Protocol Example Stream for Avcom of Virginia

Single Board Remote Spectrum Analyzers

All SBS, CLM and RSA rev B models (1100, 2150, 2500)

AVCOM of Virginia, Inc.

7730 Whitepine Rd.
Richmond, VA 23237
www.avcomofva.com

Revision History
Release Reason By Date
Rev F Initial release (starting at F to keep in sync with protocol document) MC April 3, 2009
Rev G Corrected “LNB Power & Fixed LO Offset” Table MC April 9, 2009
Added detailed descriptions of bytes in packets
Introduction

The avcom revised protocol for SBS, CLM and RSA rev B models is based on a simple request-
reply communications.

The following document is meant to be a supplement to the “Protocol for Avcom of Virginia
Single Board Based Remote Spectrum Analyzers” document to assist in visualizing the communications
between the analyzer and the GUI software.

Communication Steps Described

A simple example of the communication between the analyzer is given below. Communication is
always initiated by the GUI software on a PC or SBC and a reply is sent by the analyzer.

Communication

1. GUI tries to communicate with older avcom analyzers first (for backward compatibility with old
RSA rev A, PSA-45d, MSA-4570E, PSA-37XP, MSA-45E, etc.)

2. If no reply from older analyzer, GUI tries to communicate with newer protocol analyzers (SBS,
CLM, RSA rev B) by requesting a “Hardware Description” packet from the analyzer.

3. If a “Hardware Description” is sent by the analyzer, the GUI assumes it is talking to a new
protocol analyzer and can set up it’s interface accordingly. The “Hardware Description” sent by
the analyzer contains current settings and features, such as current center frequency, span, RBW,
reference level, number of inputs, LNB power settings, etc.

4. GUI gets firmware version from Hardware Description packet received in (3).
a. If firmware version less than 2.6, skip step 5.
b. If firmware version greater than or equal to 2.6, do step 5.

5. GUI Request a “Get LNB Power & Fixed LO” packet (for firmware version 2.6 and later). The
GUI can set up its interface with the information returned by the analyzer gathered from the
“LNB Power & Fixed LO” packet.

6. GUI can change the analyzer settings if desired, with the “Change Settings” request. The analyzer
will change its settings and reply with a waveform packet containing the current settings.

7. To continue viewing waveforms, the GUI repeatedly requests a single waveform packet using the
“Waveform Transmission Settings” request. Request 1 (single) waveform repeatedly as desired.
Communication Example

Notes: Com Port or TCP Port opened prior to communication by process "AVCOM Eng GUI v2841.exe"
Notes: Refer to protocol document for all mediums of communication (USB, Serial, Ethernet) for baud
rate, hardware flow control, parity and data bits settings.
Notes: On serial port see notes in protocol document about DTR and RTS.

GUI Request: Request to startup old protocol analyzer (for backwards compatibility)
FE FE FF 00
Answer from SBS, CLM and RSA rev B: none

GUI Request: Request to startup old protocol analyzer (for backwards compatibility)
FE FE FF 00
Answer from SBS, CLM and RSA rev B: none
GUI Request: Get Hardware Description
02 00 03 07 00 03 Legend

STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x0010 = 16 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x04 = Change settings packet type

Reserved, not currently used

Answer from SBS: Hardware Description
02 00 55 07 5A 02 06 00 00 E4 E1 C0 00 00 C3 50 Legend
1E 10 78 0A 0B 00 00 01 0D 00 00 00 00 30 30 30
30 30 30 30 30 33 30 39 30 32 30 33 32 1B 15 0D STX or ETX
14 09 A9 94 AD 00 00 40 3F AA FF FF E8 B1 82 67 0x02 = STX (start packet)
80 5C 61 6F 9A 80 A1 FF 4B FF FF FF 28 15 15 18 0x03 = ETX (end packet)
62 28 B4 A1 FF FF FF 03
Length Bytes
0x0055 = 85 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x07 = Hardware description from analyzer

Unit product ID
0x5A = SBS-2500 OR RSA-2500

Firmware version
0x0206 = Firmware major.minor version = 2.6

Center frequency
0x00E4E1C0 = 1500.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)

Span
0x0000C350 = 5.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)

Reference Level
0x1E = 30decimal = -30 dBm ref level

RBW
0x10 = 100kHz RBW

Input
0x0A = Input 1 (default)

PCB Revision
0x1A = FAB-08H01-A
0x1B = FAB-08H01-B (current)
0x0A = FAB-08D02-A
0x0B = FAB-08D02-B

Other data bytes

See “Hardware Description Table”
NEW!: If analyzer firmware reported in “Hardware Description” packet is >= 2.6 then include:

GUI Request: Get LNB Power & Fixed LO Settings

02 00 02 0D 03 Legend

STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x0002 = 2 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x0D = Request LNB power & fixed LO packet
Answer from SBS: LNB Power & Fixed LO Settings
02 00 2D 0D 80 80 11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Legend
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40
40 40 40 40 40 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 03 STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x002D = 45 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x07 = LNB Power and Fixed LO Offset packet

RF LO Offset Mask
0x80 = Bit set, all low band offset
(bit7 always set)
(bit 5 – bit 0 for RF Inputs 6-1)
0 = Use LNB Power mask to determine offset
1 = Always use low band offset

LNB Power Mask

0x08 = Bit set, all use 22kHz
(bit7 always set)
(bit 5 – bit 0 for RF Inputs 6-1)
1 = uses voltage to select band
0 = uses 22kHz to select band

RF Input Block Power

0x11 = option is off
(subtract 10 decimal to get input value if option
is turned ON. Valid input values 0x00-0x05)

Internal extender offsets

For inputs 1-6, two bands each, each band is a
signed word (2 bytes) in MHz.
Example: 0x05FB
0x05 = +5MHz
0xFB = -5MHz

LNP Power state per input

See LNB Power settings table (bit sets)

Reserved

END of NEW Packet

GUI Request: Change Settings
02 00 10 04 00 E4 E1 C0 00 00 C3 50 1E 10 0A 40 00 00 03 Legend

STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x0010 = 16 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x04 = Change settings packet type

Center frequency
0x00E4E1C0 = 1500.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)

Span
0x0000C350 = 5.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)

Reference Level
0x1E = 30decimal = -30 dBm ref level

RBW
0x10 = 100kHz RBW

Input
0x0A = Input 1 (default)

LNB setting, firmware >= 2.6

0x40 = LNB power off (default settings)

Reserved, firmware >= 2.6

Answer from SBS: Waveform Packet (including current settings)
02 01 55 09 12 12 10 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 Legend
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 12 11 12 11 12 12 13
11 11 11 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 See next page for waveform
11 11 12 11 11 11 12 13 12 11 12 11 11 11 11 12 description.
11 11 12 11 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 12 11 12 12 12
12 13 12 11 11 11 11 12 12 11 12 11 12 10 11 11
11 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13
13 12 12 14 13 13 13 14 14 14 16 16 16 18 16 18
1A 1C 1D 1E 21 23 26 2A 2E 32 36 3B 40 45 4B 51
58 5E 64 6B 71 78 7F 86 8D 95 9C A3 AA B1 B7 BC
C0 C4 C6 C8 C8 C7 C6 C3 C0 BC B8 B2 AD A7 A0 9A
93 8C 85 7F 78 72 6C 65 5F 59 53 4D 47 42 3D 38
33 2E 2B 27 24 21 1F 1D 1B 1A 18 18 17 16 15 14
14 13 13 13 12 14 13 12 12 12 12 12 13 12 13 11
11 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 12 12 11
11 12 12 11 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 12 11
11 11 12 11 11 12 12 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 11
12 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 10 12 11 11 10 12 11
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 10 11 12 12 12 11 12
12 10 11 11 12 12 11 12 11 10 11 12 12 11 10 11
12 12 12 12 5A 00 E4 E1 C0 00 00 C3 50 1E 10 0A
00 00 00 00 40 FF FF 03
GUI Request: WaveformRequest… 1…
02 00 03 03 03 03 Legend

STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x0155 = 341 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x09 = Waveform packet

Waveform transmit setting

0x03 = Send single waveform packet

Answer from SBS: Waveform (including current settings)

02 01 55 09 11 11 11 11 12 11 12 11 11 12 11 11 Legend
12 11 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11
12 12 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 STX or ETX
11 12 12 11 11 12 11 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 0x02 = STX (start packet)
11 12 12 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 11 12 13 11 11 11 0x03 = ETX (end packet)
11 11 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 13
12 12 11 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 12 12 Length Bytes
0x0155 = 341 remaining bytes to read
13 13 13 13 13 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 17 16 17 18
19 1B 1D 1F 21 24 27 2A 2E 32 36 3B 40 46 4C 51
58 5E 64 6B 71 78 7F 86 8D 94 9C A3 AA B1 B7 BC Packet type byte
0x09 = Waveform packet
C0 C4 C6 C7 C8 C7 C6 C3 C0 BC B8 B2 AD A7 A0 9A
93 8C 85 7F 78 72 6B 65 5F 59 53 4D 47 42 3C 38 Waveform data bytes
33 2F 2B 27 24 21 1F 1C 1C 1A 19 18 17 16 15 14 y[dB] = 0.2 * DataByte + (reflvl[dBm] – 40 dBm)
14 15 13 13 14 13 12 12 12 11 13 12 12 12 12 11
13 11 12 11 12 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 Unit product ID
12 12 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 0x5A = SBS/CLM/RSA-2500
12 12 12 12 12 11 12 11 12 10 12 11 11 12 11 12
12 11 11 11 11 12 12 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 Center frequency
11 12 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 10 10 11 11 12 11 12 0x00E4E1C0 = 1500.0000 MHz
12 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 12 11 11 12 10 12 11 12
11 12 11 11 5A 00 E4 E1 C0 00 00 C3 50 1E 40 0B Span
0x0000C350 = 5.0000 MHz
00 00 00 00 40 FF FF 03
Reference Level
0x1E = 30decimal = -30 dBm ref level

RBW
0x40 = 1MHz RBW

Input
0x0B = Input 2

Internal extender
0x0000 = no internal extender

External extender
0x0000 = no external extender

LNB setting, firmware >= 2.6

0x40 = LNB power off (default settings)

Reserved, firmware >= 2.6

GUI Request: WaveformRequest… 2…3…N (as long as desired)
02 00 03 03 03 03 Legend

STX or ETX
0x02 = STX (start packet)
0x03 = ETX (end packet)

Length Bytes
0x0155 = 341 remaining bytes to read

Packet type byte

0x09 = Waveform packet

Waveform transmit setting

0x03 = Send single waveform packet
Answer from SBS: Waveform (including current settings)
02 01 55 09 12 11 12 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 12 Legend
12 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 12 11
12 12 11 11 11 12 11 12 12 11 12 11 12 12 11 12 STX or ETX
11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 12 11 11 11 0x02 = STX (start packet)
11 11 11 11 13 11 12 11 11 11 12 11 12 12 11 12 0x03 = ETX (end packet)
12 11 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 12 11 11 12 12 12
11 11 11 12 12 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 12 12 Length Bytes
0x0155 = 341 remaining bytes to read
12 13 13 12 13 13 13 14 15 15 15 17 17 16 17 19
19 1B 1D 20 22 23 26 2A 2E 31 36 3B 40 46 4B 51
Packet type byte
58 5E 64 6B 71 78 7F 86 8D 95 9C A3 AA B1 B6 BC 0x09 = Waveform packet
C0 C4 C6 C7 C8 C7 C6 C3 C0 BC B8 B3 AD A7 A0 9A
93 8C 86 7F 78 72 6B 65 5F 59 53 4D 47 42 3D 38 Waveform data bytes
32 2E 2A 27 23 21 20 1D 1C 19 19 18 17 16 16 15 y[dB] = 0.2 * DataByte + (reflvl[dBm] – 40 dBm)
14 15 14 14 13 12 12 13 13 13 12 11 12 12 11 13
12 12 12 12 11 12 11 11 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 Unit product ID
12 13 12 12 11 11 10 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 12 12 0x5A = SBS/CLM/RSA – 2500
12 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 12
12 12 12 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 11 12 12 11 11 Center frequency
11 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 0x00E4E1C0 = 1500.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)
11 11 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 12 11 12 11 11 11 12
12 12 11 12 5A 00 E4 E1 C0 00 00 C3 50 1E 10 0A Span
00 00 00 00 40 FF FF 03 0x0000C350 = 5.0000 MHz
(Divide by 10000 to get value in MHz)

Reference Level
0x1E = 30decimal = -30 dBm ref level

RBW
0x10 = 100kHz RBW

Input
0x0A = Input 1 (default)

Internal extender
0x0000 = no internal extender

External extender
0x0000 = no external extender

LNB setting, firmware >= 2.6

0x40 = LNB power off (default settings)

Reserved, firmware >= 2.6