NI, formerly known as National Instruments, has attended to both ends of this spectrum with its vector signal transceiver (VST) concept, first introduced in 2012. The VST combines an RF signal generator, RF signal analyzer and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) onto a single PXI module to serve a wide range of RF design and test applications — particularly those requiring an RF stimulus and RF response.
In early September, the company announced new options and extended capabilities for its third-generation PXI VST, the PXIe-5842, designed to support testing and validation of products in aerospace and defense applications while also offering traditional RF capabilities such as spectrum analysis, signal analysis and signal generation.
According to the company, the PXIe-5842 delivers precise control over signal parameters and real-time analysis with extended frequency coverage from 30 MHz to 26.5 GHz. Enhancements also include up to 2 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) and upgraded local oscillator (LO) offset mode with improved average noise density. The new version enables both digital and analog pulse modulation capabilities, and its 16-lane high-speed serial interface enables low-latency digital I/Q data streaming at rates up to the full 2 GHz IBW of the instrument, with future-proofing to 4 GHz. When combined with PXI-based FPGA co-processors from NI, the VST can emulate RF environments or other RF devices for system-level tests.
NI said that the new capabilities build upon the flexibility and versatility of the PXIe-5842, making it useful for generic RF testing and particularly suitable for aerospace and defense applications.
“Next generation radar, electronic warfare, and communications technologies require radically different methods than the status quo for validation and test on tight schedules,” said Luke Schreier, vice president and general manager of NI’s Aerospace, Defense and Government Business. “The performance we have unlocked in this third-generation vector signal transceiver is critical to future-proofing your test capability, exploiting the insight that comes from rich test data and architecting a truly software-centric approach to electromagnetic spectrum operations. It is the culmination of decades worth of investment in PXI, RF technology and software from NI designed to maximize your product’s performance through test.”
