Quad Adaptive Cable Equalizer/Driver A First

Claimed to be the first four-channel, 3.2-Gbps adaptive cable equalizer, the MAX3802 is expected to significantly reduce system interconnection costs. The companyÕs adaptive equalization algorithm, already proven in MAX3800 and MAX3801 equalizers, supports low-cost copper system interconnection rates of up to 3.2 Gbps and effectively extends the usable length of coaxial and twinaxial copper cable in point-to-point communications applications. The MAX3802 contains four independent 3.3V adaptive cable equalizers and four independent cable drivers on a single chip. It automatically adjusts to attenuation caused by skin-effect levels of up to 30 dB at 1.6 GHz, making inexpensive 30m cables viable interconnect solutions. When the cable driver is set to maximum output voltage swing and the equalizer is compensating for 30 dB of loss, typical power consumption is just 181 mW per channel. Prices start at $29.87 each/1,000. Evaluation kits are available. MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 998-8800.