Posted to News on 31st Aug 2009, 00:00
RF vector signal generator features PXI Express interface
National Instruments is releasing the NI PXIe-5672, an RF vector signal generator that delivers signal generation from 250kHz to 2.7GHz, 20MHz of instantaneous bandwidth and real-time data streaming at up to 25MS/s. The NI PXIe-5672 also features a PXI Express interface that makes it possible to stream data from hard disk or PC memory at the full output rate of the instrument. The NI PXIe-5672 is compatible with all NI PXI, PXI Express modular instruments and NI LabVIEW modulation algorithms, making it easy for engineers to develop a complete PXI-based RF record-and-playback system, as well as broadcast video and general-purpose communication test systems.
The data streaming capability of the NI PXIe-5672 provides significant benefits over traditional RF instruments wherein waveform generation and acquisition sizes are generally limited to several hundred megabytes because of bus bandwidth and onboard memory limitations. With the NI PXIe-5672 module, however, PXI Express technology makes it easy for engineers to use RAID (redundant array of independent disk) technology to continuously stream waveforms that are up to 3TB in size.
Using NI PXIe-5672, engineers can implement RF record-and-playback applications. Combined with the NI PXI-5661 vector signal analyser and the NI HDD-8264 RAID array, engineers have the ability to stream up to 20MHz of RF bandwidth for more than five hours. Using this technique, engineers can record RF signals from many types of physical locations and under a variety of environmental conditions, making it possible to capture signals that exhibit traditional wireless challenges including multipath fading, interference and fluctuations in signal strength.
Engineers can also use the NI PXIe-5672 to regenerate recorded waveforms in a laboratory environment. This technique for waveform generation improves the efficiency and accuracy of wireless receiver validation and verification by allowing for more repeatable channel emulation testing.
