MX & MBX Series,

TLX1, & TLX2

Remote Control
User Guide
Remote Control User Guide for MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Description ........................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Interfacing the Computer and the MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument ...................................... 1
Chapter 2 Supported Commands..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1. Command Return Codes ........................................................................................................................ 5
2.2. RF Amplifier Commands ........................................................................................................................ 6
2.3. Laser Control Commands ....................................................................................................................... 8
2.4. Mach-Zehnder EO Intensity Modulator Commands .............................................................................. 11
2.5. System Commands .............................................................................................................................. 14
2.6. Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) Commands .................................................................................... 16
Chapter 3 Remote Control Software .............................................................................................................................. 18
3.1. Installing the Software and Opening a Connection with the Instrument ............................................... 18
3.2. Using the Remote Control Application ................................................................................................. 19
3.3. Software Application Screenshots ....................................................................................................... 21
3.4. Custom Application Development........................................................................................................ 23
Chapter 4 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts ....................................................................................................................... 24
Remote Control User Guide for MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1. Description
The MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instruments may be remotely controlled via SCPI-type serial commands. This
requires connecting a computer running the Microsoft® Windows® 7 operating system, or later versions, to the
instrument using a USB cable, or connecting a computer running any operating system to the RS-232 port on the
instrument. Serial commands are sent to the USB or RS-232 ports located on the back panel of the instrument.
The touchscreen interface remains active while the instrument is controlled remotely, and instrument
functionality remains accessible through the touchscreen interface.

This document describes the process of interfacing the instrument with the controlling computer, defines the serial
commands, and includes information about the remote control software tool that serves as an example and a
tutorial for sending the serial commands. To download the remote control software tool and supporting files for
your MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument, visit the following page and type in the instrument’s Item #:

https://www.thorlabs.com/manuals.cfm

1.2. Interfacing the Computer and the MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument
The following sections use the MX40G Electrical-to-Optical Converter as an example, but the procedure and
guidelines apply to all MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instruments. These instruments may be connected with a
computer via USB or RS-232 ports located on the back panel, as shown in Figure 1.

Please note that using both USB and RS-232 connections at the same time is not supported. If it is necessary to
change from a USB to a RS-232 connection, or vice versa, first power off the instrument, change the connection,
and then power on the instrument. This will ensure that the instrument recognizes the new connection.

B1 B2 B3 B4
Label Description
B1 I/O Port (HDDB15 Connector)
B2 Laser Interlock (2.5 mm Connector)
B3 RS-232 Port (DB9 Connector)
B4 USB Port (USB Type B Connector)
B5 Power Connector
B6 Power Switch
Supply On; Supply Off

B5 B6

Figure 1 Back Panel of the MX40G

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Connecting to the USB Port on the Back Panel of the MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument

A USB cable can be used to connect a computer running Windows 7, or later, with the port on the back panel of
the instrument as shown in Figure 2. The USB port is type-B. A USB cable with a type-B connector on one end and
a type-A connector on the other would allow connection with most computers.

Figure 2 Connecting the Computer and Instrument via the USB Ports

When discovered by the Windows PC, the instrument will appear as a human interface device (HID), rather than
as a virtual serial port. The HID class includes the computer mouse and keyboard. Please note that PC terminal
software, such as Tera Term, cannot be used to communicate with the instrument via USB cable. This is due to PC
terminal software requiring the connected instrument to be recognized by the PC as a virtual serial port. The
Thorlabs remote control application discussed in Chapter 3 can scan for, discover, and open a connection with the
connected instrument.

Connecting to the RS-232 Port on the Back Panel of the MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument

If the controlling computer has an RS-232 port, or if a USB to RS-232 adapter is connected to the computer’s USB
port, an RS-232 cable can be used to make the physical connection between the computer and the RS-232 port
on the back panel of the instrument. Any software capable of sending and receiving data using serial ports can
then be used to control the instrument. Configure the serial port of the controlling computer for 115200 baud, 8
bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control. The Thorlabs remote control application discussed in Chapter 3 can
also control MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instruments via an RS-232 connection. The pin assignments for the
DB9 connector on the back panel of the instrument are described by Figure 3 and the table below.

RS-232 Connector
Pin # Description
1 Not Connected
2 RS-232 Input
3 RS-232 Output
4 Not Connected
Figure 3 RS-232 DB9 Connector on the 5 Digital Ground
Back Panel of the MX & MBX Series, 6 Not Connected
TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument 7 Not Connected
8 Not Connected
9 Not Connected

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Connecting to the MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument Using the RS-232 Port on the Controlling
Computer

Figure 4 illustrates the physical connection when the RS-232 ports on the instrument and the controlling computer
are used. The details of the connection depend on the controlling computer’s RS-232 port. When it is a:

• 9-pin DB9 male connector, an option is to use a female-to-female 9-pin “null modem” cable. National
Instruments® explains the difference between a standard and a null modem cable here:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/1EE0DD8AF67922FA86256F720071DECF

• 25-pin DB25 male connector, a null modem cable that converts between 25 and 9 pins can be used.

In either case, if a null modem cable is not available, a null modem adapter could be used with a standard cable.

Figure 4 Connecting the Computer and MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 Instrument via the RS-232 Ports

If the USB port on the controlling computer is used, a USB cable terminating in a USB to RS-232 adapter can be
used to allow connection to a null modem cable. When the connector on the adapter is a 9-pin DB9 male, and the
null model cable has two 9-pin female DB9 connectors, it is possible to use the adapter and null modem cable to
make a connection between the computer’s USB and the instrument’s RS-232 ports. This is illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Connecting the USB Port on the Computer to the RS-232 Port on the Instrument

Please note that the USB port on the instrument should not be connected to the RS-232 port on the controlling
computer; this configuration is not supported.

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Chapter 2 Supported Commands

This section describes the commands supported by firmware version V1.9.4 and later. The commands are
modeled on the IEEE 488.2 standard commands for programmable instruments (SCPI) specification.

Following this convention, many commands in the “Syntax” columns of the following tables include both
uppercase and lowercase letters. Uppercase letters identify the shortest acceptable form of the commands. If
including additional characters, all command characters must be included. (For example, VOA:SET? and
VOA:SETPOINT? are the only acceptable variations of the VOA:SETpoint? command.)

Each SCPI command string sent to the instrument must be terminated with either <new line> (<NL>) character
(ASCII decimal 10), <CR><NL> (ASCII decimal 13 10), <CR> (ASCII decimal 13), or <NL><CR> (ASCII decimal
10 13). IEEE 488 specifies that the standard termination is the <NL> character. For every SCPI message that is
sent to the instrument that warrants a response, the instrument terminates the returned response with a <NL>
character.

The commands described below have been developed as a custom set, as no device in the SCPI standard is an
exact analogue.

Please note that not every command described in the following sections applies to every MX & MBX series, TLX1,
& TLX2 Item #. In order for a command to apply to a specific instrument, the instrument must have the related
built-in component. For example, the Laser Control Commands do not apply to instruments that do not include an
internal tunable laser. The following table lists the commands supported by each instrument.

Section 2.2 Section 2.3 Section 2.4 Section 0 Section 2.6

Mach-Zehnder
Item # RF Laser
Modular Bias System Variable Optical
Amplifier Control
Control Commands Attenuator Commands
Commands Commands
Commands
MBX,
- - ✓ ✓ ✓
MBX2
MXxxA ✓ - ✓ ✓ ✓
MXxxB ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
MXxxC ✓ ✓ - ✓ ✓
MXxxD,
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
MXxxE
MXxxG - ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
TLX1,
- ✓ - ✓ ✓
TLX2
Figure 6 The Available Command Set for Each Instrument Corresponds to its Built-In Functionality

Valid commands will return a value of 1 on receipt. Valid queries return a value/string as noted in the query
descriptions in Sections 0 through 2.6. The following table lists possible return values for exception handling.

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2.1. Command Return Codes

Return Value Return Explanation
1 Response to a valid command
Values without “Err:” Response to a valid query
indicator string
Err: Feature not present Issued a command to an instrument that does not have the built-in hardware.
See Figure 6 for command compatibility.
System application firmware < V1.9.5 reports as Err: Hardware missing
Err: Parameter error Issued a command with a parameter value that is outside of the acceptable
range. Refer to the command description for acceptable value ranges.
Err: Illegal parameter value Issued a command with a parameter value that is outside of the range
supported by this device.
Err: Data out of range Issued a command with a data value that is outside of the acceptable range.
Refer to the command description for acceptable value ranges.
Err: Numeric data error Issued a command with a numeric data value that is outside of the acceptable
range. Refer to the command description for acceptable value ranges.
Err: Data type error Issued a command with the incorrect data type. Refer to the command
description for acceptable data types.
Err: Storage fault An error occurred accessing the internal EEprom. Could not continue to
execute the command.
Err: System error The system encountered an internal error while processing the command.
Could not continue to execute the command.
Err: Execution error An error occurred attempting to execute the given command. Check that unit
is powered on and in run mode.
Err: Undefined header Issued an invalid command or a command with invalid formatting or a
command not recognized by the current system application firmware.
Err: Tunable laser not Issued a command pertaining to a tunable laser while the fixed wavelength
selected laser is active. Applies to dual-band instruments only.
Err: Laser is locked Issued a command to access the laser and the laser is locked by the Interlock
mechanism.
Err: This command requires Issued a command that is only supported in bootloader code ≥ version 1.7.4.
bootloader >= 1.7.4
Figure 7 Return Values and Explanations

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2.2. RF Amplifier Commands

The MX series of instruments include several that have a built-in RF amplifier, and the following commands apply
only to these instruments. The amplifier type is digital (limiting) in some of these products, such as the MXxxA,
MXxxB, MXxxC. In other products, such as the MXxxD and MXxxE, the amplifier type is linear (analog). Only digital
RF amplifiers have crossing point and swing settings, and only these RF amplifiers can operate in either analog or
digital modes. In contrast, the gain may be set only for linear RF amplifiers. Unless otherwise noted, the following
RF Amplifier commands apply to both amplifier types.

Command Syntax Description

Set Crossing Point AMP:CROSSing:ANAlog: N N is a floating point value between -1.0 and 1.0, inclusive. This
(Analog Mode) parameter applies to the digital amplifier operating in analog
mode and determines the location of the crossing point. N has no
units; -1.0 corresponds to the maximum possible negative offset,
and 1.0 corresponds to the maximum possible positive offset. The
available range, which depends on the amplifier’s voltage limits
and the current AMP:SWING setting, may be smaller than this full -
1.0 to 1.0 range. When this is the case, N values within ±1.0 but
exceeding the currently available range will set the crossing point
to the closest permitted value. This command is not available for
instruments with linear (analog) amplifier types.
Get Crossing AMP:CROSSing:ANAlog? Returns a floating point value between -1.0 and 1.0, inclusive. This
Point value has no units and corresponds to the current crossing point
(Analog Mode) for the digital amplifier when it operates in analog mode. This
command is not available for instruments with linear (analog)
amplifier types.
Set Crossing Point AMP:CROSSing:DIGital: N N is a floating point value between -1.0 and 1.0, inclusive. This
(Digital Mode) parameter applies to the digital amplifier operating in digital mode
and determines the location of the crossing point. Please see
AMP:CROSS:ANA for additional information. This command is not
available for instruments with linear (analog) amplifier types.
Get Crossing AMP:CROSSing: DIGital? Returns a floating point value between -1.0 and 1.0, inclusive. This
Point value has no units and corresponds to the current crossing point
(Digital Mode) for the digital amplifier when it operates in analog mode. This
command is not available for instruments with linear (analog)
amplifier types.
Set Gain AMP:GAIN: N N is a floating point value between 10.0 and 23.0 in decibels. This
value sets the gain of linear (analog) type amplifiers. This
command is not available for instruments with digital (limiting) or
fixed gain amplifier types.
Get Gain AMP:GAIN? Returns a floating point value between 10.0 and 23.0 in decibels,
which corresponds to the current gain of the linear (analog) type
amplifier. This command is not available for instruments with
digital (limiting) or fixed gain amplifier types.
Set Amplifier AMP:MODE: 1 Sets the operation of the digital amplifier to analog mode. This
Mode to Analog includes setting the crossing point to that currently specified for
analog mode operation (AMP:CROSS:ANA) and applying the
maximum possible swing. This command is not available for
instruments with linear (analog) amplifier types.

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Command Syntax Description

Set Amplifier AMP:MODE: 0 Sets the operation of the digital amplifier to digital mode. This
Mode to Digital includes setting the crossing point to that currently specified for
digital mode operation (AMP:CROSS:DIG) and applying the current
value of swing (AMP:SWING). The default value of swing is the
amplifier’s value for V at 1 GHz, which is determined at the
factory and place in instrument memory. This command is not
available for instruments with linear (analog) amplifier types.
Get Amplifier AMP:MODE? Returns 0 if the amplifier mode is set to analog and 1 if the
Mode amplifier mode is set to digital. This command is not available for
instruments with linear (analog) amplifier types.
Set Amplifier AMP:POWer: 1 Sets amplifier power to “on” and returns 1 on receipt of
Power On command.
Set Amplifier AMP:POWer: 0 Sets amplifier power to “off” and returns 1 on receipt of
Power Off command.
Get Amplifier AMP:POWer? Returns 0 if the amplifier power is set to “off” and 1 if the
Power Status amplifier power is set to “on.” This command returns the most
recent requested power state, which may differ from the
amplifier’s currently active power state. AMP:SET? can be used to
verify the last requested power state is active.
Get Amplifier AMP:SETpoint? A 1 is returned and a steady green dot shows in the AMP field of
Status the instrument’s touchscreen when the amplifier is fully ready and
has reached the requested settings. Otherwise, a 0 is returned and
the green dot blinks. Amplifier settings are updated quickly,
typically within a second. However, it is possible that an
immediate query after sending a command to adjust amplifier
voltage will find the amplifier in a transient state and return a
zero.
Set the Amplifier AMP:SWING: N N is a floating point value with a standard range of 3.0 to 7.0 Vpp.
Swing This command sets the swing of the digital amplifier when it
(Digital Mode) operates in digital mode, and this value can be set while operating
in analog mode. Some factory-customized units have an extended
swing range. Use the touchscreen GUI on the instrument to view
the available range. This command is not available for instruments
with linear(analog) amplifier types.
Get the Amplifier AMP:SWING? Returns a floating point value with units of Vpp. This is the swing
Swing setting applied when the digital amplifier operates in digital mode.
(Digital Mode) This value can be retrieved while operating in analog mode. This
command is not available for instruments with linear (analog)
amplifier types.
Set the Amplifier AMP:SWING:VPI Sets the swing to the amplifier’s V at 1 GHz and returns 1 on
Swing to V receipt of command. This V value is found for each instrument at
(Digital Mode) the factory and saved to memory. It is the “optimal swing” setting
applied when the V button on the touchscreen interface is
pressed. This command is not available for instruments with linear
(analog) amplifier types.

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2.3. Laser Control Commands

These commands are available for the TLX1 & TLX2 instruments and those MX series products with a built-in
tunable laser, which include the MXxxB, MXxxE, and MXxxG. In the following, “Laser” refers to the built-in tunable
laser, unless otherwise specified. Please note that the ITU channels are defined using a 50 MHz grid.

Be advised that there will be a delay between when requested laser state is specified in a “set” command and
when the requested state becomes the active laser state, as the instrument requires a finite period of time to
execute commands. Typical execution times are given in the following table for each relevant command. After
setting laser parameter(s), the LASer:SETpoint? command can be used to determine the laser’s active status.

Command Syntax Description

Set the ITU Channel LASer:CHANnel: N N is an integer from 1 and 96, inclusive, for the C-Band laser or
Number from 1 and 93, inclusive, for the L-Band laser. This command
sets the ITU channel of the laser and returns 1 on receipt of
command. While tuning to the desired channel, the laser’s
optical output may be temporarily reduced or turned off and
then on.
Get the ITU Channel LASer:CHANnel? Returns an integer value from 1 and 96, inclusive, for a C-Band
Number laser or from 1 and 93, inclusive, for an L-Band laser. This
command returns the most recent requested ITU channel, which
may differ from the currently active ITU channel due to a typical
channel set time duration of <10 s. The LAS:SET? command can
be used to verify the last requested ITU channel is active.
Set Dither On LASer:Dither: 1 Sets the laser dither to “on” and returns 1 on receipt of
command.
Set Dither Off LASer:Dither: 0 Sets the laser dither to “off” and returns 1 on receipt of
command.
Get Dither Status LASer:Dither? Returns 0 if dither is set to “off” and 1 if dither is set to “on.”
This command returns the most recent requested dither state,
which may differ from the currently active dither state due to a
typical dither set time duration of <10 s. The LAS:SET? command
can be used to verify the last requested dither state is active.
Set Fine Tuning LASer:FINE: N N is an integer between -30,000 and 30,000, inclusive. The
Frequency Offset entered value is the frequency offset in MHz, and 1 is returned
on receipt of command. Sending this command causes the laser
frequency to be tuned to the sum of the current ITU channel
frequency and this specified fine tuning frequency offset. The
range of fine tuning frequency offsets spans the full frequency
range between ITU channels.
Get Fine Tuning LASer:FINE? Returns an integer between -30,000 and 30,000, inclusive,
Frequency Offset corresponding to the requested frequency offset in MHz. This
value may differ from the current frequency offset due to a
typical laser tuning time duration of <30 s. There is currently no
accurate way to determine, via remote control, whether a fine-
tuning operation has finished. However, other laser status
information can be obtained using:
• LAS:FREQ?
• LAS:SET?
• LAS:OOP?

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Command Syntax Description

Get Optical Laser LASer:FREQuency? Returns a floating point value with unit of GHz. The reported
Frequency optical laser frequency, which is determined by the ITU channel
(LAS:CHAN:N) and fine offset (LAS:FINE:N). As the resolution of
the returned value is limited to 0.1 GHz (100 MHz), the values of
the intermediate frequencies set using the fine-tuning feature
are reported rounded to the nearest 0.1 GHz.
Get Nominal Laser LASer:FREQ_NOMinal? Returns a positive integer for the calculated frequency,
Frequency generated from the nominal frequency of the ITU channel, with
the current fine-tuning frequency offset added or subtracted.
This value is in units of MHz. This is the same value that is
displayed on the LCD GUI laser settings page. Note that it is
derived from the requested frequency and does not represent a
live measurement.
Get Reported Optical LASer:OOP? Returns a floating point value with units of dBm. This value
Output Power (OOP) corresponds to the optical output power from the laser module
measured by an integrated photodiode. A typical operating
value is 13.5 dBm. This is a different measurement than the one
reported in response to the LAS:TAP:DBM? command, which
measures the downstream optical power via optical tap. The
two measurements may differ slightly. Optical output power will
be unstable during laser warm-up and frequency tuning.
Set Laser Power On LASer:POWer: 1 Sets the laser power to “on” and returns 1 on receipt of
command. To ensure optimal stability and full optical output
power, allow the laser to warm up for 15 minutes after
powering on.
Set Laser Power Off LASer:POWer: 0 Sets the laser power to “off” and returns 1 on receipt of
command.
Get Laser Power LASer:POWer? Returns 0 if the laser power is set to “off” and 1 if the laser
Status power is set to “on.” This command returns the most recent
requested power state, which may differ from the laser’s
currently active power state. The LAS:SET? command can be
used to verify the last requested power state is active.
Additional laser status and setpoint information can be obtained
using:
• LAS:SET?
• LAS:OOP?
• LAS:TAP:DBM?
• LAS:TAP:MW?
Select C-band Laser LASer:SELect: Cband Selects the C-Band laser and returns 1 on receipt of command.
This command is not available for instruments with a single
laser.
Select L-band Laser LASer:SELect: Lband Selects the L-Band laser and returns 1 on receipt of command.
This command is not available for instruments with a single
laser.
Select 1310nm Laser LASer:SELect: 1310 Selects the fixed 1310nm laser and returns 1 on receipt of
command. This command is not available for instruments with a
single laser.
Get Selected Laser LASer:SELect? Returns a string corresponding to the currently selected laser.

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Command Syntax Description

Get Laser Status LASer:SETpoint? When the following conditions are all true, a 1 is returned and a
steady green dot shows in the laser field of the instrument’s
touchscreen. Otherwise, a 0 is returned.
• The hardware key switch interlock on the front panel is
in the “on” position.
• The instrument’s microcontroller, in response to
remote or touchscreen control, has commanded the
laser to power on.
• The laser’s currently active dither state (on or off)
matches the last requested dither state.
• The laser’s currently active ITU channel matches the
last requested ITU channel.
• The laser currently reports it is in the “ready” state.
• The laser currently reports it is in the “enabled” state.
• The laser currently reports its optical output power is
greater than 12.0 dBm.
Get Measured LASer:TAP:DBM? Returns a floating point value with units of dBm. This is a
Optical Output measurement of the optical output power measured
Power in dBm downstream from the laser module using an optical tap. The
value returned by LAS:OOP? is a measurement made by a
photodiode integrated into the laser module. The two
measurements may differ slightly. Optical output power will be
unstable during laser warm-up and frequency tuning.
Get Measured LASer:TAP:MW? Returns a floating point value with units of mW, with the
Optical Output measurement details identical to those described for
Power in mW LAS:TAP:DBM?.
Get Nominal Laser LASer:WAVE_NOMinal? Returns a positive integer for the calculated wavelength,
Wavelength generated from the nominal frequency of the ITU channel, with
the current fine-tuning frequency offset added or subtracted.
The value is in units of 10 fm (femtometers). This is the same
value that is displayed on the LCD GUI laser settings page. Note
that it is derived from the requested frequency and does not
represent a live measurement.

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2.4. Mach-Zehnder EO Intensity Modulator Commands

Several of the MX Series of instruments have built-in controllers for lithium-niobate-based, Mach-Zehnder EO
intensity modulators (MZMs). The following commands apply only to these instruments, which include the MBX
series, MXxxA, MXxxB, MXxxD, MXxxE, and MXxxG.

Command Syntax Description

Get Calibration Status MZM:CALibrating? Returns a 0 if the MZM bias is not currently being calibrated and
a 1 calibration is currently in progress. The MZM bias is
calibrated automatically when the MZM Bias controller is turned
on for the first time or when recalibration is triggered manually
(MZM:RESET or using the RESET AUTO BIAS button on the
touchscreen GUI). Calibration data is maintained when the bias
controller is turned off and on without powering down the MX
instrument, but MZM calibration data is not stored upon
instrument shut-down.
Set Dither Amplitude MZM:Dither:AMPLitude: N N is a positive integer between 20 and 2,000, inclusive, with
units of mVpp. It sets the dither amplitude for those MZM bias
modes that reference this value. Not all MZM bias modes use
dither.
Get Dither Amplitude MZM:Dither:AMPLitude? Returns the current dither amplitude setting in mVpp as a
positive integer between 20 and 2,000. This will return the
stored dither setting. It is not a measurement of the dither in
the output from the MZM. Not all MZM bias modes use dither.
Set Dither Frequency MZM:Dither:FREQuency: N N is a positive integer between 1,000 and 10,000, inclusive, with
units of Hz. Not all MZM bias modes use dither.
Get Dither Frequency MZM:Dither:FREQuency? Returns the current dither amplitude setting in Hz as a positive
integer between 1,000 and 10,000, inclusive. This will return the
stored dither setting. It is not a measurement of the dither in
the output from the MZM. Not all MZM bias modes use dither.
Set Hold Ratio MZM:HOLD:Ratio: N N is a positive integer between 250 and 10,000, inclusive. It has
no units and represents the input power required to achieve the
desired input to output power ratio. Determine N by first
choosing the desired ratio of input to output powers, then
multiply that ratio by 100. (e.g. If desired input and output
power values are the same, their ratio is 1.0 and N = 100. If the
input is 100.00 times greater than the output power, N =
10,000.) This setting is used only in Auto Power Ratio Positive
and Auto Power Ratio Negative MZM bias modes.
Get Hold Ratio MZM:HOLD:Ratio? Returns a positive integer between 250 and 10,000, inclusive. It
has no units and represents the input power required to achieve
the desired input to output power ratio, as described in the
entry for MZM:HOLD:R:N. This will return the stored ratio
setting. It is not a measurement of the MZM bias output. It is
only used in Auto Power Ratio Positive and Auto Power Ratio
Negative MZM bias modes.
Set Hold Voltage MZM:HOLD:Voltage: N N is an integer between -10,000 and 10,000, inclusive, and has
units of mV. This setting is used only in Manual Voltage MZM
bias mode.

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Command Syntax Description

Get Hold Voltage MZM:HOLD:Voltage? Returns an integer between -10,000 and 10,000, inclusive, and has units
of mV. This will return the stored ratio setting. It is not a measurement
of the MZM bias output. It is only used in Manual Voltage MZM bias
mode.
Set MZM Bias Mode MZM:MODE: N N is a positive integer between 0 and 9, inclusive. Set this value to select
the MZM bias mode. The mode associated with each value is:
• 0: Bias control is off. 0 V is applied to the MZM bias.
• 1: Auto Peak bias mode, which uses dither to maintain operation at
the peak of the modulation function.
• 2: Auto Null bias mode, which uses dither to maintain operation at
the lowest point (null) of the modulation function.
• 3: Auto Quad Pos bias mode, which maintains operation at the
positive quadrature position on the modulation function. This is
equivalent to using the touchscreen GUI to select Quad Mode and
positive slope, with dither on. Not available on MX110G models.
• 4: Auto Quad Neg bias mode, which maintains operation at the
negative quadrature position on the modulation function. This is
equivalent to using the touchscreen GUI to select Quad Mode and
negative slope, with dither on. Not available on MX110G models.
• 5: Hold Quad Pos bias mode:
o All models except MX110G: holds the bias at the last voltage
found in Quad mode. It is equivalent to using the touchscreen
GUI to select Quad Mode and positive slope, with dither off.
o MX110G: maintains operation at the positive quadrature
position by holding the option input/output ratio 3dB down
from peak. This is equivalent to using the touchscreen GUI to
select Quad Mode and positive slope. Note: dither is off in this
mode.
• 6: Hold Quad Neg bias mode:
o All models except MX110G: holds the bias at the last voltage
found in Quad mode. It is equivalent to using the touchscreen
GUI to select Quad Mode and negative slope, with dither off.
o MX110G: maintains operation at the positive quadrature
position by holding the option input/output ratio 3dB down
from peak. This is equivalent to using the touchscreen GUI to
select Quad Mode and negative slope. Note: dither is off in this
mode.
• 7: Manual Voltage bias mode, which is equivalent to using the
touchscreen GUI to select Manual Mode while the “bias” setting is
selected.
• 8: Auto Power Ratio Pos, which is equivalent to using the
touchscreen GUI to select Manual Mode while the “ratio” setting
and positive slope are selected.
• 9: Auto Power Ratio Neg, which is equivalent to using the
touchscreen GUI to select Manual Mode while the “ratio” setting
and negative slope are selected.
Get MZM Bias Mode MZM:MODE? Returns a positive integer between 0 and 9, inclusive, corresponding to
the current MZM bias mode. The mode associated with each value is
defined in the Set MZM Bias Mode description.

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Trigger MZM MZM:RESET Triggers a MZM bias calibration and returns a 1. While the calibration is
Calibration running, the MZM:CAL? command returns a 1.
Get MZM Status MZM:SETpoint? A 1 is returned and a steady green dot shows in the Bias field of the
instrument’s touchscreen when the MZM bias is stable and at setpoint.
A 0 is returned and the green dot in the Bias field blinks while the MZM
is not at setpoint.
Get Post-MZM MZM:TAP:DBM? Returns the optical power, as a floating point value in dB, output by the
Power in dBm MZM. This value is the scaled optical power measurement made at a
tap located at the output of the MZM.
Get Post-MZM MZM:TAP:MW? Returns the optical power, as a floating point value in mW, output by
Power in mW the MZM. This value is the scaled optical power measurement made at
a tap located at the output of the MZM.
Get MZM Bias MZM:Voltage? Returns the current MZM bias voltage as a floating point value in Volts.
Voltage
Get MZM Bias MZM:VOLTAGE2? MX110G and MX100E variants ONLY. Reports second bias voltage as a
Voltage 2 floating point value in Volts.

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2.5. System Commands

The system commands described in this section apply to all MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument Item #s.
The LED brightness commands given below allow the user to either individually set the brightness of the red,
green, and blue LEDs or to set the brightness of the White LED which is a combination of the red, green and blue
LEDs being controlled at the same level automatically, that contribute to the under-chassis lighting integrated into
the housings of these instruments. The brightness can be set using a scale from 0.0 to 1.0, and the default
combination is a value of 0.0 for the red LEDs, 0.0 for the green, 0.75 for the blue, and 0.75 for white. These LEDs
can be used to provide a visual indicator of a change in instrument status. For example, the lighting could be
changed to green to indicate the conclusion of a test driven by remote-control commands.

Command Syntax Description

Get System SYStem:BOOTloader? Returns the bootloader version as a string.
Bootloader
Version
Get System SYStem:FIRMware? Returns the firmware version as a string.
Firmware Version
Get System SYStem:HARDware? Returns the hardware version as a string.
Hardware Version
Get System Model SYStem:MODEL? Returns the module number as a string.
Number
Trigger Restart SYStem:RESTART Triggers a safe shutdown and reboots the system as a quick way to
restore all settings to default. Returns a 1 on receipt of command. This
will also power down the LCD GUI. After restart, the screen will be off
and the system will come up to standby mode (with the standby
button LED amber), the same state that it normally goes into after
powering on.
Get System Serial SYStem:SERial? Returns the serial number as a string.
Number
Trigger Sleep SYStem:SLEEP Puts the system in standby and returns a 1 on receipt of command.
Trigger Wake SYStem:WAKE Brings the system out of standby and returns a 1 on receipt of
command.
Set System SYStem:WAVElength: N N is the positive integer value typ. 1310, 1550, or 1590 with units of
Wavelength nm. This command sets the system wavelength, which is used to select
which calibration values to use when configuring the VOA and when
evaluating the power measurements made at the taps. Setting the
system wavelength optimizes the instrument for use at that
wavelength. Setting this value is equivalent to using the touchscreen
GUI to set the system wavelength.
Note: For MBX2 the N is the positive integer value 785, 852 or 940 with
units of nm to match the available calibrated wavelengths.
Get System SYStem:WAVElength? Returns a positive integer value typ. 1310, 1550, or 1590 with units of
Wavelength nm that correspond to the current system wavelength setting.
Note: For MBX2 the returned positive integer values will match the
calibration wavelengths of 785, 852 or 940 nm.

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Command Syntax Description

Set Red LED Brightness RGB:RED: N N is an integer value between 0 and 100, which is used to set the
brightness of the red LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent
lighting.
Get Red LED Brightness RGB:RED? Returns an integer value between 0 and 100, indicating the brightness of
the red LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent lighting.
Set Green LED Brightness RGB:GREEN: N N is an integer value between 0 and 100, which is used to set the
brightness of the green LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent
lighting.
Get Green LED Brightness RGB:GREEN? Returns an integer value between 0 and 100, indicating the brightness of
the green LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent lighting.
Set Blue LED Brightness RGB:BLUE: N N is an integer value between 0 and 100, which is used to set the
brightness of the blue LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent
lighting.
Get Blue LED Brightness RGB:BLUE? Returns an integer value between 0 and 100, indicating the brightness of
the red LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent lighting.
Set White LED Brightness RGB:WHITE: N N is an integer value between 0 and 100, which is used to set the
brightness of the White accent lighting.
Get White LED Brightness RGB:WHITE? Returns an integer value between 0 and 100, indicating the brightness of
the White accent lighting.
Set LEDs Power Mode RGB:POWer: N N is a positive integer between 0 and 2, inclusive. Set this value to select
the Accent lighting mode. The mode associated with each value is:
• 0: Accent lighting OFF.
• 1.Accent lighting is ON and the Red, Green and Blue can be changed
independently to control the hue and the brightness.
• 2:Accent lighting is ON and the Red, Green and Blue are controlled
simultaneously to create the White accent lighting. The White can be
changed to control the brightness.
Get LED Power Status RGB:POWer? Returns a positive integer between 0 and 2, inclusive, corresponding to
the current Accent lighting mode. The mode associated with each value is
defined in the Set LEDs Power Mode description.

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2.6. Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) Commands

The VOA commands described in this section apply to all MX & MBX Series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument Item #s.
These commands are provided for controlling the VOA and determining its status are described in the following
tables.

Command Syntax Description

Set the Optical VOA:ATTen: N N is a floating point value between 0.5 and 20.0, inclusive, with
Attenuation Value units of dB. This command sets optical attenuation of the VOA
and returns 1 on receipt of a command with valid N. If set while
operating in constant power mode, the operation of the VOA
will not be affected. Instead, the value will be cached and
applied when constant attenuation mode is activated.
The minimum N setting is variable with VOA known responsivity
and may change with Wavelength setting. The lowest possible
setting is 0.5.
Get the Optical VOA:ATTen? Returns the attenuation setting of the VOA as a floating point
Attenuation Value value between 0.5 and 20.0, inclusive, with units of dB.
Get Difference between VOA:ERRor? Returns the difference between the attenuation provided by the
Actual and Setpoint VOA and the attenuation setpoint value as a floating point value
Attenuation with units of dB.
Get Measured VOA:MEASured? Returns the value of attenuation provided by the VOA as a
Attenuation Provided floating point value with units of dB. The value of attenuation is
by VOA the calculated ratio of the optical power measured before and
after the VOA.
Set VOA Mode to VOA:MODE: 1 Sets the VOA mode to constant optical output power and
Constant Optical Output returns 1 on receipt of command. While operating in this mode,
the optical power measured after the VOA is monitored and the
VOA bias voltage is adjusted to maintain the requested optical
output power. Holding the optical output power constant
requires adequate optical power input.
Set VOA Mode to VOA:MODE: 0 Sets the VOA mode to constant optical attenuation and returns
Constant Attenuation 1 on receipt of command. While operating in this mode, optical
power levels measured before and after the VOA are monitored.
The VOA bias voltage is adjusted to maintain the specified ratio
between the two.
Get VOA Mode VOA:MODE? Returns 0 if the VOA mode is set to constant optical attenuation
and 1 if the VOA mode is set to constant optical output power.
Set the Optical Output VOA:OUTput:DBM: N N is interpreted as a floating point value between -20.0 and
Power Value in dBm 20.0, inclusive, and the units are dBm. This command sets
optical output power of the VOA and returns 1 on receipt of
command. While this range exceeds the maximum power
output of the built-in laser, the entire range is supported to
accommodate the use of higher-power external laser sources. If
this value is set while operating in constant attenuation mode, it
will not affect the operation of the VOA. In this case, the value
will be cached and applied when constant power mode is
activated.

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Command Syntax Description

Get the Optical Output VOA:OUTput:DBM? Returns the power setting of the VOA as floating point value
Power Value in dBm between -20.0 and 20.0, inclusive, with units of dBm.
Set the Optical Output VOA:OUTput:MW: N N is a floating point value between 0.01 and 100.0, inclusive,
Power Value in mW and the units are mW. This command sets optical output power
of the VOA and returns 1 on receipt of command. While this
range exceeds the maximum power output of the built-in laser,
the entire range is supported to accommodate the use of
higher-power external laser sources. If this value is set while
operating in constant attenuation mode, it will not affect the
operation of the VOA. In this case, the value will be cached and
applied when constant power mode is activated.
Get the Optical Output VOA:OUTput:MW? Returns the power setting of the VOA as a floating point value
Power Value in mW between 0.01 and 100.0, inclusive, with units of mW.
Set VOA Power On VOA:POWer: 1 Sets the VOA power to “on” and returns 1 on receipt of
command. When the VOA is powered on, an active and
automatic software control loop is engaged to vary the VOA bias
voltage. This maintains the requested attenuation level, or
optical output power, depending on the VOA operating mode.
Set VOA Power Off VOA:POWer: 0 Sets the VOA power to “off” and returns 1 on receipt of
command. As VOA is in-line with the optical path, there is an
insertion loss associated with it. When the VOA is powered off,
the VOA bias voltage is set to 0.0 V, which minimizes the optical
attenuation through the VOA.
Get VOA Power Status VOA:POWer? Returns 0 if the VOA power is set to “off” and 1 if the VOA
power is set to “on.”
Get VOA Status VOA:SETpoint? A 1 is returned, and a steady green dot shows in the VOA field of
the instrument’s touchscreen, if the attenuation provided by the
VOA is within 0.1 dB of the attenuation setpoint. The
attenuation provided by the VOA is the calculated ratio of the
optical power measured before and after the VOA. The
attenuation setpoint references the last requested power
setting if operating in constant power mode, and it references
the last requested attenuation setting if operating in constant
attenuation mode. If the difference between the attenuation
provided by the VOA and the attenuation setpoint is >0.1 dB, a 0
is returned. This command returns a valid value whether or not
the VOA is powered on.
Get Optical Power VOA:TAP:DBM? Returns the measured optical output of the VOA as a floating
Output by the VOA in point value with units of dBm.
dBm
Get Optical Power VOA:TAP:MW? Returns the measured optical output of the VOA as a floating
Output by the VOA in point value with units of mW.
mW

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Chapter 3 Remote Control Software

Thorlabs provides a software tool for computers running Windows operating systems (Windows 7 and later). The
Remote Control application is primarily intended to be used as a reference example as well as a tool for exploring
the behavior of and interactions between the various remote control commands. Use it to experiment with all of
the currently supported laser and VOA commands, as well as to see examples of the outgoing commands and
replies from the MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument. This tool sends serial commands to the instrument,
but this application software is not intended for system integration, as it does not support running scripts or
processes.

3.1. Installing the Software and Opening a Connection with the Instrument
Begin by downloading the application software by visiting the following link, typing in the Item # of the instrument,
and clicking on the Software Download Icon shown in the list of files available for download.

https://www.thorlabs.com/manuals.cfm

Unzip the file whose name begins with “RCUP.” Keep the “Remote Control Utility Program.exe” file in the same
directory with the “platforms” folder and other supporting files, as the application will not run if these are
separated.

Before running the application, connect the instrument and the controlling computer using the appropriate
cabling as described in Section 1.2. Power on the instrument and ensure the power button on the front panel is
glowing green and the touchscreen is active. Wait until the computer discovers the instrument, and then launch
the application. The application window is shown in Figure 7. The actual application window does not include the
red, green, blue, violet and orange outlines shown in Figure 7, these outlines were drawn on an image of the
window for illustrative purposes.

Figure 7 Laser Tab of the Remote Control Tool’s Application Window

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Select the “Connection Type” radio button corresponding to the utilized connector on the instrument. (The
locations of the radio buttons are indicated by the red outline in Figure 7.) Then click the “Connect” button to
open a connection to the instrument.

After clicking the “Connect” button, the “Status” field, which is located at the bottom of the region enclosed by
the green outline, should show a number of lines of text. If the application established a connection with the
instrument, the text shown in the status field will conclude with “Device Opened Successfully.”

If a connection was not established between the computer and instrument, the text in the “Status” field will note
the failure. A common reason for a failure to connect is that the instrument has not been recognized by the
computer; the software cannot find the instrument unless it has been discovered by the computer. It may take up
to 30 seconds for the computer to recognize the instrument. If the device fails to open successfully, we
recommend closing the Remote Control application, waiting a few seconds, re- opening the application, and
attempting again to connect to the instrument. Other reasons the application may fail to successfully open a
connection to the instrument include the connection already being open or another copy of the application
running. If none of these are the source of the problem, and the problem persists when a different USB cable is
used, please contact Thorlabs’ Technical Support for assistance.

3.2. Using the Remote Control Application

When using the application, clicking the buttons located at the top of the application window sends serial
commands to the MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument. The results of clicking the buttons are logged in the
three rectangular text fields, which are bordered by the green outline in Figure 7. The commands sent by the
computer are written to the PC Output field, the data sent back from the instrument in response to the commands
are written to the Remote Instrument Output field, and the status of the software is written to the Status field.

Command responses can be saved or cleared from the Remote Instrument Output field by using the Save and
Clear buttons to the right of the Remote Instrument Output field and bordered in an orange outline in Figure 7.

Commands sent by the computer and written to the PC Output field can be saved or cleared by using the Save
and Clear buttons to the right of the PC Output field and bordered in the orange outline in Figure 7. Properly
formatted text files, either by using the save of the PC Output field or by user entry, which contain SCPI commands
can be loaded to the application using the Load button. Once loaded, the user can select the Start button to begin
to send, in sequence, the loaded text file SCPI commands to the instrument. Once started, the user may select the
Stop button to stop sending commands to the instrument. Hitting the Start button again will begin the sequence
at the start of the loaded file.

The following examples illustrate the operation of the software and the interaction between the software and the
touchscreen interface on the front panel of the instrument that includes a built-in laser, such as the MX40G.

Example: Using the Application to Change the Laser’s ITU Channel

• Adjust the “Channel” control (within the blue outline) to 5.

• Click the “Set Channel” button (within the violet outline).

• The text “LAS:CHAN 5”, which is the command sent to the instrument, is printed to the “PC Output” field
(within green outline).

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• After a short delay, the text “1” is printed to the “Remote Instrument Output” field (within green outline).
This indicates the command was received by the instrument.

• The text printed to the “Status” field indicates the response was received.

• Click the “Get Channel” button (below the violet outline).

• The text “LAS:CHAN?” , which is the command sent to the instrument, is printed to the “PC Output” field
(within green outline).

• After a short delay, the text “5”, which is the most recent ITU channel requested, is printed to the “Remote
Instrument Output” field (within green outline).

Example: Using the Software Application with the MX40G’s Front Panel Touchscreen
• Navigate to the Laser Settings Page, which is
shown in Figure 8, from the Home Screen

• Use the Laser Settings Page to change the ITU

Chanel to 6.

• Click the “Get Channel” button (within the

violet outline) in the Remote Control
Application.

• The text “LAS:CHAN?” , which is the command

sent to the MX40G, is printed to the “PC
Output” field (within green outline).

• After a short delay, the text “6”, which is the ITU Figure 8 Laser Settings Page of the MX40G
channel entered using the touchscreen, is
printed to the “Remote Instrument Output”
field (within green outline).

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3.3. Software Application Screenshots

The functions in the Laser tab (Figure 9) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.3: Laser Control
Commands

Figure 9 Laser Tab

The functions in the VOA tab (Figure 10) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.6: Variable Optical
Attenuator (VOA) Commands.

Figure 10 VOA Tab

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The functions in the Amp tab (Figure 11) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.2: RF Amplifier
Commands.

Figure 11 Amp Tab

The functions in the MZM Bias tab (Figure 12) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.4: Mach-
Zehnder EO Intensity Modulator Commands.

Figure 12 MZM Bias Tab

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The functions in the System tab (Figure 13) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.5: System
Commands.

Figure 13 System Tab

3.4. Custom Application Development

One option for users interested in developing custom software is to use our Remote Control application as a
reference and starting point. Please contact us to request the source code. Using this source code and a
development platform such as free version of the Qt® software, our example application can be modified and
expanded.

When the computer is connected to the RS-232 port on the MX & MBX series, TLX1, & TLX2 instrument, commands
are sent directly to the instrument’s universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART). This is not the case for
applications communicating with the instrument over USB. In this case, commands sent by the computer address
a Silicon Labs® USB to UART bridge chip built into the instrument. The UART is interfaced to the bridge chip. A
dynamic-link library (DLL) available from Silicon Labs’ website can be used to communicate with the bridge chip.

If you have questions or would like guidance as you develop a custom test configuration, please contact us. We
are happy to assist you.

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Chapter 4 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-date
contact information.

Corporate Headquarters Product Manufacturer

Thorlabs, Inc. Thorlabs Ultrafast Optoelectronics
43 Sparta Ave 110 Parkland Plaza
Newton, New Jersey 07860 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
United States United States

sales@thorlabs.com sales@thorlabs.com
techsupport@thorlabs.com techsupport@thorlabs.com

EU Importer UK Importer
Thorlabs GmbH Thorlabs Ltd.
Münchner Weg 1 204 Lancaster Way Business Park
D-85232 Bergkirchen Ely CB6 3NX
Germany United Kingdom

sales.de@thorlabs.com sales.uk@thorlabs.com
europe@thorlabs.com techsupport.uk@thorlabs.com

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