5G Technology officially became mainstream in 2023. In just a short while this technology when from the drawing board to a reality. 5G products collectively form the infrastructure that enables the deployment and operation of 5G networks, supporting the enhanced connectivity and capabilities promised by 5G technology. It's worth noting that the landscape of 5G RF products is dynamic, with ongoing advancements and innovations in this rapidly evolving field. In this article we have listed some of the most viewed 5G products on everything RF in 2023.
Microwave Upconverter + Downconverter from 37 to 50 GHz for mmWave 5G Radios
The ADMV1139A from Analog Devices is a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI), Microwave, Upconverter, and Downconverter that operates from 37 to 50 GHz. It integrates an upconverter (transmitter), a downconverter (receiver), and a LO chain with a 4x multiplier in one chip. This up/down converter offers two modes of frequency translation – one mode is conversion from and/or to complex intermediate frequency (IF) signals, which then pass through an optional on-chip 90° IF hybrid, known as the IF mode. The other mode is a direct conversion from and/or to differential baseband in-phase/Quadrature (I/Q) inputs and outputs, known as the baseband mode. Read more
Top-Side Cooled RF Power Amplifier for 5G Infrastructure from 3300 to 3670 MHz
The A5M34TG140-TC from NXP Semiconductors is a Doherty Power Amplifier Module that operates from 3300 to 3670 MHz. It is based on NXP's new top-side cooling technology that helps radio designers create thinner, lighter 5G radio units while reducing design and manufacturing complexities. This 8 W module series is designed for massive MIMO radios covering 3.3 GHz to 3.8 GHz — typically 32T32R (200 W) or 64T64R (320 W) radios. The amplifier modules combine NXP’s in-house LDMOS and GaN semiconductor technologies to enable high gain and efficiency with wideband performance. Read more
5G Massive IoT SiP Module for LTE-M/NB-IoT Platforms
The SKY66431-11 from Skyworks is a Multi-Band Multi-Chip System-in Package (SiP) for 5G Massive IoT (LTE-M/NB-IoT) platforms. It integrates the entire RF front end, transceiver, power management, crystals, memory, MCU, and baseband modem for an LTE multi-band radio. This SiP has been optimized for LTE-M/NB-IoT half-duplex operation (HD-FDD). It can deliver a downlink data rate of up to 300 Kbps (LTE-M) and an uplink data rate of up to 1.1 Mbps (LTE-M). Read more
Low-Noise, High-Speed DAC Interface IC from 3 to 16 GHz
The TMC160 from mmTron is a DAC Interface IC that operates from 3 to 16 GHz. It amplifies and converts the differential output of a high-speed DAC to a clean, low-noise, single-ended signal to drive the RF chain of a transmitter. This IC integrates anti-alias lowpass filtering, low noise amplification, and a balun that converts the differential DAC output to a single-ended 50-ohm output compatible with traditional RF signal chains. The differential architecture provides high common-mode rejection, and the built-in anti-alias filter rejects the clock and intermodulation signals from the DAC. Read more
8-Channel Tx/Rx TDD Beamformer IC from 24 to 40 GHz
The OTBF103 from Otava is a half-duplex, 8-channel Tx/Rx TDD Beamformer IC that operates from 24 to 40 GHz. The transmit mode takes a single input to eight outputs, where each channel has an individual phase and gain adjustment controls. The Receive mode consists of eight individually controllable phase and gain inputs to one combined output. A bypass path is implemented in each LNA which can be used for system calibration. It is developed on 90 nm SiGe BiCMOS process. Read more
8-Channel Beamforming Front-End IC from 26.5 to 29.5 GHz
The PE188200 from pSemi is an 8-Channel Beamforming Front-End IC that operates in the 5G n257 band from 26.5 to 29.5 GHz. It has two independently controllable RF chains of four channels supporting four dual-polarity antennas or eight single-polarity antennas. This beamforming IC has integrated power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, splitter/combiners, 6-bit phase/attenuation control, and phase & amplitude beamformers. It has an on-chip memory that holds 512 beams and on-chip storage for up to 32 state modes that allow the flexible definition of modes such as RX, TX, idle, and sleep. Read more
8 channel, Dual Polarization Beamforming IC from 26.5 to 29.5 GHz for 5G NR FR2 Applications
The iCana ICAMB2629-A is a 5G mmWave Beamforming IC that operates from 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz covering n257 and n261 5G NR FR2 bands for Wireless Infrastructure applications. It contains 8 independent transmit and receive channels supporting 4 horizontal and 4 vertical polarized antennas via independent input/outputs. The IC provides a channel gain range of 7 dB with 0.5 dB step, common gain range of 20 dB with 1 dB step, phase resolution of 5.6°, and a wide signal bandwidth of 800 MHz. Integrated 8-bit temperature sensors at each RF port support automatic gain compensation across temperatures. Read more
16-Channel Rx Beamforming IC from 17.7 to 21.2 GHz for Phased Array Applications
The F6212 from Renesas is a 16-Channel Rx Active Beamforming IC that operates from 17.7 to 21.2 GHz. This dual-beam IC has 16 (8 per beam) phase/amplitude control channels, eight RF input ports, and two RF output ports. Each control channel has 6 bits of digital phase and gain control to provide phase shift from 0° to 360° and a dynamic range of 26 dB for precise beam pattern and polarization control. The eight input ports of the IC can be driven by eight single-polarized elements or four dual-polarized elements of an electronically scanned array (ESA). Read more
8-Channel Beamforming Front-End IC from 24.25 to 27.5 GHz for 5G Systems
The SUMMIT2427e™ from Sivers Semiconductors is a Beamforming Front-End IC that operates from 24.25 to 27.5 GHz. It integrates power amplifiers (PA), low noise amplifiers, T/R switching, beamformers with beam table memory, calibration, gain control, and temperature and power telemetry with a high-speed system peripheral interface (SPI) for control. This 8-channel IC has two sets of four channels for two antenna polarizations and enables two data streams supporting 2 MIMO layers. It is fabricated using RF-Silicon on Insulator (RF-SOI) technology and is designed to address the challenges constraining 5G mmWave performance. The IC has ultra-low transmit and receive mode power consumption. Read more
FR1/FR2 Up/Down Frequency Converter IC for 5G Applications
The MOBX222 from Mobix Labs is an Up/Down Frequency Converter IC that supports FR1 Baseband, C-Band (CBRS) and FR2 mmWave frequencies. It enables the use of input/output frequencies of DC – 800 MHz and 2.3 – 7 GHz IFs for up/down conversions to mmWave frequencies of 24.25 – 49 GHz. This IC includes a switch matrix that allows up/down conversions between 5G C-band and baseband signals for transmitting and receiving, and the FR1 Tx path integrates a high-linearity power amplifier and an RF power detector circuit. It is designed on 28 nm bulk CMOS process and provides device flexibility for various 5G applications by allowing for interoperability across frequency bands. Read more
3GPP Rel-15 Based Sub-6 GHz Multi-Mode 5G Smart Modules for Global Coverage
The SG560D Series from Quectel are Sub-6 GHz Multi-mode 5G Smart Modules that provide worldwide coverage for 5G/4G/3G/2G. They are based on 3GPP Rel-15 technology and support both 5G NSA and SA architectures. These modules are based on QCM6490 high-performance 64-bit octa-core processors and have a built-in Adreno 643 GPU, 4 GB LPDDR4X memory, and 64 GB UFS storage. They support Wi-Fi 6E & DBS, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Wi-Fi 2x2 MU-MIMO, and Bluetooth 5.2. The modules also support 5G & LTE multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology and 4K H.265/H.264 video encode and decode. Read more
5G Wireless Module for Home, Enterprise, and Manufacturing Applications
The FM190-GL from Fibocom is a 5G Wireless Module that is compliant with the 3GPP Release 17 standard. It delivers a downlink data rate of up to 6.18 Gbps and an uplink data rate of up to 900 Mbps. This module supports global 5G Sub-6, LTE FDD/TDD, UMTS & CDMA bands and has 4 antennas. It requires a DC supply of 3.8 V and can be controlled via USB 3.1/3.0/2.0, PCIe 4.0/3.0, UIM, and I2S interfaces. The FM190-GL is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon SDX75 chipset and has an 8 GB LPDDR4x memory with 8GB Nand flash memory. Read more
10 dB Surface-Mount Attenuator MMIC from DC to 50 GHz
The ATN10-0050CSP1 from Marki Microwave is an Attenuator MMIC that operates from DC to 50 GHz. It can handle an input power of 1 W, provides an attenuation of 10 dB, and has an insertion loss of less than 10 dB. This GaAs MMIC is available in a surface-mount chip-scale package (CSP) that measures 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.9 mm and is suitable for 5G, amplitude matching, test equipment, high channel count systems, and airborne applications. Read more
Tx/Rx Module with Integrated SPDT Switch and LNA from 1 to 6 GHz
The MAMF-011164 from MACOM is an Integrated Switch and Low-Noise Amplifier Front End Module that operates from 1 to 6 GHz. It consists of an antenna switch and a dual-stage low-noise amplifier. In Tx mode, this module has an insertion loss of 0.3 dB and a P1dB of 40 dBm. In Rx mode, it provides a gain of 35 dB and has a noise figure of less than 1.3 dB. It can handle an input power of 8 W (39 dBm) and the integrated switch provides 50 dB of isolation. The FEM requires a DC supply of 5 V and consumes 1.4 mA of current in Tx mode and 78 mA of current in Rx mode. Read more
5G Open-Radio Unit for O-RAN Deployments
The A1001-RU-1 from AmpliTech is a 5G Open-Radio Unit (O-RU) for n78 band from 3.55 to 3.7 GHz. It utilizes GaN power amplifiers along with 64 phased array elements for digital beamforming. This O-RU consists of three main parts: the first is the Radio Frequency Processing Unit (RFPU) which includes the antennas, high power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, duplexers, and other functions. This part also contains highspeed data converters such as analog to digital converters (ADCs) and digital to analog converters (DACs). The second main part of the O-RU is the Digital Processing Unit (DPU) which supports the eCPRI and IEEE 1914.3 capability. Read more
MIPI-Controlled SP4T Switch from 0.04 to 7.125 GHz for 5G/LTE Applications
The BGS14M8U9 from Infineon is an SP4T Switch that operates from 400 MHz to 7.125 GHz. It has a switching speed of 1.3 μs and provides an isolation of up to 49 dB. This switch can handle an input power of up to 39 dBm and has an insertion loss of less than 0.9 dB. It is optimized for 5G and other cellular applications and is suitable for 5G and LTE 4G applications, such as 5G SRS, uplink-carrier aggregation and high-power user equipment. Read more
8 W GaN Doherty Power Amplifier Module from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz
The QPB3810 from Qorvo is a Doherty Power Amplifier Module that operates from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz. It delivers an output power of 39 dBm (~8 W) and has an integrated bias controller that is factory programmed to set optimal bias points. This 2-stage GaN power amplifier includes a temperature sensor and adjusts bias over temperature along with an enable pin for fast TDD switching. It is available in a surface-mount package that measures 12 x 8 mm and requires a DC supply of 48 V. The PAM is suitable for use in 5G m-MIMO wireless infrastructure, TDD-based architectures, and general-purpose wireless systems applications. Read more
1 W E-Band GaN Power Amplifier MMIC from 65 to 76 GHz
The NPA7000-DE from Nxbeam is a Power Amplifier MMIC that operates in the E-band from 65 to 76 GHz. It delivers a saturated output power of 1 W with a linear gain of 13 dB and a power-added efficiency (PAE) of up to 32%. This amplifier is developed on a 0.09um GaN HEMT on the SiC process and requires a drain supply from 10 to 20 V. It is available as a die that measures 1.575 x 0.875 x 0.05 mm with RF input and output matched to 50 ohms and DC blocking capacitors for easy system integration. The amplifier is fully passivated for reliable operation and is ideal for use in E-band satellite communications, 5G infrastructure, and point-to-point/multipoint digital radio applications. Read more
Antenna Measurement System from 650 MHz to 50 GHz for 5G Test Applications
The StarLab 50 GHz from MVG World is an Antenna Measurement System for 5G test applications that provides frequency measurements from 650 MHz to 50 GHz. Its spherical near-field measurement capabilities provide flexibility in types of antennas that can be tested, from low to high directivity. The patented multi-probe electronic scanning technology and oversampling capabilities limit mechanical movement. Read more
5G Radio Communication Tester for FR1 and FR2 Frequency Bands
The R&S®CMX500 from Rohde & Schwarz is a 5G NR Radio Communication Tester for the FR1 and FR2 frequency bands. It can handle all signaling use cases for mobile communications devices, from early R&D design to final integration, verification and performance tests, final product validation in a test house, quality assurance and repair. The modular hardware architecture can be configured for basic use cases such as RF parameter measurements, measurements under fading conditions and performance measurements with maximum data rates. Users can access all signaling events and logs at any time. Read more
Multi-Band Vector Transceiver for 5G Sub-6 GHz/mmWave Frequencies
The S9100A from Keysight is a 5G Multi-Band Vector Transceiver that operates from 380 MHz to 6 GHz (FR1) and 24.25 to 43.5 GHz (FR2). It is a streamlined, non-signaling measurement system that enables automated testing of 5G New Radio (5G-NR) infrastructure equipment at both the FR1 and millimeter wave FR2 frequencies. This vector transceiver is designed for OTA measurements and uses a remote head that can be physically placed at the antenna chamber to provide mmWave link budget. It includes an M1740A mmWave remote radio head with dual bi-directional ports that can be positioned close to the over-the-air (OTA) test chamber reference antenna. Read more
Sub-6 GHz 5G-NR Mobile Device Test Platform from 450 MHz to 6 GHz
The ME7834NR from Anritsu is a 5G NR Mobile Device Test Platform that operates from 450 MHz to 6 GHz. It has been designed to perform 3GPP based Protocol Conformance Tests (PCT) and Carrier Acceptance Testing (CAT) of mobile devices incorporating Multiple Radio Access Technologies (RAT). This test platform supports 5G New Radio (NR) technology in both Standalone and Non-Standalone mode. The ME7834NR covers the 5G frequency bands defined by 3GPP including sub-6 GHz and mmWave when combined with Anritsu’s OTA chamber MA8171A and RF converter. Read more
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer from 9 kHz to 27 GHz
The R5550 from thinkRF is a Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer that is built on innovative and highly optimizable software-defined radio technologies to provide more flexibility, greater coverage, and increased functionality. Designed and built for spectrum monitoring and deployment applications, the thinkRF R5550 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer provides improved spectral performance in a lightweight, fanless, and portable form factor while enabling in-depth analysis of complex and wideband waveforms in challenging spectrum environments. Read more
Sub-6 GHz Transparent Antenna for 5G/4G Cellular Applications
The TFX62.A from Taoglas is a Transparent 5G/4G Cellular Antenna that operates from 600 to 6000 MHz. This 'invisible' linearly polarized antenna has an omnidirectional radiation pattern and provides a peak gain of 4.65 dBi with an efficiency of up to 60%. It can be used as an alternative to standard flexible PCB antennas where the antenna is to be installed in a covert area or on a surface that needs to be kept visible. This antenna is ideal for use in automotive and commercial transportation, EV charging & parking bays, digital signage and display screens and point-of-sale kiosk applications. Read more
Sub-6 GHz Flexible Embedded Antenna for LTE/5G Applications
The 9003034F0 from KYOCERA AVX is a Flexible Embedded Antenna that operates from 2100 – 2690 MHz and 3300 – 5000 MHz. This linearly polarized antenna provides a peak gain of 4.3 dBi with an efficiency of up to 62%. It has been optimized for 5G sub-6GHz 4x4 MIMO systems. This antenna is designed to provide flexible mounting on the underside of any non-metallic housing with a cable and connector for easy installation. It is available in an adhesive-backed module that measures 28.0 x 15.0 x 0.2 mm with MHF1/MHF4 compatible connectors. Read more
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