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IF and Baseband Recording and Playback Systems (100 MB/s)

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Overview

The PXI platform, because it is based on the high-bandwidth PCI and PCI Express buses, enables instruments to stream data to and from RAID-0 (striped) hard drive arrays at high sustained rates. National Instruments IF and baseband recording and playback systems combine PXI digitizers and arbitrary waveform generators with RAID-0 hard drive arrays for high-speed, long-duration recording and playback.

Table of Contents

  1. The PXI Platform
  2. System Architecture
  3. Base Configuration
  4. Onboard Signal Processing (OSP) Configuration
  5. Options

The PXI Platform

National Instruments IF and baseband recording and playback systems are based on the open, industry-standard PXI platform.  PXI provides the following benefits for IF and baseband recording and playback applications:

  • PC-based platform leveraging low-cost commercial PC components
  • High-bandwidth PCI and PCI Express buses
  • Over 1,500 products available from the more than 70 PXI vendors
  • Extensive breadth of I/O modules
  • Compatibility with CompactPCI (cPCI) modules
  • Rugged Eurocard form factor with a small system footprint
  • Virtually unlimited channel expansion capabilities
  • Tight multi-module and multi-chassis synchronization
  • Internal and external clocking and triggering
  • Synchronization with external systems and devices
  • IRIG and GPS timestamping and synchronization

System Architecture

National Instruments IF and baseband recording and playback systems consist of a PXI chassis containing a 14-bit, 100 MS/s, 2-channel digitizer and a 16-bit, 100 MS/s, single-channel arbitrary waveform generator.  Then systems are controlled by an embedded controller with a multicore processor running Windows and a development environment such as National Instruments LabVIEW.  The embedded controller interfaces to an external hard drive array via an ExpressCard External SATA (eSATA) module.  The ExpressCard module includes an integrated RAID-0 controller and uses a x1 PCI Express link to sustain streaming rates to and from the hard drive array at over 100 MB/s.  The hard drive array supports multiple terabytes of storage capacity, which enables continuous streaming at full rate for hours.

This architecture enables a single channel to be streamed to or from the hard drive array at 50 MS/s (100 MB/s).  Both channels on the digitizer can be simultaneously streamed to the hard drive array at 25 MS/s (100 MB/s).  By adding a second arbitrary waveform generator to the system, two channels channels can be simultaneously streamed from the hard drive array at 25 MS/s (100 MB/s).

Base Configuration

The base configuration IF and baseband recording and playback system features the National Instruments PXI-5122 digitizer and PXI-5421 arbitrary waveform generator, which include the following specifications.

PXI-5122 Specifications

  • 2 simultaneously sampled channels with 14-bit resolution
  • 100 MS/s real-time, 2.0 GS/s equivalent time sampling or control from external clocks
  • 100 MHz bandwidth with noise and antialias filters
  • -75 dBc spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) and 62 dB signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SINAD)
  • Edge, window, hysteresis, video and digital triggering with 100 ps timestamps
  • 8, 32, 256, or 512 MB of onboard memory per channel

PXI-5421 Specifications

  • 16-bit resolution, 100 MS/s sampling rate
  • Up to 400 MS/s effective sampling rate with interpolation
  • -148 dBm/Hz average noise density
  • 91 dBc close-in SFDR and -62 dBc THD at 10 MHz
  • 12 Vpp into 50 Ω load
  • 8, 32, 256, or 512 MB of onboard memory

The complete base configuration system consists of the following components (part numbers and quantities included).

Part Number Description Qty
778756-03 NI PXI-5122, 14-Bit, 100 MS/s Digitizer, 2 Ch, 256 MB/Ch 1
778697-03 NI PXI-5421, 16-Bit, 100 MS/s Arb, 256 MB 1
779886-01 NI PXI-8106 Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz Controller with Windows XP 1
778636-01 NI PXI-1042 8-Slot 3U Chassis with Universal AC Power Supply 1
763000-01 Power Cord, AC, U.S., 120 VAC 1
ADEXC34R5-2E Addonics ExpressCard/34 2-Port eSATA with RAID-0 1
AAESATA200C Addonics eSATA - eSATA cable, 200 cm 1
ST5X1PM Addonics Storage Tower with Integrated 5x1 Port Multiplier 1
AAHDMK53 Addonics 5 1/4" drive bay mounting bracket for 3.5" hard drive 4
ST3250620AS Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 250-GB Hard Drive 4

Here is an image of the system (ExpressCard eSATA module and hard drive enclosure not pictured):

Click Here to Receive an Instant Quote for the National Instruments Components

The recommended vendor for the ExpressCard eSATA module and external hard drive enclosure is Addonics.  The recommended hard drives are Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA drives.  Links to the applicable model pages are available below.

Onboard Signal Processing (OSP) Configuration

The OSP configuration IF and baseband recording and playback system features the National Instruments PXI-5142 digitizer and PXI-5441 arbitrary waveform generator, which include the following specifications.

PXI-5142 Specifications

  • 2 simultaneously sampled channels with 14-bit resolution
  • 100 MS/s real-time sampling, 2.0 GS/s random-interleaved sampling, or control from external clocks
  • 100 MHz bandwidth with noise and antialias filters
  • Quadrature digital downconversion (DDC) with up to 40 MHz IF bandwidth
  • Baseband I/Q decimation with alias protection
  • General-purpose alias-protected decimation for all sample rates
  • 8, 32, 256, or 512 MB of onboard memory per channel

PXI-5441 Specifications

  • 16-bit resolution, 100 MS/s sampling rate
  • 400 MS/s effective sampling rate with DAC interpolation
  • Quadrature digital upconversion
  • FIR and CIC interpolation filters
  • Carrier frequencies up to 43 MHz with 355 nHz resolution
  • 64 or 256 MB of onboard memory

The complete OSP configuration system consists of the following components (part numbers and quantities included).

Part Number Description Qty
779587-02 NI PXI-5142, 14-Bit, 100 MS/s Digitizer with OSP, 2 Ch, 256 MB/Ch 1
779058-03 NI PXI-5441, 16-Bit, 100 MS/s Arb with OSP, 256 MB 1
779886-01 NI PXI-8106 Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz Controller with Windows XP 1
778636-01 NI PXI-1042 8-Slot 3U Chassis with Universal AC Power Supply 1
763000-01 Power Cord, AC, U.S., 120 VAC 1
ADEXC34R5-2E Addonics ExpressCard/34 2-Port eSATA with RAID-0 1
AAESATA200C Addonics eSATA - eSATA cable, 200 cm 1
ST5X1PM Addonics Storage Tower with Integrated 5x1 Port Multiplier 1
AAHDMK53 Addonics 5 1/4" drive bay mounting bracket for 3.5" hard drive 4
ST3250620AS Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 250-GB Hard Drive 4

Here is an image of the system (ExpressCard eSATA module and hard drive enclosure not pictured):

Click Here to Receive an Instant Quote for the National Instruments Components

The recommended vendor for the ExpressCard eSATA module and external hard drive enclosure is Addonics.  The recommended hard drives are Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA drives.  Links to the applicable model pages are available below.

Options

Larger Chassis

Smaller Chassis

DC Chassis

DDS High-Resolution Clock

Switching

     
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