We have 15 RF205x development kits from RFMD for you to RoadTest. These kits are designed as an easy method to develop applications for the RFMD RF2051 wideband RF synthesizer/VCO with integrated RF mixers.
The RF205x kits incorporate a RF2051 evaluation/programming board, a bias cable, a USB adapter module, USB cable and a CD-ROM with the RF205x programming tool, data sheets, user guides and application notes. The evaluation board simply connects to the USB port of any desktop or laptop PC running Windows 2000, XP or Vista. The RF205x programming tool provides easy control of all functions in the chip. It will automatically calculate the PLL and synthesizer settings according the frequencies of interest. The software also provides a simple loop filter calculator to determine component values for active and passive loop filter to be used with RF205x.
The RF205x evaluation board uses wideband 100MHz to 2.5GHz baluns on the mixer input and output ports to enable wideband characterization of the RF2051 device. The mixer performance can be optimized for narrowband applications by modifying the balun type and matching for the frequencies of interest. The CD-ROM contains an in-depth application note with examples for mixer matching circuits and baluns for various narrowband applications. The evaluation board can be powered from an external supply (recommended for best performance) or through the PC’s USB supply.
RFMD RF2051 Specifications
The RF2051 is a very wideband RF frequency conversion chip with integrated local oscillator (LO) generation and a pair of RF mixers. The RF synthesizer includes an integrated fractional-N phase locked loop with voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) and dividers to produce a low-phase noise LO signal with a very fine frequency resolution. The LO output drives the built-in RF mixers which convert the signal into the required frequency band. The bias current can be programmed to optimize the supply current/performance trade-off.
The LO generation blocks have been designed to continuously cover the frequency range from 300MHz to 2400MHz. The RF mixers are very broad band and operate from 30MHz to 2500MHz at the RF ports of the device. An external crystal of between 10MHz and 52MHz or an external reference source of between 10MHz and 104MHz can be used with the RF2051 to accommodate a variety of reference frequency options.
The RF2051 incorporates a proprietary serial interface, which is driven from a software GUI through a USB-to-serial interface chip. The GUI programs the PLL to the desired LO frequency, and enables and biases the mixer(s) as required. The device is programmed using a true three-wire serial interface. The RF2051 is designed for 2.7V to 3.6V operation for compatibility with portable, battery powered devices.
