{"id":1764,"date":"2024-10-16T05:49:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T05:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/35.94.173.37\/blog\/?p=1764"},"modified":"2025-09-22T18:12:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T18:12:44","slug":"how-to-use-a-ni-spectrum-analyzer-with-an-rf-signal-generator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/how-to-use-a-ni-spectrum-analyzer-with-an-rf-signal-generator\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use a NI Spectrum Analyzer with an RF Signal Generator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/How-To-Use-Spectrum-Analyzer-w-RF-Signal-Generator.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Listen to this post here.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><em>The\u00a0<strong>PXIe Platform<\/strong>\u00a0from National Instruments offers an incredibly valuable toolset for test and measurement innovation. Its modular design allows the hardware to be mixed and matched into versatile configurations, achieving functionalities that would be impossible with a single standalone device.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To: Use a Spectrum Analyzer with an RF Signal Generator (PXIe-5673E + PXIe-5646R)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uD3GKglABR4?feature=oembed\" width=\"525\" height=\"295\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3151\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-61-821x1024.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-61-821x1024.png 821w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-61-241x300.png 241w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-61-768x958.png 768w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-61.png 837w\" alt=\"Closeup front view of the PXIe-5673E Vector Signal Generator\" width=\"304\" height=\"379\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">As a result of this flexible modularity, there are certain NI model names that do not just refer to one device, but instead to multiple interconnected modules that are used together. One such device is the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/pxi-vector-signal-generators\/PXIe-5673E\">PXIe-5673E Vector Signal Generator<\/a><\/strong>, which is actually a combination of three devices; the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/pxi-signal-generator-modules\/PXIe-5611\">PXIe-5611<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<strong>IQ Modulator<\/strong>, the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/pxi-waveform-generators\/PXIe-5450\">PXIe-5450<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(or PXIe-5451)\u00a0<strong>Waveform Generator<\/strong>, and the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/pxi-signal-generator-modules\/PXIe-5650\">PXIe-5650<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(or PXIe-5651\/PXIe-5652) LO Source. This combined unit provides a wide bandwidth for frequency measurements that range from 50 MHz to 6.6 GHz and boasts 512 MB of memory. The PXIe-5673E is an excellent choice for a wide range of test and measurement applications, and in this post we will explore how to use a spectrum analyzer in conjunction with an RF signal generator by using both the PXIe-5673E Vector Signal Generator and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/pxi-vector-signal-transceiver\/PXIe-5646R\"><strong>PXIe-5646R Vector Signal Transceiver<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\"><strong>Why use a Spectrum Analyzer with an RF Signal Generator?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Using these devices together broadens the horizons of RF engineering and testing applications, allowing for enhanced signal verification and integrity. This powerful combination of parts makes it easier to\u00a0<strong>measure\u00a0<\/strong>system characteristics (such as channel bandwidth or transmitter power),\u00a0<strong>evaluate\u00a0<\/strong>the performance of filters during component testing, and\u00a0<strong>analyze\u00a0<\/strong>the patterns and gains of antennas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">These capabilities are incredibly beneficial for\u00a0<strong>research and development<\/strong>, assisting technicians and engineers with developing new signal processing algorithms or wireless communication technologies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Let\u2019s walk through how to operate both the hardware and software of the PXIe-5673E and the PXIe-5646R in order to effectively use a Spectrum Analyzer with an RF Signal Generator.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\"><strong>Utilizing the PXIe-5673E and the PXIe-5646R<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The first step is to open the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.ni.com\/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YGQwCAO&amp;l=en-US\">NI MAX software<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on your PC and navigate to \u201cDevices and Interfaces\u201d.\u00a0 From here, expand the NI PXIe-1078 section and select\u00a0<strong>PXIe-5611<\/strong>. Under\u00a0<em>Associated Devices<\/em>, locate \u201cAWG\u201d and set it to\u00a0<strong>PXIe-5450<\/strong>. The next step is to configure the\u00a0<strong>LO<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0<strong>PXIe-5652<\/strong>, and then select \u201cSave\u201d (located in the top bar). The NI PXIe-5673E should now be listed under the PXIe-1078 section in the left panel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Navigating to the top bar of the screen, you will then need to open the\u00a0<strong>RFSG Soft Front Panel\u00a0<\/strong>from the top bar. Once it opens, select \u201dDevice\/System\u201d, and a menu will appear. From this menu, select \u201cCalibration\u201d and then navigate to \u201cSelf-Calibration\u201d. When prompted, this action is confirmed by clicking \u201cYes\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3149\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63-1024x542.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63-1024x542.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63-1536x813.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-63.png 1915w\" alt=\"Screenshot of a complete calibration screen on the RSFG Soft Front Panel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"542\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Once the calibration is complete, navigate to\u00a0<strong>NI PXIe-5646R<\/strong>\u00a0in the left panel and open the\u00a0<strong>RFSA Soft Front Panel<\/strong>.\u00a0<em>Both soft panels should now be open side by side<\/em>. On the PXIe-5673E soft panel, enable the\u00a0<strong>RF output.<\/strong>\u00a0You should then observe a signal spike on the PXIe-5646R soft panel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3148\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64-1024x540.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64-1024x540.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64-1536x810.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-64.png 1917w\" alt=\"Both soft front panels side by side\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Next, set the frequency to\u00a0<strong>5.9 GHz<\/strong>\u00a0on the PXIe-5673E and\u00a0<em>match the same frequency\u00a0<\/em>on the PXIe-5646R in order to adjust the center frequency. With the spectrum analyzer, you will need to specify the frequency range of interest.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3147\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65-1024x540.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65-1024x540.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65-1536x809.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-65.png 1917w\" alt=\"Center measurements on the RSFG Soft Front Panel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">After following these steps, you should now be ready to use your spectrum analyzer with an RF signal generator! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:support@apexwaves.com\">support@apexwaves.com<\/a>.\u00a0<strong>Apex Waves is your leading supplier for legacy test equipment. Whether you\u2019re looking for an obsolete part or you\u2019re hoping to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/surplus.php\">sell your surplus<\/a>, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uD3GKglABR4\">\u25b6\ufe0f\u00a0Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0PXIe Platform\u00a0from National Instruments offers an incredibly valuable toolset for test and measurement innovation. Its modular design allows the hardware to be mixed and matched into versatile configurations, achieving functionalities that would be impossible with a single standalone device.\u00a0 &nbsp; As a result of this flexible modularity, there are certain NI model names that do [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1764"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3364,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1764\/revisions\/3364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}