
MAX9986A Evaluation Kit
9) Set the DC supply to +5.0V, and set a current limit
of approximately 300mA, if possible. Disable the
output voltage and connect the supply to the EV kit
(through an ammeter, if desired). Enable the sup-
ply. Readjust the supply to get +5.0V at the EV kit.
There is a voltage drop across the ammeter when
the mixer is drawing current.
10) Select LO1 by connecting LOSEL (TP3) to GND.
11) Enable the LO and the RF sources.
Testing the Mixer
Adjust the center and span of the spectrum analyzer to
observe the IF output tone at 160MHz. The level should
be approximately +0.2dBm (8.2dB conversion gain,
3dB pad loss). There is also a tone at 159MHz, due to
the LO signal applied to LO2. The amount of suppres-
sion between the 160MHz and 159MHz signals is the
LO switch isolation. Note that the spectrum analyzer’s
absolute magnitude accuracy is typically no better than
±1dB. If accuracy is required, use the power meter to
measure the absolute single-tone power level.
Disconnect the GND connection to LOSEL. It is pulled
high by a pullup resistor on the board, selecting LO2.
Observe that the 159MHz signal increases while the
160MHz decreases. Reconfigure the test setup using a
combiner or hybrid to apply two RF signals at RFIN to
do a two-tone IP3 measurement, if desired. Terminate
the unused LO input in 50 Ω .
Detailed Description
The MAX9986A is a high-linearity downconverter inte-
grated with RF and LO baluns, an LO buffer, an IF
amplifier, and an SPDT LO input select switch. The EV
kit circuit consists mostly of supply-decoupling capaci-
tors, DC-blocking capacitors, an IF balun, and induc-
tive chokes. The MAX9986A EV kit circuit allows for
thorough analysis and a simple design-in.
Supply-Decoupling Capacitors
Capacitors C2, C7, C8, and C11 are 82pF supply-
decoupling capacitors used to filter high-frequency
noise. C3, C6, and C9 are larger 0.01μF capacitors
used for filtering lower frequency noise on the supply.
DC-Blocking Capacitors
The MAX9986A has internal baluns at the RF and LO
inputs. These inputs have almost 0 Ω resistance at DC,
so DC-blocking capacitors C1, C10, and C12 are used
to prevent any external bias from being shunted directly
to ground.
LO Bias and IF Bias
Bias currents for the integrated IF amplifier and the LO
buffer are set with resistors R1 (953 Ω ± 1%) and R2
(619 Ω ± 1%), respectively. These values were carefully
chosen during factory testing for optimum linearity
and minimal supply current. The DC currents can be
reduced by increasing the values of R1 and R2, but the
device would operate at reduced performance levels
(see the Modifying the EV Kit section).
Current-Limiting Resistor
Resistor R3 can be used for current-limiting at the supply.
Tap Network
Capacitor C5 helps to terminate the second-order inter-
modulation products.
LEXT
The 30nH wire-wound inductor, L3, improves LO-to-IF
and RF-to-IF isolation. If isolation is not critical, then this
pin can be grounded by shorting LEXT to ground
through a 0 Ω resistor.
IF ±
The MAX9986A employs a differential IF output to offer
increased IP2 system performance. The EV kit uses a
4:1 balun to transform the 200 Ω differential output
impedance to a 50 Ω single-ended output for easy
bench evaluation. Inductive chokes L1 and L2 provide
DC bias to the IF output amplifier, C13 and C14 for sup-
ply filtering.
As the differential IF outputs are relatively high imped-
ance (200 Ω ), they are more susceptible to component
parasitics. It is often good practice to minimize the
ground plane directly underneath large components to
reduce associated shunt-C parasitics.
LOSEL
The EV kit includes a 47k Ω pullup resistor for easy
selection of the LO port. Providing a ground at TP3
selects LO1, and leaving TP3 open selects LO2. To
drive TP3 from an external source, follow the limits
called out in the MAX9986A device data sheet. Logic
voltages should not be applied to LOSEL without the
+5V supply voltage. Doing so causes the on-chip ESD
diodes to conduct and could damage the device.
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