Evaluates: MAX2831 MAX2831 Evaluation Kit Connections and Setup General Description This section provides step-by-step instructions for getting The MAX2831 evaluation kit (EV kit) simplifies testing the EV kit up and running in all modes (see Figure 1 for of the MAX2831 receive and transmit performance in EV kit connections): 802.11g/b applications operating in the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz ISM band. The EV kit provides 50 SMA connectors for 1) Connect the PC to the INTF3000 interface board using all RF and baseband inputs and outputs. Differential-to- the USB-A male to USB-B male cable. On INTF3000, single-ended and single-ended-to-differential line drivers remove jumper JU1 and connect a DC supply set to 3.3V are provided to convert the differential I/Q baseband to the V connector. Connect the 25-pin connector of PULL inputs and outputs to single ended. the INTF3000 (J4) directly to the 25-pin connector on the EV kit (J18). Features 2) With the power supply turned off, connect a +2.85V On-Board Line Driver and Voltage Reference power supply to V (pin 1), VCCAUX, and a +3.3V REG 50 SMA Connectors on All RF and Baseband Ports power supply to V . Connect the power-supply BAT ground to the header labeled GND1 or GND2. PC Control Software Available at www.maximintegrated.com 3) With the power supply turned off, connect a +5V power supply to the +5V test point and a -5V power supply to Quick Start the -5V test point. Connect the power-supply ground to The MAX2831 EV kit is fully assembled and factory tested. the header labeled GND1 or GND2. Connect all the Follow the instructions in the Connections and Setup section power-supply grounds together. to test the devices. 4) Make sure the jumpers are installed in their default positions as shown in Figure 1. Test Equipment Required 5) Turn on the +3.3V power supply, followed by the This section lists the recommended test equipment to +2.85V power supply, +5V power supply, and -5V verify the operation of the MAX2831. It is intended as a power supply. guide only and substitutions may be possible: 6) Install and run the MAX2831 control software, MAX2831 EV kit available for download here. INTF3000+ interface board DC supply capable of delivering +5V and 200mA of Receive Mode continuous current 1) Set the RXTX jumper across pins 2-3 (RX) to enable the DC supply capable of delivering -5V and 200mA of receiver and disable the transmitter. Set the ANTSEL continuous current jumper to its default position 2-3 (ANT1). DC supply capable of delivering +3.3V and 300mA of 2) Set the signal generator to accurately deliver -100dBm continuous current at 2438MHz, at the SMA port (ANT1/RXRF) of DC supply capable of delivering +2.85V and 200mA MAX2831. Connect the output of signal generator to of continuous current RXRF port of MAX2831. One HP8648s or equivalent signal sources capable 3) On the Registers page of the EV kit software, set the of generating 0dBm up to 3GHz register values to the recommended setting in the 802.11b/g CW I/Q waveform generator MAX2831 data sheet by clicking theDefault and HP8561E or equivalent RF spectrum analyzer with a Send All buttons. minimum 100kHz to 3GHz frequency range 4) On the Entry page, confirm that theReceive Mod is TDS3012 or equivalent oscilloscope with 200MHz set to normal,Baseband Filter Mode Contro is set bandwidth to RX, and theRF frequenc is tuned to 2437MHz. PC laptop or tablet with Microsoft Windows XP , Maximize the RX LNA and RX VGA Gain. Windows 7, 8 OS and a USB port 5) Connect the spectrum analyzer to either RXBBI or USB-A male to USB-B male cable RXBBQ. Set the center frequency to 1MHz with a span Windows and Windows XP are registered trademarks and registered service marks of Microsoft Corporation. 19-0816 Rev 3 1/16MAX2831 Evaluation Kit Evaluates: MAX2831 of 500kHz. Other recommended spectrum analyzer Layout Considerations settings are: Res BW of 1kHz and Ref Level of 10dB. The EV kit can serve as a guide for board layout. Keep 6) Turn on the RF signal source. The supply current draw PCB trace lengths as short as possible to minimize should be approximately 70mA. The output CW tone parasitic inductance. Also, keep decoupling capacitors as at 1MHz should be approximately -2dBm. close to the IC as possible with a direct connection to the ground plane. Transmit Mode 1) Set the RXTX jumper across pins 1-2 (TX) to enable Power-Supply Layout the transmitter and disable the receiver. Keep the To minimize coupling between different sections of the IC, ANTSEL jumper at its default position 2-3 (ANT1). use a star power-supply routing configuration with a large 2) Connect TXRF port to the spectrum analyzer. Set the decoupling capacitor at a central V node. The V CC CC center frequency of spectrum analyzer to 2437MHz traces branch out from this node, each going to a separate and span to 10MHz. Other recommended spectrum V node in the circuit. Place a bypass capacitor as CC analyzer settings are: Res BW of 3kHz, Attenuation of close as possible to each supply pin. This arrangement 30dB and Ref Level of 22dB. provides local decoupling at each V pin. Use at least CC 3) Connect a 1MHz sinusoid to TXBBI and a 1MHz sinusoid one throughput per bypass capacitor for a low-inductance with a 90 phase shift (or a cosine) to TXBBQ. Set the ground connection. Do not share the capacitor ground input amplitude of each channel to 100mV . vias with any other branch. RMS 4) On the Registers page of the EV kit software, set the register values to the recommended register setting listed in the MAX2831 data sheet by clicking theDefault andSend Al buttons. 5) On the Entry page, make sure that theTransmitter Mod is set to normal,Baseband Filter Mode Contro is set to TX, and theRF Frequenc is tuned to 2437MHz. Set the TX gain to maximum using theTX VGA Gai sliding bar. 6) Enable the output of the baseband signal sources. The supply current draw should be approximately 88mA. 7) The TX output power at 2438MHz should be approximately 21dBm. The LO leakage at 2437MHz should be -16dBm and unwanted sideband at 2436MHz should be -17dBm. Note: CW signals can be replaced by modulated 802.11g/b signals. Table 1. Jumper Functions JUMPER SETTING FUNCTION Pins 2-3 Enable receive mode RXTX Pins 1-2 Enable transmit mode ANTSEL Pins 2-3 Default Pins 1-2 Enables the buffers TXBBBUF/RXBBBUF Pins 2-3 Disables the buffers VREG Pins 1-2 Short the jumper to provide voltage to the MAX2831 from the linear regulator (U10) Pins 2-3 Supply the V from VREG CCVCO VCCVCO Pins 1-2 Supply the V from the linear regulator (U10) CCVCO Maxim Integrated 2 www.maximintegrated.com