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DAC3283EVM for WiFi 802.11ac

Harald Enzinger
Prodigy 20 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DAC3282EVM, DAC3283EVM, DAC3283

Hi,


I would like to do measurements based on the WiFi 802.11ac standard which requires a carrier frequency in the 5GHz band and a signal bandwidth of 80MHz.

Is it possible to generate such signals with the DAC3282EVM?

On the website http://www.ti.com/tool/dac3283evm it is stated that this evaluation module features the TRF3704 which is able to operate at 5GHz, but in the user guide, it is stated that the board comes with TRF3720 and TRF3703, which both are not able to operate at 5GHz. Could you tell me, which modulators are on this board?

Kind Regards,

Harald

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 18065 points

    Harald:

    There is no issue with operating 802.11ac signals through the DAC3283 device.  The TRF3704 is indeed suitable for operation in the 5 GHz band.  The DAC328x EVM is normally configured to support the TRF3720 modulator; however, there is an option to divert the path to the TRF3703-33.  The TRF3704 is pin-to-pin compatible with the TRF3704 so the device can be swapped out.

    Also note that there is a common mode voltage difference between the TRF3703-33 (3.3V) and the TRF3704 (1.7V).  The application report (http://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/slaa399) discusses and option for creating a passive translation network between the 3.3V common mode of the DAC and the 1.7V requirement for the modulator.  The DAC328x EVM has the placeholder hooks to implement the translation network as required.

    --Russell

  • 0 in reply to RJ Hopper
    Prodigy 20 points

    Dear Russel,

    thank you for your quick reply. You confirmed what I have expected, i.e. that the TRF3704 is not included in the DAC3283 EVM. Therefore the statement on the website http://www.ti.com/tool/dac3283evm that the EVM features a TRF3704 is somehow misleading.

    I understand that the EVM can be modified for the TRF3704, but this requires some tricky soldering of the modulator IC which cannot be done by everyone.

    Thank you anyway.

  • 0 in reply to Harald Enzinger
    TI__Mastermind 18065 points

    Harald:

    Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy in the product folder.

    You are correct; replacing the main IC can be tricky.  If you need to pursue this option then I suspect you have a local board shop that can assist.  Alternatively, you can contact your local TI sales office and submit a request to them for a special configured EVM.

    If you are just wanting to complete a quick test you can opt to drive the existing TRF3703-33 up to 6 GHz.  The RF output performance related to linearity, gain, carrier feed-through, and sideband suppression will be degraded compared to the TRF3704, but it will operate.

    --Russell