Performance Measurements
Phase Noise Profiles and Spectrum Graphs
Reference Clock
Test conditions
The Ref Clock is configured with an internal 10 MHz reference. A 50R cable was used to connect Crimson TNG to a Rhode and Swartz FSW Signal and Spectrum Analyzer where we captured the results.
Measurement Results
Figure 1: Phase Noise of Reference Clock
Figure 2: Spectrum of Ref Clock
Device Clock
Test conditions
The Dev Clock, used for converters, operates at 325MHz (Configured with internal 10MHz reference). A 50R cable was used to connect Crimson TNG to a Rhode and Swartz FSW Signal and Spectrum Analyzer where we captured the results.
Measurement Results
Figure 3: Phase Noise profile of Dev Clock
Figure 4: Spectrum of Dev Clock
Tx Waveform Performance Measurements
Note on Phase Noise
Note
PHASE NOISE MEASUREMENTS: The following phase noise measurements were taken using the default 10MHz PDF, which provides for a default RF frequency tuning step size of 10MHz. This decision was made to support the widest possible use cases from our customers. However, these measurements do not reflect the best possible performance of our product; for phase noise sensitive applications, the phase noise profile can be improved by over 12dB. Please contact us for more information.
In this section, you will find the command to create the Normalized 0 dBm Spectrum (SNR) plot shown, and a .pdf file of all phase noise and dynamic range measurements.
Test conditions
Measurements were taken using a Rhode and Swartz FSW Signal and Spectrum Analyzer. The RF port of the phase noise analyzer was connected to the Tx A port. Waveforms were generated using tx_waveforms, an example program that is included with libUHD, and run with the specified command options required to obtain a 0dBm output measurement.
Tx Measurements at 50 MHz
Normalized 0 dBm Spectrum Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 6.0 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 50000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 50 MHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 5: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 50MHz (SNR)
Tx Measurements at 500 MHz
Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 14.75 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 500000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 500 MHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 6: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 500MHz (SNR)
Tx Measurements at 1.5 GHz
Normalized 0 dBm Output Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 20.25 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 1500000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 1.5 GHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 7: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 1.5GHz (SNR)
Tx Measurements at 2.8 GHz
Normalized 0 dBm Output Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 20.75 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 2800000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 2.8 GHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 8: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 2.8GHz (SNR)
Tx Measurements at 4.2 GHz
Normalized 0 dBm Output Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 30.75 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 4200000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 4.2 GHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 9: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 4.2GHz (SNR)
Tx Measurements at 5.1 GHz
A .PDF file of all Crimson TNG 5.1 GHz Tx Measurements.
Normalized 0 dBm Output Command
sudo ./tx_waveforms \
--rate 16250000 \
--ampl 0.7 --gain 31.75 \
--wave-type SINE \
--wave-freq 100000 \
--channels "0" \
--freq 5100000000
Measurement Package
Crimson TNG 5.1 GHz Tx Measurements: this includes phase noise and spectrum measurements for the above configuration.
Note
Phase noise measurements are based on standard 10MHz PDF. See note on phase noise.
Figure 10: Normalized 0 dBM Spectrum at 5.1GHz (SNR)
Rx Performance Measurements
The Rx measurements measurements are split into two setups. The first setup shows the maximum sensitivity capabilities while the second setup shows the maximum dynamic range capabilities
Cable Insertion Loss from Signal Generator
Frequency | Cable Insertion Loss (-dB) | Spectrum Analyzer Measured Power Level (dBm) (i.e.Sig. Gen. at 0dBm) |
---|---|---|
50 MHz | 0.05 | 13.76 |
525 MHz | 0.1 | 13.32 |
1.5 GHz | 0.175 | 12.23 |
2.8 GHz | 0.28 | 10.61 |
4.2 GHz | 0.4 | 10.69 |
5.1 GHz | 0.45 | 11.46 |
Rx Max Sensitivity Measurements
The Rx maximum sensitivity were taken using the following Crimson TNG device parameter revisions:
Table 1: Crimson TNG Device Parameter Revision for Max Sensitivity
Parameter | Revision |
---|---|
Hardware | Crimson TNG RTM9 |
FPGA | 632cf4af1 |
Server | 59623aab |
MCU | b0a49518 (Rx) |
UHD | f967ab8b |
The following WEB UI parameters were set for the Rx max sensitivity measurements.
Table 2: Crimson TNG Rx Max Sensitivity Measurement WEB UI Parameters
Parameter | Value |
---|---|
LNA Enable | No |
Gain | 31.5 dBm |
Attenuation | 0 dBm |
Sample Rate | 25MSPS |
Test Conditions
In the first setup, we generated signals at varying frequencies on a signal generator and passed it into Rx Channel A on Crimson TNG. The signal is captured using a GNU Radio program, alongside some overrides in the Web UI), where Rx Gain was set to maximum and Rx Attenuation was set to zero.
Signal Generator, GNU Radio and Web UI Settings and Max Sensitivity Measurements
Sig. Gen. Frequency | Power on Sig. Gen. for 20 dB Max Sensitivity | FFT Bin Size (GNU Radio) | Mean Noise Floor | Max Gain |
---|---|---|---|---|
50 MHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -8.0 dB | 23.6 dB |
525 MHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -12.0 dB | 15.5 dB |
1.5 GHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -12.0 dB | 16.8 dB |
2.8 GHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -13.0 dB | 15.8 dB |
3.6 GHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -7.5 dB | 14.2 dB |
5.1 GHz | -81.0 dBm | 1024 | -14.0 dB | 7.2 dB |
Rx Max Sensitivity at 50 MHz
Figure 11: Spectrum of 50 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Max Sensitivity at 525 MHz
Figure 12: Spectrum of 525 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Max Sensitivity at 1.5 GHz
Figure 13: Spectrum of 1500 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Max Sensitivity at 2.8 GHz
Figure 14: Spectrum of 2800 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Max Sensitivity at 3.6 GHz
Figure 15: Spectrum of 3600 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Max Sensitivity at 5.1 GHz
Figure 16: Spectrum of 5100 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Sensitivity conditions
Rx Dynamic Range Measurements
Table 1: Crimson TNG Device Parameter Revision for Sensitivity
Parameter | Revision |
---|---|
Hardware | Crimson RX RTM 8 |
FPGA | b32cf4af1 |
Server | rtm5-v2.0.4-107-g59623aab |
MCU | 06 (radar-v2.0-3-g7f72224e) |
UHD | UHD_3.13.0 (gf967ab8b) |
Test conditions
In the second setup, we generated signals at various frequencies on a signal generator and passed it into Rx Channel A on the Crimson TNG. The signal is captured at full swing using a GNU Radio program, alongside some overrides in the Web UI), where the Rx Gain and Rx Attenuation were set to varying values for each frequency.