- News
5 June 2019
MACOM extends SatCom portfolio by adding balanced 4W 27.5–30GHz Ka-band power amplifier
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc of Lowell, MA, USA (which makes semiconductors, components and subassemblies for RF, microwave, millimeter-wave and lightwave applications) has added to its portfolio of high-linearity Ka-band power amplifiers by launching the MAAP-011250. Suitable for next-generation commercial VSAT outdoor units, the MAAP-011250 utilizes a balanced design, giving system designers’ a consistent match regardless of their board impedance.
MACOM says that, as the demand for high-speed broadband data connectivity continues, it is seeing changes in fixed wired networks, such as hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) and fiber along with terrestrial wireless networks, and SatCom, in order to meet this demand. As the requirements for increased data rates and bandwidth continue to drive higher-power, higher-frequency and higher-linearity MMICs, MACOM reckons it is well positioned to provide both catalog and custom SatCom solutions.
With the addition of the 4W amplifier, MACOM now offers 2, 2.3, 3, 4 and 7W power output options spanning frequencies of 27-31.5GHz. The new GaAs-based Ka-band PAs can provide strong linear gain, which is expected to enable users to efficiently increase the power from the input to the output port with minimal tradeoffs.
The MAAP-011250 is a balanced 4W, 4-stage power amplifier assembled in a lead-free 5mm 32-lead AQFN plastic package. The power amplifier operates at 27.5-30GHz and provides 24dB of linear gain, 4W saturated output power and output IP3 (input third-order intercept points) of 41dBm while biased at 6V. The MAAP-011250 can be used as a power amplifier stage or as a driver stage in higher-power applications. The amplifier complements MACOM’s portfolio of Ka-band gain block amplifiers, drivers, mixers and PAs to deliver a complete chipset for high-performance wireless broadband data links.
MACOM is showcasing its SatCom portfolio in booth #532 at the IEEE’s International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2019) in Boston, MA, USA (4–6 June), where the firm’s booth features new products optimized for 5G, wireless basestations, radar, T&M and industrial, scientific & medical (ISM) applications.