Evaluates: MAX2831
MAX2831 Evaluation Kit
General Description
The MAX2831 evaluation kit (EV kit) simplifies testing
of the MAX2831 receive and transmit performance in
802.11g/b applications operating in the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz
ISM band. The EV kit provides 50Ω SMA connectors for
all RF and baseband inputs and outputs. Differential-to-
single-ended and single-ended-to-differential line drivers
are provided to convert the differential I/Q baseband
inputs and outputs to single ended.
Features
●On-Board Line Driver and Voltage Reference
● 50Ω SMA Connectors on All RF and Baseband Ports
● PC Control Software Available at
www.maximintegrated.com
19-0816; Rev 3; 1/16
Quick Start
The MAX2831 EV kit is fully assembled and factory tested.
Follow the instructions in the Connections and Setup section
to test the devices.
Test Equipment Required
This section lists the recommended test equipment to
verify the operation of the MAX2831. It is intended as a
guide only and substitutions may be possible:
●MAX2831 EV kit
●INTF3000+ interface board
● DC supply capable of delivering +5V and 200mA of
continuous current
● DC supply capable of delivering -5V and 200mA of
continuous current
● DC supply capable of delivering +3.3V and 300mA of
continuous current
● DC supply capable of delivering +2.85V and 200mA
of continuous current
● One HP8648s or equivalent signal sources capable
of generating 0dBm up to 3GHz
● 802.11b/g CW I/Q waveform generator
● HP8561E or equivalent RF spectrum analyzer with a
minimum 100kHz to 3GHz frequency range
● TDS3012 or equivalent oscilloscope with 200MHz
bandwidth
● PC laptop or tablet with Microsoft Windows XP®,
Windows® 7, 8 OS and a USB port
●USB-A male to USB-B male cable
Connections and Setup
This section provides step-by-step instructions for getting
the EV kit up and running in all modes (see Figure 1 for
EV kit connections):
1) Connect the PC to the INTF3000 interface board using
the USB-A male to USB-B male cable. On INTF3000,
remove jumper JU1 and connect a DC supply set to 3.3V
to the VPULL connector. Connect the 25-pin connector of
the INTF3000 (J4) directly to the 25-pin connector on the
EV kit (J18).
2) With the power supply turned off, connect a +2.85V
power supply to VREG (pin 1), VCCAUX, and a +3.3V
power supply to VBAT. Connect the power-supply
ground to the header labeled GND1 or GND2.
3) With the power supply turned off, connect a +5V power
supply to the +5V test point and a -5V power supply to
the -5V test point. Connect the power-supply ground to
the header labeled GND1 or GND2. Connect all the
power-supply grounds together.
4) Make sure the jumpers are installed in their default
positions as shown in Figure 1.
5) Turn on the +3.3V power supply, followed by the
+2.85V power supply, +5V power supply, and -5V
power supply.
6) Install and run the MAX2831 control software,
available for download here.
Receive Mode
1) Set the RXTX jumper across pins 2-3 (RX) to enable the
receiver and disable the transmitter. Set the ANTSEL
jumper to its default position 2-3 (ANT1).
2) Set the signal generator to accurately deliver -100dBm
at 2438MHz, at the SMA port (ANT1/RXRF) of
MAX2831. Connect the output of signal generator to
RXRF port of MAX2831.
3) On the Registers page of the EV kit software, set the
register values to the recommended setting in the
MAX2831 data sheet by clicking the "Defaults" and
“Send All” buttons.
4) On the Entry page, confirm that the "Receive Mode" is
set to “normal,” "Baseband Filter Mode Control" is set
to “RX,” and the "RF frequency" is tuned to 2437MHz.
Maximize the RX LNA and RX VGA Gain.
5) Connect the spectrum analyzer to either RXBBI or
RXBBQ. Set the center frequency to 1MHz with a span
Windows and Windows XP are registered trademarks and
registered service marks of Microsoft Corporation.
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Evaluates: MAX2831
MAX2831 Evaluation Kit
of 500kHz. Other recommended spectrum analyzer
settings are: Res BW of 1kHz and Ref Level of 10dB.
6) Turn on the RF signal source. The supply current draw
should be approximately 70mA. The output CW tone
at 1MHz should be approximately -2dBm.
Transmit Mode
1) Set the RXTX jumper across pins 1-2 (TX) to enable
the transmitter and disable the receiver. Keep the
ANTSEL jumper at its default position 2-3 (ANT1).
2) Connect TXRF port to the spectrum analyzer. Set the
center frequency of spectrum analyzer to 2437MHz
and span to 10MHz. Other recommended spectrum
analyzer settings are: Res BW of 3kHz, Attenuation of
30dB and Ref Level of 22dB.
3) Connect a 1MHz sinusoid to TXBBI and a 1MHz sinusoid
with a 90° phase shift (or a cosine) to TXBBQ. Set the
input amplitude of each channel to 100mVRMS.
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 the "Defaults"
and "Send All" buttons.
5) On the Entry page, make sure that the "Transmitter
Mode" is set to “normal,” "Baseband Filter Mode
Control" is set to “TX,” and the "RF Frequency" is
tuned to 2437MHz. Set the TX gain to maximum using
the "TX VGA Gain" 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.
Layout Considerations
The EV kit can serve as a guide for board layout. Keep
PCB trace lengths as short as possible to minimize
parasitic inductance. Also, keep decoupling capacitors as
close to the IC as possible with a direct connection to the
ground plane.
Power-Supply Layout
To minimize coupling between different sections of the IC,
use a star power-supply routing configuration with a large
decoupling capacitor at a central VCC node. The VCC
traces branch out from this node, each going to a separate
VCC node in the circuit. Place a bypass capacitor as
close as possible to each supply pin. This arrangement
provides local decoupling at each VCC pin. Use at least
one throughput per bypass capacitor for a low-inductance
ground connection. Do not share the capacitor ground
vias with any other branch.
JUMPER SETTING FUNCTION
RXTX Pins 2-3 Enable receive mode
Pins 1-2 Enable transmit mode
ANTSEL Pins 2-3 Default
TXBBBUF/RXBBBUF Pins 1-2 Enables the buffers
Pins 2-3 Disables the buffers
VREG Pins 1-2 Short the jumper to provide voltage to the MAX2831 from the linear regulator (U10)
VCCVCO Pins 2-3 Supply the VCCVCO from VREG
Pins 1-2 Supply the VCCVCO from the linear regulator (U10)
Table 1. Jumper Functions
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Evaluates: MAX2831
MAX2831 Evaluation Kit
Figure 1. MAX2831 EV Kit Connections
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Evaluates: MAX2831
MAX2831 Evaluation Kit
Component List, PCB Layout, and
Schematic
●MAX2831 EV BOM
●MAX2831 EV PCB Layout
●MAX2831 EV Schematic
+Denotes a lead(Pb)-free and RoHS-compliant EV kit.
PART TYPE
MAX2831EVKIT+ EV Kit
Ordering Information
Note: Indicate that you are using the MAX2831 when contacting these component suppliers.
SUPPLIER WEBSITE
AVX Corp. www.avx.com
Digi-Key Corp. www.digikey.com
Johnson Components www.johnsoncomponents.com
Murata Americas www.murata.com
Texas Instruments Inc. www.ti.com
Component Suppliers
Maxim Integrated cannot assume responsibility for use of any circuitry other than circuitry entirely embodied in a Maxim Integrated product. No circuit patent licenses
are implied. Maxim Integrated reserves the right to change the circuitry and specications without notice at any time.
Maxim Integrated and the Maxim Integrated logo are trademarks of Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. © 2016 Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
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Evaluates: MAX2831
MAX2831 Evaluation Kit
REVISION
NUMBER
REVISION
DATE DESCRIPTION PAGES
CHANGED
0 5/07 Initial release —
1 11/14 Updated Quick Start section 3
2 11/15 Added more detailed description for TX and RX sections and added Figure 1. 1–4
31/16 Updated connectivity information of INTF3000 board 1–3
Revision History
For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim Direct at 1-888-629-4642, or visit Maxim Integrated’s website at www.maximintegrated.com.
DESIGNATION
QTY
DESCRIPTION
C1
1
33pF ±5% capacitor (0402) Murata GRM1555C1H330J
C3, C16, C70, C79, C81, C89
6
100pF ±5% capacitors (0402) Murata GRM1555C1H101J
C4
1
18pF ±5% capacitor (0402) Murata GRM1555C1H180J
C5, C7, C10, C11, C13, C17, C18, C21,
C22, C29, C40, C42, C43, C45, C46,
C50, C52, C54, C59, C60, C64, C67,
C83, C86
24
100nF ±10% capacitors (0402) Murata GRM155R61A104K
C6, C9, C30, C41, C62, C73, C74, C75,
C87, C88
10
0.01µF ±10% capacitors (0402) Murata GRM155R71C103K
C8, C44, C48, C49, C71, C72, C77
0
Not installed, capacitors
C12, C51, C53, C55, C63, C65, C66
7
10µF ±20% tantalum capacitors (R-case)
AVX TAJR106M006
C61
1
10µF ±10% capacitor (1206) Murata GRM31CR60J106K
C68, C69
2
1.5pF ±0.25pF capacitors (0402) Murata GRM1555C1H1R5C
C76
1
1000pF ±10% capacitor (0402) Murata GRM155R71H102K
C78
1
2200pF ±10% capacitor (0402) Murata GRM155R71H222K
C80
1
68pF ±5% capacitor (0402) Murata GRM1555C1H680J
C82
1
10µF ±10% capacitor (0805) Murata GRM21BR60J106K
J17
0
Not installed
J18
1
DB25 right-angle male connector AMP 5747238-4
JPB1–JPB4, JPB6, JPB7, JPCSB,
JPDIN, JPLD, JPRXHP, JPSCLK,
JPSHDNB
0
Not installed
L1, L2, L7
0
Not installed
LDO_IN, VREG
2
1 x 2 headers
Sullins PEC36SAAN
R1, R2, R6, R10, R16, R17, R22, R27
8
75Ω ±1% resistors (0402)
R3, R7, R18, R23
4
3.3kΩ ±5% resistors (0402)
R4, R5, R21, R26
4
49.9Ω ±1% resistors (0402)
R8, R9, R12, R13, R28, R29, R31, R32
8
0Ω ±1% resistors (0402)
R11, R30, R38, R46, R50
0
Not installed, resistors
R14
1
270Ω ±5% resistor (0402)
R39, R45
2
100Ω ±1% resistors (0402)
R43
1
1kΩ ±1% resistor (0402)
R51
1
1.2kΩ ±5% resistor (0402)
R52
1
750Ω ±5% resistor (0402)
R53
1
10kΩ ±5% resistor (0402)
T1
0
Not installed
T2, T3
2
2.4GHz RF baluns Murata LDB212G4010C-001
U1, U5
2
Line drivers (16 SO) Maxim MAX4447ESE+
U2, U6
2
Line receivers (16 SO) Maxim MAX4444ESE+
U3
1
Low-dropout reference (3 SOT) Maxim MAX6061BEUR+
U4
1
Transceiver (48 TQFN) Maxim MAX2831ETM+
U8, U9
2
SN74LVTH244ADB TI SN74LVTH244ADBR
U10
0
Not installed (optional) Maxim MAX8882EUTJJ+
Y1
1
40MHz crystal Kyocera CX3225SB40000H0WZK21
+5V, -5V, B1–B7,
CSB, DIN, GND1, GND2, LD, RSSI,
RXBBI+, RXBBI-, RXBBQ+, RXBBQ-,
RXHP, SCLK, SHDNB, TPANTSEL,
TPCLKOUT, TPRXTX, TPTUNE,
TPTXCMIN, TXBBI+ TXBBI-, TXBBQ+,
TXBBQ-, VBAT, VCCAUX
33
Test points
Keystone 5000
CLKOUT, FREF, RXBBI, RXBBQ,
RXRF, TXBBI, TXBBQ, TXRF
8
SMA edge-mount connectors, round Johnson 142-0701-801
VCCLNA, VCCPA1, VCCPA2, VCCPLL,
VCCRXBB1, VCCRXBB2, VCCRXMX,
VCCTXMX, VCCXTAL, VCC_DB,
VCC_REF, VREG
0
Not installed
—
6
Shunts (ANTSEL, LDO_IN, RXBBBUF, RXTX, TXBBBUF,
VCCVCO)
Sullins SSC02SYAN
—
PCB: MAX2830/1/2 EVALUATION KIT
