E
MAX1473 Evaluation Kit
2
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Quick Start
The following procedure allows for proper device evalu-
ation.
Required Test Equipment
Regulated power supply capable of providing +3.3V
RF signal generator capable of delivering from
-120dBm to 0dBm of output power at the operating
frequency, in addition to AM or pulse-modulation
capabilities (Agilent E4420B or equivalent)
Optional ammeter for measuring supply current
Oscilloscope
Connections and Setup
This section provides a step-by-step guide to operating
the EV kit and testing the device’s functionality. Do not
turn on the DC power or RF signal generator until all
connections are made:
1) Connect a DC supply set to +3.3V (through an
ammeter, if desired) to the VDD and GND terminals
on the EV kit. Do not turn on the supply.
2) Connect the RF signal generator to the RF_IN SMA
connector. Do not turn on the generator output. Set
the generator for an output frequency of 315MHz (or
433.92MHz) at a power level of -100dBm. Set the
modulation of the generator to provide a 2kHz 100%
AM-modulated square wave (or a 2kHz pulse-modu-
lated signal).
3) Connect the oscilloscope to test point TP3.
4) Turn on the DC supply. The supply current should
read approximately 5mA.
5) Activate the RF generator’s output without modulation.
The scope should display a DC voltage that varies
from approximately 1.2V to 2.0V as the RF generator
amplitude is changed from -115dBm to 0dBm. (
Note:
At an input amplitude of around -60dBm, this DC
voltage will drop suddenly to about 1.5V and then
rise again with increasing input amplitude. This is
normal; the AGC is turning on the LNA gain reduc-
tion resistor).
6) Set the RF generator to -100dBm. Activate the RF
generator’s modulation and set the scope’s coupling
to AC. The scope now displays a lowpass-filtered
square wave at TP3 (filtered analog baseband data).
Use the RF generator’s LF OUTPUT (modulation out-
put) to trigger the oscilloscope.
7) Monitor the DATA_OUT terminal and verify the pres-
ence of a 2kHz square wave.
Component List (continued)
DESIGNATION
QTY
DESCRIPTION
L1 (433MHz)
1
15nH
±
5% inductor (0603)
Coilcraft 0603CS-15NXJB
L2 (315MHz)
1
120nH
±
5% inductor (0603)
Coilcraft 0603CS-R12XJB
L2 (433MHz)
1
56nH
±
5% inductor (0603)
Coilcraft 0603CS-56NXJB
L3
1
15nH
±
5% inductor (0603)
Murata LQG18HN15NJ00
MIX OUT
0
S M A connector top m ount, not i nstal ed
Digi-Key J500-ND
Johnson 142-0701-201
5.1k
resistor (0603), any
Resistor (0603), not installed
270
r esi stor ( 0603) any, not i nstal ed
10k
resistor (0603), any
10pF
±
5%,
50V ceram c capaci or (0603)
M urata GRM 1885C1H 100JZ 01
R1
1
0
0
1
R2, R4, R6
R3
R5
R7
1
R8
1
10k
resistor (0603), any
DESIGNATION
QTY
DESCRIPTION
R9
1
1000pF
±
10%, 50V X7R ceramic
capacitor (0603)
Murata GRM188R71H102KA01
RF IN
1
SMA connector top mount
Digi-Key J500-ND
Johnson 142-0701-201
TP2, TP4–TP12
VDD, GND,
SHDN,
DATA_OUT,
TP3
0
Not installed
5
Test points
Mouser 151-203 or equivalent
Y1 (315MHz)
1
Crystal 4.754687MHz
Hong Kong Crystal
SSL4754687E03FAFZ8A0 or
Crystek 016867
Y1 (433MHz)
1
Crystal 6.6128MHz
Hong Kong Crystal
SSL6612813E03FAFZ8A0 or Crystek
016868
Y2
1
10.7MHz ceramic filter
Murata SFTLA10M7FA00-B0
U1
—
1
1
MAX1473EUI
MAX1473 EV kit PC board