RF Output Amplitude Range

Table 19. RF Output Maximum Power (dBm), Maximum Bandwidth

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
Leveled Power Unleveled Power Leveled Power
50 MHz to 150 MHz +15 +23 —
>150 MHz to <200 MHz +18 +21 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz +18 +21 +18
>1.75 GHz to 4 GHz +18 +20 +18
>4 GHz to 6 GHz +20 +23 +20
>6 GHz to 7 GHz TBD TBD TBD
>7 GHz to 8 GHz TBD TBD TBD
>8 GHz to 18 GHz TBD TBD TBD
>18 GHz to 22 GHz +16 +19 +16
>22 GHz to 23 GHz +13 +17 +13

Leveled power defines the maximum requested power level where compression is minimal and the RF Output Amplitude Accuracy specification is valid.

Unleveled power defines the maximum realizable output power of the PXIe-5842 when the requested output power is maximized. Unleveled power is typically compressed from the requested power and its level accuracy is not specified by the RF Output Amplitude Accuracy specification.

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.

This table describes PXIe-5842 performance under default conditions. If Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth when Offset Mode is Automatic, the PXIe-5842 offset mode setting automatically changes to Enabled, which provides less output power. Use the User-Defined offset mode if you want to maintain the output power shown in this table. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for definitions of offset mode settings; see Maximum Bandwidth in Equalized Bandwidth for more information about bandwidth.
Table 20. RF Output Maximum Power (dBm), Maximum Offset Bandwidth

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
Leveled Power Unleveled Power Leveled Power
50 MHz to 150 MHz — — —
>150 MHz to <200 MHz — — —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz — — —
>1.75 GHz to 4 GHz +18 +20 +18
>4 GHz to 6 GHz +18 +20 +18
>6 GHz to 18 GHz +14 +15 +14
>18 GHz to 22 GHz +13 +15 +13
>22 GHz to 23 GHz +12 +14 +12

Leveled power defines the maximum requested power level where compression is minimal and the RF Output Amplitude Accuracy specification is valid.

Unleveled power defines the maximum realizable output power of the PXIe-5842 when the requested output power is maximized. Unleveled power is typically compressed from the requested power and its level accuracy is not specified by the RF Output Amplitude Accuracy specification.

Conditions: Measured with a CW signal at the configured center frequency. Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth.
Table 21. RF Output Maximum Power (dBm), Leveled Power

Configuration B.2
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
B.2
23 GHz to 40 GHz +10
>40 GHz to 47 GHz +6
>47 GHz to 50 GHz +2
>50 GHz to 53 GHz 0

Leveled power defines the maximum requested power level where compression is minimal and the RF Output Amplitude Accuracy specification is valid.

Conditions: Measured with a CW signal at the configured center frequency. Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth.

Minimum output power

Noise floor, nominal

Analog attenuation resolution

1 dB, nominal

Digital attenuation resolution[1]1 Average output power ≥ -100 dBm

<0.1 dB

Analog gain range, Configuration A

85 dB, nominal

Analog gain range, Configuration B.1

85 dB, nominal

Analog gain range, Configuration B.2

70 dB, nominal

Figure 21. RF Output Maximum Power (Maximum Bandwidth)

Configuration A



Note This figure describes PXIe-5842 performance under default conditions. If Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth when Offset Mode is Automatic, the PXIe-5842 offset mode setting automatically changes to Enabled, which provides less output power. Use the User-Defined offset mode if you want to maintain the output power shown in this table. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for definitions of offset mode settings; see Maximum Bandwidth in Equalized Bandwidth for more information about bandwidth.
Figure 22. RF Output Maximum Power (Maximum Bandwidth)

Configuration B.1



Note PXIe-5842 performance under default conditions. If Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth when Offset Mode is Automatic, the PXIe-5842 offset mode setting automatically changes to Enabled, which provides less output power. Use the User-Defined offset mode if you want to maintain the output power shown in this table. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for definitions of offset mode settings; see Maximum Bandwidth in Equalized Bandwidth for more information about bandwidth.
Figure 23. RF Output Maximum Power (Maximum Offset Bandwidth)

Configuration A



Note Measurements below 1.7 GHz are not applicable because the PXIe-5842 uses the low frequency subsystem to directly generate the RF output signal for center frequencies <1.7 GHz.
Note The default offset mode for the PXIe-5842 is Automatic. When Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth, the PXIe-5842 automatically offsets the bandwidth. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for more information.
Figure 24. RF Output Maximum Power (Maximum Offset Bandwidth)

Configuration B.1



Note Measurements below 1.7 GHz are not applicable because the PXIe-5842 uses the low frequency subsystem to directly generate the RF output signal for center frequencies <1.7 GHz.
Note The default offset mode for the PXIe-5842 is Automatic. When Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth, the PXIe-5842 automatically offsets the bandwidth. See Common NI Terminology for RF Settings for more information.
Figure 25. RF Output Maximum Power

Configuration B.2



RF Output Amplitude Settling Time

RF output amplitude settling time, Configuration A

<0.5 dB of final value

20 μs, nominal

<0.1 dB of final value

40 μs, nominal

Note 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. 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 settling. Refer to Frequency Settling Time for more information.

RF Output Amplitude Accuracy

Table 22. RF Output Absolute Amplitude Accuracy (dB)

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to 150 MHz ±0.35 —
>150 MHz to <200 MHz ±0.30 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.30 ±0.35
>1.75 GHz to 6 GHz ±0.30 ±0.35
>6 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.40 ±0.70
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.40 ±0.80

Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to leveled RF Output Maximum Power specification in RF Output Amplitude Range.

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 23. RF Output Absolute Amplitude Accuracy (dB), Leveled Power

Configuration B.2
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
B.2
23.5 GHz to 40 GHz ±1.45
>40 GHz to 47 GHz ±1.50
>47 GHz to 50 GHz ±1.35
>50 GHz to 53 GHz ±1.50

Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to leveled RF Output Maximum Power specification in RF Output Amplitude Range. 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 26. RF Output Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: Measured in 1 dB steps between -30 dBm and Maximum Leveled Power.

Figure 27. RF Output Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: Measured in 5 dB steps between -30 dBm and +20 dBm.

Figure 28. RF Output Absolute Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.2



Power levels ranging from 4 dBm to 6 dBm show a more conspicuous deviation in the 44 GHz to 47 GHz frequency range.

Conditions: Measured power levels between -30 dBm and maximum leveled power.

Table 24. RF Output Relative Amplitude Accuracy (dB)

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to 200 MHz ±0.20 —
>200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.20 ±0.20
>1.75 GHz to 4 GHz ±0.30 ±0.30
>4 GHz to 6 GHz ±0.25 ±0.25
>6 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.30 ±0.45
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.35 ±0.35

Relative accuracy describes the residual absolute error when compared to the absolute accuracy error at the 0 dBm peak power level settling while all other settings and conditions remain identical.

Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to leveled RF Output Maximum Power specification in RF Output Amplitude Range.

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 29. RF Output Relative Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: Measured in 1 dB steps between -30 dBm and Maximum Leveled Power. Normalized to absolute accuracy at the 0 dBm Power Level Setting.

Figure 30. RF Output Relative Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured

Configuration B.1



Conditions: Measured in 5 dB steps between -30 dBm and +20 dBm. Normalized to absolute accuracy at the 0 dBm Power Level Setting.

RF Output Frequency Response

Table 25. RF Output Magnitude Response (dB)

Configuration A, Configuration B.1
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
A B.1
50 MHz to 150 MHz ±0.60 —
>150 MHz to <200 MHz ±0.35 —
200 MHz to 1.75 GHz ±0.35 ±0.40
>1.75 GHz to 18 GHz ±0.20 ±0.40
>18 GHz to 23 GHz ±0.20 ±0.40

Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to leveled RF Output Maximum Power specification in RF Output Amplitude Range.

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 Output 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.
Table 26. RF Output Magnitude Response (dB)

Configuration B.2
Center Frequency Specification Configuration
B.2
23.5 GHz to 31 GHz ±1.20
>31 GHz to 42.5 GHz ±1.15
>42.5 GHz to 50 GHz ±0.75
>50 GHz to 53 GHz ±2.50

Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to leveled RF Output Maximum Power specification in RF Output Amplitude Range.

Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency when Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth and with a CW signal at 20 MHz offset from the center frequency when Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth.

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 Output Amplitude Accuracy. For the PXIe-5842, the reference frequency is the center frequency when Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth and 20 MHz offset from the center frequency when Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth.
Figure 31. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration A



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

Figure 32. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.1



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

Figure 33. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Offset Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.2



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

Figure 34. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration A



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

Figure 35. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.1



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

Figure 36. RF Output Magnitude Response (Maximum Bandwidth), Measured

Configuration B.2



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

Figure 37. RF Output Magnitude Response (Low Frequency), Measured

Configuration A



Conditions: 0 dBm Power Level, normalized to the center frequency.

Note Frequency span corresponds to the maximum supported bandwidth for each center frequency. Refer to Equalized Bandwidth for more information on the maximum supported bandwidth.

RF Output Return Loss

Figure 38. RF Output Return Loss, Measured

Configuration A



Condition: Return loss measured at RF output center frequency.

Figure 39. RF Output Return Loss, Measured

Configuration B.1



Condition: Return loss measured at RF output center frequency.

Figure 40. RF Output Return Loss, Measured

Configuration B.2



Condition: Return loss measured at RF output center frequency.

1 Average output power ≥ -100 dBm