The third-generation Virtual Wire Radios offer the industry’s lowest-power, fully functional short-range radio family of receivers, transmitters, and transceivers, according to RF Monolithics. Based on the company’s ultra-low-power proprietary and patented amplifier-sequenced hybrid (ASH) radio architecture, the 3G series delivers a number of improvements on the previous models. They provide multi-channel capability and the flexibility of either fixed-frequency or multi-frequency operation. They also feature direct-sequence, spread-spectrum (DSSS) transmit and receive support.
Receiver sensitivity has been improved by about 5 dB; sleep-mode current is reduced to approximately 200 nA (typical), and transmit power has been increased to up to 10 mW. The internal clock-recovery function has also been enhanced. The Virtual Wire Radios include an RF IC with quartz SAW filtering and frequency control components in a single hybrid. No external RF filters, IF filters, resonators, or crystals are required. They handle high data rates for data, control, and digitized voice transmissions, and employ a stable, sensitive receiver technology with excellent "channel-capture" performance. A wide operating temperature range allows use in industrial or outdoor applications. The 3G Virtual Wire packages and pin-out designs are compatible with the company’s 2G Virtual Wire radios.
AVAILABILITY
RFM’s 3G Virtual Wire products are sampling now. Volume production is scheduled for next month.
PRICING
Check with the company for pricing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.rfm.com