Connections and Setup

This section provides a step-by-step guide to operating

the EV kit and testing all four major functions: the LNA,

receive mixer, transmit mixer, and PA driver. Do not

turn on the DC power or RF signal generators until

all connections are made.

Low-Noise Amplifier

1) Set the RXEN jumper on the EV kit to the “Logic 1”

position and the TXEN jumper to the “Logic 0” posi-

tion. This enables the MAX2410’s receive mode.

2) Connect a DC supply set to 3V (through an amme-

EV kit. Do not turn on the supply.

3) Connect one RF signal generator to the LNAIN SMA

connector; do not turn on the generator’s output.

Set the generator for an output frequency of 1.9GHz

at a power level of -40dBm.

4) Connect a spectrum analyzer to the LNAOUT SMA

connector on the EV kit. Set it to a center frequency

of 1.9GHz, a total span of 200MHz, and a reference

level of 0dBm.

5) Turn on the DC supply. The supply current should

read approximately 20mA (if using an ammeter).

6) Activate the RF generator’s output. A signal on the

spectrum analyzer’s display should indicate a typi-

cal gain of 16.2dB after accounting for cable losses.

7) If desired, the shutdown feature can be tested by

moving the RXEN jumper into the “Logic 0” position.

The supply current should drop to less than 10µA.

Receive Downconverter Mixer

1) Remove the RF signal generator and spectrum ana-

lyzer from the LNAIN and LNAOUT connections if

necessary. The DC supply connections needed for

testing the downconverter mixer are the same as in

the LNA section. Turn off the DC supply while mak-

ing connections.

2) Set the RXEN jumper on the EV kit to the “Logic 1”

position and the TXEN jumper to the “Logic 0” posi-

tion. This enables the MAX2410’s receive mode.

3) Connect one RF signal generator (with the output

disabled) to the LO SMA connector. Set the fre-

quency to 1.5GHz and the output power to -10dBm.

This is the LO signal.

4) Connect the other RF signal generator to the RXMXIN

SMA connector (with the output disabled). Set the

frequency to 1.9GHz and the output power to

-30dBm. This is the RF input signal.

5) Connect the spectrum analyzer to the IFOUT SMA

connector. Set the spectrum analyzer to a 400MHz

center frequency, a 200MHz total span, and a

0dBm reference level.

6) Turn on the DC supply, LO signal generator, and RF

input signal generator.

7) The downconverted output signal at 400MHz is visi-

ble on the spectrum analyzer, indicating a mixer

conversion gain of typically 8.3dB after accounting

for cable losses.

Power-Amplifier Driver

1) Remove any RF signal connections made in the

making connections.

2) Set the RXEN jumper to the “Logic 0” position and

the TXEN jumper to the “Logic 1” position. This

enables the MAX2410’s transmit mode.

3) Set the voltage source to be used for the gain-con-

trol voltage to 2.15V, and turn it off. Connect it to the

4) Connect an RF signal generator set to 1.9GHz, at a

power level of -10dBm with the output disabled, to

the PADRIN SMA connector.

5) Connect the PADROUT SMA connector to the spec-

trum analyzer. Configure the analyzer to a center

frequency of 1.9GHz, a reference level of +10dBm,

and 200MHz total span.

signal generator.

7) The supply current should read typically 30mA. A

1.9GHz signal should be visible on the spectrum

analyzer’s display indicating a typical gain of 15dB

after accounting for cable losses.

0V should reduce the gain by typically 35dB.

Transmit Upconverter Mixer

1) Remove any RF signal connections made in the

voltage source is not needed for this test.

2) Set the RXEN jumper to the “Logic 0” position and

the TXEN jumper to the “Logic 1” position. This

enables the MAX2410’s transmit mode.

3) Connect one RF signal generator (with the output

disabled) to the LO SMA connector. Set the fre-

quency to 1.5GHz and the output power to -10dBm.

This is the LO signal.

MAX2410 Evaluation Kit

2

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