R&S SMIQ3B service kit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2023, 12:41:35 pm
content: Hi,does anybody have the service kit (software plus manual) for the SMIQ? My output is .5dB off, calibration apparently requires the above...Thanks,Florian

author: KeBeNe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2023, 08:28:16 pm
content: Hello,The service kit software from the SME (see link) also works for the SMIQ.http://eww.ko4bb.com/manuals/93.222.25.100/Rohde_Schwarz_SME03_service_kit_software.zipThis is a DOS software and runs on a Windows XP notebook in a DOSBOX.https://www.dosbox.com/An NRVD or NRVS with a Z-51 measuring head is recommended.a video of the SMT level calibration in german languageregards René

author: George Edmonds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2023, 11:37:24 pm
content: HiThis software will ONLY work with a NRVD power meter using a Z-51 sensor, it is also uses GPIB. so a suported GPIB interface is required.G Edmonds

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 08:22:21 am
content: Thanks, will give that a try. Any idea what interfaces are supported?

author: George Edmonds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 12:07:35 pm
content: GPIB GPIB AND GPIB ONLY.G Edmonds

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 05:05:04 pm
content: Does a NI GPIB-232CT-A work? The software in the bundle at K04BB would suggest that.

author: KeBeNe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 08:32:03 pm
content: The service kit software also works with an NRVS, a Z51 does not necessarily have to be with the SMIQ, I have already carried out a calibration on an SMIQ03B with an NRV Z-4, but with the Z51 it is more accurate.A distinction must be made between calibrating an SMT, SME or SMIQ.You have to test whether the adapter works, I use a notebook + PCMCIA card from NI with Win XP 32bit.

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2023, 09:23:05 pm
content: URV55? I’ll test with the RS232 adapter and report back. PCMCIA sounds good as well, have an old laptop for that.

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2023, 02:13:46 pm
content: NI GPIB-RS232-CT-A works with a DOS boot disk. Didn't get it to work with a NI PCMCIA in a DOS box, the interface isn't found (unsurprisingly). Still waiting for a Z-51 to actually calibrate the generator.

author: KeBeNe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2023, 02:36:40 pm
content: as already written, you don't necessarily need a Z-51 for the SMIQ, a Z-4 works too, because the SMIQ starts at 300Khz.I always do a communication test with the SMIQ-TV software.I also had problems with the PCMCIA card at the beginning, NI then sent me an old driver package.With the URV55 you can only test it, it seems to be quite the same as the NRVS.

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2023, 06:49:20 am
content: So URV55 isn't recognized by the software, guess I need to look out for a NRVS/D. Good news is that the software works in a XP DOS box if one enables DOS in the NI 422 settings. Finds the SMIQ just fine but says "unrecognized Power Meter" on the URV.

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2023, 08:11:25 am
content: So, Z51 arrived yesterday, works fine with NRVD under Windows XP with the PCMCIA NI card.Software for the latter can be downloaded fromhttps://download.ni.com/#support/gpib/ni488225/Windows2000XPVista/, there is a tickbox in settings to enable the software in DOS. Not all software packages are present anymore in the various directories so download soon if you need it. RS232 converter works with DOS6.22 as well.The calibration software is available at KO4BB, the SME package works fine as posted by @KeBeNe above, thanks for the pointer!Behavior with an SMIQ03B is different there are two additional options to calibrate vector and IQ on top of frequency linearity. One run with cold equipment this morning got it from 0.15 dBm to 0.01 dBm offset which is a reasonable result. Will try again after sufficient warm up and see what the final results are.

author: JoeyDeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2025, 03:46:59 pm
content: Hi everyone!I’m having the same issue with my RS SMIQ — after replacing the mainboard, the output power is completely inaccurate. Unfortunately, I only have an HP power meter and a Keysight N848xA series power sensor. Still, I’d really like to try completing the calibration using what I have. Do you think it’s possible?I’m planning to give it a shot once my GPIB-to-USB cable arrives. If it doesn’t work, I might try reverse engineering the software to generate calibration data myself.If anyone has experience with this or any suggestions, I’d really appreciate your input. Thanks a lot!

author: KeBeNe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2025, 09:44:18 pm
content: The software requires an NRVS or NRVD with Z51 (I have successfully tested an NRV-Z4 for the SMIQ03B)

author: JoeyDeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2025, 12:41:54 pm
content: I’m having some trouble during the calibration setup. I’m using the open-source USB-to-GPIB adapter "USBGpib" and it works perfectly with NI-VISA, but the calibration software simply doesn’t recognize this adapter.Which USB-to-GPIB interface are you using? Or how did you fix this issue?

author: KeBeNe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2025, 03:25:29 am
content: Hi,that won't work.You need a “real” GPIB.I have an old laptop with a NI PCMCIA card.I also tried different USB-GPIB adapters back then, also without success...

author: JoeyDeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2025, 03:56:48 am
content: thx for ur reply, I bought an PCI-GPIB card form NI, to let it works on a morden computer so I also get PCIE-PCI card. Hope it works