National Instruments 778572-42 PXI RF Relay Module

The National Instruments 778572-42 (or PXI-2542) is a PXI RF Relay Module. It is a top-quality 2x1 multiplexer terminated switch unit which is designed for routing RF signals in production test applications. It features a reliable solid-state relay that offers benefits like unlimited mechanical lifetime and fast switching time. The front-mounted SMA connectors of this unit ensure easy connectivity to RF devices. The termination on every COM line and channel minimizes reflections and protects your instruments.

The 778572-42 module has a minimum input frequency of 10 MHz and an impedance of 50 Ω. It is AC coupled and supports a maximum safe DC input voltage of ±8V. The maximum safe continuous RF power is +30 dBm (power on) and +20 dBm (power off). Insertion loss in the module is <3.7 dB up to 2.4 GHz, <4.8 dB up to 6 GHz, and <6.1 dB up to 6.6 GHz. The RF performance is characterized by its excellent flatness. The flatness is <0.15 dB per 200 MHz and <0.50 dB per 1 GHz up to 5 GHz. The voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is <1.6 for frequencies up to 2.4 GHz. The CH-COM isolation of 778572-42 exceeds to 78 dB till 2.4 GHz.

The maximum switch operating time of this RF relay module is 121 µs. It defines the time from the trigger input falling to 10% until the output reaches 90% of its final value. Input trigger sources include PXI trigger lines <0...7> with a minimum pulse width of 150 ns. The output trigger destinations also include PXI trigger lines <0...7> with software-selectable pulse widths from 1 µs to 62 µs. The NI 778572-42 module features 12 SMA jacks on the front panel. The power requirements for jacks are 5 V at 0.1 W and 3.3 V at 0.7 W for PXI, and 12 V at 0.6 W and 3.3 V at 0.9 W for PXI Express. The module measures 21.6 cm x 2.0 cm x 13.0 cm (8.5 in. x 0.8 in. x 5.1 in.) in size. The overall weight of this instrument is 553 g (19.5 oz.). It operates in environments with ambient temperatures from 0 °C to 55 °C and relative humidity from 10% to 90%. The module complies with various safety standards that include IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1, UL 61010-1, and CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1.