RF&WirelessBlog

Dual IF VGA for base station transceivers offer ‘best noise figure’

IDT has announced its FlatNoise dual intermediate frequency (IF) variable gain amplifier (VGA) for multi-mode 2G/3G/4G wireless base station transceivers. IDT says its devices offer the industry’s best noise figure (4 dB) for maximum gain and virtually no degradation when gain is reduced, improving quality-of-service (QoS) and easing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements of the downstream data converter to reduce system cost.

High-gain linear power amplifier suits LTE Infrastructure

Avago has introduced a high-gain, high-linearity power amplifier for high datarate applications found in 700-800 MHz cellular infrastructure equipment. The new high-linearity MGA-43128 amplifier provides excellent signal transmission quality with low power consumption for LTE AP, CPE, and picocell equipment and can also serve as a base station driver amplifier.

Wireless speaker module delivers ‘four months playback’ from single battery charge

HiWave has announced of a wireless speaker module for consumer Hi-Fi applications that delivers over four months of playback from a single battery charge. The 13W burst (26W peak) module enables OEMs to more rapidly create speakers that receive streamed audio from home cinema systems, PCs, smartphones and tablets throughout the home, without any trailing speaker and power cables.

Low-distortion mixers improve system IM3 performance while reducing power consumption

IDT has released two low-power, low-distortion RF to IF mixers for cellular base stations. The company says that the new devices improve system third-order intermodulation (IM3) performance and reduce power consumption, resulting in improved quality of service (QoS) and enabling smaller enclosures with increased reliability in 4G wireless infrastructure applications.

Vishay claims highest self-resonant frequency for new series of RF capacitors

Vishay claims its new RFCS series of surface mount thin film RF capacitors has the industry’s highest self-resonant frequency, which ranges from 8.5GHz to upwards of 20GHz, depending on capacitance. With a thin film capacitor-on-silicon construction, the RFCS series devices are designed for RF circuits that require exceptional performance at frequencies up to 20 GHz. The structure of the RFCS capacitors is based on thin-film electrodes deposited on a highly conductive silicon substrate. This patented structure is characterised by ultra-low parasitic inductance, which allows the component to self- resonate at significantly higher frequencies than alternative technologies.

Picochip debuts newest femtocell SoCs with faster host, new security and lower power

Picochip has launched its next generation of public access and enterprise silicon, the PC3024 for enterprise use and the PC3032 for metro and rural small cells. Picochip says the new devices are the first small cell optimised SoC silicon products in 40nm process node. Both the PC3024 and PC3032 offer improved performance from a 1GHz ARM11 processor and by continuing to use Picochip’s field-proven PHY and software, the new devices can easily be migrated to with minimal cost or risk, according to the company.

RF module combines SAW filter, power amplifier and magnetic stabiliser module for mobile phones

Murata has announced the HFQPRAPCA series of RF wireless modules for mobile phones, comprising a SAW filter, power amplifier and magnetic stabiliser. Believed to be the world’s first module to combine the three components as a single package, it measures just 6.6 x 3.8 x 1.0 mm and aids a more integrated and compact design.

CML Micro releases AIS-SART Processor IC for marine search and rescue

CML Microcircuits has introduced a new Marine AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (SART) processor, the CMX7045. The device is a highly integrated and flexible baseband processor fulfilling the needs of an AIS-SART and meeting IEC 61097-14 requirements. In addition to providing the core AIS-SART formatted data functionality, the CMX7045 incorporates a number of auxiliary operations that assist in the overall system implementation and therefore promise to reduce component count and cost.

LTE and LTE-A RF interface promises flexibility and customisation

CommAgility has debuted the AMC-RF2x2, a wideband, flexible dual channel RF card in the AdvancedMC format. The new card provides a high quality RF interface for LTE and LTE Advanced wireless infrastructure applications, and is suitable for test equipment, research, demonstrators and trial systems.

RFID-style tags allow ‘10x lower cost global fleet tracking solution’ than current GPS alternatives

AgoraBee has developed what it claims is the world's lowest cost global fleet tracking solution using Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF24L01+ 2.4GHz transceivers. The ChisFleet fleet global tracking solution from AgoraBee tracks valuable assets such as trailers, trucks, and their cargo using RFID-style RF tags that can run for up to five years from a coin cell, at a solution cost that AgoraBee claims is 10x lower than traditional GPS-based alternatives.