Free Running Mode -
In Free Running mode, the AWG board will output a continuous waveform without pause. All that are needed to be connected to the board to operate standalone are the power supply, the input clock at CKIP, and the outputs OUTP and OUTN. You can connect the outputs to an oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer to view the output waveforms. You can use your computer to choose the waveform or make other parameter changes in free running mode.
Free Running Mode Operation Example:
» Power up the AWG board by turning on the power supplies. Remember that you should turn them on in the right order as specified in the Hardware Setup page. When the board powers up, you should see the pre-stored waveform displayed in the oscilloscope with the corresponding spectrum in the analyzer. The standalone waveform can be customized upon request.
» Open the AWG application. You should have already set up the
software and drivers. Upon loading, the board will stop producing the pre-stored waveform.
» Adjust the clock in the "Module Parameters" panel. For our example, we have set the clock to 1.0 GHz since our clock input is at 1.0 GHz.
» Click on the "Configuration & Status" tab to go to that panel. Make sure that the configuration is
Endless Loop.
» Click on the "Waveform" tab to go to that panel. Click on the drop-down box and click on the "Sample (demo.wfa)" waveform.
» The Sample waveform, a Sine wave at 1/16ths the clock frequency, should load and you should already be able to see the output in the oscilloscope and the spectrum
analyzer.
» We are going to change the waveform to a Sine wave at 1/32nds of the
clock frequency.
» Change DIV B to "20", which is the hexadecimal equivalent of decimal 32.
» Now click on Download Waveform.
» If you go to the "Configuration & Status" panel and click on Update Status, the application will
show that it is in the "In Loop" state. This is correct since the board only produces output waveforms in the "In Loop" state
as discussed on the Internal States page.
