Your Computer's LAN Settings


Set the IP Address and Subnet Mask

  1. Select the IP Address tab on the TCP/IP Properties screen.
  2. Select Specify an IP Address .
  3. Enter the IP Address for the computer. Remember, the last entry in the IP Address must not be >254 or 0.
  4. Enter the Subnet Mask (255.255.248.0).
Specifying the Computer's IP Address and Subnet Mask

Remove Any Gateway Setting

  1. Select the Gateway tab.
  2. If present, remove any existing setting.
  3. Click OK until you have closed the Network settings window.
Accessing the Gateway Setting

Restart Windows

Depending on your LAN network adapter, your computer may or may not apply the network configuration changes as they are made. It is import that you restart Windows NOW to make sure new LAN settings are in effect when you try to connect to the test set.

Changing the LAN Settings on Your Test Set

  1. Press the SYSTEM CONFIG key on the test set to display the current LAN settings.
  2. Press the F1 ( Instrument Setup ) key.

       
    NOTE
    Changing the LAN IP Address may alter the Subnet Mask setting. Therefore, change the LAN IP Address first, then change the Subnet Mask. Also, The last entry in the IP Address must not be >254 or 0.

       

  3. Turn the knob to highlight the setting you want to change.
  4. Press the knob to select the setting.
  5. Enter the new value using the keypad, and press the knob to complete the setting.
  6. Turn the test set off and back on to start using the new settings.

Related Topics


Configuring the Test Set's LAN