Using RF Recording Software in InstrumentStudio

Configure your instruments and run your test through an InstrumentStudio large panel.
  1. Launch InstrumentStudio by navigating to Start » National Instruments » InstrumentStudio.
  2. Click Manual layout.
  3. In the Edit Layout window that opens, under Add-Ons » RPS Plugins » Record, select Create a large panel. Click OK.
    A panel opens.
    Figure 1. RF Recording Software Panel


  4. Ensure the IP Address and Port Number are correct and click Connect to establish a connection to the RPS gRPC server.
  5. Set the parameters in the RF Recording Software panel.
    • Instruments—Select the VSTs that will record.
    • Phase Cal Type—Select None, Coherent, or Aligned. To calibrate the system for coherent or aligned, first run phase calibration as outlined in Performing Acquisition Phase Calibration.
    • Cal Values—When the Phase Cal Type is Coherent or Aligned, you can click this button to populate the Configuration and Frequency controls with the values from a previous phase calibration session.
    • Multi Chassis—Enable when the VSTs are installed in more than one chassis.
    • LO Share—Select a LO sharing method to control how the LOs are shared between instruments:
      • Onboard—Each instrument uses its internal LO source.
      • Calibrated Star—A PXIe-5655 and a LO Amplifier that provide the same LO to all VST instruments. Assumes a valid LO Power Calibration file exists. To perform an LO calibration, refer to Performing Acquisition LO Calibration.
      • Daisy Chain—The LO of each module is shared VI LO IN and LO OUT connection in the order of the Instruments array.
    • Fetch Size—Set a data size, in samples, to display. The software appends samples to the value.
    • Reference Level—Set the same reference level for each instrument. Reference level represents the maximum expected power of an input RF signal.
    • Bandwidth—Set the instantaneous RF bandwidth of the instruments.
    • Frequency Select—Select a frequency for your instruments:
      • Single—Sets the same Center Frequency to all instruments.
      • Unique—Changes the Center Frequency control to an array to set a unique frequency to each instrument. Array size must match the array size of the Instruments control.
    • Center Frequency—Specify the expected carrier frequency of the incoming signal, in Hz. The software appends Hz to the value.
    • Stream Configuration —Set a stream configuration:
      • Do Not Stream —Configures the system to acquire and display a single, synchronized data fetch in a size specified by the Fetch Size control.
      • Local Storage—Configures the system to record data from the instruments directly to RAID drives. This option is valid only for local record configuration systems.
      • Remote Storage—Configures the system to record to remote data storage computer. This option is valid only for remote record configuration systems.
    • File Path/Folder Name—Set a recording file location. The name of this control changes depending on the stream configuration.
      • Local Storage—Set file paths to where the TDMS files will be recorded, for example: F:\example.tdms. Metadata is stored directly inside the TDMS file.
      • Remote Storage—Set folder names to where the binary files and metadata files will be automatically stored on the data storage computers. This folder name can be set on a per-instrument basis. For ease of use, file names are autogenerated with a time stamp and stored in the specified folder name. For more information about the absolute paths of record files stored on the data storage computers, refer to Configuring Application Aliases.
    • Record Length—Set a data recording length in units specified by the Units control.
    • Units—Set Sample, Second, or Byte as the unit for the Record Length control.
  6. Click Start.
    While recording, progress information and data previews are displayed. Controls are disabled while streaming. Data previews are asynchronous fetches and may not appear for small data recordings. Note that data may have already been recorded by the time a preview from the UI is presented.
  7. When complete, click Disconnect and close the panel.