App-Notes » RF Components » 5G RF Transceiver: AD9375 and Alternatives

5G RF Transceiver: AD9375 and Alternatives

5g rf transceiver analog device wireless communication ad9375

This application note covers 5G Transceiver basics, focusing on the AD9375 5G RF Transceiver from Analog Devices Inc. This transceiver is designed for both transmitting and receiving using 5G frequency bands.

It also mentions other manufacturers and vendors of 5G transceivers.

About 5G

5G represents the fifth generation of wireless technology, standardized in 3GPP release 15 and later. It surpasses previous 4G standards like LTE, LTE Advanced, and LTE Advanced Pro. 5G finds application in both cellular communication and IoT (Internet of Things) devices. It supports a wide range of frequency bands, including:

  • Sub 1GHz
  • 1 to 6GHz
  • Above 6 GHz (millimeter wave frequencies)

5G transceivers operate within these same frequency ranges.

5G Transceiver AD9375 Figure-1: Internal diagram of AD9375 5G transceiver chip (Image courtesy of Analog Devices Inc.)

Analog Devices 5G Transceiver AD9375

The AD9375 device features dual-channel transmitters and dual-channel receivers, complete with integrated synthesizers for channel selection. It incorporates DPD (Digital Pre-Distortion) and DSP (Digital Signal Processing) functionalities. The AD9375 supports MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) and duplexing techniques like TDD (Time Division Duplexing) and FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing).

The following table outlines the key technical specifications of the AD9375:

Specifications/features5G transceiver AD9375
RF Frequency range300 MHz to 6000 MHz
BandwidthTx BW: upto 250 MHz
Rx BW: 8 MHz to 100 MHz
Data InterfaceJESD204B, supports 6144 Mbps lane rates
SPI interfaceAvailable
Duplex techniquesFDD, TDD
DPD algorithmSupported for BWs upto 40 MHz
Power consumptionless than 5 Watts
Previous versionAD9371
Receivers supportedORx (Observation receivers) with 2 inputs
SnRx (Sniffer receivers) with 3 inputs
ADC/DAC resolutionADC supports 12 bits and DAC supports 10 bits
Reference clock frequency/levelDEV_CLK_IN+ and DEV_CLK_IN- 10 MHz to 320 MHz with signal level from 0.3 to 2.0 V(p-p)

Other 5G RF Transceiver Manufacturers

Here’s a list of other manufacturers offering 5G RF Transceivers:

  • Anokiwave: AWMF-0108 RF Transceiver in Ka-band (frequency range 30 to 300 GHz)
  • National Instruments: mmWave Transceiver System
  • Intel: 5G RFIC supporting sub-6GHz (3.3 to 4.2 GHz) and mmwave bands (28 GHz).
  • MaxLinear, Inc.: The single-chip RF transceiver MxL1105 operates in licensed and unlicensed bands from 5 GHz to 44 GHz. Supports MIMO, beamforming and modulations upto 4096QAM
  • Samsung Electronics: 5G millimeter wave transceiver