NI 5671 Arb Waveform Mode Tuning Speed Factors

In arb waveform generation mode, a user-specified complex IQ baseband signal is written to the AWG module.

Note These considerations only apply when the IQ rate specified with the IQ Rate (S/s) property or NIRFSG_ATTR_IQ_RATE attribute is less than or equal to 8.33 MS/s. Refer to NI 5670 Arb Waveform Mode Tuning Speed Factors for other valid IQ rates.

In arb waveform mode, the following main factors affect RF signal generator tuning time:

Digital IF equalization—The process of digitally equalizing the waveform is computationally demanding and adds to tuning times.
Available RAM—Large waveforms require a large amount of RAM. If sufficient RAM is unavailable, the system uses virtual memory, which dramatically increases execution times.

Note Refer to the specifications document that shipped with your RF signal generator device for specific tuning times.

Tips The following measures can decrease arbitrary waveform tuning times:

For signal bandwidths less than 500 kHz, disable digital IF equalization.
Disable phase continuity if your application does not require a phase-continuous signal.
Write large waveforms in blocks to avoid exceeding RAM capacity and using virtual memory. NI-RFSG examples demonstrate how to write waveforms in blocks.