WiMAX Transceiver Chips Away At BOM Costs

The MAX2838, dubbed the industry's first single-chip WiMAX RF transceiver, eliminates the SAW filter and extra VCO circuitry required by existing super-heterodyne topologies, reportedly translating into a 50% cut in BOM costs. Operating in the 3.3 GHz to 3.9 GHz band, the device forecasts affordable wireless broadband services in Brazil, Russia, India, and China, as well as in Western Europe, Australia, and Canada. In a 48-pin, 6 mm x 6 mm leadless TQFN package, it operates from a 2.7V to 3.6V supply and features a 2.8 dB receiver noise figure, -11 dBm input IP3, and a -39 dBc VCO phase noise while consuming 288 mW of power. The receiver specifies a 94 dB gain-control range, digitally controlled in 2 dB steps. Receiver EVM is better than -35 dB and sideband suppression is greater than 45 dB. The transmitter section delivers a 60 dB gain-control range, digitally controlled in 1 dB steps, a 0 dBm linear output with a 64-QAM signal, more than 45 dB of sideband suppression, and better than -36 dB EVM while meeting a -70 dBr spectral mask. Price for the MAX2838 starts at $8.13 each/1,000. MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 998-8800.