System Switches Selection Guide

Switching solutions configured using the VXI multi-vendor, open-standard architecture offer the most versatility and potentially higher speed based on the VXI backplane. Test speed is dependent on the slot-0 I/O choice which includes GPIB, Firewire, and NI MXI-2. The 3499 Switch Family offers a wide choice of switch modules and includes built-in RS-232 and GPIB interfaces. The 34970A is unique in that it includes a built-in DMM that can be used with the various switch modules. The standard interfaces are RS-232 and GPIB.

Platform
Number of Mainframes

Number of Modules
Number of 2-wire Chs/MF Signal Frequency Comments

VXI

6

40

1536
DC, RF, uW These switches provide a wide variety of switching and routing functions for test systems based on the popular open-standard VXIbus architecture. The highest switching density is available in VXI because of the large size of the plug-in modules.

3499

3

30

360
DC, RF, uW, optical The 3499 family provides a choice of three different size mainframes for automatic test engineering (ATE) applications where a wide variety of signals including DC, RF, microwave, and optical must be switched. In addition, there are modules with digital I/O and DAC output capability.

34970A

1

8

60
DC, RF This data acquisition/switch unit is a compact, economical, one-box solution for data logging, data acquisition, and general-purpose switching and control applications.

Platform	Number of Mainframes	Number of Modules	Number of 2-wire Chs/MF	Signal Frequency	Comments
VXI	6	40	1536	DC, RF, uW	These switches provide a wide variety of switching and routing functions for test systems based on the popular open-standard VXIbus architecture. The highest switching density is available in VXI because of the large size of the plug-in modules.
3499	3	30	360	DC, RF, uW, optical	The 3499 family provides a choice of three different size mainframes for automatic test engineering (ATE) applications where a wide variety of signals including DC, RF, microwave, and optical must be switched. In addition, there are modules with digital I/O and DAC output capability.
34970A	1	8	60	DC, RF	This data acquisition/switch unit is a compact, economical, one-box solution for data logging, data acquisition, and general-purpose switching and control applications.