PXIe-5860 VST RF Input Amplitude Specifications

RF Input Amplitude Range

Table 12. RF Input Amplitude Range (dBm), Nominal
Amplitude Range Average noise level to +25 (CW RMS)[1]1 Reference levels up to +26 dBm are available when headroom is reduced to 0 dB.
Note Amplitude Range refers to the settable range of the reference level. For input damage levels, see Front Panel I/O and Safety Voltages.
Table 13. Gain Resolution (dB), Nominal
Gain Resolution 1
Table 14. RF Input Analog Gain Range (dB), Nominal
Center Frequency Analog Gain Range
50 MHz to 8.5 GHz 56

RF Input Amplitude Settling Time

Table 15. RF Input Amplitude Settling Time (µs), Measured
<0.5 dB of final value 11
<0.1 dB of final value 27
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 setting. Refer to Frequency Settling Time for more information.

RF Input Amplitude Accuracy

Table 16. RF Input Absolute Amplitude Accuracy (dB)
Center Frequency Warranted 23 °C ± 5 °C Warranted Typical-95 Typical
50 MHz to 5 GHz ±1.00 ±1.10 ±0.55 ±0.25
>5 GHz to 7 GHz ±1.05 ±1.15 ±0.65 ±0.25
>7 GHz to 8.5 GHz ±1.15 ±1.25 ±0.75 ±0.25
Conditions: reference level -30 dBm to +25 dBm. Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency.
Figure 2. RF Input Absolute Amplitude Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured


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

Table 17. RF Input Relative Amplitude Accuracy (dB)
Center Frequency RF Input Relative Amplitude Accuracy
50 MHz to 8.5 GHz ±0.15
Conditions: reference level -30 dBm to +25 dBm. Measured with a CW signal at the center frequency.
Note Relative Accuracy describes the residual absolute error when compared to the absolute accuracy error at the 0 dBm reference level.
Figure 3. RF Input Relative Accuracy vs. Center Frequency, Measured


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

RF Input Frequency Response

Table 18. RF Input Magnitude Response (dB)
Center Frequency Warranted 23 °C ± 5 °C Warranted Typical-95 Typical
50 MHz to 550 MHz ± 1.45 ± 1.45 ± 1.00 ± 0.55
>550 MHz to 5 GHz ± 1.10 ± 1.15 ± 0.65 ± 0.25
>5 GHz to 8.5 GHz ± 1.30 ± 1.40 ± 0.80 ± 0.25
Conditions: reference level -30 dBm to +25 dBm.

Magnitude Response is defined as the maximum relative amplitude deviation from the amplitude observed at the Reference Frequency, or the frequency where absolute amplitude accuracy is defined. For the absolute amplitude accuracy at the reference frequency, refer to the RF Input Absolute Amplitude Accuracy table. For the PXIe-5860, the reference frequency is the center frequency.

Figure 4. RF Input Magnitude Response, Measured


Conditions: 0 dBm reference level, normalized to 0 Hz.

Figure 5. RF Input Magnitude Response (Low Frequency), Measured


Conditions: 0 dBm reference level, normalized to the center frequency.

RF Input Return Loss

Figure 6. RF Input Return Loss, Measured


Conditions: Return loss measured at center frequency.

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