A new release of LabVIEW NXG is designed to simplify the most time-consuming tasks in automated test and automated measurement applications, from setting up and configuring systems to developing test and measurement code and creating web-ready applications. These enhancements help engineers meet challenging time-to-market requirements. “Since the initial launch of LabVIEW NXG in 2017, we’ve […]
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RF/Microwave noise, Part 2: Noise temperature and applications
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basic specifications of noise factor and noise figure, widely used in RF/microwave system and circuit analysis to predict and assess both requirements and performance. This part looks at the additional parameter of noise temperature, as well as the impact this parameter has on system performance. It also […]
Test and measurement with LabVIEW
LabVIEW is an awesome product created and maintained by National Instruments. It consists of systems engineering relating to test, measurement and control of instrumentation, devices and machinery, and it is currently used worldwide in numerous applications. Rather than endless lines of textual coding, LabVIEW has a simple graphic interface where devices such as an oscilloscope […]
New mmWave radio heads target 5G NR research and system prototyping
Two series of new millimeter wave (mmWave) radio heads for the NI mmWave Transceiver System cover the spectrum from 24.5 GHz to 33.4 GHz and 37 GHz to 43.5 GHz. Both target wireless researchers prototyping 5G New Radio (NR) systems. As the first phase of 5G NR wraps up and the 3GPP finishes defining the […]
RFIC test capability for NB-IoT and eMTC standards
New NI-RFmx NB-IoT/eMTC measurement software complements National Instruments’ existing RF test capabilities for wireless technologies ranging from 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax to Bluetooth to 2G/3G/4G/5G standards. NB-IoT and eMTC drive a wide range of machine-type communication applications by delivering on key performance criteria such as extended range and lower power consumption. Compared to existing LTE technology, the NB-IoT […]
Low-cost alternative USB-to-GPIB controller
By languer, Electro-Tech-Online community member I was pressed to find a solution for a test automation need that needed to be simple and inexpensive. This led me to research for an inexpensive GPIB controller I could interface via USB and would allow me to control test equipment with. I planned to control the test equipment […]
RF power measurement, Part 2: What and how
Part 1 of this FAQ introduced some of the basic issues related to the measurement of RF power, which is a primary parameter in most RF designs. Part 2 continues the discussion, looking at RF waveforms and sensors. Q: The term “power” is fairly broad; what are the specifics? A: There are actually several basic […]
RF power measurement, Part 1: Why and where
When the subject is RF design, the word “power” dominates much of the discussion. This FAQ looks at some perspectives related to measurement of this vital RF parameter. Not only is power and measuring it among the most important RF design considerations, it is generally difficult to assess accurately, and it is getting harder […]
Working with bus analyzers
Protocol or bus analyzers (sometimes dubbed packet sniffers) are tools that intercept network traffic, store it, and then decode it for presentation in a human-readable state. Bus analyzers all have the same basic operating principle. They copy all network traffic out to a buffer or file. A lot of oscilloscopes include bus analyzer features. The […]
The RF power amplifier, Part 2: Considerations
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basic role and function of the RF power amplifier (PA). This part looks at some of the factors to consider when looking at possible PA devices. It is not a detailed run-through of the many parameters which characterize PAs, including many which are unique to the PA […]