04 | Keysight | N1090A, N1092A/B/C/D/E and N1094A/B DCA-M Optical and Electrical Sampling Oscilloscopes - Data Sheet

Controlling the N109X (Continued)

System setup

The following guidelines indicate the fundamental requirements for PC’s connected to the

N109X and running the FlexDCA interface:

For a single channel setup (N1090A or N1092A)

– Intel I3 processor or better

– 4 GB memory

– Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit)

For a parallel test setup (multiple instruments or multiple channels)

– Intel I5 or better

– 8 GB memory

– Windows 7 (64 bit)

The communication API between your system controller and the PC is SCPI over LAN, either

VXI-11 or HiSlip. If NI-VISA or IO Libraries are used to communicate with GPIB instruments, the

switch to SCPI/LAN is very simple. It is important to note that there is no need to do any USB

programming. This is all handled by the FlexDCA interface.

The FlexDCA interface is free and can be downloaded at www.keysight.com/find/flexdca_

download. Remote programs previously developed using the 86100 FlexDCA interface can be

leveraged directly to control an automated N109X system. Use FlexDCA SCPI programming

tools to simplify conversion of legacy 86100-based automation to FlexDCA compatible code.

Measurement results are generally 50 percent faster with the new N1090A, and up to 300

percent faster with the N1092/4 due to significantly faster sampling rates.

Similar to the 86100, a reference clock, synchronous with the signal being measured, is

required to trigger the N109X. The clock input range for the N1090A is 500 MHz to 12 GHz, and

the N1092 and N1094 are 500 MHz to 28.5 GHz. Timebase calibration, previously performed

at service centers, can now be performed by users, reducing cost of ownership and instrument

down time.