RF Input Amplitude Range

Amplitude range

Configuration A

Average noise level to +25 dBm (CW RMS), nominal[1]1 Reference levels up to +26 dBm are available when headroom is reduced to 0 dB.

Configuration B.1

Average noise level to +20 dBm (CW RMS), nominal

Configuration B.2

Average noise level to +27 dBm (CW RMS), nominal

Note Amplitude range refers to the settable range of the reference level. For input damage levels, see Front Panel I/O and Safety Voltages.

Gain resolution

1 dB, nominal

Table 8. Analog Gain Range (dB), Nominal

Configuration A
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A
50 MHz to <200 MHz 57
200 MHz to 6 GHz 57
>6 GHz to 12 GHz 55
>12 GHz to 18 GHz 53
>18 GHz to 23 GHz 55

Analog gain range, Configuration B.1

52 dB, nominal

Analog gain range, Configuration B.2

57 dB, nominal

RF Input Amplitude Settling Time

RF input amplitude settling time to <0.5 dB of final value, Configuration A

15 μs, nominal

RF input amplitude settling time to <0.1 dB, Configuration A

20 μs, nominal

Note Constant RF input signal, varying input reference level. Amplitude settling time refers to the time it takes to switch between two analog gain states with frequency unchanged once the hardware receives the amplitude change request from the driver software. The additional time due to software-initiated amplitude changes is not included and varies by computer. When changing frequencies, reconfiguration time is dominated by the frequency setting. Refer to Frequency Settling Time for more information.

RF Input Amplitude Accuracy

Table 9. RF Input Absolute Amplitude Accuracy (dB)

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to <200 MHz ±0.30 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.30 ±0.30
>1.75 GHz to 6 GHz ±0.35 ±0.45
>6 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.40 ±0.60
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.45 ±0.75

Conditions: Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency unless both Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth and Center Frequency > 1.75 GHz, in which case measured at 20 MHz offset from the center frequency.
Table 10. RF Input Absolute Amplitude Accuracy (dB)

Configuration B.2
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
B.2
23.5 GHz to 31 GHz ±0.95
>31 GHz to 41 GHz ±1.05
>41 GHz to 50 GHz ±1.30
>50 GHz to 53 GHz ±1.60

Conditions: Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency unless Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth, in which case measured at 20 MHz offset from the center frequency.
Figure 4. RF Input Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: Measured in 1 dB steps between -30 dBm and +25 dBm reference levels.

Figure 5. RF Input Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: Measured in 2 dB steps between -30 dBm and +20 dBm reference levels.

Figure 6. RF Input Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.2



Conditions: Measured at reference levels between -30 dBm and +22 dBm.

Table 11. RF Input Relative Amplitude Accuracy (dB)

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to <200 MHz ±0.15 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.15 ±0.20
>1.75 GHz to 6 GHz ±0.20 ±0.40
>6 GHz to 10 GHz ±0.15 ±0.50
>10 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.15 ±0.20
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.20 ±0.20

Relative accuracy describes the residual absolute error when compared to the absolute accuracy error at the 0 dBm reference level.

Conditions: Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency unless both Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth and Center Frequency > 1.75 GHz, in which case measured at 20 MHz offset from the center frequency.
Figure 7. RF Input Relative Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: Measured in 1 dB steps between -30 dBm and +25 dBm reference levels. Normalized to absolute accuracy at 0 dBm reference level.

Figure 8. RF Input Relative Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: Measured in 2 dB steps between -30 dBm and +20 dBm reference levels. Normalized to absolute accuracy at 0 dBm reference level.

RF Input Frequency Response

Table 12. RF Input Magnitude Response (dB), Typical

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to <200 MHz ±0.35 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.35 ±0.40
>1.75 GHz to 7 GHz ±0.30 ±0.40
>7 GHz to 9 GHz ±0.30 ±0.65 (±0.30)*
>9 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.30 ±0.35
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.30 ±0.40

Conditions: Reference level -30 dBm to +25 dBm for Configuration A; reference level -30 dBm to +20 dBm for Configuration B.1. This specification excludes the bandwidth between -20 MHz and +20 MHz when both Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth and Center Frequency > 1.75 GHz. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for more information on the offset mode.

Magnitude response is defined as the maximum relative amplitude deviation from the amplitude observed at the reference frequency, the frequency where absolute amplitude accuracy is defined. For the absolute amplitude accuracy at the reference frequency, refer to the table in RF Input Amplitude Accuracy. For the PXIe-5842, the reference frequency is the center frequency, except when both Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth and Center Frequency > 1.75 GHz, in which case the reference frequency is 20 MHz offset from the configured center frequency.

* Improved RF input magnitude response is achieved when Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth.
Table 13. RF Input Magnitude Response (dB), Typical

Configuration B.2
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
B.2
23.5 GHz to 31 GHz ±1.40
>31 GHz to 41 GHz ±1.05
>41 GHz to 50 GHz ±1.25
>50 GHz to 53 GHz ±1.25

Conditions: Reference level -30 dBm to +22 dBm. This specification excludes the bandwidth between -20 MHz and +20 MHz when Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for more information on the offset mode.

Magnitude response is defined as the maximum relative amplitude deviation from the amplitude observed at the reference frequency, the frequency where absolute amplitude accuracy is defined. For the absolute amplitude accuracy at the reference frequency, refer to the table in RF Input Amplitude Accuracy. For the PXIe-5842, the reference frequency is the center frequency, except when Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth, in which case the reference frequency is 20 MHz offset from the configured center frequency.
Figure 9. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 0 Hz.

Figure 10. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 0 Hz.

Figure 11. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.2



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 0 Hz. Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth.

Figure 12. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 20 MHz.

Figure 13. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 20 MHz.

Figure 14. RF Input Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.2



Conditions: 0 dBm Reference Level, normalized to 20 MHz. Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth.

RF Input Return Loss

Figure 15. RF Input Return Loss, Measured

Configuration A



Condition: Return loss measured at RF input center frequency.

Figure 16. RF Input Return Loss, Measured

Configuration B.1



Condition: Return loss measured at RF input center frequency.

Figure 17. RF Input Return Loss, Measured

Configuration B.2



1 Reference levels up to +26 dBm are available when headroom is reduced to 0 dB.