IFI FPMS-L7

The IFI FPMS-L7 is a read out unit, without any fancy communication tricks.

Ranging

Ranging through software is not possible because you need to set the range of the probe on the probe itself by turning a knob. there is no over range detection. and when the range of the probe and the read out unit are wrong the information given back is also wrong. So basically there is a lot of room for human errors.

Probe detection

Probe detection can only be done by getting the probe value. the response will be

Manual

The manual can be found here

e-mail info

Some small questions regarding the protocol/manual.

• how do I set the range? the protocol states that Range1 sets the range for the probe.

[Leon Benatar] The range can only be set on the FPMS (Field Probe Monitoring system) via front panel or Remote GPIB. The field probe unit is a manual unit, so the range is set manually by Range knob and type of dipole used or High frequency probe. The field probe will output via a fiber optic cable pulses ranging in frequency from 1.5KHz (lower part of the range) up to 3KHz (upper part of the range), so no matter what range the probe is set to the frequency over the fiber optic cable will always range from 1.5-3KHz.

• Do I need to send Range before getting the probe value? so it can autorange to the correct range?

[Leon Benatar] As I mentioned above the Range of the FPMS will be selected according to the value required for the particular test and then the probe will be manually set to the same ranging.

• does this device support auto range? if not, how do I detect overrange? do I need to check some bits in the string?

[Leon Benatar] The field probe doesn’t support auto-range. There is no detection for over range.

• can I check if a probe is active? or just send active?

[Leon Benatar] Just send the active command and it will response with active and probe number.

• what happens when a probe is not connected? I just send "Value1\r\n" and get no response back?

[Leon Benatar] When the probe is not connected the response will be Value1:no connection

• for what do I need the gain and the mode option for?

[Leon Benatar] The Gain setting is needed when the FPMS is used for field leveling this is done by using the build in Attenuators which the drive to the amplifier is routed thru. The gain should be set around 70-80% so it can vary as the drive needs to vary to the amplifier to reach the field level set. In this mode the field is leveled by the active probe selected or by using the maximum, Minimum or Average value from few probes selected.

• how do I zero the probe? can I zero the probe?

[Leon Benatar] The probe must be zero manually.

• what are the defaults when sending a *rst?

[Leon Benatar] It will reboot the processor.