How to transfer data from a Keysight Spectrum analyser N9020B to my local control PC

Hi,

I don't have that instrument. However, it's described on page 179 of the PDF user manual. Regardless of physical connection method (Ethernet, USB. etc) you can use a unified method called VISA. It eliminates messing about with TCP or UDP sockets, which is really not the way to work. For instance, if you're using Python then the library would be pyvisa. You could also use LabVIEW (either the graphical method, which is popular with automating tests, or using LabWindows/CVI if you're good at C programming. You could also consider MATLAB (it's a bit of an acquired taste), it has an Instrument Control Toolbox, and you can download the driver for your instrument from the Keysight website.

It's highly recommended not to connect anything at the front end of that equipment unless you're really sure what you're doing (i.e. get someone experienced to set that up for you, or at least for them to specify what you should be connecting there) because it's easy to damage spectrum analyzer inputs, and that equipment is pricey.

It looks like the :MMEM:COPY:DEV command copies files local to the instrument. For example, it would be used to copy files from its internal storage to a USB drive. It is not for transferring files via SCPI.

This online reference has an example:
https://rfmw.em.keysight.com/spdhelpfiles/33500/webhelp/US/Content/__I_SCPI/MMEMory_Subsystem.htm#MMEMory_COPY

MMEMory:COPY <file1>,<file2>

Copy the state file MyFreqMeas.sta from the root directory to the folder "Backup" on the internal flash file system.
MMEM:COPY "INT:\MySetup.sta","INT:\Backup"

If you do not have a USB drive change "USB:\" to "INT:\" to use the instrument's internal flash drive instead.

If you can connect a network drive (via Windows) on the instrument, then maybe you could use that as the "local" file path.

The website above mentions these commands to transfer binary files over SCPI. But I do not see them in the programming manual for that model. So, I am not sure if these will work:, it does look like the instrument might support SCPI commands for transferring binary files.

MMEMory:DOWNload:FNAMe <filename>
then
MMEMory:UPLoad? <filename>

The following command uploads the contents of the state file "Myfile.sta" in the root directory of the internal flash file system to the host computer:
MMEM:UPL? "INT:\Myfile.sta"

Hi James,

It's badly formatted in the user manual, but it's here (page 179 onward):

@ OP: In a nutshell, the command varies (greatly) from instrument to instrument, and so you'd need to get close to the user/programming manual.

Matteogala how come you have not marked the correct answer correct?!

I wouldn't care, but if you have gone to the effort of marking it, then I'd like to know why you didn't bother acknowledging the people who helped?

Those commands transfer the actual measurement data.

I think Matteogala was asking how to transfer the screenshots.

Hello shabaz and baldengineer 

Thank you so much guys for your help!

I am already using the pyVISA module and correct driver and is working well. I did not notice the command on page 179 I will try it as soon as I get a chance and let you know if I manage to achieve the intended behaviour.

 shabaz  Apologies if I did not mark your answer as correct I believe they both are and have both valid points. I will keep trying and update this question when I find a solution to this problem.

Thanks again both for your collaboration, it is very much appreciated, much more than a simple "Accept Valid Answer" button could ever give.

Hello baldengineer you are right! I will mark your reply as the correct one for this specific issue and confirm once I have tested this to confirm.

 shabaz I will eventually also need to transfer measurement in the test I am automating so this command will still be helpful for the future.

Thanks both for your help!

Ah, I see it now. I had read the title, and missed the the screenshot requirement. 

I am sorry about that Matteogala ! In that case, baldengineer answer is indeed correct, mine was not : (

My mistake : ( corrected above.

 shabaz  No problem, you still helped and your input was very welcome, thank you for sharing your knowledge!