MAX2838

The MAX2838 direct-conversion, zero-IF, RF transceiver is designed specifically for 3.3GHz to 3.9GHz wireless broadband systems. The MAX2838 completely integrates all circuitry required to implement the RF transceiver function, providing RF-to-baseband receive path, baseband-to-RF transmit path, VCO, frequency synthesizer, and baseband/control interface. The device includes a fast-settling sigma-delta RF synthesizer with smaller than 29Hz frequency steps. The MAX2838 supports 2Tx, 2Rx MIMO applications with a master device providing coherent LO to the slave device. The transceiver IC also integrates circuits for on-chip DC-offset cancellation, I/Q error, and carrier-leakage detection circuits. Only an RF bandpass filter (BPF), TCXO, RF switch, PA, and a small number of passive components are needed to form a complete wireless broadband RF radio solution.

The MAX2838 completely eliminates the need for an external SAW filter by implementing on-chip monolithic filters for both the receiver and transmitter. The baseband filters along with the Rx and Tx signal paths are optimized to meet the stringent noise figure and linearity specifications. The device supports up to 2048-FFT OFDM and implements programmable channel filters for 1.5MHz to 28MHz RF channel bandwidths. The transceiver requires only 2µs Tx-Rx switching time. The IC is available in a small 48-pin thin QFN package measuring only 6mm x 6mm x 0.8mm.

Applications

• 802.16-2004/802.16d Fixed WiMAX
• 802.16e MIMO Mobile WiMAX
• WiMAX Pico and Femto Basestations
• NLOS Wireless Broadband Systems