RadiMation Application Note 130

How to use the RadiMation^® Amplifier Control Window

In this application note we explain how the Amplifier Control Window can be configured and used in RadiMation^®.

Introduction

RadiMation^® is able to remote control amplifiers, if the hardware supports it. In this document we will show you how to configure an Amplifier to be remote controlled with the 'Amplifier Control Window'. We will explain the use and purpose of this manner of remote controlling your amplifier.

In addition we will provide some tips and tricks to deal with the advantages and disadvantage of the 'Amplifier Control'.

Why using the Amplifier Control Window?

Normally an amplifier is only automatically controlled during a test, where it is automatically placed in 'Operate' mode, and turned off at the end of the test. With the amplifier control window the end-user is now able to manually remote control the amplifier. This especially comes in handy when the amplifier is placed in another room.

During the use of the amplifier control window the device status is constantly read, so when any warning or error occurs it will be shown.

Amplifier device driver

To make use of the Amplifier control function, the first step is to create a device driver for the Amplifier that needs to be controlled. An already existing amplifier device driver can also be used, but the driver must be configured to be able to show it in the amplifier control window.

Creating a new device driver

You can create a new amplifier device driver, as example a virtual one:

• From the main menu go to:

    Configuration

       Configuration

          Device Drivers

• Select 'Amplifiers' from the drop-down list.
• Click in the bottom on the 'Add' button on the left. A new window will be shown.
• Search for 'Virtual Amplifier'.
• Select the 'Virtual Amplifier' and click the 'New' button. A new window will be shown.

• Then click on the 'OK' button.

The windows will be closed and the configuration window of this new driver will be shown.

Activate the Amplifier control window

The amplifier control window can't be globally enabled or disabled. The setting can only be enabled for a specific amplifier device driver. Therefore, the shown amplifiers in the amplifier control window are depending on the device drivers which have the setting enabled. As by default a amplifier device driver will have this setting disabled, the device will thus not be shown in the amplifier control window.

On the device driver configuration window the checkbox 'Show in amplifier control window' is available. Tick the checkbox to enable the setting for this driver:

Click the 'OK' button to close the device driver configuration window. Then click the 'Close' button to close the global configuration.

Amplifier Control Window

To open the amplifier control window, which will show all the amplifier device drivers with this function activated:

From the main menu go to:

    Configuration

       Configuration

          Device Drivers

Controls

Now, you can manually control your amplifier, having it remote controlled by RadiMation^®.

For example you can power on and off the amplifier.

• Button 'Power': will toggle the power and will respectively turn the amplifier On/Off.
• Button 'Standby': will change the mode of the device to 'standby'.
• Button 'Operate': will change the mode of the device to 'operate'.
• Button 'Fault': default this button is disabled. It will be enabled when a fault condition is retrieved from the device.

Note:

The way your amplifier is being remote controlled is strongly depending on the supported functionalities of both hardware and the RadiMation® device driver.

Window position and status

The amplifier control window can be placed anywhere within the RadiMation^® main window. RadiMation^® will also remember if and where the window is shown. Thus, if RadiMation^® is started again, the Amplifier Control Window will be shown on the same location again where it was previously shown.

Activity of the amplifier control window

It is very important to keep in mind that closing the amplifier control window, will NOT disable the remote control of the amplifiers. The communication with and the polling of the status of the amplifiers will remain active even if the amplifier control window is closed. Even when the amplifier control window is closed, the device driver keeps (trying to) communicating with the amplifier e.g. to get status updates (current status, error checking etc.). Also in the situation when the amplifier is not used by the end-user, this will still happen.

The polling of the amplifier status can thus only be modified by unchecking the 'Show in Amplifier Control window' checkbox on the device driver configuration of the amplifier device driver.

Tips and tricks

In case the amplifier is not locked when it is being remotely controlled, it is still possible to manually change the amplifier status by using the buttons on the front panel of the amplifier itself.

For example: turn the amplifier on with RadiMation^® and later on turn it manually in operate mode. This manual change of the amplifier state will also be shown in the amplifier control window.

RadiMation^® could now also show the question at a shutdown if any amplifier is still on and should be turned off:

This is a result of the activated amplifier control window and is a build-in functionality.

Problem solving

If an amplifier that is included in the Amplifier control panel is not connected at all to the communication bus, RadiMation^® will still try to communicate with the amplifier. Requesting status updates from one or more amplifier control window enabled amplifiers, can then cause serious delays and responding issues. This for example can result in non responsiveness of RadiMation^®.

This problem can be easily resolved by unchecking the 'Show in amplifier control window' checkbox in the device driver configuration of the amplifier device driver again.