Connecting the IWATSU Curve Tracer to a PC for Remote Control

Connecting the IWATSU Curve Tracer to a PC for Remote Control

Michael Plevan

TL;DR

  • Option 1: Connect the Curve Tracer directly to your PC with an Ethernet cable (PC ↔ Main Frame) and assign static IP addresses manually on both devices.

  • Option 2: Connect both the Curve Tracer and PC to the same network (PC ↔ wall/switch, Curve Tracer ↔ wall/switch) and let DHCP assign the IP addresses automatically.

This guide is written with the IWATSU Curve Tracer CS-8000 Series in mind, specifically the CS-8500 Main Frame paired with the CS-830 Remote Control Software. The same concepts apply to earlier IWATSU systems like the CS-3000 and CS-5000 with their CS-810 software, as well as to IWATSU B-H Analyzers and their corresponding remote-control tools.

At the core, all of these instruments use standard TCP/IP networking. Communication requires a LAN connection over Ethernet, and both the PC and the instrument must be configured within the same network segment.

IWATSU CS-8500 main frame with an Ethernet cable connected for remote control setup.
Fig. 1: CS-8500 main frame with ethernet connection

There are two fundamentally different approaches to connecting your IWATSU Curve Tracer for remote control:

  1. Direct LAN connection (static IPs) — connect the IWATSU curve tracer directly to your PC with an Ethernet cable and assign the IP addresses manually on both devices.

  2. DHCP on a managed network (via wall jack or switch) — connect both the IWATSU curve tracer and your PC into the same network infrastructure and let the DHCP server provide the addresses automatically.

Before You Begin

Networking can be tricky, but a few quick checks will save you time and frustration:

  1. Check your PC’s network adapter
    Make sure your Ethernet port is active and configured correctly. You can find its settings here (all lead to the same destination):

    • Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections

    • Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings

    • Or press Win+R, type ncpa.cpl, and hit Enter.

  2. Check your current connections
    Open a Command Prompt (Win+R → cmd) and type:


    ipconfig

    This shows all of your network interfaces and their assigned IP addresses.

  3. Ping the Curve Tracer (use for troubleshooting)
    In the same Command Prompt, type:

    ping [IP address]

    Replace [IP address] with the tracer’s IP. If you see replies, your PC can reach the tracer.

Screenshot of a successful ping test showing replies from the IWATSU curve tracer at 192.168.0.233 with 0% packet loss.
Fig. 2: successful ping test confirming communication with the curve tracer.

1. Direct LAN Connection (Static IPs)

The most straightforward way to connect your curve tracer is with a direct Ethernet link between the tracer and your PC. Modern hardware usually works with a standard straight-through cable; older devices may require a crossover cable.

Because there’s no DHCP server in this setup, you’ll need to configure static IP addresses on both ends:

  • Curve Tracer Settings ([MENU] → [SYSTEM])

    • DHCP: OFF

    • IP Address: 192.168.0.233

    • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

    • Gateway: leave blank

Photo of the Curve Tracer's Network Settings popup.
Fig. 3: IWATSU Curve Tracer network settings popup

  • PC Settings (Ethernet adapter) Internet Protocol Version 4 Properties

    • IP Address: 192.168.0.101

    • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

    • Gateway: leave blank

Screen grab of the PC network settings window.
Fig. 4: settings for the PC ethernet port

Once configured, both devices will be on the same subnet. Test the connection by opening Command Prompt (Win+R) and typing:

ping 192.168.0.233

If you get replies, the link is good, see Fig. 2 above.

Next, open the CS-830 Remote Control Tool, enter the tracer’s IP (192.168.0.233) in the IP field, and click the checkbox. It should turn green to confirm the connection.

Screen grab of the IWATSU Remote Control Tool.
Fig. 5: PC interface of the IWATSU Remote Control Tool

Pros: simple, reliable, independent of external infrastructure
Cons: the PC and tracer are isolated from the wider network while connected this way

👉 Best for: bench setups, demonstrations, or situations without IT/network support.

2. DHCP on a Managed Network

In most labs and offices, Ethernet wall boxes are patched into a network switch or router that provides DHCP services. With DHCP enabled (the factory default), the curve tracer automatically requests an IP address when it’s plugged into a wall jack or into a switch connected to the LAN.

Steps

  1. Connect both devices
    Plug the PC and the curve tracer into the same network (either directly into wall jacks, or into a switch that uplinks to a wall jack).

  2. Check the tracer settings
    On the curve tracer, go to:

    [MENU] → [SYSTEM]

    Confirm that DHCP is ON. You can toggle this in the settings popup (⚙️).

  3. Verify your PC’s IP
    On the PC, open Command Prompt and run:

    ipconfig

    Make sure your Ethernet adapter shows an address in the same subnet as the tracer.

  4. Connect with CS-830
    Enter the tracer’s IP address in CS-830 and click the checkbox. If everything is configured correctly, it should turn green.

Troubleshooting

  • If DHCP is ON but the Curve Tracer shows 0.0.0.0, the wall jack is likely inactive or patched to a different VLAN.

  • If CS-830 rejects addresses in ranges like 192.168.30.xxx, switch to a static setup in the 192.168.0.xxx range.

Fig. 6: accessing the Curve Tracer’s network settings and toggling DHCP. In this example, DHCP was enabled but the returned IP address was 0.0.0.0, indicating the wall jack was likely inactive or patched to a different VLAN. To resolve this, connect through a switch on an active port, or use a direct PC connection (see Option 1 above).

Pros: integrates your Curve Tracer into your lab or office network
Cons: requires a live DHCP server and at least two available ports on the same network

👉 Best for: permanent lab setups with managed network infrastructure.

Supporting Hardware: Switches vs. Splitters

If you only have one working wall port but need both the tracer and PC online:

  • Use a small unmanaged switch (e.g., Netgear FS605 or a gigabit equivalent).

  • Connect the switch to the wall jack, then plug both the PC and curve tracer into the switch.

  • Do not use passive Ethernet splitters — they don’t provide true network connectivity.

Conclusion

When connecting your IWATSU Curve Tracer for remote control, the right connection choice depends on your environment and priorities:

  • Choose Direct LAN (static IPs) if you want a guaranteed, hassle-free connection that doesn’t depend on your building’s network. This is the safest bet for bench setups, demos, or labs without IT support.

  • Choose DHCP on a Managed Network if you want your IWATSU Curve Tracer integrated into your existing lab or office network, visible alongside other devices, and relying on your DHCP infrastructure. This is the best fit for permanent installations in well-managed environments.

In both cases, the rule is simple:

If PC and the IWATSU system share the same subnet, the IWATSU Remote Control software will connect.

Need additional help? Check out the CS-830 manual or contact sales@pmkamerica.com.