Can we be able tu make sweep analysis by using Arduino in LabVIEW?

[syedanas]

hello guys,

i'm just wondering if we are able to make a sweep frequency analysis function  by using Arduino device and VI?becouse im not sure wether arduino can handle multiple reading storage.yes, arduino can take multiple reading and i've tried it but not sure wether it can store multiple reading and sweep anaylisis like DAQ device provided by NI.if it cannot be done, i think i need to buy the DAQ from NI which happen to be costly rather than arduino.so, this is a huge decision to be made and i hope someone can help me.thanks for reading.

best regard,

Anas

[hrh1818]

An Arduino Uno is not suitable for making a sweep frequency analysis. 

One.  An Arduino Uno can not generate sine waves.  It does not have a digital to analog converter. 

Two. LIFA is to aslow for measuring the RMS value of a sine wave. 

What sweep frequency range are you interested in .  A device like a Circuit Gear CGR-101 may be a better fit for your application.  See:

<http://www.syscompdesign.com/CGR101.html>

It can perform a Bode Analysis over the range of 0.1Hz to 2 megaHz and is compatible with Labview.

I have nwever used a Circuit Gear CGR-101 but based on the price and specifications it is worth a mention.

hrh1818 

[syedanas]

hi hrh1818 ,

thanx a lot for answering and i am so glad.your answer is really helpful.right now,i'm applying a network analyzer application by using arduino as DAQ hardware and stuck while configuring this sweep frequency analysis.im not sure about it becouse im not try quite hard yet thats why im glad that you're helping me.

in my project, i want to make a sweep frequency range for 2GHz and i think, i might have to choose the DAQ device from NI since it is easy to be obtain in my country and im not sure wether the device that you've suggested is easy to be ontain so.

https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/model/usb-6341.html this is the device that i might choose.it is NI USB 6341. feel free to give your opinion.

thanx a lot btw.=)

[hrh1818]

I need more information to be able to make comments on the suitability of a NI USB 6341 for your application.  In particular what network analyzer are you using?  By knowing the make and model of network analyzer one can determine the interface requirements.  The interfcae requirements are required to select a suitable NIDAQ device. 

hrh1818

[syedanas]

right now,im doing a project to develope a user interface for soil moisture DAQ system based on microwave fundamentals.few parameters that i want to find are reflection coefficient, return loss,vswr,linear magnitude and phase just like a network analyzer capable of.there is a hardware developed before that capable of indicating the soil moisture reading which is reflectometer.before this im using arduino as a device to control the interface.i've already be able to measure most of the parameters listed above but somehow, stuck at the sweep frequency analysis function that i want to have in my GUI.im also still finding a way to store the reading taken from my gui,before taking another reading.can u please give me some opinion regarding my project?im really glad that u want to help.thanx a lot

regards,

anas

[hrh1818]

The easiest way to save data is to store the data in an array while taking the rreadings and then store the data in a file after each set of readings.  

Frerquently programmers use a For Loop to collect data.  They take one reading per channel for each iteration of the For Loop.   Each channel is then connected to  an idicator located outside the For Loop.  For a For Loop Labview automatically builds an array at the tunnel and stores the data in the array.  For examples of building arrays look at Buiding Arrays.VI and Graph Temperature.VI.  For an example of writing to a file look at Write to Text File.Vi.  All 3 exaples come with Labview.

With respect to your sweep frequency analysis:

What are you using for an RF generator?

How do you measure the frequency of the RF generator.

How do you measure the reflected signal?

hrh1818

[syedanas]

im not quite remember the device that i use to to generate the RF because the device is in the lab,so i need to take a look again.but before i generate theit,i've set the frequency as a constant,for example 500MHz.the generator is handmade i think,made by my friend by combining directional coupler,voltage oscillator and etc..but it really can generate the RF.

before this,i already made a VI for arduino as i stated earlier.can u show me how to store the data base on my VI or u also can give me some of the example that related so i can make a reference from that.i really dont have have any idea on how to do so.

the reflection coefficient is measure by dividing the reflected voltage with the incident voltage.u can see on my block diagram.the rest (return loss,vswr) is measured by applying the equation from the microwave fundamentals.

from the handmade generator that have been made,i can obtain those two reflected and incident voltage in different terminal so i connect it with analog pin 0 and 1 to measure those parameters.feel free to give your expert opinion.im really2 glad about it.

Message was edited by: syedanas

[syedanas]

oh i just remember,here is the RF generator that i used.phase lock loop from windfreak

http://www.windfreaktech.com/synthnv.html..

[hrh1818]

Attached is a modified version of your VI that demonstates saving measurement samples in arrays.

How are you going to correlate the data you collect using using Arduino with the sweep frequency?  I see the SynthNV Signal genertor/ Power Detctor comes with Labview sofware. It looks like it will be easier to correlate sweep frequecy with measurent data if you use Windfreq Technologies Labview software.

hrh1818