Applicable Instruments

These specifications apply to PXIe-5842 instruments that are based around a PXIe-5842 module with assembly part number 135077x-01L, where x is hardware revision B or later.

You can find the assembly part number in the following locations:

  • On the module: relative to viewing the front panel of the PXIe-5842 module, view the sticker affixed to the left side.
  • In software: in the MAX configuration tree, expand Devices and Interfaces and select the PXIe-5842 module. In the Settings pane for the module, view the assembly part number and hardware revision.

This assembly number series is used in the following shipping kits:

  • 788565-01
  • 788565-02
  • 788565-03
  • 788566-02

Definitions

Warranted specifications describe the performance of a model under stated operating conditions and are covered by the model warranty. Warranted specifications account for measurement uncertainties, temperature drift, and aging. Warranted specifications are ensured by design or verified during production and calibration.

Characteristics describe values that are relevant to the use of the model under stated operating conditions but are not covered by the model warranty.

  • Typical specifications describe the performance met by a majority of models.
  • Typical-95 specifications describe the performance met by 95% (≈2σ) of models with a 95% confidence.
  • Nominal specifications describe an attribute that is based on design, conformance testing, or supplemental testing.
  • Measured specifications describe the measured performance of a representative model.

Specifications are Typical unless otherwise noted.

Conditions

All specifications are valid under the following conditions unless otherwise noted.

  • 30 minutes warm-up time; warm-up time begins when the PXI Express chassis and any modules external to the PXI Express chassis have been powered on and the operating system has completely loaded
  • Self-calibration is performed after the warm-up time has completed
  • Calibration cycle is maintained
  • Environment temperature is within the ambient range, onboard temperature sensors within the PXIe-5842 instrument are within ±5 °C of the last self-calibration temperature, and temperature correction is enabled (default driver behavior)
  • Installed in chassis with 82 W slot cooling capacity with fan mode set to Auto
  • Empty chassis slots contain slot blockers and EMC filler panels to minimize temperature drift and reduce emissions
  • Modules are connected with NI cables and according to setup instructions, as documented in PXIe-5842 user documentation, are followed
  • Instrument driver of an appropriate version, as follows, is used with driver default settings unless otherwise noted:
    • PXIe-5842 VST (Up to 2 GHz BW)—RFmx 2022 Q4 or later, NI-RFSA 2022 Q4 or later, or NI-RFSG 2022 Q4 or later
    • PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension—RFmx 2023 Q1 or later, NI-RFSA 2023 Q1 or later, or NI-RFSG 2023 Q1 or later

Warranted specifications are valid under the following condition unless otherwise noted.

  • Over an ambient temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C

Typical and Typical-95 specifications are valid under the following condition unless otherwise noted.

  • Over an ambient temperature range of 23 °C ±5 °C

Typical specifications do not include measurement uncertainty.

Measured specifications do not include measurement uncertainty and are measured immediately after a device self-calibration is performed.

PXIe-5842 Pinouts

Use the pinouts to connect to terminals on the PXIe-5842.

PXIe-5842 MGT Connector Pinout

Single MGT connector shown; the PXIe-5842 front panel has four MGT connectors that have identical pinouts.

Table 1. PXIe-5842 MGT Signal Descriptions
Pin Signal Description
A1 Reserved N/A
A2 Reserved N/A
A3 GND Ground reference for signals
A4 Rx+ 0 Receive channel 0, positive
A5 Rx- 0 Receive channel 0, negative
A6 GND Ground reference for signals
A7 Rx+ 3 Receive channel 3, positive
A8 Rx- 3 Receive channel 3, negative
A9 GND Ground reference for signals
B1 Optical 3.3 V Power supply for active/optical cables
B2 GPIO Reserved
B3 GND Ground reference for signals
B4 Rx+ 1 Receive channel 1, positive
B5 Rx- 1 Receive channel 1, negative
B6 GND Ground reference for signals
B7 Rx+ 2 Receive channel 2, positive
B8 Rx- 2 Receive channel 2, negative
B9 GND Ground reference for signals
C1 SCL Serial clock
C2 SDA Serial data
C3 GND Ground reference for signals
C4 Tx+ 0 Transmit channel 0, positive
C5 Tx- 0 Transmit channel 0, negative
C6 GND Ground reference for signals
C7 Tx+ 3 Transmit channel 3, positive
C8 Tx- 3 Transmit channel 3, negative
C9 GND Ground reference for signals
D1 Optical 3.3 V Power supply for active/optical cables
D2 EEPROM 3.3 V EEPROM power supply
D3 GND Ground reference for signals
D4 Tx+ 1 Transmit channel 1, positive
D5 Tx- 1 Transmit channel 1, negative
D6 GND Ground reference for signals
D7 Tx+ 2 Transmit channel 2, positive
D8 Tx- 2 Transmit channel 2, negative
D9 GND Ground reference for signals

PXIe-5842 DIO Connector Pinout



Table 2. PXIe-5842 DIO Signal Descriptions
Pin Signal Description
19 GND Ground reference for signals
18 VCC +3.3 V power (200 mA maximum)
17 DIO 7 Bidirectional digital I/O line
16 DIO 6 Bidirectional digital I/O line
15 DIO 5 Bidirectional digital I/O line
14 DIO 4 Bidirectional digital I/O line
13 GND Ground reference for signals
12 DIO 3 Bidirectional digital I/O line
11 DIO 2 Bidirectional digital I/O line
10 GND Ground reference for signals
9 DIO 1 Bidirectional digital I/O line
8 DIO 0 Bidirectional digital I/O line
7 GND Ground reference for signals
6 GND Ground reference for signals
5 NC No connection
4 GND Ground reference for signals
3 GND Ground reference for signals
2 NC No connection
1 GND Ground reference for signals

PXIe-5842 Configuration Definitions

The PXIe-5842 name applies to various instruments, each with different specifications, that comprise different sets of individual modules. The PXIe-5842 specifications apply to different ports across modules within the PXIe-5842 instrument depending on your PXIe-5842 instrument configuration.

PXIe-5842 specifications use shorthand Configuration names to refer to PXIe-5842 instruments. Additionally, depending on the configuration, PXIe-5842 specifications may apply at different ports on different modules within the overall PXIe-5842 instrument.

Note PXIe-5842 instruments are integrated at the time of purchase and one instrument cannot be modified into another after purchase.

The following table describes which configuration name applies to which PXIe-5842 instrument and where the RF Input and RF Output specifications apply within each PXIe-5842 instrument.

Table 3. PXIe-5842 Specifications Configurations and Applicable Ports
Instrument Constituent Modules Specification Configuration Specifications Apply At
Module RF Input RF Output
PXIe-5842 VST (Up to 2 GHz BW)
  • PXIe-5842
  • PXIe-5655
 A PXIe-5842 RF IN RF OUT
PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension
  • PXIe-5842
  • PXIe-5655 (×2)
  • PXIe-5543
  • RMM-5585
 B.1 PXIe-5543 RF IN/OUT 0
RF IN/OUT 1
B.2 RMM-5585 RF IN/OUT PORTS: 0
RF IN/OUT PORTS: 1
Note Configuration B.1 and Configuration B.2 both relate to a single purchasable instrument, the PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension. These configurations are distinguished only for purposes of these specifications. Configuration B.1 specifies performance at the PXIe-5543, which is used for generation and analysis of signals with Frequency < 23 GHz; Configuration B.2 specifies performance at the RMM-5585 remote measurement module, which is used for generation and analysis of signals with Frequency ≥ 23 GHz.

The following figures illustrate these configurations and the modules within them:

Figure 1. PXIe-5842 Configuration A

PXIe-5842 VST (Up to 2 GHz BW)



Figure 2. PXIe-5842 Configuration B.1

PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension



Specifications apply at PXIe-5543 RF IN/OUT ports.

Figure 3. PXIe-5842 Configuration B.2

PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension



Specifications apply at RF IN/OUT PORTS on the RMM-5585 front panel (not shown).

Common NI Terminology for RF Settings

Refer to the following list for definitions of common NI terms related to software-configured settings for the PXIe-5842 and used throughout this document.

Table 4. Common Terminology Definitions
Term Definition
Center Frequency

Refers to the IQ Carrier Frequency property in NI-RFSA, the Frequency property in NI-RFSG, and the Center Frequency property in RFmx.
Frequency Offset Mode is Automatic

Refers to the NI-RFSA Downconverter Frequency Offset Mode property or NI-RFSG Upconverter Frequency Offset Mode property set to Automatic.

Equivalent to the term Offset Mode is Automatic.

The PXIe-5842 uses a direct conversion architecture. Offset Mode allows the instrument to operate in low IF mode, which increases the separation between the signal of interest and the residual sideband image and residual LO leakage power. However, low IF mode limits the available instantaneous bandwidth. A setting of Automatic allows the driver to set Offset Mode to Enabled when the signal bandwidth is configured as small enough to allow it. You can read back the Offset Mode to determine if the driver selected Enabled or User-Defined.

Automatic is the default value. NI recommends keeping Offset Mode set to the default value.
Frequency Offset Mode is Enabled

Refers to the NI-RFSA Downconverter Frequency Offset Mode property or NI-RFSG Upconverter Frequency Offset Mode property set to Enabled.

Equivalent to the following terms or conditions:

  • Offset Mode is Enabled
  • Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth

The PXIe-5842 uses a direct conversion architecture. Offset Mode allows the instrument to operate in low IF mode, which increases the separation between the signal of interest and the residual sideband image and residual LO leakage power.
Frequency Offset Mode is User-Defined

Refers to the NI-RFSA Downconverter Frequency Offset Mode property or NI-RFSG Upconverter Frequency Offset Mode property set to User-Defined.

Equivalent to the following terms or conditions:

  • Offset Mode is User-Defined
  • Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth

The PXIe-5842 uses a direct conversion architecture. Offset Mode set to User-Defined allows the instrument to operate with maximum instantaneous bandwidth.
Onboard

With respect to local oscillators, refers to the value of the LO Source property. A value of Onboard configures the hardware to use the integral local oscillator of the instrument, that of the associated PXIe-5655 module(s).

With respect to reference clocks, refers to the value of the NI-RFSG Reference Clock Source or NI-RFSA Ref Clock Source properties. A value of Onboard Clock configures the hardware to use the integral reference clock of the instrument, that of the associated PXIe-5655 module(s).
dBr
  • For input—Power of an acquired signal with respect to the instrument's configured reference level. For example, if the reference level is set to -10 dBm but the acquired tone is -7 dBr, the actual power of the acquired CW is -17 dBm.
  • For output—Generated power of a CW with respect to the instrument's peak power setting. For example, with a peak power level setting of +5 dBm and a -3 dBr setting, the power of the generated CW is +2 dBm.
    • RF IN/OUT Ports For the PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension, refers to the following connectors, depending on signal frequency as follows:
  • Frequency < 23 GHz—RF IN/OUT ports on the PXIe-5543 front panel
  • Frequency ≥ 23 GHz—RF IN/OUT PORTS on the RMM-5585 front panel
    • IF IN/OUT Ports For the PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension, Refers to the IF OUT 0 and IF IN 0 ports of the PXIe-5543 for intermediate frequency (IF) signals.

    The ports of the RMM-5585 with this label are used for intermodule connections only.
    LO1 For the PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension, the local oscillator that drives the upconversion and downconversion, which takes place within the RMM-5585, between IF and millimeter wave frequencies. LO1 is generated from the PXIe-5655 installed to the right of the PXIe-5543 module.
    LO2 For the PXIe-5842 VST with 54 GHz Frequency Extension, the local oscillator for the PXIe-5842 module responsible for the upconversion and downconversion between baseband and IF. LO2 is generated from the PXIe-5655 installed adjacent to the PXIe-5842 module.