Avago Technologies has announced two new gain block solutions that expand its high-performance power amplifier family targeting cellular infrastructure applications. The new MGA-31589 and MGA-31689 0.5 W gain blocks feature high linearity, high gain, superior gain flatness and low power dissipation. The MGA-31589 gain block addresses cellular and WiMAX wireless base stations and other wireless systems operating between 450 to 1,500 MHz, while the MGA-31689 device addresses these applications operating between 1,500 to 3,000 MHz.

The MGA-31x89 power amplifier family is optimized for frequency in order to deliver improved performance across all the major cellular bands — GSM, CDMA and UMTS — plus next-generation LTE bands. The new gain blocks join the 0.25 W MGA-31189 and MGA-31289 devices and the 0.10 W MGA-31389 and MGA-31489 devices to serve applications from 50 to 3,000 MHz.

The devices are available in the compact, industry-standard SOT-89 package. Sharing a common footprint and PCB layout allows a single design to support multiple frequencies and geographic markets with a choice of output power. The gain blocks can also replace existing market solutions as a pin-to-pin, drop-in replacement offering better linearity and power performance.

The devices’ high gain can reduce the total number of RF stages needed. The performance gains of the MGA-31x89 family are made possible by Avago’s proprietary, 0.25 µm GaAs Enhancement-mode PHEMT semiconductor process.