PXIe-5860 Specifications

PXIe-5860 Specifications

These specifications apply to the PXIe-5860 VST and the PXIe-5860 with S-parameters.

Revision History

Version Date changed Description
379054D-01 October 2025 Removed VNA specifications for PXIe-5860 with S-parameters. See PXIe-5633 Specifications.
379054C-01 July 2025 Added specifications for PXIe-5860 with S-parameters.
379054B-01 April 2025 Updated digital attenuation.
379054A-01 October 2024 Initial release.

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Definitions

Warranted specifications describe the performance of a model under stated operating conditions and are covered by the model warranty.

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 minute warm-up time. Warm-up time begins when the PXI Express chassis has been powered on and the operating system has completely loaded.
  • Self-calibration is performed after the specified warm-up period has completed.
  • Calibration cycle is maintained.
  • Environment temperature is within the ambient range, onboard temperature sensors within the PXIe-5860 instrument are within ±5 °C of the last self-calibration temperature, and temperature correction is enabled. Note that temperature correction is enabled by default.
  • 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.
  • Connections are made according to the recommendations in the PXIe-5860 User Manual.
  • Indicated instrument driver is used with driver default settings unless otherwise noted:
    • PXIe-5860 VST: RFmx 2024 Q3 or later, NI-RFSA 2024 Q3 or later, or NI-RFSG 2024 Q3 or later
    • PXIe-5860 with S-parameters: RFmx 2025 Q2 or later, NI-RFSA 2025 Q2 or later, or NI-RFSG 2025 Q2 or later

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

  • The ambient temperature range is 0 °C to 40 °C.

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

  • The ambient temperature range is 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-5860 Front Panels and Pinouts

Refer to the front panel information for your PXIe-5860 instrument to understand the connectors, pinouts, and signals found on your instrument.

For front panels and pinouts for other modules that combine with the PXIe-5860, refer to the documentation for those modules.

PXIe-5860 Front Panel and LEDs

Figure 1. PXIe-5860 Front Panel


Table 1. PXIe-5860 Connector Descriptions
Connector Connector Type Description
RF OUT <0,1> SMA (f) Output terminal for RF signals
RF IN <0,1> SMA (f) Input terminal for RF signals
REF: IN SMA (f) Input terminal that allows the use of an external reference clock with one of the following frequencies: 10 MHz, 100 MHz
REF: OUT SMA (f) Output terminal that can export a 10 MHz or 100 MHz reference clock
PFI <0,1> SMA (f) Programmable function digital I/O (DIO) connector for use with triggers or events
DIO Mini HDMI Reserved
MGT iPass+ zHD Reserved
CTRL Mini HDMI Reserved
Table 2. PXIe-5860 LED Indicators
LED Indications
ACCESS

Indicates the basic hardware status of the module.

  • Off—The module is not yet functional or has detected a problem with a PXI Express power rail
  • Amber—The module is being accessed; accessed means that you are writing to the module setup registers to control the module, reading from the module to monitor its status, or transferring data to or from the module
  • Green—The module is controllable through the software
    • ACTIVE

    Indicates the state of the module.

  • Off—The module is idle
  • Solid green—The module is generating a waveform
  • Dim amber—The module is waiting for an acquisition Reference Trigger
  • Solid amber—The module is acquiring a waveform
  • Solid red—The module has detected an error; the LED remains red until the error condition is removed

    For example, the module could have exceeded its operating temperature and entered thermal shutdown. In this case, check system airflow and reset the module in Hardware Configuration Utility or MAX.

    • Note Indicators are listed in increasing order of priority. For example, if you are generating a waveform using NI-RFSG and waiting on an acquisition Reference Trigger in NI-RFSA, the LED is dim amber.

    PXIe-5860 MGT Connector Pinout

    Single MGT connector shown; the PXIe-5860 front panel has four MGT connectors that have identical pinouts.

    Table 3. PXIe-5860 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-5860 DIO Connector Pinout



    Table 4. PXIe-5860 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