Wide Bandwidth with Demanding RF Front-End Module
Supporting Various Test Applications including 5G Testing

There are several factors to consider when measuring signals with instruments. For experienced engineers working with mixers, receivers, amplifiers and similar components, matching levels and taking measurements with lower-performance instruments may seem straightforward, but it is not an easy task. Experts emphasize that frequency, bandwidth, and average noise sensitivity are particularly important.

Consider another example: measuring 6GHz or 10GHz RF signals, where ADCs operating at 100MHz or 200MHz are sometimes used. The question arises: "If the sampling rate is 6GHz, 12GHz or higher, why is the ADC only 100MHz?" NI's RF Systems Engineer Jae-Il Ko states that "bandwidth is as important as frequency in measurement instruments."

"Wireless devices are interconnected, and wireless communication test platforms are needed to ensure high-speed data transmission and low latency. To address this, ultra-wideband data analysis capabilities such as 500MHz or 800MHz based on LTE-A Carrier Aggregation and Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) will be required."
NI has launched the VST (Vector Transceiver) 2.0, an integrated device combining both transmitter and receiver capabilities. It features wide bandwidth, demanding RF front-end modules, and supports transceiver test applications such as ET (Envelope Tracking), DPD, and 5G testing.

Engineer Jae-Il Ko explains, "DPD improves linearity by extending distortion points compared to an ideal curve. In particular, by integrating DPD algorithms into the IP, applications can be implemented quickly using real-time FPGA."