company blog about ADI ADRF5019-EVALZ 100MHz to 13GHz ADRF5019 Silicon SPDT Switch Evaluation Board

ADI ADRF5019-EVALZ 100MHz to 13GHz ADRF5019 Silicon SPDT Switch Evaluation Board

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd., as a supplier deeply rooted in the electronic components field, has long supplied the ADI ADRF5019-EVALZ evaluation board—a fully functional platform specifically designed for evaluating and developing the ADRF5019 silicon SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch.

This ADRF5019-EVALZ evaluation board enables engineers to thoroughly evaluate the characteristics and performance of the ADRF5019 switch, which operates from 100MHz to 13GHz. Featuring a non-reflective 50Ω design, it delivers insertion loss as low as 0.8dB at 8GHz and isolation up to 45dB.

【ADRF5019-EVALZ Product Overview】

The ADRF5019-EVALZ is an evaluation platform specifically designed to assess the characteristics and performance of the ADRF5019 switch chip. This evaluation board provides a convenient and reliable hardware environment, enabling engineers to quickly test key metrics of the ADRF5019, validate its performance in target applications, and accelerate product prototyping and system debugging processes.

【ADRF5019-EVALZ Core Features and Performance Parameters】

The core of the ADRF5019-EVALZ evaluation board is the ADRF5019 RF switch, manufactured using silicon technology and featuring multiple outstanding characteristics.

Electrical Performance

Frequency Range: 100MHz to 13GHz, covering most wireless communication bands

Low Insertion Loss: Only 0.8dB at 8GHz, ensuring signal transmission efficiency

High Isolation: 45dB at 8GHz, effectively reducing inter-channel interference

High Power Handling: 35dBm on the insertion loss path, 27dBm during hot switching

Linearity Performance: Input P1dB of 39dBm, IP3 up to 60dBm (typical)

Design and Control

Non-reflective architecture: All RF ports internally terminated to 50Ω, preventing signal reflection

Control interface: CMOS-compatible and LVTTL-compatible control for easy system integration

Flexible power supply: Supports dual power supply (+3.3V and -2.5V) or single positive voltage operation

Fast switching: 0.05dB RF settling time of only 375 nanoseconds

【Foundation of the ADRF5019 Chip's Superior Performance】

The ADRF5019 chip's performance. This is a non-reflective single-pole double-throw (SPDT) RF switch manufactured using silicon technology. The “non-reflective” or “absorptive” design refers to its RF ports being internally terminated at 50Ω impedance, where signals on unselected paths are absorbed rather than reflected—critical for systems requiring good VSWR and signal integrity.

Key technical specifications of the chip:

Wide operating frequency range: Covers 100 MHz to 13 GHz, suitable for diverse applications spanning high-frequency to microwave bands.

Outstanding RF performance: At 8 GHz, it exhibits typical insertion loss better than 0.8 dB while delivering up to 45 dB isolation. This ensures minimal signal attenuation during switching and effective suppression of crosstalk between channels.

High linearity and power handling capability: Its input 1dB compression point (P1dB) reaches 39 dBm, with a typical third-order intercept point (IP3) of 60 dBm, ensuring excellent linearity under high-signal conditions. Power handling capability on the insertion loss path reaches 35 dBm, supporting hot switching (path switching without signal interruption) at up to 27 dBm.

Flexible Power Supply and Control: The chip supports dual-supply operation at +3.3V and -2.5V for optimal performance, while also functioning on a single positive supply voltage (VDD) for simplified system integration. The control interface is compatible with CMOS and LVTTL levels.

【Hardware Design and Features of the ADRF5019-EVALZ Evaluation Board】

The ADRF5019-EVALZ evaluation board's hardware design prioritizes ease of use and test accuracy. Its primary components and characteristics include:

Core Device and Peripheral Circuitry: The ADRF5019-EVALZ board integrates the ADRF5019 switch chip with all necessary external resistors and capacitors, forming a complete, operational application circuit.

Standard RF Interfaces: To facilitate connection with test equipment (such as vector network analyzers or signal sources), the ADRF5019-EVALZ board features standard SMA RF connectors. This ensures high-quality signal transmission from DC to high frequencies.

Calibration Reference Path: The ADRF5019-EVALZ board incorporates a dedicated through line for calibration purposes. Prior to switch performance testing, users can measure this through path to eliminate errors introduced by test cables and connectors, thereby obtaining more accurate switch parameters.

Four-Layer Board Design with Optimized Stackup: The ADRF5019-EVALZ employs a four-layer PCB design. RF and DC traces are routed on the top layer, while the inner and bottom layers serve as complete ground planes. This structure provides a robust reference ground plane for high-frequency RF transmission lines, effectively reducing losses and interference. It ensures the evaluation board's own RF performance is optimized, accurately reflecting the chip's true capabilities.

【ADRF5019-EVALZ Application Areas】

The switch chip evaluated via ADRF5019-EVALZ serves diverse high-end applications, primarily including:

Test and Measurement Instruments: Used for signal routing and channel switching in spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and similar equipment.

Communication Infrastructure: Suitable for microwave radio backhaul, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite communications, and related systems.

Defense and Aerospace: Critical components in military radios, radar systems, and electronic countermeasure (ECM) equipment.

Broadband and Fiber Optic Communications: Signal switching and protection in high-speed data transmission systems.

Mingjiada Electronics consistently supplies other ADI evaluation board components, including but not limited to the following models:

EVAL-LT8647-AZ

EVAL-LTC7892-BZ

EVAL-ADPL42005RD-AZ

EVAL-ADPL44002CP-AZ

EVAL-ADPL42002CP-AZ

EVAL-LTC7878-BZ

EVAL-LTC7068-AZ

EVAL-LT8292-AZ

EVAL-LT8342-AZ

EVAL-LT8334-AZ

EVAL-LT3077-AZ

EVAL-LT7170-1-AZ

EVAL-LT7170-AZ

EVAL-LTM4707-AZ

EVAL-LTM4703-AZ

ADPL12006EVKIT

AD-PS3803-RD

ADPL44001EVKIT