Date: 19/05/2009

ADI's new RF transceivers for WiMAX base stations

Analog Devices' new integrated RF-to-digital baseband transceivers AD9356 and AD9357 for 4G technologies, such as WiMAX and LTE (long term evolution) are cost optimized devices. Targeted more for picocell and microcell type WiMAX and LTE base stations in regions where demand for wireless broadband is growing.

Both AD9356 and AD9357 are designed to save cost on BOM by integrating more functions into single IC.

The key features of AD9356 and AD9357 WiMAX Transceivers are,

1. The AD9356 and AD9357 transceivers integrate 12-bit ADCs, DACs, complete RF-receive and RF transmit signal chains, and on-chip frequency synthesizers.
2. Features embedded real-time control and calibration loops
3. Support beamforming applications and include two complete receivers, and two complete transmitters for the support of MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) deployments.
4. The transmitter's signal-to-noise ratio provides support for picocells and microcells from +13 dBm up to +36 dBm output power at the antenna port.
5. Designers can configure the transceivers through on-chip AGC (automatic gain control) algorithm to optimize receiver performance.
6. Feature hooks for using incumbent baseband-controlled AGC.
7. Support the 2.3-to-2.7-GHz and 3.3-to-3.8-GHz ranges, respectively, covering existing WiMAX bands and channel bandwidths of 3.5, 4.375, 5, 7, 8.75 and 10 MHz.
8. Offer noise figure of 3 dB and best-in-class linearity
9. Supports autonomous AGC, TPC (transmit power control), and calibration routines. Adopt factory calibration technique to reduce calibration time.

Package: 10-mm x 10-mm CSP BGA
Availability: Now in samples

Some market figures on WiMAX equipments:
WiMAX is set to grow fast in many regions of the world. Its estimated by analyst companies that, the market for WiMAX equipment covering fixed and mobile WiMAX base stations, CPE, and other devices will reach a revenue >$59 billion during 2012 with cumulative revenue totaling over $150 billion from 2006 through 2012. The total number of WiMAX base-station shipments, which includes picocells and microcells, is expected to reach nearly $3 million by 2012. Analyst reports also say LTE subscribership could reach 72 million by 2013 and that the total LTE infrastructure market, including enhanced NodeBs and EPC (evolved packet core) equipment, is set to top $5 billion in 2013.

ADI Executive comments on this device:
"Today's WiMAX and LTE infrastructure equipment generally rely on a multitude of discrete components, often exceeding power budgets while missing time-to-market goals," said Tom Gratzek, product line director, WiMAX Transceiver Group, Analog Devices. "Typical picocell base-station transceivers comprise six to eight active components, while microcell base stations can easily require double this component count. Designs that exploit ADI's new AD9356 and AD9357 integrated transceivers can reduce the component count for a 2x2 transceiver to a single device, while cutting power consumption by at least 50 percent."