How can I use a computer to monitor when the power meter is done with a Secure Erase?

Secure Erase is a feature in the power meter that will clear all user settable general storage memory locations. This procedure may take up to 300 seconds or more to complete. This function can be performed from the instrument’s front panel or via a computer. Since this procedure can take a significant amount of time a user may want to monitor the progress of this function to know when it has been completed.

To do this set the IO timeout for 300 seconds or greater. Then send the command to start the Secure Erase “SERV:SEC:ERAS”. Then send the command “*OPC?”. When the power meter returns a response from the “*OPC?” command the power meter has completed the Secure Erase process. The user can then reset the IO timeout for a shorter length if necessary.