1 Features
• Octal RF sampling 12-GSPS transmit DACs
• Octal RF sampling 4-GSPS receive ADCs
• Dual RF sampling 4-GSPS feedback ADCs
• Maximum RF signal bandwidth:
– TX/FB: 800 MHz.
• 1200 MHz in 4-channel mode
– RX: 400 MHz
• 800 MHz in 4-channel mode
• RF frequency range: up to 6GHz
• Digital Step Attenuators (DSA):
– TX: 40-dB range, 1-dB analog and 0.125-dB
digital steps
– RX/FB: 31/25-dB range, 1-dB step
• Single or dual-band DUC/DDCs
• Dual NCO’s per chain for fast frequency switching
• Supports TDD operation with fast switching
between TX and RX
• Internal PLL/VCO to generate DAC/ADC clocks
• Optional external CLK at DAC or ADC rate
• SerDes data interface:
– JESD204B and JESD204C
– 8 SerDes transceivers up to 32.5 Gbps
– 8b/10b and 64b/66b Encoding
– 12-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit resolution
– Subclass 1 multi-device synchronization
• Package:
– 17-mm × 17-mm FCBGA, 0.8-mm pitch

2 Applications
• Macro remote radio unit (RRU)
• Active antenna system mMIMO (AAS)
• Small cell base station
• Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)
• Repeater

3 Description
The AFE8030 is a high performance, wide bandwidth
multi-channel transceiver, integrating eight RF
sampling transmitter chains, eight RF sampling
receiver chains and two separate RF front end for the
auxiliary chains (feedback paths). The high dynamic
range of the transmitter and receiver chains allows
generating and receiving 3G, 4G and 5G signals
for wireless base stations, while the wide bandwidth
capability makes the AFE8030 devices suitable for
multi-band 4G and 5G base stations.
Each receiver chain includes a 31-dB range DSA
(Digital Step Attenuator), followed by a 4-GSPS
ADC (analog-to-digital converter). Each receiver
channel has analog peak power detectors and digital
peak and power detectors to assist an external or
internal autonomous automatic gain controller, and
RF overload detectors for device reliability protection.
The single or dual digital down converters (DDC)
provides up to 400 MHz of combined signal BW in
8-channel mode and 800 MHz in 4-channel mode. In
TDD mode, the receiver channel can be configured
to dynamically switching between traffic receiver (TDD
RX) and wideband feedback receiver (TDD FB), with
the capability of re-using the same analog input for
both purposes.
Each transmitter chain includes a single or dual digital
up converters (DUCs) supporting up to 800-MHz
combined signal bandwidth (1200 MHz in 4-channel
mode). The output of the DUCs drives a 12-GSPS
DAC (digital to analog converter) with a mixed mode
output option to enhance 2nd Nyquist operation. The
DAC output includes a variable gain amplifier (TX
DSA) with 40-dB range and 1-dB analog and 0.125-
dB digital steps.
The feedback path includes a 25-dB range DSA
driving a 4-GSPS RF sampling ADC, followed by a
single wide or dual narrow DDCs with up to combined
800-MHz bandwidth (1200 MHz in 4-channel mode).