Higher than expected noise on LNA_W

When I run the self test on my LimeSDR once the board warms up (5min) I start getting failures with LNA_W

Looking at the values from the self-test it seems like they are borderline passing when the board is cold.

After sitting off for a few hours at room temperature:

[ RF Loopback Test ]
->Configure LMS
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_L):
  CH0 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-13.8 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-15.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_W):
  CH0 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-16.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-19.9 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_H):
  CH0 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-15.9 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-12.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->RF Loopback Test PASSED

Failure case after powered on for a few min:

[ RF Loopback Test ]
->Configure LMS
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_L):
  CH0 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-15.4 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=800.0MHz, SXT=805.0MHz): Result:(-17.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
->Run Tests (TX_1 -> LNA_W):
  CH0 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-19.0 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=1800.0MHz, SXT=1805.0MHz): Result:(-22.0 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - FAILED
->Run Tests (TX_2-> LNA_H):
  CH0 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-16.5 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED
  CH1 (SXR=2500.0MHz, SXT=2505.0MHz): Result:(-14.3 dBFS, 5.00 MHz) - PASSED

Is there a component I should be looking at in particular for a possible bad solder joint? The other posts that I saw were usually much worse due to damaged transformers.

@Zack, could you take a look and advise, please.

@zack any suggestions on how to investigate this further? While CH1 noise is worse, it looks like CH0 is also a little high.

Hi @btashton,

The settings are tuned for cold board for production tester and are not suitable for warmed up. The gains may wary when board gets warmer, while there are a lot of chains involved (Tx, Rx, loppback).