National Instruments NI PXIe-5601 Calibration Procedure Download Page 1

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CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

NI PXIe-5601

This document contains information for calibrating the National Instruments PXIe-5601 (NI 5601)
RF downconverter. For more information about calibration, visit

ni.com/calibration

Contents

Initial Setup....................................................................................................................... 6
Test System Characterization ........................................................................................... 6

Power Splitter Reference Output.............................................................................. 6
Power Sensor Zero/Calibration ................................................................................ 6
RF Input Calibration................................................................................................. 6
IF Output Calibration................................................................................................ 9

As-Found and As-Left Limits........................................................................................... 10
Verification....................................................................................................................... 10

Adjustment........................................................................................................................ 28

Initial Connections.................................................................................................... 28
Reference Level Adjustment for RF Frequencies

≥

120 MHz.................................. 28

IF Attenuation Calibration Adjustment .................................................................... 33
IF Response Adjustment........................................................................................... 36
Reference Level Adjustment for RF Frequencies

≤

120 MHz.................................. 41

Appendix A: Reference Level Calibration Power.................................................................... 44
Where to Go for Support .......................................................................................................... 45

Summary of Contents for NI PXIe-5601

Page 1: ...Reference Output 6 Power Sensor Zero Calibration 6 RF Input Calibration 6 IF Output Calibration 9 As Found and As Left Limits 10 Verification 10 Absolute Gain Accuracy Verification 10 Average Noise Le...

Page 2: ...cuments helpful as you perform the calibration procedure NI PXIe 5601 Specifications Provides the published specification values for the NI 5601 Refer to the most recent NI PXIe 5601 Specifications on...

Page 3: ...nsor A Power sensor B Anritsu MA2473D or equivalent Input VSWR 10 MHz to 50 MHz 1 9 1 50 MHz to 150 MHz 1 17 1 150 MHz to 2 GHz 1 12 1 2 GHz to 7 GHz 1 22 1 Linearity 55 dBm to 20 dBm 1 8 Rise time 4...

Page 4: ...0 dBm to 20 dBm Resolution bandwidth 10 Hz to 1 MHz Phase noise 1 GHz typical 100 Hz 100 dBc Hz 1 kHz 120 dBc Hz 10 kHz 130 dBc Hz 100 kHz 130 dBc Hz 1 MHz 142 dBc Hz PXI Express chassis NI PXIe 1065...

Page 5: ...r All procedures assume an NI PXI PXIe 5652 as the LO source for the NI 5601 Lock all test equipment to the same reference frequency Refer to the NI 5663 5663E Timing Configurations topic in the NI RF...

Page 6: ...libration 1 Connect the power meter channel A to power sensor A 2 Connect the power meter channel B to power sensor B 3 Zero and calibrate the power sensors using the built in power meter function RF...

Page 7: ...urce power set to 0 dBm Note Use the log like frequency progression 10 20 30 100 200 300 1 000 MHz and so on Also include the discrete frequencies 53 MHz and 187 5 MHz 5 Calculate the RF Input Calibra...

Page 8: ...quipment setup Figure 2 RF Input Calibration with Attenuator Equipment Setup 4 Measure the channel A and channel B power using the appropriate frequency for the power sensors for all frequencies betwe...

Page 9: ...3 5 mm to 3 5 mm cable 2 Connect power sensor A to the previously designated reference output of the power splitter 3 Connect the other output of the power splitter to the spectrum analyzer input thro...

Page 10: ...is no difference between an As Found and an As Left limit only a Test Limit is specified Verification Verification of the NI 5601 is complete only after you have successfully completed all procedures...

Page 11: ...tions1 Note The preceding figure shows the NI PXI 5652 but you can also use the NI PXIe 5652 The figure shows spectrum analyzer connections 1 The 30 dB attenuator is used only for reference levels 30...

Page 12: ...Reference Clock used by the external test equipment Use the niRFSA Configure Ref Clock VI or the niRFSA_ConfigureRefClock function 8 Set the NI 5601 reference level according to Table 2 using the niR...

Page 13: ...maximum power if it does not have sufficient power to reach the reference level b Record the channel A power c Measure the channel B power or spectrum analyzer power using one of the following methods...

Page 14: ...system to settle 18 Close the NI 5601 session using the niRFSA Close VI or the niRFSA_close function Reference Levels Greater than or Equal to 30 dBm 1 Connect the RF source to the power splitter inp...

Page 15: ...e RF Input Calibration Factor may require linear interpolation Note Set the signal generator to its maximum power if it does not have sufficient power to reach the reference level b Record the Channel...

Page 16: ...Close VI or the niRFSA_close function Table 6 Absolute Gain Accuracy Verification Test Limits Frequency 49 dBm Reference Levels As Found Limit As Left Limit 10 MHz to 30 MHz 1 5 dB 0 88 dB 30 MHz to...

Page 17: ...use the NI PXIe 5652 3 Create a new session for the NI 5601 using the niRFSA Initialize With Options VI or the niRFSA_initWithOptions function Set the Driver Setup portion of the option string paramet...

Page 18: ...Resolution bandwidth 3 kHz Video bandwidth 10 Hz Center frequency Refer to Table 9 10 Use the spectrum analyzer noise marker to measure the average noise 11 Record the average noise measured on the sp...

Page 19: ...other power splitter output to the NI 5601 LO IN connector through the 3 5 mm to 3 5 mm adapter Table 10 RF Frequencies Start MHz Stop MHz Step MHz 10 30 10 40 80 20 300 1 100 100 1 300 1 900 100 2 1...

Page 20: ...e Ref Clock VI or the niRFSA_ConfigureRefClock function 8 Set the NI 5601 center frequency according to Table 12 using the Center Span instance of the niRFSA Configure Spectrum Frequency VI or the niR...

Page 21: ...tput Power to the test limit in Table 13 13 Repeat steps 8 to 12 for all frequencies in Table 12 Note NI recommends keeping your RF signal generator enabled when repeating steps unless making a connec...

Page 22: ...t the Driver Setup portion of the option string parameter to DriverSetup Digitizer external 7 Lock the NI PXI PXIe 5652 to the Reference Clock used by the external test equipment Use the niRFSA Config...

Page 23: ...ration Factor Reference Level 1 dB When making the adjustment use the appropriate RF frequency for the channel A sensor Calculation of the RF Input Calibration Factor may require linear interpolation...

Page 24: ...IF Output Frequency row in Table 15 22 Repeat steps 9 to 21 for all IF output frequencies in Table 15 Note NI recommends keeping your RF signal generator enabled when repeating steps unless making a c...

Page 25: ...but you can also use NI PXIe 5652 6 Create a new session for the NI 5601 using the niRFSA Initialize With Options VI or the niRFSA_initWithOptions function Set the Driver Setup portion of the option...

Page 26: ...cyCenterSpan function Set the span parameter to 2 MHz 10 Commit the settings to hardware using the niRFSA Initiate VI or the niRFSA_Initiate function 11 Set the spectrum analyzer using the following s...

Page 27: ...peat Steps 14 to 18 with a finer power increment in step 17 to obtain more accurate results 20 Correct the last channel A power measured in step 14 using the following formula Input Compression Point...

Page 28: ...These four steps must be done in order and all four steps must be completed before the NI 5601 adjustment is complete Caution The connectors on the DUT and test equipment are fragile Perform the inst...

Page 29: ...ttenuation Adjustment Equipment Connections Note The figure shows the NI PXI 5652 but you can also use the NI PXIe 5652 6 Create a new calibration session for the NI 5601 using the niRFSA Init Ext Cal...

Page 30: ...the NIRFSG_ATTR_FREQUENCY attribute 11 Commit the settings to hardware using the niRFSG Initiate VI or the niRFSG_Initiate function 12 Call the niRFSA Initiate VI or the niRFSA_Initiate function 13 Re...

Page 31: ...IF1 Attenuation property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_IF1_ATTEN_VALUE attribute to 0 19 Set the niRFSA IF2 Attenuation property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_IF2_ATTEN_VALUE attribute to 0 20 Set the niRFSA RF Attenuatio...

Page 32: ...Calibration function Set the following parameters ref level cal data type If Mechanical Attenuator from Table 20 is Enabled set to Default or NIRFSA_VAL_DEFAULT Otherwise set to Mechanical Attenuator...

Page 33: ...ain and attenuations are found the NI 5601 determines the appropriate amplitude correction for those settings This procedure determines amplitude corrections for the IF attenuation Those corrections a...

Page 34: ...filter by setting the niRFSA IF Filter property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_IF_FILTER attribute according to the value referenced in Table 21 to the corresponding values 53 MHz 187 5 MHz narrow 187 5 MHz wide...

Page 35: ...tings in a two element array IF1 IF2 Gain from step 26 28 Repeat steps 21 to 27 for all possible combinations of IF attenuation settings from the valid values in Table 22 Note NI recommends keeping yo...

Page 36: ...figure shows the NI PXI 5652 but you can also use the NI PXIe 5652 6 Create a new calibration session for the NI 5601 using the niRFSA Init Ext Cal VI or the niRFSA_InitExtCal function Set the driver...

Page 37: ...te 11 Set the NI PXI PXIe 5652 frequency to 187 5 MHz using the niRFSG Frequency property or the NIRFSG_ATTR_FREQUENCY attribute 12 Commit the settings to hardware using the niRFSG Initiate VI or the...

Page 38: ...M_CENTER_FREQUENCY attribute Use the RF frequency shown in Table 23 or 24 corresponding to the module revision of your NI 5601 18 Commit the settings to hardware using the niRFSA Initiate VI or the ni...

Page 39: ...rement without sacrificing test time NI recommends using the following adaptive averaging methodology at each measurement point 1 Take a measurement with the spectrum analyzer set to zero span If your...

Page 40: ...s keeping your RF signal generator enabled when repeating steps unless making a connection change Keeping the signal generator enabled reduces the wear on the RF signal generator relays After making a...

Page 41: ...alibration step using the niRFSA Initialize Calibration Step VI or the niRFSA_InitializeCalibrationStep function Set the calibration step parameter in the VI to Ref Level Calibration or set the calibr...

Page 42: ...Index property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_RF_ATTENUATION_INDEX attribute to the index shown in Table 30 21 Set the niRFSA Mechanical Attenuator Enabled property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_MECHANICAL_ATTENUATOR_ENABLE...

Page 43: ...in You computed this in step 29 31 Increment the RF start frequency and the LO start frequency by the specified Step Size from Table 29 Repeat steps 13 to 30 for each frequency up to and including the...

Page 44: ...ion is determined by the attenuation set in the NI 5601 The following table shows the power level as a function of the attenuation index Table 30 Power Level RF Attenuation Index RF Source Power dBm 0...

Page 45: ...opment self help resources to email and phone assistance from NI Application Engineers A Declaration of Conformity DoC is our claim of compliance with the Council of the European Communities using the...

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