SL-SPA-1850-100 100 W Solid-State Power Amplifier, 1800–1900 MHz

The SL-SPA-1850-100 is a 100 W solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) covering 1800 MHz to 1900 MHz from a single +32 VDC supply. It delivers 54 dB of gain into a 50 Ω load with less than 1 dB of output power ripple at saturation, and is rated for 100 % duty-cycle continuous-wave operation at full output – not only for pulsed or modulated carriers.

The RF chain is a variable attenuator that sets the drive level, a pre-amplifier and driver, and a final stage that delivers up to 100 W (50 dBm). A dual-directional coupler at the output samples both the forward and the reflected wave, and an on-board supervisor continuously measures forward and reverse power, supply voltage, supply current and temperature. It protects the output stage against high VSWR, open and short-circuit loads, over-current and reverse-polarity connection, and reports everything over a half-duplex RS-485 bus so a host system can command the amplifier, poll its status and read faults without extra instrumentation. The 1800–1900 MHz band makes it a natural fit for W-CDMA base stations, repeaters and boosters, and for laboratory use as a 100 W source.

Key specifications

+32 VDC supply, 50 Ω source and load, 25 °C ambient, CW drive, board mounted on an adequate heatsink.

Features

• 1800 MHz to 1900 MHz, 100 W CW output
• 54 dB gain, 44 dBm P1dB
• Output power adjustable by internal RF attenuator
• Forward and reverse power monitoring with VSWR trip
• Open-circuit and short-circuit load protection
• Reverse-polarity and over-current protected DC input
• Supply voltage, current and temperature monitoring
• RS-485 command, status and fault reporting
• 50 Ω RF input and output, +32 VDC single supply

Applications

• W-CDMA base stations
• RF repeaters and boosters
• Mobile communication infrastructure
• RF test and measurement
• Laboratory and system integration
• General high-power RF transmission

Ordering

Thermal mounting. At 100 W of continuous output the board dissipates a substantial amount of heat and has no cooling of its own. Do not run it at rated output without a heatsink; use a flat mounting surface, a thin even layer of thermal interface material, and torque the mounting screws evenly. Terminate the output before applying drive, and never hot-plug an RF connector on a running amplifier.

Preliminary datasheet. Figures marked TBD have not yet been characterised and are subject to change. Contact support@stripline.org for the latest datasheet, quotations and technical support.