Modulating a 5644R VST with a BERT

[AndyTailored]

I have ended up with a 5644R VST I have never used.  So I don't know a lot about its capabilities.  And I have never used the FPGA toolkit. 

I want to use the VST in a test set that has an Agilent E4433 generator right now.  I need to modulate the 5644R (BFSK) with the BERT output.  It looks like I should be able to do that, but before I start chasing it down and potentially wasting a lot of time, can somebody tell me if its's possible, and give me a pointer towards how to do it?  

I've searched the site but can't find a straight answer to this question.  

Thanks

[Terry_ALE]

Have you configured your PC with the tools and drivers that the 5644 needs?

For example to have the 5644 run as a generator you need NI RFSG https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/downloads/drivers/download.ni-rfsg.html#333282 (see readme: https://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/374769w.html)

Not trying to talk you out the E4433, but what is the reason for going from the 4433 to 5644?

[AndyTailored]

The chassis is on a bottom shelf right now.  As I recall, I had all the goods installed (RFSG, RFSA, VST Toolkit, FPGA something-or-other).  But I will get it out and see what's there.  If it all is there, will the answer be right in front of me?  

Why?  

1: It's a fewer-box solution and I can clear some space

2: The 4433 gets freed up for other things

3: I would like to use the 5644 because it's just sitting there otherwise and that's a shame

4: I get to learn more LabVIEW

5: It's way cooler

[Terry_ALE]

I suggest confirming that you can run the generator and analyzer examples (See LabVIEW's example finder) and via instrument studio (used to be the soft front panels).

[AndyTailored]

OK, I got out the VST and booted it up.  Installed is:

• LV 2011 PDE (yes it's that old.  I can install 2016 PDE later.)
• VISA, DAQmx, etc. 
• RFSA ( soft front panel runs, instrument good)
• RFSG (soft front panel runs, instrument good)
• RFmx for LV
• VST Design Libraries
• Modulation, Spectral Measurement toolkits
• WLAN Analysis and Generation toolkits
• FPGA Interface palette in LV

NOT installed is the FPGA module.  I believe this VST was bought for WLAN only and didn't need the FPGA. 

I am going to assume that to do this modulation via hardware I need the FPGA module.  I see from the help file there are FPGA resources that include IQ inputs.  

Any advice on what to do next?  

[shawn.t]

How are you using the E4433 now? Do you have a waveform file that you're downloading? Is it's output being modulated by another analog signal?

[yafoteer]

The 4433 is modulated by an external bit error rate tester.  It is set up to use the BNCs on the front panel for clock and data to modulate a BFSK signal with specified deviation.  I want to modulate the 5644 in the same way.  

The BERT is an old TTC Fireberd 6000A with TTL output.  This is the easiest way of implementing a bit error rate test, by using the Fireberd.  It's a purpose-built machine that just does it.  I suppose it would be possible to create vis to modulate the 5644 and then bring the recovered bistream back into the FPGA, and figure out a way to correlate the  waveforms.  Too much work, I just want to modulate the 5644 with the external source and let the Fireberd do all the work.  

So the bottom-line question is, how do I modulate the 5644 with an external signal.  Is it even possible?  

[Terry_ALE]

The newest version I would recommend is LabVIEW 2015.  After that version NI no longer makes the FPGA code available online.

See the download link: https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/downloads/drivers/download.vst-instrument-design-libraries.html#331...

[yafoteer]

OK - but, if I can't do this modulation using an outside piece of hardware, there's no reason for me to do anything else on this chassis.  Can you tell me if it's possible?  

I honestly can't tell from any of the literature.  

[Terry_ALE]

You could write something to do it so long as the hardware output supports it.