frequency list on 5404

[v1212800]

Hi,

I want to load my PXI5404 with a frequency list, but the error message is:

Error -1074135024 at Ni Fgen Configure Output Mode.vi Occured

Possible reasons: Driver Status: (Hex 0xBFFA0010) Invalid value for parameter or property.
Invalid Output Mode - Supports only NIFGEN_VAL_OUTPUT_FUNC

Is it sure that the PXI5404 works with the Frequency list?

Thanks
Tim

[Jochen]

The PXI-5404 sine generator has no onboard memory to store frequency lists. Thus if you want to do e. g. sweep operations with this device you will have to use a software timed approach as it is used in the niFgen examples (e. g. niFgen_5404_Frequency_Sweep_Example.vi).

Frequency lists and arbitrary sequences are supported by Arbitrary Wafeform Generators like the PXI-5412.

Best regards,

Jochen Klier
National Instruments Germany

[v1212800]

Thanks for the answer.

Unfortunately, the PXI 5412 has only 20 MHz bandwidth, so I need the PXI5404 with 100 MHz. Isn't it possible to store the data elsewhere? Or is it possible to give the frequency via the ref in port?

Thanks
Tim

[Jochen]

From the NI Signal Generators Help:

The REF IN connector is a PLL input connector that can accept a reference clock from an external source and frequency lock the NI 5404 internal clock to this external clock. The reference clock can be 3 MHz to 20 MHz in 1 MHz steps.

The frequency at the REF IN connector doesn't have a direct impact on the output frequency of the board. It is only used to synchronize the internal clock of the board with e. g. a extremely accurate external clock signal.

Could you please explain a bit more in detail what you attempt to do? Is the timing accuracy provided by software timing insufficient for your application?

Jochen

[v1212800]

Thanks for the fast answer,

I have in my PXI System 4 Cards: 1 Multifunction Card (PXI 6259), 1 Analog out (PXI6723), 1 timing card (PXI 6602) and the PXI 5404 Signal generator.
When I start my program, I read all the data in the Mutlifunction card and in the AO Card as waveforms. The timing card is the master clock. The problem is, that I need very high timing accuracy (down to 10 microseconds or even less). And during one sequence of my program, I want to switch the frequency of the PXI 5404 card.

Adittionaly, I've attached my vi. The part for controlling the frequncy is under construction.

Thanks
Tim

[kirsch]

Just to clarify, Frequency List Mode is not supported by the NI 5412.
Only DDS-based generators support Frequency List Mode. That would be the NI 5411, NI 5431, NI 5401.

Marcos Kirsch
Staff Software Engineer
Signal Generators Group
National Instruments

[psisterhen]

I believe this exact question was answered in this thread:
http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=310&message.id=484&jump=true

To refresh: set up a digital trigger on the 5404.  Update the frequency in software- it will not take affect until you send another trigger.  This is how you can upate the 5404 frequency in a hardware-timed way.

[v1212800]

I'm trying to do exactly this, but it isn't possible to update the frequency data so fast like I want to switch it. I need frequency steps with a duration of 1 ms...

Here's my vi where I tried to realize this