National Instruments USB-5684 User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
NI USB-5684
10 MHz to 18 GHz RF Power Meter
This document explains how to install, configure, and set up the NI USB-5684 radio frequency
(RF) power meter. NI RF power meters make true RMS power measurements. The NI RF
power meters ship with the NI-568x instrument driver, which you can use to program the
device.
For more information about the NI 5684, refer to the NI RF Power Meters Help, at Start»All
Programs»National Instruments»NI-568x»Documentation.
The most recent versions of product documentation are available at ni.com/manuals. Visit
ni.com/updates for the latest version of NI-568x driver software.
Caution You can impair the protection provided by the NI 5684 if you use it in a
manner not described in this document.
Contents
Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines...............................................................................1
Verifying the System Requirements..........................................................................................2
Unpacking the Kit..................................................................................................................... 2
Verifying the Kit Contents................................................................................................ 3
Preparing the Environment....................................................................................................... 3
Installing the Software.............................................................................................................. 4
Installing the Hardware.............................................................................................................4
Connecting the Device Under Test........................................................................................... 5
Front and Back Panel........................................................................................................ 6
Connector Care and Handling...........................................................................................6
Configuring the NI 5684 in MAX.............................................................................................8
NI RF Power Meter Programming Options.............................................................................. 8
NI-568x Examples............................................................................................................ 9
Where to Go Next................................................................................................................... 10
Worldwide Support and Services............................................................................................ 10
Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines
This product was tested and complies with the regulatory requirements and limits for
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) stated in the product specifications. These requirements
and limits provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the product is
operated in the intended operational electromagnetic environment.

This product is intended for use in industrial locations. However, harmful interference may
occur in some installations, when the product is connected to a peripheral device or test object,
or if the product is used in residential or commercial areas. To minimize interference with
radio and television reception and prevent unacceptable performance degradation, install and
use this product in strict accordance with the instructions in the product documentation.
Furthermore, any changes or modifications to the product not expressly approved by National
Instruments could void your authority to operate it under your local regulatory rules.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, operate this product only with
shielded cables and accessories.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, the length of cables connected
to the RF and Trigger ports must be no longer than 3 m (10 ft).
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, the length of the USB cable
must be no longer than 30 m (100 ft).
Verifying the System Requirements
To use the NI 5684, your system must meet certain requirements. For more information about
minimum system requirements, recommended system, and supported application development
environments (ADEs), refer to the readme, which is available on the software media or online
at ni.com/updates.
Unpacking the Kit
Caution To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging the device,
ground yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object, such as
your computer chassis.
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any
other sign of damage.
Caution Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
Note Do not install a device if it appears damaged in any way.
3. Unpack any other items and documentation from the kit.
Store the device in the antistatic package when the device is not in use.
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Verifying the Kit Contents
56 7
4
21 3
1. NI RF Power Meter with Dust Cap
2. USB 2.0 A to Mini-B Cable
3. BNC(m) to MCX(m) Cable
4. Precision Type-N-to-SMA Adapter
5. NI-568x Instrument Driver Software DVD
6. Certificate of Calibration
7. NI 5684 Getting Started Guide (This Document)
Other Required Items
In addition to the kit contents, you need the following items:
• 1 N · m torque wrench
• Desktop computer, laptop, or chassis with one available USB 2.0- or USB 1.1-compliant
slot
Preparing the Environment
Ensure that the environment you are using the NI 5684 in meets the following specifications.
Operating environment
Ambient temperature range 0 °C to 50 °C (Tested in accordance with
IEC 60068-2-1 and IEC 60068-2-2.)
Relative humidity range 45% to 95%, noncondensing (Tested in
accordance with IEC 60068-2-56).
NI 5684 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 3

Storage ambient temperature range -40 °C to +71 °C (Tested in accordance with
MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 3).)
Maximum altitude 4,600 m operational
Pollution Degree 2
Indoor use only.
Note For detailed specifications, refer to the NI 5684 specifications document at
ni.com/manuals.
Installing the Software
You must be an Administrator to install NI software on your computer.
1. Install an ADE, such as LabVIEW or LabWindows™/CVI™.
2. Insert the driver software media into your computer. The installer should open
automatically.
If the installation window does not appear, navigate to the drive, double-click it, and
double-click autorun.exe.
3. Follow the instructions in the installation prompts.
Note Windows users may see access and security messages during
installation. Accept the prompts to complete the installation.
4. When the installer completes, select Restart in the dialog box that prompts you to restart,
shut down, or restart later.
Installing the Hardware
Install the NI-568x software before installing the hardware.
1. Ensure that the NI-568x software is installed.
Note If you connect the NI 5684 to a PC or chassis before installing the
software, the PC or chassis does not recognize the NI 5684.
2. Connect the A-Type USB connector to the PC or chassis and secure the Mini-B USB
connector to the power meter using the anchor screw.
Note The NI 5684 has a power requirement of approximately 450 mA. If you
plan to use the device through a USB hub, NI recommends using an external
power source.
Refer to the following figure for an example of a completed installation.
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Figure 1. Installing the NI 5684
NI PXI-1042
2
1
3
NI USB-568x
5
4
1. PXI Chassis
2. USB Cable
3. Mini-B USB Port
4. Mini-B USB connector
5. NI RF Power Meter Back Panel
Connecting the Device Under Test
NI recommends that you zero the NI RF power meter after connecting to a USB port and
before taking power measurements. If you make frequent low-power measurements, zero the
power meter often.
1. Connect the NI RF power meter to a computer or chassis.
2. Zero the NI RF power meter.
3. Connect the Type-N front panel connector to the RF source connection.
Note You may need to use the included Type-N-to-SMA adapter, depending
on the RF source connection.
Caution Always refer to the specifications document before connecting
signals. Failure to observe the specified maximum signal ratings can cause
shock, a fire hazard, or damage to the devices connected to the NI RF power
meter. NI is not liable for any damage or injuries resulting from incorrect signal
connections.
Caution Do not turn the sensor body when mating the connectors. Always
use the specified torque wrench. Do not over-torque the connectors.
4. The back panel LED indicates the status of the NI RF power meter. To confirm that the
device is properly connected, refer to the following table for LED information.
NI 5684 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 5

Table 1. LED Status Indication
LED Color Status
Green The NI RF power meter is connected to a computer or a chassis and is
functioning properly.
Yellow An error has occurred or the firmware is being updated.
Off The NI RF power meter is not initialized.
Front and Back Panel
Figure 2. NI 5684 Front Panel
1
1. Type-N Connector
Figure 3. NI 5684 Back Panel
3
1
24
1. Status LED
2. External Trigger In Terminal
3. USB 2.0 A to Mini-B Port
4. External Trigger Out Terminal
Note External Trigger Out capability is currently unsupported.
Connector Care and Handling
The NI 5684 is a high-quality precision laboratory device and should be carefully handled.
Follow the precautions listed in this section when handling or connecting devices. Complying
with these precautions guarantees longer component life and lower equipment downtime
because of connector or device failure.
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Avoid Touching Connectors with Bare Hands
Avoid touching connector mating planes with bare hands. Natural skin oils and microscopic
dirt particles are difficult to remove.
Observe Pin Depth of Mating Connectors
Make sure to use the proper connectors to mate with the NI 5684.
NI recommends that you use precision or industrial grade Type-N connectors or that you use
SMA connectors when using the Type N-to-SMA adapter. Always check the pin depth of a
connector before use to determine if they are out of the specified range.
Avoid Lateral Pressure
Never put lateral pressure on the center pin of the connector.
Avoid Overtorquing Connectors
Do not overtorque connectors; doing so may damage the connector center pin. Always use a
1 N · m torque wrench when tightening connectors. Never use pliers. Never tighten the
connectors, adapters, or cables such that the center pin rotates.
Avoid Applying Excessive Power
The NI 5684 is rated for a specific maximum continuous input power. Exceeding the
maximum input power level permanently damages the internal components. Before making
connections, verify the maximum input levels labeled below the ports on the module front
panel.
Avoid Mechanical Shock
Precision connectors are designed to withstand years of normal bench handling. Handle the
connectors carefully and avoid dropping them. Mechanical shock significantly reduces their
service life.
Clean Connectors Carefully
Dirt and other contamination on the connector interfaces can affect the performance of the RF
components. To clean the connector interfaces, use only pure isopropyl alcohol as a cleaning
solvent. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol, as this prolongs drying time. Apply the
alcohol with a foam-tipped swab instead of cotton swabs, because the cotton can become
lodged in the connector.
Use low-pressure compressed air to remove foreign particles and to dry the connector. After
cleaning, verify that the center pin has not been bent or damaged.
Store Connectors Properly
When not in use, keep the connectors covered with the dust cap included in the NI 5684.
Related Information
Refer to the RF Connector Care white paper for more information about proper connector
care.
NI 5684 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 7

Configuring the NI 5684 in MAX
Use Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to configure your NI hardware. MAX
informs other programs about which devices reside in the system and how they are configured.
MAX is automatically installed with NI-568x.
1. Launch MAX.
2. In the configuration tree, expand Devices and Interfaces to see the list of installed
devices.
Note If you do not see your device listed, press <F5> to refresh the list of
installed devices. If the device is still not listed, power off the system, ensure
the device is correctly installed, and restart.
3. Record the device identifier MAX assigns to the hardware. Use this identifier when
programming the NI 5684.
4. Self-test the device by selecting the device in the configuration tree and clicking Self-Test
in the MAX toolbar.
The MAX self-test performs a basic verification of hardware resources.
NI RF Power Meter Programming Options
You can acquire data with the NI 5684 by using the NI-568x soft front panel (SFP), or you can
control the NI RF power meter programmatically using the NI-568x instrument driver.
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Table 2. NI 5684 Programming Options
Application
Programming
Interface (API)
Location Description
NI-568x Soft
Front Panel (SFP)
Available from the Start
menu at Start»All
Programs»National
Instruments»NI-568x»
NI-568x Soft Front Panel.
The SFP is a software representation of a
traditional benchtop power meter. Launch
the NI-568x SFP to use the NI RF power
meter interactively.
NI-568x
Instrument Driver
LabVIEW—Available on
the LabVIEW Functions
palette at Instrument I/O»
Instrument Drivers»
NI-568x.
NI-568x features a set of operations and
attributes that exercise all the functionality
of the NI 5684 including configuration,
control, and other device-specific
functions.
Tip You can modify an
NI-568x C example to create an
application with Microsoft
Visual C/C++, and all required
include and library files are
automatically added to the
project.
C or LabWindows/CVI—
Available at Program
Files\IVI
Foundation\IVI
\Drivers\ni568x and
Program Files
(x86)\IVI
Foundation\IVI
\Drivers\ni568x.
Header Files—Available at
Program Files\IVI
Foundation\IVI
\Include and Program
Files (x86)\IVI
Foundation\IVI
\Include.
Related Information
Refer to the Creating an Application with Microsoft Visual C and C++ topic of the NI RF
Power Meters Help if you prefer to manually add all required include files and library files to
the project.
NI-568x Examples
The instrument driver examples are instructional tools that demonstrate some of the
functionality of the NI RF power meter. You can use these examples separately or integrate
NI 5684 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 9

them into your systems. NI-568x includes examples for getting started and other power meter
functionality.
The examples are available from the Start menu at Start»All Programs»National
Instruments»NI-568x»Examples.
Where to Go Next
Refer to the following figure for information about other product tasks and associated
resources for those tasks.
CREATE
custom applications with
an application programming
interface (API).
about hardware features
or review device
specifications.
more about your products through ni.com.
the application
development environment (ADE)
for your application.
*This item is also installed with the driver software.
EXPLORE LEARN
DISCOVER
Support
ni.com/support
RF Solutions
ni.com/rf
Updates
ni.com/updates
Services
ni.com/services
Getting Started with
LabVIEW
Getting Started with
LabWindows/CVI
Located using the NI Example Finder
Located online at ni.com/manuals
NI-USB 568x
Specifications*
NI RF Power Meters Help*
NI-568x Instrument Driver
NI RF Power Meters Help*
NI-568x Examples*
Tip The NI RF Power Meters Help is an HTML version of a traditional user
manual that includes detailed information about RF fundamentals, device features,
and programming the NI 5684.
Worldwide Support and Services
The National Instruments website is your complete resource for technical support. At ni.com/
support, you have access to everything from troubleshooting and application development
self-help resources to email and phone assistance from NI Application Engineers.
10 | ni.com | NI 5684 Getting Started Guide