VXI and GPIB systems meet the specific needs of instrumentation users but are often too large and expensive for mainstream applications. PC-based instrumentation may cost less but cannot meet the environmental and operational requirements of many systems. PXI (PCI Extensions for Instrumentation) is based on CompactPCI, itself based on the PCIstandard. PCI was designed for desktop machines but CompactPCI was designed for industrial applications, and features a rugged Eurocard format with easy insertion and removal. PXI adds to the CompactPCI specification by defining system-level specifications for timing, synchronization, cooling, environmental testing, and software. While PXI extends CompactPCI, it also maintains complete interoperability so that you can use any CompactPCIcompliant product in a PXI system and vice versa. PXI also makes use of Windows software, VXI timing and triggering, and VXIplug&play instrument drivers to provide powerful and affordable systems.
The 3035, when used with a 3010 Series PXI RF synthesizer module, forms a compact wideband RF digitizer that occupies three slots in a 3U PXI chassis.
