Solution
There can be several causes for an attenuated signal being read from an RF Signal Generator:
- If you are using a VSA or VST to measure your signal power, check the reference level, frequency, span, and sampling rate settings on your SFP to make sure they are properly set to measure the expected signal.
- If you are using a NI-568x Power Sensor, make sure the power meter has been zeroed, that it has the right frequency, and that it does not have any Offset (dB) that might be affecting the reading.
- If possible, measure the power of the signal from the RF Signal Generator with different VSA, VST, or Power Sensor hardware, to rule out that the measured loss is an analyzer issue.
- Sometimes the RF connector can get damaged due to inappropriate handling. Inspect the connector of the RF Signal Generator to check for any damage.
- Check if there is any damage to the cable being used. You can visually inspect the cable from the inside to ensure the male pin is intact. Also, the joint of the cable with the connector is usually the most vulnerable point that should be inspected. Consider replacing the cables with known working ones if possible. Tighten up the RF cables with a torque wrench as recommended in the device's getting started guide.
- Run a self-calibration, this is highly recommended whenever there is any change in the hardware assembly, inter-module cables, location, or temperature since the last self-calibration was performed; or if the signal levels are inappropriate.
- It's also possible that the hardware has been damaged. Depending on the device's use, any damage to the internal hardware component in the signal path can also lead to inappropriate generation. A Self-Test can be initiated using NI MAX and provide useful information.
If after following all the steps you still see the unexpected loss on your signal from the RF Signal Generator, or you receive any errors you are unsure how to handle, we recommend speaking with
NI Technical Support as an RMA may be needed.