National Instruments 781215-01 RF Analog Signal Generator

The National Instruments 781215-01 RF Analog Signal Generator (PXI‑5650) is a versatile tool designed for continuous wave signal generation. The model offers various modulation capabilities including Frequency Modulation (FM), 2-Frequency Shift Keying (2‑FSK), and On Off Keying (OOK). It leverages Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) to achieve high resolution frequency hopping and phase continuous sweeping that make it suitable for applications such as device characterization, bit error rate testing and antenna testing. The frequency range of the generator spans from 500 kHz to 1.3 GHz along with a resolution of less than 3 Hz.

The amplitude range of the 781215-01 is highly adaptable along with a resolution of less than 0.1 dB and an amplitude range from -90 dBm to 10 dBm. It also boasts fast amplitude settling times reaching within 0.05 dB of the final value in under 500 ms typically. The device’s signal to noise ratio is impressively low with typical values reaching below -140 dBc/Hz for output powers at or above 0 dBm. This high performance is complemented by a low Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) of less than 1.8:1. The 781215-01 features an internal reference clock with an initial accuracy of ±3 ppm and a maximum temperature variation of ±1 ppm. It supports an external reference input frequency of 10 MHz with quick lock times of under 1 second that provides flexibility in integrating with external timing systems. The signal generator offers excellent spectral purity along with Single Sideband (SSB) phase noise as low as -111 dBc/Hz at 100 MHz.

The National Instruments 781215-01 supports FM with sine, triangle and square waveform types, with a typical maximum deviation ranging from 500 kHz to 2 MHz. It also supports 2-FSK and OOK allowing the generation of digitally modulated signals for diverse testing scenarios. The device’s flexibility in modulation formats and symbol rates makes it suitable for both standard and custom communication protocols. The Analog Signal Generator is compact and fits into a single PXI Express slot. It is designed to withstand a range of environmental conditions including operational temperatures from 0 °C to 55 °C and non-operational storage down to -40 °C. It meets rigorous safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards that ensure reliable operation in various industrial and laboratory settings.