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

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Figure 2: Spectrum of Ref Clock

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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

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Figure 4: Spectrum of Dev Clock

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Tx Waveform Performance Measurements

Note on Phase Noise

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rx Dynamic Range at 50 MHz

Figure 17: Spectrum of 50 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions

Rx Dynamic Range at 525 MHz

Figure 18: Spectrum of 525 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions

Rx Dynamic Range at 1.5 GHz

Figure 19: Spectrum of 1500 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions

Rx Dynamic Range at 2.8 GHz

Figure 20: Spectrum of 2800 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions

Rx Dynamic Range at 4.2 GHz

Figure 21: Spectrum of 4200 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions

Rx Dynamic Range at 5.1 GHz

Figure 22: Spectrum of 5100 MHz Rx Waveform under Max Dynamic Range conditions