National Instruments PXIe-5693 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
NI PXIe-5693
RF Preselector Module
This document contains the verification and adjustment procedures for the National Instruments
PXIe-5693 (NI 5693) RF preselector module. Refer to ni.com/calibration for more
information about calibration solutions.
Contents
Required Software .................................................................................................................... 2
Related Documentation ............................................................................................................ 2
Test Equipment......................................................................................................................... 2
Test Conditions......................................................................................................................... 10
Initial Setup............................................................................................................................... 10
Characterizing the Test System ................................................................................................ 10
Designating the Power Splitter Reference Output............................................................ 11
Zeroing and Calibrating the Power Sensor....................................................................... 11
Characterizing the RF Source 1 Power (Direct) ............................................................... 11
Characterizing the RF Source 2 Power (Direct) ............................................................... 13
Characterizing the RF Source Power (with Splitter and Attenuator) ............................... 14
Characterizing the RF Source Power (with Combiner, Splitter, and 20 dB
Attenuator).....................................................................................................................15
Characterizing the Spectrum Analyzer (with Cable and 10 dB Attenuator) .................... 18
As-Found and As-Left Limits................................................................................................... 19
Verification ............................................................................................................................... 19
Verifying Noise Figure ..................................................................................................... 19
Verifying In-Band Third Order Intercept (TOI)............................................................... 24
Verifying Out-of-Band TOI.............................................................................................. 29
Verifying Reverse Isolation.............................................................................................. 34
Verifying Calibration Signal Amplitude Accuracy .......................................................... 38
Adjustment................................................................................................................................ 41
Adjusting RF Gain............................................................................................................ 41
Adjusting Cal Tone Power Accuracy ............................................................................... 44
Reverification ........................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix A: Test Frequencies for RF Gain Adjustment ......................................................... 47
Appendix B: Test Frequencies for Cal Tone Amplitude Adjustment ...................................... 51
Worldwide Support and Services ............................................................................................. 54

2|ni.com |NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure
Required Software
Calibrating the NI 5693 requires you to install the following software on the calibration system.
• NI-RFSA 2.6 or later
• NI Spectral Measurements Toolkit 2.6 or later
You can download all required software from ni.com/downloads.
The software supports programming the calibration procedures in the LabVIEW, C, and
LabWindows™/CVI™ application development environments (ADEs). When you install the
software, you need to install support only for the ADE that you intend to use.
Related Documentation
You might find the following documents helpful as you perform the calibration procedure:
•NI 5693 RF Preselector Module Getting Started Guide
•NI 5667 (3.6 GHz) Spectrum Monitoring Receiver Getting Started Guide
•NI 5667 (7 GHz) Spectrum Monitoring Receiver Getting Started Guide
•NI RF Vector Signal Analyzers Help
•NI PXIe-5693 Specifications
•NI PXIe-5667 (3.6 GHz) Specifications
•NI PXIe-5667 (7 GHz) Specifications
The latest versions of these documents are available on ni.com/manuals.
This calibration procedure calibrates the NI 5693 as an independent module. To calibrate the
NI 5693 as a part of the NI PXIe-5667 (NI 5667), refer to the NI PXIe-5667 Calibration
Procedure document available at ni.com/manuals.
Test Equipment
Table 1 lists the equipment NI recommends for the performance verification and adjustment
procedures. If the recommended equipment is not available, select a substitute using the
minimum requirements listed in the table.

NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |3
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements
Noise source NoiseCom NC346B Precision Noise figure verification Frequency: 10 MHz to 8 GHz
Output ENR: 14 dB to 16 dB
VSWR: 1.25
Spectrum analyzer Rohde & Schwarz
FSU26 Options B23, B25
Test system characterization
Verifications:
• Noise figure
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
Frequency range: 20 MHz to 8 GHz
Internal preamplifier
Noise source control (28 V supply, BNC
connector)
Power meter Anritsu ML2438A Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Display resolution: ≤0.01 dB
Settling: ±0.1%
Instrumentation accuracy: <±0.5%
Noise, zero set, and drift: ≤±0.5% full-scale
(lowest range)
Reference power uncertainty: ≤±0.9%
Reference output VSWR: <1.04

4|ni.com |NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure
(2x) Power sensor
(power sensor A)
(power sensor B)
Anritsu MA2473D Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Power range: -55 dBm to 20 dBm
Frequency range: 10 MHz to 8 GHz
Input VSWR:
10 MHz to 50 MHz ........................<1.90
50 MHz to 2 GHz...........................<1.12
2 GHz to 8 GHz .............................<1.22
Linearity:
-60 dBm to 20 dBm........................<1.8%
Calibration factor uncertainty:
10 MHz to 50 MHz ........................<1.9%
50 MHz to 500 MHz ......................<1.5%
500 MHz to 7 GHz.........................<1.5%
7 GHz to 8 GHz .............................<1.9%
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |5
(2x) Signal
generator
(RF source 1)
(RF source 2)
Anritsu MG3692C
Options 2A, 3, 4, 15A, and 22
Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Frequency range: 8 MHz to 8 GHz
Leveled power: -115 dBm to 18 dBm
Power accuracy: ±1.5 dB
Harmonics:
0.1 MHz to ≤10 MHz.....................<-30 dBc
>10 MHz to ≤100 MHz .................<-40 dBc
>100 MHz to ≤2.2 GHz .................<-50 dBc
>2.2 GHz to ≤8 GHz......................<-30 dBc
Nonharmonic Spurious:
0.1 MHz to ≤10 MHz.....................<-30 dBc
>10 MHz to ≤2.2 GHz ...................<-60 dBc
>2.2 GHz to ≤8 GHz......................<-60 dBc
Output VSWR: <2.0
(4x) SMA (m)-to-
SMA (m) cable
(36 in.)
MegaPhase G916-SISI-36 —Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Insertion loss: ≤2 dB at 8 GHz
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR: ≤1.35 at 8 GHz
SMA (f)-to-
SMA (m)
semi-rigid cable
(1.08 in. with
slight angle bend)
Rosenberger 166782A-01 —Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

6|ni.com |NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure
(2x) BNC (m)-to-
BNC (m) cable
(36 in.)
NI 763485-01 Noise figure verification —
(2x) BNC (m)-to-
BNC (m) cable
— — —
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (m) adapter
Huber+Suhner
32_SMA-50-0-52/199_NE
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
VSWR: <1.14
SMA (f)-to-
SMA (f) adapter
Huber+Suhner
31_SMA-50-0-1/111_NE
Noise figure verification Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |7
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (f)
10 dB attenuator
Huber+Suhner
6610_SMA-50-1/199N
Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Attenuation: 10 dB (nominal)
Power rating: 2 W average
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR:
DC to 4 GHz ..................................≤1.15
4 GHz to 8 GHz .............................≤1.20
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (f)
20 dB attenuator
Huber+Suhner
6620_SMA-50-1/199N
Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Attenuation: 20 dB (nominal)
Power rating: 2 W average
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR:
DC to 4 GHz ..................................≤1.15
4 GHz to 8 GHz .............................≤1.20
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (f)
6 dB attenuator
Anritsu 41KB-6 Test system characterization
Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy verification
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Attenuation: 6 dB
Power rating: 2 W average
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

8|ni.com |NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure
Power splitter
(two-resistor type)
Aeroflex/Weinschel 1593 Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
• Reverse isolation
• Calibration signal amplitude
accuracy
Adjustments:
•RFgain
• Calibration tone power
accuracy
Frequency range: DC to 8 GHz
Amplitude tracking: <0.25 dB
Phase tracking: <4°
Insertion loss: ≤8.5 dB (6 dB, nominal)
Power rating: 1 W
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR:
DC to 8 GHz ..................................≤1.25
Equivalent output VSWR:
DC to 8 GHz ..................................≤1.25
Connectors: 3.5 mm (f)
Low frequency
power combiner
Mini Circuits ZFSC-2-5-S+ Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
Frequency range: 10 MHz to 1.5 GHz
Isolation:
10 MHz to 100 MHz ......................≥15 dB
100 MHz to 750 MHz ....................≥20 dB
750 MHz to 1.5 GHz......................≥18 dB
Insertion loss:
10 MHz to 100 MHz ......................≤3.6 dB
100 MHz to 750 MHz ....................≤4.0 dB
750 MHz to 1.5 GHz......................≤4.5 dB
Connectors: SMA (f)
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |9
High frequency
power combiner
Agilent 87302C Test system characterization
Verifications:
• In-band third order intercept
• Out-of-band third order
intercept
Frequency range: 500 MHz to 8 GHz
Isolation:
500 MHz to 8 GHz ........................≥19 dB
Insertion loss:
500 MHz to 8 GHz ........................≤4.5 dB
Connectors: 3.5 mm (f)
Torque wrench — — Refer to Test Conditions for torque wrench
specifications.
Table 1. Recommended Equipment for NI 5693 Calibration (Continued)
Equipment Recommended Models Where Used Minimum Requirements

10 |ni.com |NI PXIe-5693 Calibration Procedure
Test Conditions
The following setup and environmental conditions are required to ensure the NI 5693 meets
published specifications.
• Keep cabling as short as possible. Long cables and wires act as antennas, picking up extra
noise that can affect measurements.
• Verify that all connections, including front panel connections and screws, are secure.
• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 °C ±5 °C.
• Keep the relative humidity between 10% and 90%, noncondensing.
• Ensure that the PXI Express chassis fan speed is set to HIGH, that the fan filters, if present,
are clean, and that the empty slots contain filler panels. For more information about
maintaining adequate air circulation in your PXI/PXI Express chassis, refer to the Maintain
Forced-Air Cooling Note to Users document available at ni.com/manuals.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 30 minutes after the chassis is powered on and NI-RFSA
is loaded and recognizes the NI 5693. The warm-up time ensures that the NI 5693 and test
instrumentation are at a stable operating temperature.
• In each verification procedure, insert a delay between configuring all devices and acquiring
the measurement. This delay may need to be adjusted depending on the instruments used
but should always be at least 1,000 ms for the first iteration and 100 ms for each other
iteration.
• Use an appropriate torque wrench or torque screwdriver and SMA driver bit to tighten all
module RF connectors (SMA or 3.5 mm). NI recommends use of 1 N · m (9 lb · in.).
• Lock all test equipment to the REF OUT signal on the back of the PXI Express chassis.
Refer to the NI 5667 Timing Configurations topic in the NI RF Vector Signal Analyzers
Help for more information about configuring clocking sources.
Initial Setup
Refer to the NI 5693 RF Preselector Module Getting Started Guide for information about how
to install the software and hardware and how to configure the NI 5693 in Measurement &
Automation Explorer (MAX).
Characterizing the Test System
You use the measured response of the test system during verification tests.
The power splitter and attenuation response is measured at the RF input frequencies used in the
verification tests.
Caution The connectors on the device under test (DUT) and test equipment are
fragile. Carefully perform the steps in these procedures to prevent damaging any
DUTs or test equipment.