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GETTING STARTED GUIDE

NI PXIe-5646R

6 GHz Reconfigurable RF Vector Signal Transceiver with 200 MHz
Bandwidth

Note

 

Before you begin, install and configure your chassis and controller.

This document explains how to install, configure, and test the NI 5646R. The NI 5646R is an
RF vector signal transceiver (VST), and ships with the following software options, which you
use to program the device.

NI-RFmx driver software

NI-RFSA and NI-RFSG driver software

NI LabVIEW Instrument Design Libraries for Vector Signal Transceivers (instrument
design libraries)

Caution

 

The protection provided by this equipment may be impaired if it is used

in a manner not described in the documentation.

Contents

Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines...............................................................................2
Verifying the System Requirements......................................................................................... 2
Unpacking the Kit.....................................................................................................................2
Preparing the Environment....................................................................................................... 3
Verifying the Kit Contents........................................................................................................ 4

Other Equipment...............................................................................................................4

Choosing and Installing the Software.......................................................................................5

Software Options.............................................................................................................. 5
Installing the Software...................................................................................................... 7

Installing the NI 5646R.............................................................................................................8

Direct Connections to the NI 5646R...............................................................................10
Hardware Front Panel Connectors and Indicators.......................................................... 11

Configuring the Hardware in MAX........................................................................................14
Self-Calibration.......................................................................................................................15
Locating the Software and Examples..................................................................................... 16

Software Locations......................................................................................................... 16
Programming Examples Locations.................................................................................19

NI 5646R First Measurement Options....................................................................................20

Making a Measurement with Soft Front Panels..............................................................20
Making a Measurement with a Sample Project.............................................................. 20

Summary of Contents for PXIe-5646R

Page 1: ...n provided by this equipment may be impaired if it is used in a manner not described in the documentation Contents Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines 2 Verifying the System Requirements 2 Unpacking the Kit 2 Preparing the Environment 3 Verifying the Kit Contents 4 Other Equipment 4 Choosing and Installing the Software 5 Software Options 5 Installing the Software 7 Installing the NI 5646R 8 D...

Page 2: ...documentation Furthermore any changes or modifications to the product not expressly approved by National Instruments could void your authority to operate it under your local regulatory rules Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance operate this product only with shielded cables and accessories Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance operate this product only with cables less than 3 ...

Page 3: ...e that the environment you are using the NI 5646R in meets the following specifications Operating ambient temperature IEC 60068 2 1 IEC 60068 2 2 0 C to 55 C Operating relative humidity IEC 60068 2 56 10 to 90 noncondensing Maximum altitude 2 000 m 800 mbar at 25 C ambient temperature Pollution Degree 2 Indoor use only Caution Clean the hardware with a soft nonmetallic brush or lint free cloth Mak...

Page 4: ...it that you need to operate the NI 5646R Your application may require additional items not included in your kit to install or operate your device Required Items A PXI Express chassis and chassis documentation The NI PXIe 1075 chassis is one available option for your PXI Express device For more information about compatible chassis options visit ni com info and enter the Info Code pxiechassis A PXI ...

Page 5: ...are Software Options NI provides three software options for programming the NI 5646R NI RFmx NI RFSA and NI RFSG instrument driver software and the instrument design libraries NI PXIe 5646R Getting Started Guide National Instruments 5 ...

Page 6: ...Q data Use NI RFSG to generate continuous or modulated waveforms Use NI RFSA and NI RFSG with the NI Modulation Toolkit to develop software defined radio transmitters and receivers Use NI RFSG with the NI Modulation Toolkit to create and generate modulated signals to test receivers Instrument design libraries The instrument design libraries allow you to customize your NI 5646R device to suit the n...

Page 7: ...NI RFSA and NI RFSG Soft Front Panels support Yes Yes Yes LabVIEW examples or sample projects Includes LabVIEW examples Includes LabVIEW examples Includes LabVIEW sample projects with additional examples available at ni com vstgettingstarted Installing the Software You must be an Administrator to install NI software on your computer 1 Install NI LabVIEW 2 Recommended Install NI LabVIEW FPGA Module...

Page 8: ...djacent chassis slots and the left two slots must be PXI Express compatible 1 Ensure the AC power source is connected to the chassis before installing the module The AC power cord grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while you install the module 2 Power off the chassis 3 Inspect the slot pins on the chassis backplane for any bends or damage prior to installation Do not instal...

Page 9: ... base engages with the guides in the chassis Figure 3 NI 5646R Module Installation 1 2 3 ESD SENSIT IVE NI PX Ie 5 646 R Vec tor Sig nal Tran sce iver 65 MH z 6 0 GHz 200 MH z BW 1 PXI Express Chassis 2 NI PXIe 5646R Module 3 Ejector Handle in Down Position 11 Latch the module in place by pulling up on the ejector handle 12 Secure the module front panel to the chassis using the front panel mountin...

Page 10: ...device is powered off may cause damage Ensure you are properly grounded when manipulating cables or antennas connected to the NI 5646R RF IN connector If you are using nonisolated devices such as a nonisolated RF antenna ensure the devices are maintained in a static free environment If you are using an active device such as a preamplifier or switch routed to the NI 5646R RF IN connector ensure tha...

Page 11: ...z 200 MHz BW REF IN 5Vp p MAX 50 Ω RF IN 0 RF OUT 0 CAL IN CAL OUT LO OUT LO OUT LO IN LO IN RF IN RF OUT REF OUT 1 65Vp p 50 Ω DIGITAL I O LVTTL ESD SENSITIVE 33 dBm MAX 50 Ω 0 dBm 50 Ω 0 dBm 50 Ω Reverse Power 33 dBm MAX 50 Ω 15 dBm MAX 50 Ω 15 dBm MAX 50 Ω PFI 0 LVTTL NI PXIe 5646R Getting Started Guide National Instruments 11 ...

Page 12: ...Hz Reference Clock REF OUT Output terminal that can export a 10 MHz Reference Clock or the 250 MHz Sample Clock PFI 0 Programmable function digital I O DIO connector for use with triggers or events DIGITAL I O DIO terminal that contains general purpose 3 3 V LVTTL DIO signals DIO lines are direction configurable as input or output Table 5 NI 5646R RF Front Panel Connectors Connector Use RF IN 0 RF...

Page 13: ...ble from or tampering with the CAL IN or CAL OUT front panel connectors voids the product calibration and specifications are no longer warranted Connector that is used when running self calibration on the device LO OUT Output terminal for exporting the RF OUT 0 LO source LO IN Input terminal that allows for the use of an external LO for RF OUT 0 NI PXIe 5646R Getting Started Guide National Instrum...

Page 14: ...reen The device is generating a waveform Dim amber The device is waiting for an acquisition Reference Trigger Solid amber The device is acquiring a waveform Solid red The device has detected an error The LED remains red until the error condition is removed Note The indicators are listed in increasing order of priority For example if you are generating a waveform using NI RFSG and waiting on an acq...

Page 15: ...Perform a complete self calibration after first installing your module and letting it warm up for 30 minutes Note Warm up begins when the PXI Express chassis has been powered on and the operating system has completely loaded The NI 5646R modules are externally calibrated at the factory however you should perform a self calibration in any of the following situations After first installing the NI 56...

Page 16: ...ctory and import library files located in one of the following directories Windows 10 32 bit 8 1 32 bit 7 32 bit NIDir Shared ExternalCompilerSupport C include Windows 10 64 bit 8 1 64 bit 7 64 bit 32 bit installation NIDir Shared ExternalCompilerSupport C lib32 msvc 64 bit installation NIDir Shared ExternalCompilerSupport C lib64 msvc where NIDir is one of the following locations Windows 10 32 bi...

Page 17: ...es x86 IVI Foundation IVI Microsoft Visual C C Use the header files located in the IVIROOTDIR32 Include directory and import library files located in the IVIROOTDIR32 Lib directory where IVIROOTDIR32 is one of the following directories Windows 10 32 bit 8 1 32 bit 7 32 bit Program Files IVI Foundation IVI Windows 10 64 bit 8 1 64 bit 7 64 bit Program Files x86 IVI Foundation IVI Microsoft NET To u...

Page 18: ...located in the IVIROOTDIR32 Lib directory where IVIROOTDIR32 is one of the following directories Windows 10 32 bit 8 1 32 bit 7 32 bit Program Files IVI Foundation IVI Windows 10 64 bit 8 1 64 bit 7 64 bit Program Files x86 IVI Foundation IVI Microsoft NET To use the NET API you must install the NET class libraries For download and installed file locations visit ni com info and enter Info Code NET...

Page 19: ...mming the NI 5646R 1 Launch LabVIEW 2 In the New Project dialog box select Sample Projects in the left pane 3 Navigate to and open the project that best matches your application requirements Using Microsoft Visual C C If you re using NI RFmx or NI RFSA with Microsoft Visual C C locate examples in the following directories Table 8 Location of Microsoft Visual C C Programming Examples Software Optio...

Page 20: ...z continuous wave CW tone RF signal at the RF output terminal of your device 5 Select Start All Programs National Instruments NI RFSA NI RFSA Soft Front Panel to launch the NI RFSA Soft Front Panel 6 Select the device identifier assigned to the NI 5646R in MAX in the Device drop down menu 7 Verify that the NI RFSA Soft Front Panel is receiving the CW tone 8 Close the NI RFSA Soft Front Panel and N...

Page 21: ...Disconnect any signals from the PXI Express module front panels Caution Do not disconnect the cable that connects CAL IN to CAL OUT Removing the cable from or tampering with the CAL IN or CAL OUT front panel connectors voids the product calibration and specifications are no longer warranted 2 Power off the PXI Express chassis 3 Remove the module from the PXI Express chassis and inspect it for dama...

Page 22: ... controller verify that a National Instruments entry appears in the system device list If error conditions appear in the list right click the NI PXIe 5646R and NI RIO FPGA Device nodes and select Update Driver If you are using an MXI controller right click PCI to PCI Bridge and select Properties from the shortcut menu to verify that the bridge is enabled 6 Restart your computer 22 ni com NI PXIe 5...

Page 23: ...y Support ni com support more about your products through ni com Located online at ni com manuals Located online at ni com gettingstarted RF Solutions ni com rf NI PXIe 5646R Specifications NI RF Vector Signal Transceivers Help Tip The NI RF Vector Signal Transceivers Help is an HTML version of a traditional user manual that includes detailed information about RF fundamentals device features and p...

Page 24: ...nformation support phone numbers email addresses and current events Refer to the NI Trademarks and Logo Guidelines at ni com trademarks for information on NI trademarks Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies For patents covering NI products technology refer to the appropriate location Help Patents in your software the patents tx...

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