National Instruments PXI-5600 Downconverter

The National Instruments PXI-5600 (Part Number: 778283-01) is a broadband RF Downconverter, capable of frequency downconversion in a minimized 3U PXI module. The NI PXI-5600 highlights a wide real-time bandwidth capacity of 20 MHz, an exceptionally stable time base, and great integration with PXI digitizers for RF signal analysis applications. The PXI-5600 gives remarkable frequency performance over its working scope of 9 kHz to 2.7 GHz, with a minimum tuning resolution of 1 MHz. It provides a typical noise density of <-140 dBm/Hz (20 MHz to 1 GHz), <-137 dBm/Hz (1 GHz to 2 GHz), and <-135 dBm/Hz (2 GHz to 2.5 GHz), while the typical phase noise is -90 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset.

The NI PXI-5600 Downconverter also offers an Ultra-High Stability Timebase (10 MHz OCXO). The PXI-5600 offers an exceptionally stable timebase with a frequency stability of ±20 ppb and frequency accuracy of ±50 ppb, making it helpful for a range of automated applications where precise frequency synchronization is required.

The noise and distortion characteristics of the PXI-5600 are consistent and repeatable over an extensive range of time and temperatures. For instance, at a 1 MHz measurement bandwidth, a -30 dBm input signal typically has a single, unaveraged measurement repeatability of under 0.2 dB. The PXI-5600 utilizes a software compensation strategy that reduces amplitude error to under 0.2 dB over a 20 ˚C change.

The PXI-5600 operates using the NI-RFSA driver software, which supports the PXI-5660 RF Vector Signal Analyzer system, which includes the PXI-5600 as its RF Downconverter. Installing the software requires the presence of an Application Development Environment (ADE) such as LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, or C/C++. Additionally, the Spectral Measurements Toolkit (SMT) is required for frequency-domain analysis, while the Modulation Toolkit is optional for advanced modulation analysis. The device has six connectors: FREQ REF IN, 10 MHz OUT, PXI 10 MHz I/O, OUTPUT, and INPUT connectors. It has a recommended warm-up time of 20 minutes and should be calibrated at least once a year.

This model offers 20 MHz real-time bandwidth, a High-Stability Timebase (10 MHz OCXO), ±20 ppb frequency stability, ±50 ppb frequency accuracy, >80 dB spurious-free dynamic range, <-135 dBm/Hz average noise density, and +30 dBm full-scale input range (with RF attenuation enabled), +20 dBm (with RF attenuation disabled). The device has the dimensions: 8.5 x 2.4 x 5.1 in. (21.6 cm × 6.0 cm × 13.0 cm).