General Description

The MAX2820/MAX2821 single-chip zero-IF transceivers

are designed for the 802.11b (11Mbps) applications

operating in the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz ISM band. The trans-

ceivers are nearly identical, except the MAX2821 pro-

vides a low-power shutdown mode and an analog

voltage reference output feature and the MAX2820 does

not. The transceivers include all the circuitry required to

implement an 802.11b RF-to-baseband transceiver solu-

tion, providing a fully integrated receive path, transmit

path, VCO, frequency synthesis, and baseband/control

interface. Only a PA, RF switch, RF BPF, and a small

number of passive components are needed to form the

complete radio front-end solution.

The ICs eliminate the need for external IF and base-

band filters by utilizing a direct-conversion radio archi-

tecture and monolithic baseband filters for both

receiver and transmitter. They are specifically opti-

mized for 802.11b (11Mbps CCK) applications. The

baseband filtering and RX and TX signal paths support

required sensitivity levels.

The devices are suitable for the full range of 802.11b

data rates (1Mbps, 2Mbps, 5.5Mbps, and 11Mbps) and

MAX2820/MAX2821 are available in the very small 7mm

× 7mm 48-lead QFN package.

Applications

802.11b 11Mbps WLAN

802.11a + b Dual-Band WLAN

2.4GHz ISM Band Radios

Features

o 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz ISM Band Operation

o 802.11b (11Mbps CCK and 22Mbps PBCC) PHY

Compatible

o Complete RF-to-Baseband Transceiver

Direct-Conversion Upconverters and

Downconverters

Monolithic Low-Phase-Noise VCO

Integrated Baseband Lowpass Filters

Integrated PLL with 3-Wire Serial Interface

Digital Bias Control for External PA

Transmit Power Control (Range > 25dB)

Receive Baseband AGC (Range > 65dB)

Complete Baseband Interface

Digital TX/RX Mode Control

Analog Receive Level Detection

o -97dBm RX Sensitivity at 1Mbps

o -87dBm RX Sensitivity at 11Mbps

o +2dBm Transmit Power (11Mbps CCK)

o Single +2.7V to +3.6V Supply

o Low-Current Shutdown Mode (MAX2821 only)

o Very Small 48-Pin QFN Package (s)

2.4GHz 802.11b Zero-IF Transceivers

________________________________________________________________ Maxim Integrated Products

1

Ordering Information

19-2493; Rev 2; 11/03

For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim/Dallas Direct! at

1-888-629-4642, or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.

PART

TEMP RANGE

PIN-PACKAGE

MAX2820EGM-TD

-40

°C to +85°C

48 QFN

MAX2820ETM+TD

-40

°C to +85°C

48 QFN Lead Free

MAX2821EGM-TD

-40

°C to +85°C

48 QFN

MAX2821ETM+TD

-40

°C to +85°C

48 QFN Lead Free

Pin Configuration/Functional Diagram and Typical

Application Circuit appear at end of data sheet.

PBCC is a trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc.