NEC's latest SiGe amplifier IC, the UPC3232TB, delivers 33.5 dB of gain, flat out to 3 GHz, making it well-suited for use as an IF amplifier in DBS low-noise block downconverters or as a basic gain block. Features include low-current operation, with a typical ICC of 26.0 mA, a wide dynamic range, and 40-dB isolation. The output third-order intercept is +23.5 dBm typical at 1.0 GHz and +18 dBm typical at 2.2 GHz. Noise figure is 4 dB typical at 1.0 GHz and 4.1 dB typical at 2.2 GHz. IO match is better than 1.7:1 into 50 Ω.
The UPC3232TB is manufactured in NEC's latest 50-GHz UHS2 silicon-germanium process and is housed in the company's miniature, RoHS-compliant TB package, which measures 2.0 by 2.1 by 0.9 mm (see the Figure). The device is in stock and available from California Eastern Labs. It costs $0.43 in 10,000-piece quantities.
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