1. System Requirements

Installation Steps: 1 2 3 4 5

To generate signals using the N7631C Signal Studio Pro for 5G NR 2021 software, you must have a properly configured PC and a properly configured instrument, as described in the following tables.

Hardware Requirements

Instruments

Requirements

N5172B EXG X-Series RF vector signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version B.01.80 or later

Required options:

  • N5172B-655 (internal baseband generator from 60 to 120 MHz RF bandwidth)

  • N5172B-660 (upgrade baseband generator with real-time capability)

N5182B MXG X-Series RF vector signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version B.01.80 or later

Required options:

  • N5182B-657 (upgrade baseband generator from 80 to 160 MHz RF bandwidth)

  • N5172B-660 (upgrade baseband generator with real-time capability)

N5166B CXG RF vector signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version B.01.80 or later

N5182A MXG vector signal generator 

NOTE: This instrument model is valid only when Playback License Mode is set to PC License.

Firmware:

  • Version A.01.20 or later

Required options:

  • N5182A-654 (internal baseband generator, 125 MSa/s)

E8267D PSG vector signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version C.06.26 or later

Required options:

  • E8267D-602 (internal baseband generator with 64 Msa memory and digital bus capability)

M8190A arbitrary waveform generator

Firmware:

  • Version 5.1.0.0 or later

Required options for Wideband IQ:

  • M8190A-002 (2 channels)

  • M8190A-14B (14-bit, 8-GHz max sample rate) or

  • M8190A-12G (12-bit, 12-GHz max sample rate)

Required options for Wideband IF:

  • M8190A-001 (1 channel) or

  • M8190A-002 (2 channels)

  • M8190A-14B (14-bit, 8-GHz max sample rate) or

  • M8190A-12G (12-bit, 12-GHz max sample rate)

  • M8190A-DUC (digital upconversion)

Recommended options:

  • M8190A-02G (upgrade baseband generator memory from 128 Msa to 2 Gsa)

  • M8190A-AMP (5-GHz analog bandwidth)

  • M8190A-DUC (digital upconversion)

M9381A PXIe vector signal generator (single-channel configurations)

Driver:

  • Version 1.4.400.0 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9381A-M05 (memory 512 Msa)

  • M9381A-M10 (memory 1024 Msa)

  • M9381A-1EA (high output power)

  • M9381A-B10 (RF modulation bandwidth 100 MHz)

  • M9381A-B16 (RF modulation bandwidth 160 MHz)

Additional options to consider:

  • M9381A-F06 (frequency range 1 MHz to 6 GHz)

Limitations:

The M9381A VSG has a limitation related to the Power Search and DC Cal functions, creating a time-synchronization loss. That is, the signal timing changes after a Power Search or DC Cal. When ALC is set to Off, Signal Studio automatically runs Power Search, which affects the user's trigger signal for starting waveform playback. Even though the timing alignment of the trigger signal and waveform are properly set, the Power Search function disrupts this synchronization. In these cases, use the following workarounds:

  • Set ALC to On whenever possible. This avoids the automatic Power Search.

  • When ALC must be set to Off (or is set to Off by Signal Studio), you can re-trigger the signal by turning ARB Off, then On, and then send the trigger signal to M9381A VSG.

For DC Cal, run it before you download and play the waveform. Do not run DC Cal while the signal is playing, which disrupts the synchronization.

M9383A PXIe microwave signal generator (single-channel configurations)

Driver:

  • Version 2.0.880.0 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9383A-F14 (frequency range 1 MHz to 14 GHz)

  • M9383A-B16 (RF modulation bandwidth 160 MHz)

  • M9383A-M05 (memory 512 MSa)

Additional options to consider:

  • M9383A-F44 (frequency range 1 MHz to 44 GHz)

  • M9383A-C11 (RF modulation bandwidth 1 GHz)

  • M9383A-M10 (memory 1024 MSa)

M9383B VXG-m microwave signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version A.02.00 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9383B-001 (add channel 1)

  • M9383B-F44 (frequency range, 1 MHz to 44 GHz)

  • M9383B-D21 (RF bandwidth, 2 GHz with 256 MSa memory for frequency options F32 and F44)

  • M9383B-M05 (baseband generator memory upgrade to 512 MSa)

M9384B VXG microwave signal generator

Firmware:

  • Version A.02.00 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9384B-001 (add channel 1)

  • M9384B-F44 (frequency range, 1 MHz to 44 GHz)

  • M9384B-D21 (RF bandwidth, 2 GHz with 256 MSa memory for frequency options F32 and F44)

  • M9384B-M05 (baseband generator memory upgrade to 512 MSa)

M9410A VXT PXI vector transceiver

Software:

  • Version M.25.63 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9410A-001 (VXT PXI vector transceiver, 6 GHz)

  • M9410A-F06 (frequency range, 380 MHz to 6 GHz)

  • M9410A-B12 (bandwidth, 1.2 GHz)

  • M9410A-M05 (memory 512 MSa)

  • M9410A-MMO (timing synchronization for MIMO)

M9411A VXT PXI vector transceiver

Software:

  • Version M.25.63 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9411A-001 (VXT PXI vector transceiver, 6 GHz)

  • M9411A-F06 (frequency range, 380 MHz to 6 GHz)

  • M9411A-B12 (bandwidth, 1.2 GHz)

  • M9411A-M05 (memory 512 MSa)

  • M9411A-MMO (timing synchronization for MIMO)

M9415A VXT PXI vector transceiver

Recommended options:

  • M9415A-001 (VXT PXI vector transceiver, 6 GHz)

  • M9415A-F06 (frequency range, 380 MHz to 6 GHz)

  • M9415A-B12 (bandwidth, 1.2 GHz)

  • M9415A-M05 (memory 512 MSa)

M9420A VXT PXIe vector transceiver

Software:

  • Version M.16 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9420A-1EA (high output power)

  • M9420A-B1X (increases signal bandwidth to 160 MHz)

  • M9420A-M05 (memory 512 Msa)

Additional options to consider:

  • M9420A-506 (6 GHz frequency range)

  • M9420A-FDX (full duplex ports)

  • M9420A-HDX (half duplex ports)

M9421A VXT PXIe vector transceiver

Software:

  • Version M.18 or later

Recommended options:

  • M9421A-1EA (high output power)

  • M9421A-B1X (increases signal bandwidth to 160 MHz)

  • M9421A-M05 (memory 512 Msa)

Additional options to consider:

  • M9421A-506 (6 GHz frequency range)

  • M9421A-HDX (half duplex ports)

PC Requirements

200 GB HDD with 2 GB free disk space at runtime (5 GB or higher recommended)

1024 x 768 screen resolution (1280 x 1024 recommended)

If you use a high-resolution display, the GUI's font size may appear too small to read. To resolve this, lower your PC's display resolution, but make sure the display scaling remains set at 100 percent, otherwise portions of the GUI will become truncated and hidden from view.

Windows 10 (64 bit):

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 or later

Keysight IO Libraries, version 18.0 or later

Keysight License Manager 5 (2. Downloading and Installing Keysight License Manager 5)

Keysight License Service (included with installer)

Keysight Host Processor Platform (included with installer)

Installed GPIB IO interface card, LAN interface card, or USB/GPIB interface connector

Keysight VISA

Microsoft Windows Installer version 2.0 or later