Archived: NI-RFSA 2.5 Known Issues

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Overview



This document contains the NI-RFSA 2.5 known issues that were discovered before and since the release of NI-RFSA 2.5. Not every issue known to NI appears on this list; it is intended to show the most severe and common issues that can be encountered.

Each issue appears as a row in the table and includes the following fields:

  • Issue ID - The number in at the top of each of the cells in the first column. When you report an issue to NI, you may be given this ID, you can also find IDs posted by NI on the discussion forums or in Knowledge Base articles.  "N/A" indicates that there is no ID assigned to the issue.
  • Issue Title (in italics) - Describes the issue in one sentence or less.
  • Problem Description - A few sentences which describe the problem in further detail. The brief description given does not necessarily describe the problem in full detail, and it is expected that you may want more information on an issue. If you would like more information on an issue, contact NI and reference the ID number given in the document.
  • Workaround - Possible ways to work around the problem. The workarounds that appear in the document are not always tested by NI and are not guaranteed to resolve the issue. If a workaround refers you to the NI KnowledgeBase, visit www.ni.com/kb/ and enter the KnowledgeBase number in the search field to locate the specific document.
  • Reported Version - The earliest version of NI-RFSA in which the issue was reported. If you discover the issue appears in an earlier version of NI-RFSA than is reported in this field, report the discrepancy to NI to have the field updated.
  • Resolved Version - Version in which the issue was resolved or was no longer applicable. "N/A" indicates that the issue has not been resolved.
  • Date Added - The date the issue was added to the document (not the reported date).

Known Issues by Severity

  378277   In Spectrum acquisition mode, there is no magnitude only equalization performed when doing in-band retuning
  336698    Calling niRFSA Self Cal VI or the niRFSA_SelfCalibrate function for the NI PXIe-5663E does not self-calibrate the associated digitizer
  330425    EVM and MER measurements are degraded when using RF list mode
  312899    Handle leaks can occur when using Spectral Measurements Toolkit 2.6.1 or Modulation Toolkit 4.3.1 and earlier with the NI-5660 API
  306756    LabVIEW 8.6 code generation sets an incorrect resource name for NI-RFSA Express VIs
  313126    NI-RFSA Express VIs in LabVIEW 2010 (64-bit) may not be executable
  314046    NI-SCOPE 3.8.5 (NI-RFSA 2.4.5) and NI-SCOPE 3.8.6 (NI-RFSA 2.5) may cause the EEPROM on NI PXIe-5185 or NI PXIe-5186 device to become corrupt
  304436    Calling the NI-RFSA Commit VI or the niRFSA_Commit function before setting the attenuation-related properties results in incorrect gain scaling coefficients on the NI PXIe-5663, NI PXIe-5663E, and NI PXIe-5665
  297868    Users may get an undefined warning with code 88000 while using the NI PXI-5600 and changing clocking configurations
  296450    The NI PXIe-5622 digitizer may incorrectly report a warning that the PLL came unlocked or may experience initial accuracy issues
  287752    Execution times with multiple NI-RFSA sessions is slower than expected
  279084    Calling the NI-DAQmx Reset VI after calling the NI-RFSA Commit VI may cause the NI PXI-5600 firmware to return an error
  275798    The NI PXI-5600 may hang at cold temperatures at driver initialization or reset
  258323    Routing signals across segment boundaries on the NI PXIe-1075 chassis can intermittently fail
  224755    Low-power signals may appear at fixed intervals in power spectrum data
  258630    Using NI-RFSA with NI-TClk to synchronize multiple VSAs acquiring at different I/Q rates results in misaligned data
  380936    NI-RFSA computes an incorrect temperature corrected gain when the IF gain on the NI PXIe-5603 or the NI PXIe-5605 is nominal
IDKnown Issue
378277

In Spectrum acquisition mode, there is no magnitude only equalization performed when doing in-band retuning.
The 5 MHz and 300 kHz filters do not have any magnitude equalization performed in spectrum acquisition mode on the NI PXIe-5665.

Workaround: 

N/A

Reported Version: 2.6  Resolved Version: Unknown  Added: 12/05/2012
336698

Calling niRFSA Self Cal VI or the niRFSA_SelfCalibrate function for the NI PXIe-5663E does not self-calibrate the associated digitizer.
If you call the niRFSA Self Cal VI and set the steps to omit parameter to an empty array, or if you call the niRFSA_SelfCalibrate function and set the stepsToOmit parameter to 0, the Digitizer Self Cal option is not executed as expected.

Workaround: 

Use the niScope Cal Self Calibrate VI, or the niSCOPE_CalSelfCalibrate function, in the NI-SCOPE API or self-calibrate the NI PXIe-5622 through Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).

Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5.2  Added: 02/10/2012
330425

EVM and MER measurements are degraded when using RF list mode.
When using NI-RFSA 2.3, 2.4, 2.4.2, or 2.5, EVM and MER measurements are degraded when NI-RFSA executes all RF list mode steps after the first step. NI-RFSA applies calibration corrections incorrectly for RF list mode steps beyond the first step, which leads to greater measurement errors. This issue may be more noticeable if your application uses high symbol rates and/or high-order digital modulation.

Workaround: 

To avoid this issue, you can choose from one of the following options:

  • Avoid using RF list mode in your application.
  • Wait to use list mode until this issue is fixed in the next version of NI-RFSA.
Reported Version: 2.3  Resolved Version: 2.5.2  Added: 01/27/2012
312899

Handle leaks can occur when using Spectral Measurements Toolkit 2.6.1 or Modulation Toolkit 4.3.1 and earlier with the NI-5660 API.
When the ni5660 Initialize and ni5660 Close VIs are placed into a loop, Windows handle leaks occur on each iteration of the loop and persist until the top-level VI enters the Idle state. This leak also occurs when a VI containing the ni5660 Initialize and ni5660 Close VIs is executed multiple times by NI TestStand when the LabVIEW Adapter is set to reserve loaded VIs for execution.

Workaround: 

Manual Change Option: 

  1. Launch the LabVIEW version where you need to apply the workaround. 
  2. Open the VI
    <LabVIEW>
    \vi.lib\addons\Modulation\Analog\support\IQutilites\mod_IQ ViRef Table.vi
  3. Open File»VI Properties.
  4. Select the Execution as the Category pull-down menu. 
  5. Remove a checkmark from the Reentrant execution checkbox.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Save the VI and close LabVIEW. 

Note: You must make this change for each installed location and version of LabVIEW on the disk where the Spectral Measurements Toolkit and/or the Modulation Toolkit are installed.

Upgrade option: Install a newer version of the Spectral Measurements Toolkit or of the Modulation Toolkit.

Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: Unknown  Added: 09/26/2011
306756
LabVIEW 8.6 code generation sets incorrect resource name for NI-RFSA Express VIs.
Generating code for the NI-RFSA Express VIs using LabVIEW 8.6 results in an invalid resource name value.

Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 09/26/2011
313126
NI-RFSA Express VIs in LabVIEW 2010 (64-bit) may not be executable.
The NI-RFSA Express VIs may not be executable in LabVIEW 2010 (64-bit) if a later LabVIEW (64-bit) version is also installed on the same system. This error appears after exiting the NI-RFSA Express VI configuration page and results in no input or output terminals being shown on the NI-RFSA Express VI.

Reported Version: 2.4.5  Resolved Version: 2.5.2  Added: 09/26/2011
314046
NI-SCOPE 3.8.5 (NI-RFSA 2.4.5) and NI-SCOPE 3.8.6 (NI-RFSA 2.5) may cause the EEPROM on NI PXIe-5185 or NI PXIe-5186 device to become corrupt.
After installing NI-SCOPE 3.8.5 or NI-SCOPE 3.8.6, performing a self-calibration on an NI PXIe-5185 or NI PXIe-5186 digitizer causes the EEPROM to become corrupt. A corrupted EEPROM causes the digitizer to become unusable. To fix this issue, send the device back to National Instruments for repair.

Workaround: Use NI-SCOPE 3.8.7 or later.
Reported Version: 2.4.5  Resolved Version: 2.5.2  Added: 09/26/2011
304436
Calling the NI-RFSA Commit VI or the niRFSA_Commit function before setting the attenuation-related properties results in incorrect gain scaling coefficients on the NI PXIe-5663, NI PXIe-56653E, and NI PXIe-5665.
If you call the NI-RFSA Commit VI or the niRFSA_Commit function before setting any properties or attributes that control attenuation, like the Reference Level property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_REFERENCE_LEVEL attribute, the RF Attenuation property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_ATTENUATION attribute, and so on, and then call the niRFSA Get Scaling Coefficients VI or the niRFSA_GetScalingCoefficients function, the resulting coefficients are incorrect.

Workaround: Call the NI-RFSA Commit VI or the niRFSA_Commit function after setting all attenuation related properties, then call the NI-RFSA Get Scaling Coefficients VI or the niRFSA_GetScalingCoefficients function to get the appropriate coefficients.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
297868
Users may get an undefined warning with code 88000 while using the NI PXI-5600 and changing clocking configurations.
Using NI-RFSA to set the Sample clock source on the NI PXI-5600 to ClkIn or PXI_STAR may cause an undefined warning with the code 88000.

Workaround: To avoid this error, complete the following steps:
  1. Reset the device in Windows.
  2. Restart the controller in the LabVIEW Real-Time module.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
296450
The NI PXIe-5622 digitizer may incorrectly report a warning that the PLL came unlocked or may experience initial accuracy issues.
When using the NI PXIe-5622 digitizer in a RF vector signal analyzer session with NI-RFSA, you may receive a warning that the PLL came unlocked or that the first measurements may have accuracy issues. This issue appears after a device reset or a clock configuration change.

Workaround: Add a delay of at least 700 ms after a device reset or a clocking configuration change.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
287752
Execution times with multiple NI-RFSA sessions is slower than expected.
Test execution times with NI-RFSA device applications deteriorates significantly with every additional NI-RFSA session used. Performance degradation of up to 2x has been observed with an additional session.

Workaround: Install IVI 4.4.0 or later.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
279084
Calling the NI-DAQmx Reset VI after calling the NI-RFSA Commit VI may cause the NI PXI-5600 firmware to return an error.
When using the niRFSA Commit VI, if you call the DAQmx Reset VI or reset the device in MAX, the NI PXI-5600 firmware may return an error.

Workaround: Perform a reset device through MAX to return the device to the default state.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
275798
The NI PXI-5600 may hang at cold temperatures at driver initialization or reset.
When loading or resetting the NI PXI-5600 at cold temperatures,  the FPGA may hang, causing the device to be unusable.

Workaround: Contact National Instruments to get an updated firmware image with the fix.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: 2.5  Added: 07/7/2011
258323
Routing signals across segment boundaries on the NI PXIe-1075 chassis can intermittently fail.
The NI PXIe-1075 chassis backplane has the following three trigger buses (segments) that you can use to route digital signals:
  • Trigger Bus 1: PXI Slots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
  • Trigger Bus 2: PXI Slots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
  • Trigger Bus 3: PXI Slots 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18
Backplane signal route requests may sometimes fail if the source and destination devices lie in different segments of the chassis. In that scenario, error -26981 ("A protocol violation was detected.") is returned. This error is intermittent, and its frequency depends on the embedded controller or MXI interface device used in the chassis.

Workaround: There are two possible workarounds for this issue:
  • Change the location of the source and destination devices for the hardware route such that both of them lie in the same trigger bus.
  • Since this error is intermittent, first retry the same route because it may succeed. In LabVIEW, you can retry by conditionally detecting error -26981, clearing the error, and attempting to reserve the same route again.
Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: N/A  Added: 01/17/2011
224755
Low-power signals may appear at fixed intervals in power spectrum data.
Low-power signals may appear at fixed intervals when performing a power spectrum acquisition. When performing an acquisition narrower than the hardware instantaneous bandwidth, the signals can appear in the lower frequency bins and upper frequency bins of the acquisition. When performing a multispan acquisition, the signals can appear at the boundary of each single span spectral acquisition that makes up the total acquisition.

Workaround: The low-power signals represent the dither signal on the digitizer. Although the dither signal is at a frequency that is outside the bandwidth of the equalized response, the power of the dither signal can leak into the equalized response, depending on the resolution bandwidth and the FFT window type. You can remove the dither from the power spectrum data using one of the following methods:
  • Using a narrower resolution bandwidth.
  • Disabling the dither.
  • Choosing a different FFT window type. This solution may be less effective than the previous solutions, depending on the resolution bandwidth.
Reported Version: 2.3  Resolved Version: N/A  Added: 01/17/2011
258630
Using NI-RFSA with NI-TClk to synchronize multiple devices acquiring at different I/Q rates results in misaligned data.
When using NI-TClk synchronization where two or more NI RF vector signal analyzers acquire at different I/Q rates, the acquired data might be misaligned. The misalignment manifests itself as a skew where the data from one device appears to be leading/lagging the data from the other device. The time delay between the data acquired by the master and a slave is constant for the combination of the hardware settings configured on the two devices. This skew is repeatable and does not vary with time.

Workaround: Since the skew does not vary with time, you can empirically determine the expected misalignment and correct the acquired data manually.

Reported Version: 2.3  Resolved Version: N/A  Added: 01/17/2011
380936
NI-RFSA computes an incorrect temperature corrected gain when the IF gain on the NI PXIe-5603 or the NI PXIe-5605 is nominal.
It is possible for NI-RFSA to report an incorrect value for the Downconverter Gain property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_DOWNCONVERTER_GAIN attribute, the IF Output Power Level property or the NIRFSA_ATTR_IF_OUTPUT_POWER_LEVEL attribute, or return error -1074118655 when the IF gain on the NI PXIe-5603 or the NI PXIe-5605 is nominal. A nominal IF gain is chosen by NI-RFSA if there is no calibration data present in the device EEPROM for the attenuation configuration that is requested. The computed temperature corrected gain is incorrect only when the configuration requires NI-RFSA to choose a nominal IF gain.

Workaround: Calibrate the requested gain configuration using the NI-RFSA external calibration API.

Reported Version: 2.4  Resolved Version: N/A  Added: 12/05/2012

Contacting NI

Contact NI regarding this document or issues in the document. If you contact NI in regards to a specific issue, reference the ID number given in the document. The ID number contains the current issue ID number as well as the legacy ID number (use the current ID number when contacting NI). You can contact us through any of the normal support channels including phone, email, or the discussion forums. Visit the NI Website to contact us. Also contact us if you find a workaround for an issue that is not listed in the document.

Glossary of Terms

 

  • Bug ID - When an issue is reported to NI, you may be given this ID or find it on ni.com.  You may also find IDs posted by NI on the discussion forums or in KnowledgeBase articles.
  • Legacy ID – An older issue ID that refers to the same issue.  You may instead find this issue ID in older known issues documents.
  • Description - A few sentences which describe the problem. The brief description given does not necessarily describe the problem in full detail.
  • Workaround - Possible ways to work around the problem.
  • Reported Version - The earliest version in which the issue was reported.
  • Resolved Version - Version in which the issue was resolved or was no longer applicable. "N/A" indicates that the issue has not been resolved.
  • Date Added - The date the issue was added to the document (not the reported date).