MAX2044: Highest linearity, up-/downconverting, 2300MHz to 4000MHz SiGe mixer for LTE, WiMAX, and MMDS base stations

As an upconverter, the MAX2044 delivers equally impressive performance with 33.5dBm of IIP3, 60.2dBc of LO ±2IF suppression, and a conversion loss of only 7.7dB. The combination of these parameters makes the MAX2044 ideal for demanding base-station applications where high linearity and a low noise figure are critical for enhanced receiver and transmitter performance. The device supports both high- and low-side LO injection architectures for 3.1GHz to 3.9GHz LTE and WiMAX base stations; the MAX2044 can be configured for 2.3GHz to 2.9GHz LTE, WiMAX, and MMDS high-side injection architectures as well.

As a complete SiGe up-/downconverter, the MAX2044 integrates a state-of-the-art, double-balanced mixer core with an LO amplifier and two baluns, plus dozens of discrete components. This integration reduces the total board space used by the mixer by 40%, and reduces the discrete part count by 33%. The MAX2044's outstanding 2RF - 2LO performance of 68dBc (with a -10dBm RF tone) also eases the filtering requirements of close-in harmonics, thus enabling simpler, more cost-effective filter designs.

The MAX2044 is packaged in a compact, 5mm x 5mm, 20-pin TQFN that is pin similar to both the MAX2029/MAX2031/MAX2032 650MHz to 1000MHz mixers and the MAX2039/MAX2041/MAX2042 1700MHz to 3000MHz mixers. This entire family of passive up-/downconverters is, therefore, ideal for applications in which a common PC-board layout is used for multiple frequency bands. Prices start at $5.95 (1000-up, FOB USA).