National University of Technology Islamabad,

Pakistan

Electrical Engineering Department

EE-3102 Communication System Engineering Semester: VI

EXPERIMENT NO.1:

EXPERIMENT# 1. Demonstration of Emona communication board

for NI ELVIS III and Software Defined Radio
In this lab you will become familiar with the relationship between the block diagram and the
circuit modules on the board which relate to the block diagram. This will enable you to build a
system from the block diagram in order to be able to study the performance of that theory.

OBJECTIVE:

After completing this lab, you should have the ability to complete the following actions.

1. Use the NI ELVIS III Oscilloscope and Function Generator

2. Describe the basic functionality of individual circuit modules on the board.
3. Patch together these modules to model block diagrams and build systems.

Platform: NI ELVIS III

Instruments used in this lab:
● Oscilloscope-Time
● Oscilloscope-FFT
● Function Generator
Hardware: Emona Communications Board
Components used in this lab:
● Four BNC to 2mm banana-plug leads
● Assorted 2mm banana-plug patch leads

Expected Deliverables
In this lab, you will collect the following deliverables:

 Calculations
 Data from measurements
  Observations
NI ELVIS III platform
The function generator and oscilloscope are probably the two most used pieces of test equipment
in the electronics industry. The bulk of measurements needed to test and/or repair electronics
systems can be performed with just these two devices.

 At the same time, there would be very few electronics laboratories or workshops that
don’t also have a DC Power Supply and Digital Multimeter.

 Importantly, NI ELVIS III has these four essential pieces of laboratory equipment in one
unit (and others). However, instead of each having its own digital readout or display (like
the equipment pictured), NI ELVIS III sends the information to a personal computer
where the measurements are displayed on one screen.

 On the computer, the NI ELVIS III devices are called “virtual instruments”. However,
don’t let the term mislead you. The digital Multimeter and scope are real measuring
devices, not software simulations. Similarly, the DC power supply and function generator
output real voltages.

 The experiments in this manual make use of all four NI ELVIS III devices and others so
it’s important that you’re familiar with their operation.

 This experiment introduces you to the NI ELVIS III oscilloscope and function generator.
The oscilloscope can be a tricky device to use if you don’t do so often. As such, this
experiment also gives you a procedure that will set it up to display a stable 2kHz 4Vp-p
signal every time. It’s recommended that you use this procedure as a starting point for the
other experiments in this manual.

Figure 1: A collection of traditional benchtop instruments

Powering up the ELVIS III EMONA Communications Board

1. Ensure that the NI ELVIS III Application Board power button at the top left corner of
the unit is OFF (not illuminated).
 2. Carefully plug the Emona Communications board (ECB) into the NI ELVIS III
ensuring that it is fully engaged both front and back.

3. Ensure that you have connected the NI ELVIS III to the PC using the USB cable and
that the PC is turned on.

4. Turn on the Application Board Power button by pressing it once and confirm that it is
illuminated. The LEDs on the ECB should also be illuminated. If they are not, then
switch the unit off immediately and check for connection or insertion errors.

5. Open the Instrument Launcher software in your browser and select the required
instruments.

Using the ELVIS III oscilloscope

The NI ELVIS III Oscilloscope (or just “scope” in brief) is a fully functional four channel
oscilloscope that allows engineers and technicians to measure AC waveforms and view their
shape. Its operation is briefly discussed next though it is expected that students will be familiar
with this instrument. In this section we highlight the main features which will be used throughout
these labs.

Figure 2: ELVIS III Oscilloscope instrument panel

The NI ELVIS III Oscilloscope is operated using the controls on its virtual instrument. Most of
the controls are menu-based, so you need to consider where to look for options and settings.

Figure 2 is configured as follows and is displaying two of the fundamental signals from the ECB,
i.e.: the 2.08kHz message and the 100kHz carrier.

Table 1 Scope Configuration

Channel Voltage Range 2 V/div
 Horizontal Timebase (Time per Division) 50us/div

Trigger Analog Edge, Channel 2, Rising

Probe Attenuation 1x

Voltage and Timebase settings are fairly intuitive and obvious. Of most importance, and often
overlooked is the Triggering of an oscilloscope.

1. Connect Channel 1 of the scope to the 100kHz SINE output on the MASTER SIGNALS
module of the ECB.

2. Connect Channel 2 of the scope to the 2.08kHz SINE output on the MASTER SIGNALS
module of the ECB.

Using the NI ELVIS III Function Generator

The NI ELVIS III Function Generator (FGEN) is an instrument that can output AC signals of
various shapes and frequencies to BNC terminals on the ELVIS III.

Using this instrument is also intuitive. There are two independent channels and a number of
defined signal shapes from which to choose. Amplitude, frequency and DC offset on settable via
the onscreen controls.

Of significant interest to users of the EMONA Communications Board is the ability to output
Custom waveforms. This option allows users to “replay” signals which have either been
generated externally in LabVIEW or captured by the Oscilloscope’s “Export to
Multisim/LabVIEW” feature.

Custom waveform output from Function Generator

As an example, select the Custom waveform option and load the supplied file “ECB_120k-
noise.csv”.

Getting to know the EMONA Communications Board

The Emona Communications Board (ECB) for the NI ELVIS III is used to help learn about
communications and telecommunications principles. It lets you bring to life the block diagrams
that fill communications textbooks. A “block diagram” is a simplified representation of a more
complex circuit. An example is shown in Figure 7.

Textbooks
A sample usecommunications
Block diagrams toblock
explain the principle of operation of electronic systems (such
diagram
as a radio transmitter) without having to describe the detail of how the circuit works. Each block
represents a part of the circuit that performs a separate task and is named according to what it
does. Examples of common blocks in communications equipment include the adder, filter, phase
shifter and so on.

The ECB has a collection of blocks (called modules) that you can put together to implement
dozens of communications and telecommunications block diagrams.

EMONA Communications Board overlay

Using the MASTER SIGNALS module
The Master Signals module is an AC signal generator or oscillator. The module has six outputs
that provide the following analog and digital signals:
 Analog Digital
 A 2.08kHz sinewave  A 2.08kHz square wave
 A 100kHz sinewave  An 8.33kHz square wave
 A 100kHz cosine wave  A 100kHz square wave

Each signal is available through a socket on the module’s faceplate that’s labelled accordingly.
Importantly, all signals are synchronized.

1. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 9.

Viewing the 2.08kHz SINE signal

This set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 10.

2.08kHz sinewave block diagram

2. Launch and run the NI ELVIS III Oscilloscope and set it up ensuring that the Trigger
Source control is set to Channel 1.

3. Adjust the scope’s Timebase control to view only two or so cycles of the Master
Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE output.

4. Use the scope’s Measurements function to find the peak-to-peak amplitude of the
Master Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE output. Record this in Table 1.
 5. Measure and record the frequency of the Master Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE
output.

6. Repeat Steps 3 to 5 for the Master Signals module’s 100kHz SINE and 100kHz
COSINE outputs.

Peak-to-peak Output
Table 1 Frequency
voltage

2.08kHz SINE 3.611V 2.082kHz

100kHz COSINE 3.945V 100.061kHz

100kHz SINE 3.974V 100.068kHz

You probably just found that there doesn’t appear to be much difference between the Master Signals
module’s SINE and COSINE outputs. They’re both 100kHz sinewaves. However, the two signals are out of
phase with each other.

It’s critical to the operation of many communications and telecommunications systems that there be
two sinewaves with identical frequencies but out of phase with each other (usually by a specific
amount). The Master Signals module’s two 100kHz outputs satisfy this requirement and are 90° out of
phase. The next part of the experiment lets you see this.

7. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 11.

Note: Insert the black plugs of the oscilloscope leads into a ground (GND) socket.
 Viewing the two 100kHz carriers

8. Activate the scope’s Channel 2 input by checking the Channel 2 Enabled box

Note: When you do, you should see a second signal appear on the display that’s a different
color to the Channel 1 signal.

2-1 By visual inspection of the scope’s display, which of the two signals is leading the other? Explain your
answer.

Using the ADDER module

Several communications and telecommunications systems require that signals be added together. The
Adder module has been designed for this purpose.

1. Locate the Adder module and turn its g control (for Input B) fully anti-clockwise.

2. Set the Adder module’s G control (for Input A) to about the middle of its travel.

3. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 12.

Note: Although not shown on the figure, insert the black plugs of the oscilloscope
leads into a ground (GND) socket.
 Patching the ADDER module

This set-up page can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 13 below.

Block diagram for ADDER module use

4. Adjust the scope’s Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the Master Signals module’s
2.08kHz SINE output.

5. Activate the scope’s Channel 2 input by checking the Channel 2 Enabled box to view the Adder
module’s output as well as the Master Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE output.

6. Vary the Adder module’s G control left and right and observe the effect.

2-2 What aspect of the Adder module’s performance does the G control vary?

The gain of Input A. So, “G” is for gain.

7. Use the scope’s Measurements function to measure the peak-to-peak voltage on the
Adder module’s Input A. Record your measurement as the input voltage in Table 2.

8. Turn the Adder module’s G control fully clockwise.

 9. Use the scope’s Measurements function to measure the Adder module’s peak-to-peak
output voltage and record your measurement as the maximum output voltage on Table
2.

10. Calculate and record the maximum voltage gain of the Adder module’s Input A.

11. Turn the Adder module’s G control fully anti-clockwise.

12. Measure the Adder module’s output voltage and record your measurement as the
minimum output voltage on Table 2.

13. Calculate and record the minimum voltage gain of the Adder module’s Input A.

Table 2 Input voltage Output voltage Gain

Maximum 6.907V 1.98

3.485V
Input A
Minimum 13.201mV 0.0038

2-3 What is the range of gains for the Adder module’s A input?

14. Leave the Adder module’s G control fully anti-clockwise.

15. Disconnect the Master Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE output from the Adder module’s
Input A and connect it to the Adder’s Input B.

16. Use the scope’s Measurements function to measure the peak-to-peak voltage on the
Adder module’s Input B. Record your measurement as the input voltage in Table 3.

17. Turn the Adder module’s g control fully clockwise.

18. Measure the Adder module’s output voltage. Record your measurement as the maximum
output voltage in Table 3.

19. Calculate and record the maximum voltage gain of the Adder module’s Input B.

20. Turn the Adder module’s g control fully anti-clockwise.

21. Measure the Adder module’s output voltage and record your measurement as the
minimum output voltage on Table 3.

22. Calculate and record the minimum voltage gain of the Adder module’s Input B.

Table 3 Input voltage Output voltage Gain

Maximum 6.904V 1.99

3.472V
Input B
Minimum 15.058mV 0.0043

2-4 Compare the results in Tables 2 and 3. What can you say about the Adder module’s two
inputs in terms of their gain?

23. Turn both of the Adder module’s Gain controls fully clockwise.

24. Connect the Master Signals module’s 2.08kHz SINE output to both of the Adder
module’s inputs.

25. Resize the Adder module’s output signal on the scope’s display by adjusting Channel 2’s
Scale control to an appropriate setting.

26. Measure the Adder module’s new output voltage. Record your measurement as part of
the following question.

2-5 What is the relationship between the amplitude of the signals on the Adder module’s inputs
and output?

Using the PHASE SHIFTER module

Several communications and telecommunications systems require that the signal to be
transmitted (speech, music and/or video) is phase shifted. Crucial to being able to implement
these systems in later experiments is the ability to phase shift any signal by almost any amount.
The Phase Shifter module has been designed for this purpose.

1. Set the Phase Shifter module’s Phase Adjust control to about the middle of its travel.

2. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 14.

 Note: Insert the black plugs of the oscilloscope leads into a ground (GND) socket.

Patching for the PHASE SHIFTER

This set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 15.

Block diagram for PHASE SHIFTER

3. Adjust the scope’s Scale control for both channels for signals that are a suitable size on
the display.

4. Vary the Phase Shifter module’s Phase Adjust control left and right and observe the
effect on the two signals.

2-6 The Phase Shifter module’s output signal can be phase shifted by different amounts, but does
it lead or lag the input signal?
Using the VCO module
A VCO is an oscillator with an adjustable output frequency that is controlled by an external
voltage source. It’s a useful circuit for communications and telecommunications systems as
you’ll see.

This set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 16.

Block diagram for VCO operation

Using a DC voltage as input will cause the output frequency to be a stable fixed value.

Using a varying voltage such as from a 2.08kHz sinewave source will cause the frequency to
vary at 2.08kHz.

1. Connect the 2.08kHz SINE signal to the Vin input to the VCO module. Set the GAIN to
minimum (fully anti-clockwise). This will effectively reduce the input voltage to 0V.

2. View the VCO module output signal on the scope and vary the FREQ control until the
frequency is set to approximately 100kHz.

Slowly increase the GAIN of the input whilst viewing the output signal. You should also view
the 2.08kHz input signal on the other channel.

HINT: Remember to trigger the scope on the 2.08kHz signal.

As you increase the gain of the signal you will notice the frequency of the VCO output will vary
in proportion to the input signal level.

Set the GAIN of the VCO module to maximum.

Measure the frequencies of the VCO module output at the most negative and most positive peaks
of the VCO module input. Do this by measuring the period of the VCO module output at these
points. Use a combination of scope cursors, and Trigger level to zoom in on the minimum and
maximum signal levels. Make sure that the scope is stopped (not running) when you make the
measurements.
 Example of period measurement using cursors and trigger level at a VCO module input maximum

What are the minimum and maximum frequencies at the VCO module output?

Introduction to the USRP

Objective
The purpose of this introductory laboratory exercise is to ensure that students have a working
installation of LabVIEW Communications on their computers and know how to connect to the
USRP software defined radio.
Background
The Wireless Innovation Forum defines Software Defined Radio (SDR) as: “Radio in which
some or all of the physical layer functions are software defined.” 1 SDR refers to the technology
wherein software modules running on a generic hardware platform are used to implement radio
functions. By combining the NI USRP hardware with LabVIEW software you can create a
flexible and functional SDR platform for rapid prototyping of wireless signals including physical
layer design, record and playback, signal intelligence, algorithm validation, and more.

NI USRP Hardware
The NI USRP connects to a host PC creating a software defined radio. Incoming signals at the SMA
connector inputs are mixed down using a direct-conversion receiver to baseband I/Q components,
which are sampled by a analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The digitized I/Q data follows parallel paths
through a digital down conversion (DDC) process that mixes, filters, and decimates the input signal to a
user-specified rate. The downconverter samples are passed to the host computer.
For transmission, baseband I/Q signal samples are synthesized by the host computer and fed to the
USRP at a specified sample rate over Ethernet, USB or PCI express. The USRP hardware interpolates the
incoming signal to a higher sampling rate using a digital up conversion (DUC) process and then converts
the signal to analog with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The resulting analog signal is then mixed up
to the specified carrier frequency. More information about NI SDR hardware can be found in the
respective Getting Started Guide2 available in the start menu.
NI LabVIEW Communications System Design Software
LabVIEW is a graphical programming language developed by National Instruments. The basic
building block of LabVIEW is the virtual instrument (VI). Conceptually, a VI is analogous to a
procedure or function in conventional programming languages. Each VI consists of a block
diagram and a front panel. The block diagram describes the functionality of the VI, while the
front panel is a top level interface to the VI. The construct of the VI provides two important
virtues of LabVIEW: code reuse and modularity. The graphical nature of LabVIEW provides
another virtue: it allows developers to easily visualize the flow of data in their designs. NI calls
this Graphical System Design. Also, since LabVIEW is a mature data flow programming
language, it has a wealth of existing documentation, toolkits, and examples which can be
leveraged in development.
In this course you will use National Instruments SDR hardware. LabVIEW provides a simple
interface for configuring and operating various external I/O, including the NI SDR hardware
used in lab. This is the main reason why you will use LabVIEW as the programming language to
build an SDR in this course. You should realize that the algorithms considered here could also be
programmed in optimized C/C++, assembly, or VHDL and implemented on a DSP,
microcontroller, or an FPGA. The choice of hardware and software in this lab is mostly a matter
of convenience.
In future labs you will need to be familiar with LabVIEW and the documentation/help available
to you. This is the only lab in this course which will give you the opportunity to learn and
practice LabVIEW programming; so it is important that you take this opportunity to ask the
instructor any questions you might have about LabVIEW programming.
The following tutorials and reference material will help guide you through the process of
learning LabVIEW:
 LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite 2.0 Online Manual
 LabVIEW Communications Guided Help tutorials
 Context help
The online manual can be found through our website at “www.ni.com/manuals”. The context
help window displays basic information about LabVIEW objects when you move the cursor over
each object. To toggle the display of the context help window, select View » Context Help or
press <Ctrl-H.
The LabVIEW online help is the best source of detailed information about specific features and
functions in LabVIEW. Online help entries break down topics into a concepts section with
detailed descriptions and a how-to section with step-by-step instructions for using LabVIEW
functions.

Pre-Lab 1.
Ensure LabVIEW Communications is installed
2. Open LabVIEW Communications
3. From the main window (also called the lobby), navigate to the LEARNING tab at the upper
right hand corner. Open and complete the guided help tutorial from Learn Getting Started
Introduction to the LabVIEW Editor
4. To return to the lobby, select FileClose All
5. Complete 5 other guided help tutorials to learn more about LabVIEW Communications. From
the lobby click Learn Programming Basics to find the following:
 Designing a User Interface
 Debugging your VI
 Basic Data Types
 Arrays
 While Loops
Bring any questions or concerns regarding LabVIEW or these tutorials to your instructor's
attention. For the remainder of this lab you should be familiar with the basics of LabVIEW
programming and where to look for help.
Comments:

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