National Instruments PXI-5650 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
NI PXI-5650/5651/5652
This document describes the processes to calibrate the NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 (PXI-5650/
5651/5652) RF signal generator. This document provides performance tests to verify whether
the instrument is performing within the published specifications. For more information about
calibration, visit ni.com/calibration.
Contents
Required Software .................................................................................................................... 2
Related Documentation ............................................................................................................ 2
Password................................................................................................................................... 2
Calibration Interval................................................................................................................... 2
Test Equipment......................................................................................................................... 3
Test Conditions......................................................................................................................... 5
Calibration Procedures ............................................................................................................. 5
Initial Setup....................................................................................................................... 6
Characterizing the Test System ........................................................................................ 6
Characterizing the Spectrum Analyzer..................................................................... 6
Verification ....................................................................................................................... 8
Validating the ALC Limits Table............................................................................. 8
Verifying Frequency Accuracy ................................................................................ 9
Verifying High Power Level Accuracy .................................................................... 9
Verifying Low Power Level Accuracy..................................................................... 11
Verifying Single Sideband Phase Noise at 10 kHz Offset ....................................... 13
Verifying Nonharmonics at 0 dBm to -20 dBm Output Power................................ 15
Optional Verification........................................................................................................ 19
Verifying Harmonics at 0 dBm (Functional Test).................................................... 19
Verifying Harmonics at -50 dBm (Functional Test) ................................................ 21
Verifying Subharmonics on the PXI-5652 at 0 dBm (Functional Test)................... 23
Verifying Subharmonics on the PXI-5652 at -50 dBm (Functional Test) ............... 25
Adjustment........................................................................................................................ 27
Adjusting ALC ......................................................................................................... 27
Adjusting Attenuators............................................................................................... 28
Adjusting ALC Limits .............................................................................................. 29
Adjusting Frequency Accuracy ................................................................................ 30
Updating Calibration Date and Time................................................................................ 30
Appendix A: Calibration Utilities............................................................................................. 31
Calibration VI References ................................................................................................ 31
Worldwide Support and Services ............................................................................................. 31

2|ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
Required Software
To calibrate the PXI-5650/5651/5652, you must install NI-RFSG version 15.0.3 or later on the
calibration system. NI-RFSG includes all the VIs necessary for calibration. You can download
the latest version of NI-RFSG at ni.com/downloads.
NI-RFSG supports programming the calibration procedures in LabVIEW. Calibration VIs are
accessible in LabVIEW from the Functions palette. Refer to Table 1 for file locations.
For more information about calibration VIs, refer to the NI RF Signal Generators Help,
accessible at Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-RFSG»Documentation»
NI RF Signal Generators Help.
Related Documentation
You might find the following documentation helpful as you perform the verification procedures:
• Specifications for your device
•NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Getting Started Guide
•NI RF Signal Generators Help
The latest versions of these documents are available on ni.com/manuals.
Password
The default password for password-protected operations is NI.
Calibration Interval
The measurement accuracy requirements of your application determine how often you should
calibrate your device. NI recommends that you perform a complete calibration for the PXI-5650/
5651/5652 at least once a year. You can shorten this calibration interval based on the accuracy
demands of your application.
Table 1. Calibration File Locations
File Name and Location Description
<IVI>\bin\niRFSG.dll NI-RFSG driver containing the entire NI-RFSG
API, including calibration functions.
<LabVIEW>\instr.lib\niRFSG\
niRFSG5652calibration
Folder containing NI-RFSG calibration VIs. You
can access calibration VIs from the NI-RFSG
calibration section of the LabVIEW Functions
palette.

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |3
Test Equipment
Table 2 lists the equipment required to calibrate the PXI-5650/5651/5652. If you do not have the
recommended equipment, select a substitute calibration standard using the specifications listed
in Table 2.
Table 2. Required Equipment Specifications for
PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration
Required
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used
Minimum
Requirements
Spectrum
analyzer
Rohde & Schwarz
(R&S) FSU
Spectrum Analyzer
with Preamplifier
(option B23 and
B25)
Characterizing the
spectrum analyzer
Frequency
accuracy
Low power level
accuracy
Single sideband
phase noise
Harmonics
Subharmonics
Nonharmonics
Frequency range:
500 kHz to 13.2 GHz
Noise floor:
<-150 dBm/Hz
6 dB precision
attenuator
Anritsu 41KB-6 Characterizing the
spectrum analyzer
Frequency
accuracy
Low power level
accuracy
Single sideband
phase noise
Harmonics
Subharmonics
Nonharmonics
Frequency range:
500 kHz to 6.6 GHz
Power rating: 2 W
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR: ≤1.1:1
Power meter Anritsu ML2438A
with an Anritsu
SC7400 thermal
sensor
Characterizing the
spectrum analyzer
High power level
accuracy
Range: -55 dBm to
20 dBm
Frequency range:
100 kHz to 18 GHz

4|ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
Frequency
reference
Symmetricon
8040C Rubidium
Frequency
Standard
Characterizing the
spectrum analyzer
Frequency
accuracy
High power level
accuracy
Low power level
accuracy
Single sideband
phase noise
Harmonics
Subharmonics
Nonharmonics
Frequency: 10 MHz
Frequency accuracy:
≤±1E-9
BNC (m)-to-
BNC (m) cable
Pomona 5697 — —
SMA (m)-to-
BNC (m) cable
Pasterneck
Enterprises
PE3696-36
— —
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (m) cable
MegaPhase
G916-S1S1-36
—Frequency range:
DC to 6.6 GHz
Insertion loss:
≤1.2 dB up to 6.6 GHz
Impedance: 50 Ω
VSWR:
≤1.25 : 1 up to 6.6 GHz
N (m)-to-
SMA (f)
adapter
Radiall
R191.329.000
—Frequency range:
DC to 11 GHz
Impedance: 50 Ω
PXI chassis NI PXIe-1065 — —
Table 2. Required Equipment Specifications for
PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration (Continued)
Required
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used
Minimum
Requirements

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |5
Test Conditions
The following setup and environmental conditions are required to ensure the PXI-5650/5651/
5652 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.
• 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
cooling, refer to the Maintain Forced-Air Cooling Note to Users document available at
ni.com/manuals.
• Keep relative humidity between 10% and 90%, noncondensing.
• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 °C ±5 °C.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 30 minutes after the chassis is powered on. The warm-up
time ensures that the PXI-5650/5651/5652 is 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 subsequent
frequency iteration.
Calibration Procedures
The calibration process includes the following steps:
1. Initial Setup—Install the device and configure it in Measurement & Automation Explorer
(MAX).
2. Verification—Verify the existing operation of the device. This step confirms whether the
device is operating within its specified range prior to adjustment.
3. Adjustment—Perform an external adjustment of the device that adjusts the calibration
constants of the device.
4. Reverification—Repeat the verification procedure to ensure that the device is operating
within its specifications after adjustment.
Perform a complete calibration to guarantee successful adjustment and performance of the
PXI-5650/5651/5652 for a one-year calibration interval.

6|ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
Figure 1 shows the programming flow for a complete calibration.
Figure 1. Complete Calibration Programming Flow
Initial Setup
Refer to the NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Getting Started Guide for information about how to install
the software and hardware and how to configure the device in MAX.
Characterizing the Test System
The following procedures characterize the test equipment used during verification and
adjustment.
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.
Characterizing the Spectrum Analyzer
Complete the following steps to characterize the spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal using the SMA (m)-to-BNC (m) cable.
Document
Post-Adjustment
Results
Document
Pre-Adjustment
Results
Calibration/
Verification
Complete
Ye sNo
Verify
Meets
Calibration
Te st Limits?
Review Verification/
Adjustment Procedure
or Return Device
Adjust (Calibration Dates
and TemperaturesUpdated)
Verify

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |7
2. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel connector to the power meter
thermal sensor.
3. Call the niRFSG 5652 Get Calibration Frequencies.vi located in the labview\
instr.lib\niRFSG\niRFSG5652Calibration\SubVIs directory. In the
Calibration procedure control, specify Attenuators, and in the Model control, specify
the device model name as NI PXI-5650, NI PXI-5651, or NI PXI-5652. A frequency
array is generated.
4. Build another frequency array for the appropriate device model using the frequencies listed
in Table 5, Low-Level Accuracy Test Points and Limits (≤-40 dBm).
5. Concatenate the frequency arrays from step 3 and step 4. Pass the result into the niRFSG
Sort Array and Remove Duplicates (DBL).vi located in the labview\instr.lib\
niRFSG\commonCalibration directory. Record the resulting list of frequencies that is
generated.
6. Generate a signal at -35 dBm, and measure the power at all of the frequency test points
recorded in step 5.
7. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer REF IN
rear panel connector.
8. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
9. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
10. Generate a single-tone signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency (Hz): 500 kHz
• Power Level (dBm): -35 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
11. Use the spectrum analyzer to measure the mean power of the RF output using the following
spectrum analyzer settings:
• Frequency: NI-RFSG frequency (Hz) value obtained in step 10
• Reference level: -38 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 30 Hz
• Frequency span: 0 Hz
• Reference Clock source: External
• Trace averaging: 20 averages
12. Repeat step 11 for each of the frequencies in the array that you recorded in step 5.
13. Calculate the Spectrum Analyzer Correction Factor by subtracting each measurement in
step 11 from the corresponding measurement in step 6 at the same frequency. Record the
result.
Tip The numbers will be positive if the subtraction is performed correctly.

8|ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
Note You must use the same attenuator used in this characterization when
performing the corresponding verification and adjustment procedures.
Verification
This section describes the steps you must follow to verify the published specifications for the
PXI-5650/5651/5652.
Verification includes the following functional test:
• ALC limts table validation
Verification tests the following PXI-5650/5651/5652 specifications:
• Frequency accuracy
• High power level accuracy
• Low power level accuracy
• Single sideband phase noise at 10 kHz offset
• Harmonics at an RF output level from -50 dBm to 0 dBm
• Subharmonics at an RF output level from -50 dBm to 0 dBm
• Nonharmonics at less than or equal to an RF output level of 0 dBm (>3 kHz and >100 kHz
offsets)
Verification of the PXI-5650/5651/5652 is complete only after you have successfully completed
all tests in this section.
Validating the ALC Limits Table
Complete the following steps to validate the ALC limits table on the device EEPROM:
1. Call the niRFSG Initialize External Calibration VI.
2. Call the niRFSG 5652 Validate ALC Limits Table VI.
Note Any invalid ALC limits are reported in the invalid limits indicator. If this
array is non-empty, adjust the device. If invalid limits persist after adjustment, the
device specifications are not warranted over temperature at the specified invalid
limits frequencies, and the device requires repair.
Note If the ALC poly range data present? parameter is FALSE, adjust the device.
The ALC limits table is validated using calibration data on the device and does not
require any exernal measurements. ALC poly range data was added to the device
EEPROM in NI-RFSG 15.0.3. This data is required to validate the ALC limits table.
If the device was last adjusted using a version of NI-RFSG prior to NI-RFSG 15.0.3,
the ALC limits table cannot be validated. The PXI-5652 may be used as an LO for
the NI PXIe-5663 or NI PXIe-5673 in this case. When using the PXI-5650/5651/
5652 as a stand-alone device, NI recommends adjusting the device using
NI-RFSG 15.0.3 or later.
3. Call the niRFSG Close External Calibration VI to close the session. Set the write
calibration to hardware? parameter to FALSE.

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |9
Verifying Frequency Accuracy
Complete the following steps to verify the frequency accuracy of the PXI-5650/5651/5652
module using a spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
2. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
3. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer REF IN
rear panel connector.
4. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Center frequency: 400 MHz
• Reference level: -20 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 100 Hz
• Span: 100 kHz
• Reference Clock source: External
• Frequency counter resolution: 1 Hz
5. Generate a signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency (Hz): 400 MHz
• Power Level (dBm): -20 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: Onboard Clock
6. Use the spectrum analyzer to measure the frequency of the peak tone.
7. Verify that the measurement in step 6 is within the limits in Table 3, with respect to
400 MHz.
Verifying High Power Level Accuracy
Complete the following steps to verify the high power level accuracy of the
PXI-5650/5651/5652 module using a power meter:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal.
2. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel connector to the power meter
thermal sensor.
3. Generate a single-tone signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency (Hz): 500 kHz
• Power Level (dBm): 5 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
Table 3. Frequency Accuracy Test Limit
Device Test Limit
PXI-5650/5651/5652 9 ppm

10 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
4. Use the power meter to measure the RF OUT power. Compare the measured RF OUT
power to the Test Limit listed in Table 4.
Table 4. High Power Level Accuracy Test Points and Limits
Device Frequency
Start Power
(dBm) Test Limit (dB)
PXI-5650/5651/
5652
500 kHz 5±1.6
1 MHz 5
2 MHz 5
5 MHz 5
10 MHz 8±0.75
20 MHz 8
50 MHz 10
100 MHz 10
150 MHz 10
200 MHz 10
500 MHz 10
1 GHz 10
PXI-5651/5652 1.5 GHz 10 ±0.75
2 GHz 8
2.5 GHz 8
3 GHz 8
3.3 GHz 7
PXI-5652 3.5 GHz 7±1.0
4 GHz 5
4.5 GHz 5
5 GHz 0
5.5 GHz 0
6 GHz 0
6.6 GHz 0

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |11
5. Repeat steps 3 through 4 for every power level down to -38 dBm, using a step size of 2 dB
on the even values (5, 4, 2, 0, ..., -38).
6. Repeat step 5 for the remaining frequencies using the corresponding Start Power listed in
Table 4.
Verifying Low Power Level Accuracy
Note Prior to starting this procedure, characterize the spectrum analyzer according
to the Characterizing the Spectrum Analyzer section of this document.
Complete the following steps to verify the low power level accuracy (≤-40 dBm) of the
PXI-5650/5651/5652 module using a spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal.
2. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
Note You must use the same attenuator you used in the Characterizing the
Spectrum Analyzer procedure.
3. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
4. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer
10 MHz REF IN rear panel connector.
5. Generate a single-tone signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency (Hz): 500 kHz
• Power Level (dBm): -40 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
6. Use the NI-RFSG Property Node to read the actual frequency of the generated signal. The
actual frequency varies slightly from the configured frequency.
7. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Frequency: NI-RFSG frequency (Hz) value obtained in step 6
• Reference level: -44 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 30 Hz
• Frequency span: 0 Hz
• Reference Clock source: External
• Trace averaging: 20 traces

12 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
8. Use the spectrum analyzer to measure the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT power. Add the
Spectrum Analyzer Correction Factor recorded in the Characterizing the Spectrum
Analyzer section to each power measurement in this step at the corresponding frequency.
Compare the value to the Test Limit listed in Table 5.
Table 5. Low-Level Accuracy Test Points and Limits (≤-40 dBm)
Device Frequency
Stop Power
(dBm) Test Limit (dB)
PXI-5650/5651/
5652
500 kHz -90 ±2.2
1 MHz -90
2 MHz -90
5 MHz -90
10.1 MHz -90 ±1.8
20.1 MHz -90
50.1 MHz -90
100.1 MHz -90
150.1 MHz -90
200.1 MHz -90
500.1 MHz -90
1 GHz -90
PXI-5651/5652 1.5 GHz -90 ±1.8
2 GHz -80
2.5 GHz -80
3 GHz -70
3.3 GHz -60

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |13
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for every power level down to the Stop Power listed in Table 5,
using a step size of 5 dB.
10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 for the remaining frequencies listed in Table 5.
Verifying Single Sideband Phase Noise at 10 kHz Offset
Complete the following steps to verify the single sideband (SSB) phase noise of an
PXI-5650/5651/5652 module using a spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal.
2. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
3. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
4. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer
10 MHz REF IN rear panel connector.
5. Generate a signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency: 500 MHz
• Power Level: 0 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
6. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Frequency: 500 MHz
• Reference level: 0 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 10 Hz
• Frequency span: 100 Hz
• Reference Clock source: External
• Level range: Log 120 dB
PXI-5652 3.5 GHz -60 ±2.0
4 GHz -50
4.5 GHz -50
5 GHz -50
5.5 GHz -50
6 GHz -50
6.6 GHz -50
Table 5. Low-Level Accuracy Test Points and Limits (≤-40 dBm) (Continued)
Device Frequency
Stop Power
(dBm) Test Limit (dB)

14 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
7. Measure the maximum power within the configured span of the spectrum analyzer and
record this data. Reference this measurement for steps 8 through 13.
8. Reconfigure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Frequency: 500 MHz + 10 kHz offset
• Reference level: Value measured in step 7
• Resolution bandwidth: 10 Hz
• Frequency span: 100 Hz
• Reference Clock source: External
• Level range: Log 120 dB
• Trace averaging: 20 traces
9. Measure the mean value within the configured span of the spectrum analyzer and record
this value.
10. Apply the following equation to the value measured in step 9:
phase noiseSSB at 10 KHz offset = Measurement - 10log(RBW)
where
Measurement = value measured in step 9
RBW = resolution bandwidth
11. Subtract the measurement recorded in step 7 from the value calculated in step 10.
12. Verify that the value calculated in step 11 meets the Test Limit as specified in Table 6.
13. Repeat steps 5 through 12 for the remaining frequencies listed in the Frequency column in
Table 6, if applicable to the device.
Table 6. Single Sideband Phase Noise at 10 kHz Offset
Device Frequency Test Limit (dBc/Hz)
PXI-5650/5651/5652 500 MHz <-111
1 GHz <-105
PXI-5651/5652 2 GHz <-98
3 GHz <-95
PXI-5652 4 GHz <-93
5 GHz <-90
6.6 GHz <-90

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |15
Note The main frequency synthesis occurs between 1.6 GHz and 3.3 GHz using
one of four voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO). Frequencies outside this range are
generated by using dividers or multipliers. For frequencies lower than 1 GHz, the
SSB phase noise can be characterized by the following relationship (use the 1 GHz
measurement as your reference):
SSB Phase NoiseTEST = SSB Phase NoiseREFERENCE - 20log(n)
where
SSB Phase NoiseTEST = SSB phase noise at the center frequency of interest
in dBc/Hz
SSB Phase NoiseREFERENCE = SSB phase noise at the referenced center frequency
of interest in dBc/Hz
n= Reference/Test in Hz/Hz
Verifying Nonharmonics at 0 dBm to -20 dBm Output Power
Complete the following steps to verify the nonharmonic levels of an PXI-5650/5651/5652
module using a spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal.
2. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
3. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
4. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer
10 MHz REF IN rear panel connector.
5. Generate a signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Frequency (Hz): 35.125 MHz
• Power Level (dBm): 0 dBm
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
6. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Frequency: 35.125 MHz
• Reference level: +5 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 1 kHz
• Span: 500 kHz
• Reference Clock source: External
7. Measure the peak power of the fundamental tone using the spectrum analyzer and record
the value. This value is your reference value for steps 8 through 16.
8. Reconfigure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Center frequency: 35.125 MHz + 51.5 kHz offset
• Reference level: +5 dBm
• Span: 97 kHz

16 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
• Reference Clock source: External
• Resolution bandwidth: 100 Hz
9. Measure the peak power using the spectrum analyzer with the settings from step 8 and
record the value. This value is the highest peak between 3 kHz and 100 kHz offset from the
fundamental frequency.
10. Subtract the measurement in step 7 from the measurement in step 9.
11. Verify that the result calculated in step 10 is within the >3 kHz Offset limits listed in
Table 7.
The following steps measure the nonharmonic levels freqOffset > 100 kHz where freqOffset is
the frequency offset from the tone being generated.
12. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Center frequency: 200 MHz
• Reference level: +5 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 500 Hz
• Span: 100 kHz
• Reference Clock source: External
13. Measure the peak power using the spectrum analyzer with the settings from step 12, and
record the value.
14. Subtract the measurement from step 13 from the measurement in step 7.
15. Verify that the result is within the >100 kHz Offset limits specified in Table 7.
16. Repeat steps 12 through 15 for the remaining frequencies listed in the Test Point column in
Table 8.
17. Repeat steps 5 through 16 using the Center Frequency shown in Table 9.
Table 7. Nonharmonics at ≤0 dBm Output Power
RF Output Frequency
Test Limits
>3 kHz Offset (dBc) >100 kHz Offset (dBc)
500 kHz to <50 MHz <-57 <-57
50 MHz to <3.3 GHz <-65 <-70
3.3 GHz to 6.6 GHz <-50 <-65

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |17
Table 8. Test Points for Nonharmonic Test
Device Test Point (MHz)
PXI-5650/5651/5652 200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
PXI-5651/5652 1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2,200
2,400
2,600
2,800
3,000
3,200

18 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
PXI-5652 3,400
3,600
3,800
4,000
4,200
4,400
4,600
4,800
5,000
5,200
5,400
5,600
5,800
6,000
6,200
6,400
6,600
Table 9. Center Frequencies for Nonharmonic Test
Device Center Frequency (MHz)
PXI-5650/5651/5652 35.125
1,235.125
PXI-5651/5652 3,235.125
PXI-5652 6,535.125
Table 8. Test Points for Nonharmonic Test (Continued)
Device Test Point (MHz)

NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |19
Optional Verification
Use the following procedures to verify nonwarranted specifications for the PXI-5650/5651/
5652.
Verifying Harmonics at 0 dBm (Functional Test)
Complete the following steps to verify the harmonic levels of the PXI-5650/5651/5652 module
using a spectrum analyzer:
1. Connect the PXI-5650/5651/5652 REF IN/OUT front panel connector to the rubidium
10 MHz frequency reference signal.
2. Connect the 6 dB precision attenuator to the PXI-5650/5651/5652 RF OUT front panel
connector.
3. Connect the spectrum analyzer RF INPUT connector to the 6 dB precision attenuator.
4. Connect the rubidium 10 MHz frequency reference signal to the spectrum analyzer
10 MHz REF IN rear panel connector.
5. Configure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Center frequency: 10 MHz
• Reference level: +5 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 1 kHz
• Frequency span: 500 kHz
• Reference Clock source: External
6. Generate a signal after setting the following NI-RFSG property settings:
• Power Level (dBm): 0 dBm
• Frequency (Hz): 10 MHz
• Generation Mode: CW
• Reference Clock source: RefIn
7. Measure the peak signal value of the fundamental frequency using the current settings on
the spectrum analyzer. Record this value.
8. Reconfigure the spectrum analyzer with the following settings:
• Center frequency: Twice the center frequency from step 5
• Reference level: +5 dBm
• Resolution bandwidth: 1 kHz
• Frequency span: 500 kHz
• Reference Clock source: External
9. Measure the peak signal value of the second harmonic using the settings of the spectrum
analyzer configured in step 8. Record this value.
10. Subtract the measurement in step 7 from the measurement in step 9.
11. Verify that the result calculated in step 10 meets the Test Limit of the minimum difference
from the generated signal power (dBc) as shown in Table 10.

20 |ni.com |NI PXI-5650/5651/5652 Calibration Procedure
12. Repeat steps 5 through 10 for the remaining frequency points shown in Table 10.
Table 10. Harmonics at -50 dBm to 0 dBm Output Power
Device Frequency Test Limit (dBc)
PXI-5650/5651/5652 10 MHz <-15
20 MHz
50 MHz
100 MHz
150 MHz
200 MHz
400 MHz
800 MHz
1.0 GHz
PXI-5651/5652 1.6 GHz <-20
2.0 GHz
2.5 GHz
3.0 GHz
3.3 GHz
PXI-5652 3.5 GHz <-20
3.7 GHz
4.0 GHz
4.5 GHz
5.0 GHz
5.5 GHz
6.0 GHz
6.6 GHz
The limits in this table are typical values. Typical values describe useful product performance beyond
specifications that are not covered by warranty and do not include guardbands for measurement
uncertainty or drift.