NEWS RELEASE – April 25, 2006 – Automated test engineers can use the new National Instruments PXI and SCXI RF multiplexing switch modules to route signals ranging from DC to 5 GHz. These modules, which are the latest addition to the more than 125 available switch configurations from National Instruments, complement the company’s growing product offering for communications test. They are ideal for accurate RF signal routing in telecommunications, military/aerospace and automated test applications.The NI PXI-2595 and NI SCXI-1195 5 GHz switches and the NI PXI-2594 and NI SCXI-1194 2.5 GHz switches offer excellent voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), isolation and insertion loss specifications to retain signal integrity across their entire frequency range.
All switches feature built-in relay count tracking for predictive maintenance of the module, reducing the potential for system downtime as the relays near the end of their rated lifetimes. The new PXI switches add to the company’s current RF offering on the industry-standard PXI platform. Engineers can use the PXI-2594 and PXI-2595 with PXI vector signal analyzers (such as the PXI-5660) and generators (such as the PXI-5670) to create a complete RF application in one PXI chassis. Furthermore, both PXI switches integrate with all NI PXI modular instruments, including digitizers, digital multimeters, power supplies and arbitrary waveform generators, to help create a complete functional test system in one platform.
The SCXI-1194 and SCXI-1195 modules are ideal for engineers who plan to add switching to a pre-existing test system made of third-party equipment. When combined with the USB Switch Mainframes offered by National Instruments, these SCXI switches form a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution that easily integrates with external RF equipment and takes advantage of the flexibility and ease of use of USB. All of the new switches use the full-featured NI-SWITCH driver software for basic relay operations in common development environments such as the NI LabVIEW graphical development environment, LabWindows/CVI for ANSI C development and Microsoft Visual Basic/C++.
For additional assistance in configuring, programming, and managing high-channel-count switching systems, NI Switch Executive software offers an easy-to-use, intelligent switch management and visual routing environment. Engineers can use the per-path calibration capability of NI Switch Executive to ensure greater measurement accuracy by storing complete path calibration information.
About PXI
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) is an open specification governed by the PXI Systems Alliance ( www.pxisa.org ) that defines a rugged, CompactPCI-based platform optimized for test, measurement and control. It is supported by more than 70 member companies and more than 1,200 products are available. PXI products are compatible with the CompactPCI and CompactPCI Express industrial computer standards and offer additional features such as environmental specifications, standardized software and built-in timing and synchronization.
About National Instruments
For 30 years, National Instruments ( www.ni.com ) has been a technology pioneer and leader in virtual instrumentation – a revolutionary concept that has changed the way engineers and scientists in industry, government and academia approach measurement and automation. Leveraging PCs and commercial technologies, virtual instrumentation increases productivity and lowers costs for test, control and design applications through easy-to-integrate software, such as NI LabVIEW, and modular measurement and control hardware for PXI, PCI, PCI Express, USB and Ethernet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 3,800 employees and direct operations in nearly 40 countries.
For the past seven years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America.