pyarbtools 2025.6.1

PyArbTools provides waveform creation and remote instrument control capabilities for Keysight signal generators.

Current version: 2025.06.1

Frustrated after looking through hundreds of pages of user manuals to find out how to download a waveform to a signal generator?

Need to test your amplifier or filter with a complex signal but don’t want to crack open your digital signal processing books from college?

Tired of troubleshooting VISA connections, conflicts, and incompatibilities?

Can’t get a Matlab license or the correct toolbox(es) for your work?

Try PyArbTools: a fast, free, and flexible way to create waveforms and control Keysight signal generators.

PyArbTools is a collection of Python classes and functions that provide basic signal creation, instrument configuration, and waveform download capabilities for Keysight signal sources.

It is loosely based on Keysight’s IQ Tools, a Matlab-based toolkit that accomplishes similar things. PyArbTools was built to satisfy the needs of signal generator users who can’t/don’t want to use Matlab and to improve code readability and documentation.

Features

• New in 2023.06.1: Choose between direct socket communication and PyVISA for all instruments.

• Supports M8190A, M8195A, and M8196A arbitrary waveform generators, N5182B MXG/N5172B EXG/E8267D PSG vector signal generators, and the M9384B VXG vector signal generator.

• Connect to and configure instruments, download waveforms, and control playback, all using easy-to-use functions rather than a list of SCPI commands.

• Create sequences on the M8190A.

• Calibrate waveforms using Keysight’s 89600 VSA software.

• For custom applications, communicate with instruments using SCPI commands.

DOCUMENTATION

Take a look at pyarbtools/examples.py for sample code.

PyArbTools was written for Python and is not currently compatible with legacy Python 2.x

License: GPL 3