How to Build a High-Performance SSB Upconverter

Upconverters are ubiquitous in modern RF systems, translating everything from baseband quadrature DDS signals to many of today’s mmWave signals. An X-band upconverter with sideband suppression utilizing an IQ mixer is prototyped in this article to enable the reader to better understand the up-conversion process and the mathematics behind sideband suppression itself.

While integrated forms of upconverters are widely available for many applications, it is interesting to construct a modular upconverter with a significant number of Mini-Circuits’ parts to see how the components interact and how each contributes to overall system performance. Filtering, frequency multiplication, amplification, signals in quadrature, and sideband suppression are a few of the concepts covered when reviewing the system architecture. Finally, we discuss use cases where up-conversion combined with sideband suppression is essential for achieving RF system performance goals.

BOOST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO RF DC BLOCKS – TYPES AND APPLICATIONS EXPLAINED

RF DC blocks, also known as radio frequency DC blocks, are electronic devices that are used to prevent DC (direct current) voltage from passing through an RF (radio frequency) signal path. These devices are used in a wide range of applications, including wireless communication systems, test and measurement equipment, and RF circuit design. RF DC blocks can also be used to protect sensitive equipment from damage caused by DC voltage, or to isolate the DC and RF signals in a system.
There are several different types of RF DC blocks, each with their own unique characteristics and uses. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of RF DC blocks and their applications.