# Using a channel without a defined signal error

**URL:** <https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/using-a-channel-without-a-defined-signal-error/14941>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [April 27, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/using-a-channel-without-a-defined-signal-error/14941 "2026-04-27T19:37:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dylan\_gworek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_gworek](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/dylan_gworek)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/using-a-channel-without-a-defined-signal-error/14941/1 "2026-04-27T19:37:18Z")

</div>

![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/robotics1/original/2X/d/d16410964677c9835488be0eb458b8e386936268.jpeg)

I am curious whether anyone knows how to resolve this issue, as I am currently unable to overcome this hurdle. I have even simplified my code for testing purposes, yet it continues to produce the same error.

Any suggestions?

**Code**

```auto
PROC main()

TestSignReset;
TestSignDefine 1, 9, ROB_1, 3, 0.001;
WaitTime 0.2;
ntest_val := TestSignRead(1);
TPWrite "Torque Value is: " \Num:= ntest_val;

ENDPROC

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lemster68](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/tech-community.robotics.abb.com/lemster68/32/1945_2.png) [@lemster68](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/lemster68)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/using-a-channel-without-a-defined-signal-error/14941/2 "2026-04-27T19:56:10Z")

</div>

From the Instructions, functions and datatypes manual:

Only test signals for external axes can be reached. Test signals are also available  
on request for the robot axes and for not predefined test signals for external axes.