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AD9361 DATA_CLK cannot reach 25 MHz with 50 MHz reference clock

Category: Software
Product Number: AD9361
Software Version: NO OS: 2019_R1

I’m working with the AD9361 in a 2Rx/2Tx configuration with a 50 MHz reference clock. My goal is to achieve a DATA_CLK of 25 MHz (or at least 50 MHz), but despite adjusting the RX/TX path clocks and FIR settings, I am only seeing 30 MHz or 60 MHz on the data interface.

Here are the details of my configuration:

Reference Clock: 50 MHz

uint32_t rx_path_clock_frequencies[6] = {800000000, 50000000, 25000000, 25000000, 25000000, 25000000};

uint32_t tx_path_clock_frequencies[6] = {800000000, 50000000, 25000000, 25000000, 25000000, 25000000};

Observations:

  • After enabling the RX/TX FIR, DATA_CLK remains at 30 MHz.
  • Increasing BBPLL to higher frequencies (e.g., 800 MHz) gives ~30 MHz, but the datasheet mentions BBPLL minimum is 715 MHz.
  • Using smaller BBPLL (715 MHz) doesn’t give the desired DATA_CLK of 25 MHz.
  • I have tried various rx_path_clock_frequencies and tx_path_clock_frequencies combinations, but the DATA_CLK is not reaching 25 MHz.

Additional Notes:

  • AD9361 reports PLLs and LO locked.

Question:

  • Is there a valid combination of reference clock, path clocks, and FIR settings that can produce 25 MHz DATA_CLK with 50 MHz reference clock?
  • Are there internal constraints (BBPLL or dividers) that prevent reaching 25 MHz exactly?

Any guidance or example configuration to achieve this DATA_CLK would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

  • HI  

    AD9361 uses a fixed divider chain from BBPLL → ADC/DAC → data interface.

    • BBPLL must be ≥715 MHz and is usually an integer multiple of the reference clock.
    • BBPLL must be ≥715 MHz; common choices are 983.04 MHz (for LTE-like rates) and 768 MHz (for lower rates).
    • The data clock is derived from the RX/TX sample rate. BBPLL is constrained by 2 factors, BBPLL with integer dividers and FIR decimation/interpolation factors. DATA_CLK equals the sample rate for LVDS interface.

    So, 25 MHz is not supported because divider ratios only allow multiples of 3.84 MHz

    Regards,

    SJ

  • Keeping BBPLL 800 MHz (50 MHz (ref clock) x 16 (BBPLL integer factor) = 800 MHz), using Register (0x000A04), ADC should sample at 50 MHz (since ADC min. Sampling frequency is >30 MHz), and using decimation/Interpolation by 2 = DATA clock should be 25MHz right??