Connecting the VST Instrument and Agile Attenuator to a Test Fixture

If you added an optional Agile Attenuator to the system, connect the VST instrument, Agile Attenuator, and a test fixture.

Gather the following components to connect your Agile Attenuator, VST, and test fixture.
Table 18. Agile Attenuator, VST, and Test Fixture Cabling
VST Cable Quantity
PXIe-5830/5831/5832/5841 SMA Male to SMA Male Cable, 50 Ohm, 12.7 cm (NI part number 763443-01) 2
Cables to connect to/from the test fixture 2
OCuLink to Mini-HDMI Cable, 0.3 m (NI part number 789122-01) 1
PXIe-5842 SMA Male to SMA Male Cable, 50 Ohm, 12.7 cm (NI part number 763443-01) 2
Cables to connect to/from the test fixture 2
Mini-HDMI to Mini-HDMI Cable (NI part number 143045-01) 1

Complete the following steps.

  1. Using an SMA to SMA cable, connect the VST instrument to the Agile Attenuator for ATTEN IN, using the ports on your instruments listed in the following table.
    Table 19. VST-to-Agile Attenuator (ATTEN IN) Connections
    VST Instrument Agile Attenuator Port
    Model Port
    PXIe-5830 IF IN/OUT 0 port on the PXIe-3621 module ATTEN IN
    PXIe-5831 (IF Only) IF IN/OUT 0 port on the PXIe-3622 module ATTEN IN
    PXIe-5832 (IF Only) IF IN/OUT 0 port on the PXIe-3623 module ATTEN IN
    PXIe-5841 (with PXIe-5655) RF OUT port on the PXIe-5841 module ATTEN IN
    PXIe-5842 (VST Only) RF OUT port on the PXIe-5842 module ATTEN IN
  2. Using an SMA to SMA cable, connect the VST instrument to the Agile Attenuator for THRU OUT, using the ports on your instruments listed in the following table.
    Table 20. VST-to-Agile Attenuator (THRU OUT) Connections
    VST Instrument Agile Attenuator Port
    Model Port
    PXIe-5830 IF IN/OUT 1 port on the PXIe-3621 module THRU OUT
    PXIe-5831 (IF Only) IF IN/OUT 1 port on the PXIe-3622 module THRU OUT
    PXIe-5832 (IF Only) IF IN/OUT 1 port on the PXIe-3623 module THRU OUT
    PXIe-5841 (with PXIe-5655) RF IN port on the PXIe-5841 module THRU OUT
    PXIe-5842 (VST Only) RF IN port on the PXIe-5842 module THRU OUT
  3. Connect the ATTEN OUT port on the Agile Attenuator to the Tx/Output port of the test fixture using an appropriate cable.
  4. Connect the THRU IN port on the Agile Attenuator to the Rx/Input port of the test fixture using an appropriate cable.
  5. Connect the DIO port on the VST to the DIO port on the Agile Attenuator using an appropriate cable.
    Figure 21. PXIe-5830/5831/5832 VST Instrument, Agile Attenuator, and Test Fixture Connections


    Figure 22. PXIe-5841 VST Instrument, Agile Attenuator, and Test Fixture Connections


    Figure 23. PXIe-5842, Agile Attenuator, and Test Fixture Connections