As wireless systems grow increasingly complex, relying heavily on multi-antenna setups, synchronized radios, and distributed architectures, engineers are hitting a testing bottleneck. It is no longer enough to measure individual components in isolation; you have to understand exactly how the entire system interacts. To solve this, Emerson has rolled out a suite of new radio frequency (RF) test capabilities designed to scale automated workflows and tackle next-generation wireless challenges.
The launch is headlined by the new NI PXIe-5633 four-port vector network analyzer (VNA), alongside major synchronization-focused software upgrades for the NI PXIe-5860 vector signal transceiver (VST).
Together, these tools bring a massive boost to RF validation capacity, specifically targeting emerging multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and multiport S-parameter applications.
The standout feature of this release is consolidation. Instead of juggling separate instruments and tangled test setups, engineers can now run S-parameter characterizations right alongside modulated RF measurements using a single RF connection.
By bringing everything under one software-driven PXI architecture, engineering teams can:
- Expand Validation Capacity: The four-port VNA easily handles complex, next-gen multiport device architectures.
- Master MIMO: Enhanced synchronization directly addresses the hurdles of advanced MIMO, multichannel, and timing-sensitive RF applications.
- Streamline the Lab: Combining network analysis and modulated RF measurements in one system drastically reduces hardware complexity and simplifies daily test workflows.
- Scale for the Future: The software-connected platform easily adapts, allowing teams to use the same automated measurement workflows from initial design validation straight through to full-scale production.
Emerson is currently demonstrating the real-world impact of these upgrades—featuring a live 4×4 MIMO setup using the new four-port VNA and upgraded VST—at Booth A40B during European Microwave Week.
It’s a timely hardware and software upgrade aimed squarely at teams pushing the boundaries in semiconductor validation, advanced wireless research, and aerospace and defense systems.
Learn more about NI vector signal transceivers and NI network analyzers.
