Why should I use Signal Generators?
National Instruments signal generators provide you with:
Faster Setup and Data Transfer Times
Computer-based signal generators have direct connections to high-speed computer buses, which reduce device setup and data transfer times. Waveforms are downloaded to the generator's memory at rates up to 280 times faster than GPIB controlled generators -- ultimately improving your total measurement times.
Deep, Flexible Onboard Memory
Deep onboard memory is a feature that distinguishes National Instruments AWGs from others. The onboard memory for the NI 5421 ranges from 8 MB to 256 MB, which translates to 4 million and 128 million samples, respectively. With these onboard memory depths, you can store large and complex user-defined waveforms or waveforms acquired from deep-memory digitizers. The NI 5421 stores waveform data and sequencing instructions in the same physical memory giving you the flexibility to store up to 2 million sequencing instructions or use the entire memory to store a large waveform.
Multiple Instrument Synchronization
Computer-based technologies offer easy ways to synchronize the operation of two or more instruments. With advanced timing and triggering technologies you can:
- Synchronize signal generators to create a multichannel generator
- Synchronize your signal generator to multiple high-speed digitizers for coherent stimulus-response measurements
- Synchronize your signal generator to high-speed digital I/O devices and high-speed digitizers to make mixed signal measurements in applications such as systems on chip (SoC) testing
- Synchronize your signal generator to simultaneous sampling multifunction data acquisition devices to accomplish customized measurements
Intuitive Waveform Creation Software
Using the NI Analog Waveform Editor, a graphical waveform creation tool, you can easily create standard waveforms such as sine, square, and impulses, or create custom waveforms tailored to your application by mixing standard waveforms or entering in a formula. NI's Modulation Toolkit adds VIs to LabVIEW for creating analog and digital modulated signals in formats such as AM, FM, PM, FSK, MSK, GMSK, PSK, and QAM.
