Features depend on installed PXB hardware and software options.
Firmware Release 2.2.2 – March, 2016
Firmware Release 2.2.1 – October, 2014
Firmware Release 2.2.0 – May, 2014
Firmware Release 2.1.1 – March, 2014
Firmware Release 2.1.0 – December, 2013
Firmware Release 2.0.2 – July, 2013
Firmware Release 2.0.0 – April, 2013
Firmware Release 1.9.10 – December, 2012
Firmware Release 1.9.9 – November, 2012
Firmware Release 1.9.8 – October, 2012
Firmware Release 1.9.6 – August, 2012
Firmware Release 1.9.5 – July, 2012
Firmware Release 1.9.0 – March, 2012
Firmware Release 1.8.12 – February, 2012
Firmware Release 1.8.5 – November, 2011
Firmware Release 1.7.75 – September, 2011
Firmware Release 1.7.10 – May, 2011
Firmware Release 1.7.9 – April, 2011
Firmware Release 1.6.1 – December, 2010
Firmware Release 1.6.0 – September, 2010
Firmware Release 1.5.3 – May, 2010
Firmware Release 1.5.2 – April, 2010
Firmware Release 1.4.7 – December, 2009
Firmware Release 1.3.4 – September, 2009
Firmware Release 1.3.2 – August, 2009
Firmware Release 1.2.2 – April, 2009
Firmware Release 1.1.203 – February, 2009
Firmware Release 1.1.0 – December, 2008
Bug Fixes
Fixed a problem where an error was reported when recalling settings files with certain configurations a second time (e.g., two BBGs with real time applications, Signal IO Multiplexed Mode with First Address set to Unassigned).
Bug Fixes
Fixed a SCPI command error when using two or more baseband generators. Some baseband generator settings were not being set on some channels.
Updated part number check code to allow newer baseband module SDRAM part numbers.
PXB crashed when recalling an instrument state made with older PXB versions (pre 2.1.X) that had an GNSS RT application configured.
Enhancements
Added support for Windows 7 operating system.
Updated the following Signal Studio real-time applications (see the Signal Studio release notes for details)
N7600B Signal Studio for 3GPP W-CDMA HSPA
N7624B Signal Studio for LTE FDD
N7625B Signal Studio for LTE TDD
Bug Fixes
Fixed a problem with 8960 fading where recalled legacy state files became corrupted.
Fixed a problem with PXB responsiveness when recalling saved states.
Fixed an N51xxA MXG signal generator power level problem that sometimes occurs on first play cycle.
Fixed a problem where PXB wasn't working properly with PXA/MXA/EXA.
Fixed a problem where an encrypted waveform file assigned to the last ARB channel could not be overwritten by another waveform file because the PXB locked the file after accessing it. This created cases where the signal was not able to be updated.
Bug Fixes
For ESG-C, fixed a loopback fading problem where the power levels were incorrect under some operating conditions.
For EXG/MXG-B, disabled loopback fading support for Real Time GNSS signal generation mode.
Enhancements (an R2C license, option U03 or later, is required to gain access to these enhancements)
Added new configurations:
Single-User MIMO
Dual 2x2
Fade (ext in)
1-channel with summed interferer
Single-User MIMO (ext in)
Dual 2x2
Added ability to mix N5182A MXG, N5182B MXG, and N5172B EXG signal generators and to compensate for latency mismatches
Added loopback fading support for N5182A MXG, N5182B MXG, and N5172B EXG
Added SCPI commands to manually control the PXB’s overflow prevention feature (for use in low-SNR cases, where the automatic overflow prevention feature leads to output signals that are unusably low)
Added antenna pattern filename selection field to custom antenna support
Added numerous power calibration and power meter control enhancements to simplify the setting of relative power between BBGs in multiple baseband configurations. Also added the accompanying SCPI commands and queries:
Added a “Baseband Relative Power” panel:
Actual Relative Power
Added power control settings under System menu:
Calibration > Display IO Power Information
Improved output power handling with AWGN enabled
In 8960 configurations with AWGN output to a signal generator, the PXB calculates the signal generator’s power based on the 8960 and AWGN settings
Added PXB support for Signal Studio transportable licensing (e.g., N7600B-WTP, 6TP)
Miscellaneous minor enhancements
Bug Fixes
User changing signal analyzer span caused digital IF to change from PXB required maximum
PXB crashed when recalling an instrument state from another PXB
N5102A LVDS input voltage levels too high when controlled by the N5106A
Some situations with MXG-B and Power Cal Auto hangs PXB
IO AWGN Power output not accurate after changing SNR
Recall of 1.9.x instrument state in 2.0.x turned scaling off causing incorrect power levels
Receiver Antenna Configuration was not selectable
Some 2x8 configurations with Power Cal could cause crash
Circumstances where PXB could crash if communication with external instruments failed
Miscellaneous minor defect fixes
Bug Fixes
Fixed a N51xxA MXG signal generator power level problem that sometimes occurs on first play cycle. The problem only occurs in PXB 1.9.X and 2.0.0 releases, and with MXG-A models that don’t support power search mode manual.
Fixed a problem where power gain is always zero regardless of antenna pattern.
Enhancements (an R2C license, option U02 or later, is required to gain access to these enhancements)
For best performance, external instruments connected to PXB should have the same options and the same firmware revision. Mixing different models of analyzer or source, mixing options within those products, or mixing firmware revisions within those products will cause small latency differences between the channels. This can lead to unexpected degradations in the measurement's results.
Added the ability to mix real time applications in multi-channel internal BBG configurations
Added new configurations:
4x1 Single-User MIMO
1x6 Single-User MIMO
Added loopback fading for ESG
Changed carrier frequency coupling behavior. Added Get Carrier Frequency From in the System menu, allowing the user to select the carrier frequency synchronization source as Input Device, Output Device, or Manual (Input Device is the default selection if at least one external input device has a carrier frequency).
Added 8960 DC-HSPA application support
Added fading channel models to support HSPA MIMO Single Stream, Dual Stream and Dual Stream Static Orthogonal propagation conditions defined in the 3GPP TS 34.121-1 standard.
Added support for new 36-pin AUX IO connector and added automatic checks to maintain legacy support for older 20-pin connector.
Added sequenced power meter measurement capability (SCPI only). Sequenced power, or slot power, enables the user to measure a two-segment sequence that is defined by a delay, a window length, and a number of windows and is triggered by the rising edge of a user-defined marker.
Several general Improvements, including:
External instrument connection detection and checking
GUI message reporting
Save/Recall functionality
Bug Fixes
Miscellaneous defect fixes
Enhancements
Enabled the 230.4 kbps and 460.8 kbps serial rates in the N7624B/N7625B real time LTE applicatons.
Bug Fixes
Fixed the defect where under some conditions the N5106A PXB and the N7624B LTE FDD real time application could miscommunicate ACK/NACK signals on the AUX IO port.
Enhancements
Changed the RT W-CDMA CQI upper limit from 14 to 30.
Enhancements
Added a B.01.20 minimum firmware version requirement for N5172B EXG and N5182B MXG connectivity. The B.01.20 firmware release resolves issues with Amplitude Offset control.
The PXB supports MXG models with or without an internal baseband generator (BBG) option; however, marker routing is currently not supported with non-BBG models.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a defect where the PXB Self-Test would indicate hardware failures if the instrument was missing some licenses that was enabling the tests to pass.
Minor bug fix release
Enhancements
Restored support for real time applications on the PXB (previously disabled in Release 1.9.0)
Added support for dual instances of RT W-CDMA (SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO configurations)
Added support for Agilent N5172B EXG and N5182B MXG X-Series vector signal generators
Note that first-generation N5162A/82A MXGs have different latencies than second-generation MXG and EXG X-Series vector signal generators, so mixing of different generations is limited to non-MIMO configurations that are not latency-sensitive.
Output power meters now count in absolute time (seconds) instead of samples
Note that the timer does not wait for valid samples to appear before it starts running, so it is possible to set the power meter measurement so that no valid samples are measured (e.g., with a low duty-cycle waveform and a short measurement time, in which case there is a high probability that the power meter result with be -276 dBm). Increasing the power meter measurement time will ensure the capture of valid samples in the measurement.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a defect where the PXB crashed when trying to adjust SNR in real time
Fixed a condition first observed in a 1.8.X release, where users could no longer change the PXB GPIB address and have it be saved on application restart
Miscellaneous defect fixes
Enhancements
This release is not compatible with any real time applications on the PXB, and should not be used by customers relying on those applications (LTE Real time, WCDMA real time, GPS real time, etc.).
Arb applications are unaffected by this, and can still be used. Compatibility with real time applications will be restored in the next release of this firmware.
Added Split fading option (N5106A-169)
Added new configurations (requires Option N5106A-169):
4x4 Single-User MIMO
4x4 Single-User MIMO (ext in)
2x8 Single-User MIMO
2x8 Single-User MIMO (ext in) --also requires MXA/PXA Option RTL for corrected IQ data
Added new antenna gain settings
Multiprobe MIMO OTA Test support (requires Option 169):
Enabled Revision to Current (R2C) licensing for core firmware enhancements
Increased maximum bandwidth to 160 MHz with 200 MSa/S sample rates (requires R2C license, option U01 or later)
Changed the following default values to optimize performance:
Power Search Mode (Signal Generator > General Settings section)
Power Search Reference (Signal Generator > General Settings section)
Runtime Scaling (BBG > General Settings section)
Bug Fixes
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Bug Fixes
Fixed a problem with "Pass Through" state after save and recall
Fixed problem where setting SNR gives correct result on GUI but incorrect result on RF signal output
Fixed a minor problem in W-CDMA Fader Birth-Death channel model that was introduced in release 1.8.5 (most users would not see this problem)
Fixed a minor problem introduced in release 1.8.5 that might cause occasional failures to play
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Enhancements
Minor PXB user interface changes
Minimize, Maximize and Restore have been moved under the File menu
Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer are launchable under the Tools Menu
Added support for N7600B Signal Studio for 3GPP W-CDMA HSPA real time application
Added Glonass capability to N7609B Signal Studio for Global Navigation Satellite Systems real time application
The "MSGPs" SCPI category node was changed to "GNSS" to accommodate both the Glonass and GPS technologies. Existing SCPI programs should be compatible after performing a simple Find/Replace.
Updated the PXB SCPI documentation to accurately reflect the power meter and AWGN features that were added in the 1.7.75 release. See the 1.7.75 release notes (below) and the SCPI documentation for more information.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a Save/Recall defect found in the previous release. State files saved in version 1.7.75 cannot be recalled in version 1.8 and later and need to be rebuilt.
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Enhancements
Added new configurations
2x1x2 Single/Multi-User MIMO
2x6 Single-User MIMO
Added support for N7624B Signal Studio for LTE FDD real time application
Added real-time output power meter functionality
Added individual signal channel control to some AWGN functions. For those functions, the SCPI commands now require numerical designators to apply the AWGN functions to a specific signal channel. If these commands are used in existing SCPI programs, they will need to be changed to include the signal channel number after the :AWGN node. The commands are:
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:EBNO <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:EBNO
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:IBANdwidth <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:IBANdwidth?
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:NPOWer <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:NPOWer?
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:RATE <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:RATE?
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:RCPower <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:RCPower?
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:SNR <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:SNR?
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:SPOWer <val>
:CONTrol:IO[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8:OUTPut:AWGN[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12:SPOWer?
Added byte-swapping capability for playback
Extended maximum waveform trigger delay to 21 seconds
Bug Fixes
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Enhancements
Added 1x8 MIMO Configuration
Bug Fixes
Fixed a GPIB issue that appeared in release 1.7.9
Enhancements
Added support for the PXA, MXA, EXA signal analyzers with Option B40 for external input.
Changed the antenna rotation angle to be real-time adjustable when using a user-specified antenna pattern in MIMO configurations.
When using 1 Channel Generate and Fade or 1 Channel Fade (ext in) configurations, all Fader parameters (except random seed and dynamic fading ) are now real-time adjustable, if dynamic fading is not enabled.
Bug Fixes
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Minor bug fix release
Enhancements
Added new configurations
1-channel 8960 fading
2-channel 8960/diversity fading
1-channel fading with faded interferer
1-channel 8960 fading with faded interferer
1x2 single-user MIMO for 8960
Added support for multiple 8960 lab/test applications
Added support for Signal Studio real time applications
N7609B Signal Studio for Global Navigation Satellite Systems
N7625B Signal Studio for LTE TDD
Added multiple AWGN enhancements
Bug Fixes
Miscellaneous defect fixes and enhancements
Minor bug fix release
Enhancements
Added one-channel fading support for Agilent 8960 Wireless
Communications Test Set.
Added multiple MIMO fading channel models
Added MIMO fading Power Imbalance
Added support for N7623B Signal Studio real time digital video
Enhancements
Added new configurations
1x4 single-user MIMO
2x4 single-user MIMO (ext in)
4x2 single-user MIMO (ext in)
2x4 multi-user MIMO
4x2 multi-user MIMO
1-channel signal capture
Added waveform block to BBG configurations
Added signal capture option (N5106A-FFP)
Added N5102A input connectivity
Added video fading models
Added MXA optimizations
Removed requirements for MXG UNV and BBG options
Minor bug fix release
Enhancements
Added 6-channel generate configuration
Added dynamic fading
Changed SNR limits for AWGN
Added moving propagation for LTE
Enhancements
Added new configurations
1x2 single-user MIMO
2x1 single-user MIMO
1x2 single-user MIMO (ext in)
Added status bar annunciators
External Reference (EXT REF)
Trigger Armed (TRG ARMED)
Upgraded firmware to comply with the LXI-C (LAN eXtensions for Instruments Class C) standard revision 1.2
When installing this firmware release to use it on a PC, Windows® Internet Information Services (IIS) version 4.0 or later must be installed on the PC. IIS can be installed from the Control Panel by selecting Add/Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components, and clicking on Internet Information Services (IIS) to add the component.
When upgrading the firmware to this release, the firmware installer checks and, if necessary, updates the .NET Framework which could take up to 30 minutes for the installation.
Bug Fixes
Changed triggering from "level triggering" to a choice of positive or negative "edge triggering"
Corrected occurrences where "External reference source not detected." or "External reference frequency out of range." error messages are displayed erroneously when Play is initiated
The
Baseband performance
120 MHz modulation bandwidth
512 MSa playback memory per baseband generator
Baseband summing
Advanced channel emulation
2x2, 2x4, and 4x2 MIMO
Up to 120 MHz fading bandwidth
Up to 24 paths per fader
Single-user and multi-user MIMO
Standards compliant signal creation with Signal Studioor MATLAB®
Comprehensive channel correlation settings
Standards-based channel models for 3GPP LTE and Mobile WiMAX™
Custom correlation matrix
Automated power calibration
Reconfigurable architecture with internal signal routing
Supports up to 12 DSP blocks on six baseband cards. Each baseband card has 2 DSP units that can be used in different combinations for baseband generation and/or fading.
Supports up to eight I/O channels on four I/O cards. Each I/O channel can be used for digital input or output, or analog I/Q outputs
External instrument connections to the MXA for RF input, MXG or ESG for RF outputs, the N5102A for digital output, or analog I/Q outputs.
Windows® XP Professional OS
SCPI Programming language
LAN 100bT, USB 2.0, GPIB IEEE 1488 connectivity. The N5106A PXB Baseband Generator and Channel Emulator is currently not an LXI-C compliant instrument.
Non-volatile storage: 160 GB hard disk drive, 80 GB
available (supplemented by external USB or eSATA drives)
Acknowledgements:
Windows and MS Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Visual Studio is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Sun, Sun
MATLAB is a U.S. registered trademark of The Math Works Corporation.
Pentium is a U.S. registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
NI-VISA is a registered trademark of National Instruments Corporation.
WiMAX and Mobile WiMAX are registered trademarks of the WiMAX forum.
cdma2000 is a registered certification mark of the Telecommunications Industry Association. Used under license.
LXI is a registered trademark of the LXI Consortium.