Nigel: Yes, my conclusions, too. But even the 18 scenarios would be useful to me as-is from the standpoint of a quick validation of a GPS receiver.
--Andrew -------------------------------- Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 3:36 AM <[email protected]> wrote: > Having taken a more detailed look at the 4200 manual I see that it boots > up in 4100 simulation mode, so this is probably where the direct control > comes in and why you can only get one channel. > > I'm also getting the impression, could be wrong of course, not unknown:-), > that even if you find the utilities disk the only obvious way to > personalise the mutli chanel performance is indeed via the configuration > "scenarios" for the 4200 that need to be set up via online access to the > Spirent registered customers only support page. > > They really do seem to have this locked down tight:-( > > Nigel GM8PZR > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Andrew Kalman <[email protected]> > To: [email protected]; Discussion of precise time and frequency > measurement <[email protected]> > Sent: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 10:28 > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Re: Request for Spirent GSS4200 User Manual > > Nigel. > > Thanks -- the file download worked, and now I have the USB drivers I'll > have to test.Once I have the utilities disk, that is :-) > > One thing that I find odd is that the 4200 is a 6-channel machine, and it > does 4100/6100 emulation, but there is no obvious way to "engage" the > various channels via a command. I have noticed that a "CHAN" command does > not generate an error, but it also doesn't appear to enable more channels > than 1 -- it's as if only the scenarios can get the other channels working. > This may also be an ambiguity / result of how the GPIB commands work -- if > "CHAN" is an argument to some command, that might also be why treating it > as a command does not result in an error. > > The GSS4200 manual you posted is a bit younger than the first one I got, > but materially they're pretty much identical. > > --Andrew > > -------------------------------- > Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. > > > On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 2:13 AM Nigel gm8pzr via time-nuts < > [email protected]> wrote: > > Spirent have indeed done a very good job of removing just about everything > from the public domain.Having spent many hours a few years ago trying to > find a copy of SimChan for the GSS4100 I also had to give up, despite > finding references not that much older which indicated it had previously > been readily available.I think the crunch came when a lot of Spirent gear > hit the surplus market and perhaps affected sales of new equipment, so > can't really blame them. > > I do have the user manual for the GSS4200, it doesn't seem to have a vast > amount of detail but does cross reference in places to the GSS4100, which > can also be directly controlled via GPIB, so I have now updated my previous > GSS4100 file on Mediafire to include both.The file also includes some USB > drivers, although I always used GPIB, plus a few Spirent App notes etc.... > https://www.mediafire.com/file/di0jiayxlz0demg/Spirent_4100_4200.zip/file > I've checked that the file downloads ok but any problems please let me > know and I can try again. > I never did come across a copy of SimChan so if you ever find that I know > I won't be the only who'd be grateful for a copy:-) > Nigel GM8PZR > > > I am ** desperate ** for a User Manual for the Spirent GSS4200 GNSS > simulator (e.g., > https://www.testequipmentconnection.com/54837/Spirent_GSS4200.php). That > model is somewhat unique, in that it's one of only a very few that Spirent > released that can/will run without an external "control" program. Using the > manual from the GSS6100, I'm able to do a couple of things with the GSS4200 > over GPIB, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get the > GSS4200 into a mode other than single-channel (it supports 6 channels, and > has a single-channel mode). I suspect there is a command to do this, but I > have not been able to figure it out. > > I have spent 8+ hours searching sites and archives, to no avail. Spirent > has done a rather impressive job of locking down their support software and > docs behind a paywall (and I wonder if they even have the docs for the > GSS4200 any more). Any help is appreciated, I'm happy to give back if > someone wants to snag another GSS4200 (around $700 used) and use it as a > simulator. > > Thanks, > _______________________________________ > Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. [email protected] > > > > ***************************************** > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 8:30 > Subject: time-nuts Digest, Vol 201, Issue 30 > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] -- To unsubscribe send > an email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] -- To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there.
