PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters RF Output Dynamic Range

RF Output Average Noise Density

Table 205. RF Output Average Noise Power Spectral Density (dBm/Hz)

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency Output Power Warranted Typical
30 MHz to 600 MHz -30 dBm -152 -158
>600 MHz to 1.75 GHz -30 dBm -165 -168
>1.75 GHz to 3.75 GHz -30 dBm -164 -168
>3.75 GHz to 8 GHz -30 dBm -165 -168
>8 GHz to 12 GHz -30 dBm -164 -168
>12 GHz to 18 GHz -30 dBm -161 -165
>18 GHz to 22 GHz -30 dBm -160 -164
>22 GHz to 25 GHz -30 dBm -157 -160
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz -30 dBm -153 -158
30 MHz to 600 MHz 0 dBm -117 -126
>600 MHz to 1.75 GHz 0 dBm -142 -147
>1.75 GHz to 3.75 GHz 0 dBm -142 -146
>3.75 GHz to 6 GHz 0 dBm -144 -148
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 0 dBm -144 -148
>8 GHz to 12 GHz 0 dBm -140 -145
>12 GHz to 18 GHz 0 dBm -138 -142
>18 GHz to 22 GHz 0 dBm -138 -142
>22 GHz to 25 GHz 0 dBm -133 -138
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz 0 dBm — —
30 MHz to 600 MHz Minimum of 15 dBm and Specification Maximum Level -112 -118
>600 MHz to 1.75 GHz -123 -129
>1.75 GHz to 3.75 GHz -125 -130
>3.75 GHz to 6 GHz -128 -134
>6 GHz to 8 GHz -128 -133
>8 GHz to 12 GHz -127 -132
>12 GHz to 18 GHz -122 -128
>18 GHz to 22 GHz -124 -130
>22 GHz to 24 GHz -127 -133
>24 GHz to 25 GHz -130 -135
Conditions:
  • Measurement configuration: power measured 20 MHz offset from the center frequency; 10 averages; normalized to a 1 Hz equivalent noise bandwidth
  • Generation configuration: -40 dBr CW signal 20 MHz offset from the measurement frequency

Noise for power level setting of -30 dBm is limited by the measurement instrument.

Noise relative to output power, in dBc/Hz, is the difference between noise power density, in dBm/Hz, and the output power level in dBm. Example: the typical specification for 3.75 GHz to 6 GHz relative to 15 dBm output power is -137 dBm/Hz - 15 dBm = -152 dBc/Hz.

RF Output Third-Order Intermodulation

Table 206. RF Output Third-Order Intermodulation (IMD3, dBc)

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency Power Level Setting Maximum Offset Bandwidth Maximum Bandwidth
Warranted 23 °C ± 5 °C Warranted Typical Warranted 23 °C ± 5 °C Warranted Typical
30 MHz to 600 MHz -30 dBm — — — -54 -52 -56
>600 MHz to 3 GHz -30 dBm -54 -53 -58 -44 -43 -48
>3 GHz to 6 GHz -30 dBm -47 -44 -52 -47 -44 -52
>6 GHz to 12 GHz -30 dBm -51 -48 -56 -46 -43 -54
>12 GHz to 18 GHz -30 dBm -48 -44 -56 -44 -40 -52
>18 GHz to 26.5 GHz -30 dBm -46 -42 -52 -41 -37 -48
30 MHz to 600 MHz 0 dBm — — — -46 -36 -57
>600 MHz to 3 GHz 0 dBm -53 -52 -57 -46 -44 -52
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 0 dBm -49 -47 -53 -49 -47 -52
>6 GHz to 12 GHz 0 dBm -50 -47 -54 -49 -48 -52
>12 GHz to 18 GHz 0 dBm -48 -42 -53 -46 -41 -52
>18 GHz to 25 GHz 0 dBm -46 -42 -51 -44 -39 -48
30 MHz to 3 GHz 15 dBm -48 -48 -52 -42 -40 -47
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 15 dBm -45 -43 -47 -45 -44 -49
>6 GHz to 12 GHz 15 dBm -42 -41 -47 -41 -40 -46
>12 GHz to 18 GHz Specification Maximum Level -34 -33 -39 -37 -36 -41
>18 GHz to 20 GHz -36 -35 -41 -36 -35 -41
>20 GHz to 22 GHz -35 -34 -39 -35 -34 -39
>22 GHz to 24 GHz -42 -38 -47 -35 -34 -41
>24 GHz to 26.5 GHz -42 -38 -47 -38 -34 -41
Maximum offset bandwidth refers to setting Signal Bandwidth ≤ Maximum Offset Bandwidth. Maximum bandwidth refers to setting Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth. The signal bandwidth corresponding to maximum bandwidth and maximum offset bandwidth varies by center frequency and is defined in Equalized Bandwidth. See Common NI RF Terminology for definitions of offset mode settings.

Conditions: Measured by generating two -7 dBr tones at the following offsets from the center frequency:

  • Center Frequency < 1 GHz: +10 MHz and +10.7 MHz
  • Center Frequency ≥ 1 GHz: +95 MHz and +105 MHz

The nominal peak envelope power is 1 dB below the output power level setting.

RF Output Phase Noise

Table 207. RF Output Phase Noise (dBc/Hz), Typical

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency 100 Hz Frequency Offset 1 kHz Frequency Offset 10 kHz Frequency Offset 100 kHz Frequency Offset 1 MHz Frequency Offset 10 MHz Frequency Offset
900 MHz -102 -118 -129 -140 -145 -146
2.4 GHz -93 -117 -127 -134 -143 -144
5.5 GHz -86 -111 -121 -128 -140 -142
10 GHz -81 -107 -117 -124 -136 -140
18 GHz -75 -102 -112 -119 -131 -136
Conditions: 0 dBm Power Level setting.

RF Output Harmonic Spurs

Table 208. RF Output Harmonic Spurs (dBc)

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency Digital Gain Backoff Warranted 23 °C ± 5 °C Warranted Typical
30 MHz to 1.75 GHz 0 dB -33 -29 -38
>1.75 GHz to 2.3 GHz 0 dB -31 -30 -37
>2.3 GHz to 3 GHz 0 dB -28 (-36)* -27 (-35)* -35 (-42)*
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 0 dB -27 -23 -33
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 0 dB -31 -28 -36
>8 GHz to 13.25 GHz 0 dB -30 -29 -35
30 MHz to 1.75 GHz 12 dB -40 -39 -47
>1.75 GHz to 2.3 GHz 12 dB -43 -42 -49
>2.3 GHz to 3 GHz 12 dB -40 (-47)* -40 (-46)* -47 (-53)*
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 12 dB -40 -37 -46
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 12 dB -44 -41 -48
>8 GHz to 13.25 GHz 12 dB -43 -41 -47
Conditions: Power level setting 0 dBm; measured with CW signal at 20 MHz offset from the center frequency. Includes CW and LO harmonic content up to 26.5 GHz.

*: Improved harmonic suppression is achieved when Signal Bandwidth > Maximum Offset Bandwidth as defined in Equalized Bandwidth.

RF Output LO Residual Power

Table 209. RF Output LO Residual Power (dBr), Typical

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency Digital Gain Backoff Value
>1.75 GHz to 3 GHz 0 dB -54
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 0 dB -48
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 0 dB -45
>8 GHz to 10 GHz 0 dB -46
>10 GHz to 12 GHz 0 dB -43
>12 GHz to 14 GHz 0 dB -37
>14 GHz to 18 GHz 0 dB -37
>18 GHz to 23 GHz 0 dB -38
>23 GHz to 25 GHz 0 dB -35
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz 0 dB -28
>1.75 GHz to 3 GHz 12 dB -58
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 12 dB -57
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 12 dB -52
>8 GHz to 10 GHz 12 dB -53
>10 GHz to 12 GHz 12 dB -45
>12 GHz to 14 GHz 12 dB -36
>14 GHz to 18 GHz 12 dB -37
>18 GHz to 23 GHz 12 dB -39
>23 GHz to 25 GHz 12 dB -35
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz 12 dB -28
Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to Specification Maximum Level in RF Output Amplitude Range; maximum LO residual power when generating a CW signal anywhere within the full instrument bandwidth. A digital backoff of 12 dB is representative of the residual LO power performance for many wideband communications signals with a PAPR of approximately 12 dB.

The PXIe-5842 uses the low frequency subsystem to directly generate the RF output signal for center frequencies ≤1.75 GHz.

RF Output Residual Sideband Image

Table 210. RF Output Residual Sideband Image (dBc), Typical

PXIe-5842 VST with S-Parameters
Center Frequency Digital Gain Backoff Value
>1.75 GHz to 3 GHz 0 dB -55
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 0 dB -44
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 0 dB -41
>8 GHz to 10 GHz 0 dB -40
>10 GHz to 12 GHz 0 dB -47
>12 GHz to 14 GHz 0 dB -34
>14 GHz to 18 GHz 0 dB -49
>18 GHz to 23 GHz 0 dB -50
>23 GHz to 25 GHz 0 dB -44
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz 0 dB -33
>1.75 GHz to 3 GHz 12 dB -57
>3 GHz to 6 GHz 12 dB -50
>6 GHz to 8 GHz 12 dB -43
>8 GHz to 10 GHz 12 dB -42
>10 GHz to 12 GHz 12 dB -49
>12 GHz to 14 GHz 12 dB -46
>14 GHz to 18 GHz 12 dB -49
>18 GHz to 23 GHz 12 dB -49
>23 GHz to 25 GHz 12 dB -46
>25 GHz to 26.5 GHz 12 dB -38
Conditions: Peak power level -30 dBm to Specification Maximum Level in RF Output Amplitude Range; maximum residual sideband image when generating a CW signal anywhere within the full instrument bandwidth. A digital backoff of 12 dB is representative of the sideband image performance for many wideband communications signals with a PAPR of approximately 12 dB.

The PXIe-5842 uses the low frequency subsystem to directly generate the RF output signal for center frequencies <1.75 GHz.