Agilent/Keysight E1306A

The Keysight E1306A is a B-size VXI GPIB command module engineered as an embedded controller for 20-slot E1302A mainframes. It bridges GPIB (IEEE-488) connectivity with VXI backplane communications, parsing SCPI measurement control commands and directing them to register-based VXI devices from any manufacturer. The module operates as the system resource manager and must occupy the first mainframe slot.

It features an 8 MHz 68000 processor, up to 2 MB nonvolatile RAM (expandable in 1 MB increments), and RS-232 auxiliary connectivity for terminal and debug operations.

Technical Specifications

Processor & Memory

• 8 MHz 68000 core processor


• Nonvolatile RAM: up to 2 MB, expandable in 1 MB increments


• Recommended additional RAM: 1 MB minimum; 2 MB for high-channel configurations (e.g., E1313A 32-Channel Scanning A/D) Interfaces


• Primary: GPIB (IEEE-488)


• Auxiliary: RS-232 for terminal connection and debugging Real-Time Clock


• Accuracy: 0.01% of elapsed time since last set ± 1 second


• Resolution: 1 second


• Battery life: 60 days typical (NiCad, approximately 1 year) Triggering & Pulsing


• Trigger input: TTL compatible


• First pulse accuracy: 0.01% of programmed time + 600 to 850 ns


• Subsequent pulse accuracy: 0.01% of programmed time ± 50 ns


• Pulse count: 1 through 8,388,607 or continuous


• Minimum pulse width: 300 ns Physical


• Form factor: B-size, 2-slot module


• Connector: P1


• Not adaptable to C-size mainframes

Key Features

• Register-based VXI device commander with SCPI support (non-Compiled)


• Slot 0 resource manager capability - required first-slot placement


• Exclusive VME bus master operation; incompatible with VXLink and other bus-mastering modules


• Manufacturer-agnostic device access across register-based VXI ecosystem

Compatibility & Integration Designed specifically for Keysight E1302A 20-slot mainframes. Functionally identical command modules exist in E1300A mainframes. Access to any manufacturer's register-based VXI devices supported.