HMC1056 As Vector Modulator

Question The HMC1056 is listed both as a IQ downconverter and a IQ upconverter.There are little information regarding the the upconverter application - can the HMC1056 be used as a vector modulator? Is the conversion gain equal to the gain from I/Q ports to the RF-port? What is the required input level on the I/Q ports in this application? Answer HMC1056 is a passive IQ mixer, so it can work as up-convertor as well as down-converter. If you are using it is an up-convertor the maximum IQ power depend on the P1dB (usually) which is about 8dBm (page 7) if using similar IF frequency as on page 7. The mixer will have conversion-loss so no gain out of the mixer and the minimum IQ input is depend on what amplitude you want at the RF output. (RF power output = IQ input power – Conversion Loss)

HMC1056: MxN Spur Table

Question Our customer wants to use HMC1056 as a downconverter. This mixer’s specifications are seen appropriate for their design.But our customer wants to control the harmonics and they need the spurious table for theis frequencies.For their frequency , can they use below table ? If there is another spurious table for these frequencies, could you plase send? Frequency: RF=10.7-11.7 GHz IF=2.1 GHz LO=8.6-9.6 GHz Answer Please find attached the HMC1056 spur table as requested.

HMC1056 : Conversion Gain for Low IF Frequency Performance

Question The IF bandwidth is specified as DC to 4 GHz, but when measuring the conversion gain at low IF frequencies, we found that the conversion gain below 1MHz IF frequency deteriorate very quickly. We need to be able to convert to IFfrequencies down to 20 kHz. How does our measured performance compare with the expected performance? Answer We tested HMC1056 at IF=20KHz and the conversion loss look good. Attached are the plots of IF @ 20MHz, 1MHz and 20KHz with the same input powerlevel.The conversion loss at IF=20MHz is about 9dB without de-embedding cable loss. Compared with 20MHz, 1MHz and 20KHz has similar output power levelthus similar conversion loss.I don’t think there is any degradation in conversion loss at low IF frequency. The LO power level should be high enough to drive the mixer, e.g.+10dBm that you are using.Please see attached screen shots.

HMC1056 : MxN Spur Table

Question Our customer wants to use HMC1056 as a downconverter. This mixer’s specifications are seen appropriate for their design. But our customer wants tocontrol the harmonics and they need the spurious table for theis frequencies.For their frequency , can they use below table ? If there is another spurious table for these frequencies, could you plase send?Frequency:RF=10.7-11.7 GHz IF=2.1 GHz LO=8.6-9.6 GHzCan we use the same mixer for the up-conversion?, If yes please send the data for the up-conversion. Answer Even though its a passive mixer, the bandwidth seen by each port is different so some spurs outside the BW shall getattenuated. Within the BW it shall be similar. Conversion loss will be the same.