SHF Communication Technologies AGWilhelm-von-Siemens-Str. 23D • 12277 Berlin • Germany
Phone ++49 30 772 051-0 • Fax ++49 30 753 10 78
E-Mail: sales@shf.de • Web: http://www.shf.deDatasheet
SHF S804 A
Linear Broadband Amplifier

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Description
The SHF S804 A ultra-linear broadband amplifier is the improved successor to the popular SHF 804 EA& SHF 804 TL. By applying state-of-the-art packaging techniques, it even provides more bandwidth andimproved linearity. Due to this the SHF S804 A is well suited as a receiver amplifier for high speed NRZ
and PAM-4 applications. Additionally, the 12 dBm (2.5 V) P1dB of the amplifier also makes it well suited
as a linear driver for high speed EA modulators, as well as VCSELs and DFB lasers where the drive
requirement is lower than that typically required for MZ modulators.
The S804 A is a two-stage amplifier design, using proprietary monolithic microwave integrated circuits(MMICs) inside special carriers to achieve ultra-wide bandwidth and low noise performance. An internal
voltage regulation protects the amplifier against accidental reverse voltage connection and makes it
robust against line voltage ripple.

Ease of Use
Upon delivery, the amplifier is already pre-set to deliver maximum gain, maximum output amplitude andnominally 50% crossing.
These settings can be modified in an easy to use graphical user interface, as shown below. For
connecting the amplifier to the computer, the USB to I2C converter cable, as well as the required
software are included with each amplifier with no extra charge.
Once new settings are stored on the device the amplifier will remember the settings until furtherchanges are made. There is no need to connect a computer to the device unless gain, maximum
amplitude or crossing adjustments are to be made.
The software is available for download at www.shf.de .

GUI of the SHF amplifier control software

Available Options
1

01: DC return on input (max. ±1.75 V, max. 35 mA)

02: Built-in bias tee on input (max. ±9 V, max. 220 mA)
03: DC return on output (max. ±1.75 V, max. 35 mA)

1

1

04: Built-in bias tee on output (max. ±8 V, max. 220 mA)

1

MP: Matches the phase of two amplifiers

1The options 01 & 02 or 03 & 04 cannot be combined.
If an option is chosen, the maximum gain might be reduced by up to 1 dB and the low frequency 3 dB Point might be increased up to 100 kHz.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Specifications – SHF S804 A
Parameter

Unit

Symbol

MinTypMaxConditions

Maximum RF Input Powerin OperationdBm
VPin max

41peak to peak voltage

Maximum RF Input Power
without Power SupplydBm
VPin max

102peak to peak voltage

DC Voltage at RF Input

V±9DC Voltage at RF Output

V±8

Supply Voltage

V

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Case Temperature

2Tcase8°C

1012400.3 A, reverse voltage protected

50Electrical Characteristics (At 40°C case temperature, unless otherwise specified)

2High Frequency 3 dB Point

GHzfHIGH

Low Frequency 3 dB PointkHzfLOWGaindB

S21Max. Gain ReductiondB

Output Power at 1 dB
Compression

dBm
V

Output Power at 2 dB
Compression

6090
non-inverting

2122-2.5-3

P01dB

122.5

13
2.8

10 MHz…25 GHzdBm
VP02dB

15
3.5

15.5
3.8

10 MHz…25GHz

Output Power at 3 dB
CompressiondBm
VP03dB

16
4.0

16.5
4.2

10 MHz…25 GHz

Max. RF Input for LinearOperationdBm
VPin lin

Crossing Control
Range%

Input Return Loss

dB

S11

Output Return Loss

dB

S22

measured at Pin=-27 dBm-4peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage-100.20-4Control via software interface

I.e. Pout ≤ P01dB
peak to peak voltage

4Control via software interface-11-5-10-3< 35 GHz-11-5-10-3< 50 GHz< 60 GHz< 60 GHz

If operated with heat sink (part of the delivery) at room temperature there is no need for additional cooling.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Parameter

UnitSymbol

MinTypMax

Conditions
20%...80%, 2 V ≤ Vout ≤ 3 V

Rise Time/Fall Time

pstr/tf

712

Deconvoluted
Full Setup3, 432 V ≤ Vout ≤ 3 VJitterfsGroup Delay Ripple

psPower Consumption

WJRMS

400
500

23, 4520600

Deconvoluted±50

40 MHz…40 GHz, 160 MHz aperture

Full Setup

39 V supply voltage

Mechanical Characteristics
5Input Connector

1.85 mm (V) female

Output Connector

1.85 mm (V) male

5Output Amplitude Adjustment
The Output Amplitude can be adjusted by the GUI. The maximum possible reduction depends on theoutput amplitude itself, i.e. a minimum input power of -6 dBm is required to achieve a output powerreduction of at least 1 dB. Higher output power levels will result in an extended output power reduction
range.

34

Measured with the following setup: SHF 613 A DAC -> DUT (SHF S804 A) -> Agilent 86100A with 70 GHz sampling head and precision time base.
Calculation based on typical results of setup without DUT :/=!"=( /(!") −( /) −#!"//) =$ =(( /!") − 11) − 300 '5

Other gender configurations are available on request.
Other connector types, e.g. 2.92mm (K) or Mini-SMP (GPPO) connectors, are also available but may impact the bandwidth and reflection
characteristic.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Typical S-Parameters, Group Delay and Phase Response

Aperture of group delay measurement: 160 MHz

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Typical Binary Waveforms
Measurements had been performed using a SHF 613 A DAC and an Agilent 86100C DCA with Precision
Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A). The measurement at ~2.4 V will bepart of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Eye Amplitude: Input ~200 mV ⇒ Output ~2.4 V

Input Signal @ 56 Gbps

Output Signal @ 56 Gbps

Eye Amplitude: Input ~60 mV ⇒ Output ~740 mV

Input Signal @ 56 Gbps

Output Signal @ 56 Gbps

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Typical Binary Waveforms
Measurements had been performed using a SHF 603 A MUX and an Agilent 86100C DCA withPrecision Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).

Eye Amplitude: Input ~440 mV ⇒ Output ~3.8 V

Input Signal @ 60 Gbps

Output Signal @ 60 Gbps

Input Signal @ 80 Gbps

Output Signal @ 80 Gbps

Input Signal @ 100 Gbps

Output Signal @ 100 Gbps

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Typical 4-Level Waveforms
Measurements had been performed using a SHF 613 A DAC and an Agilent 86100C DCA with PrecisionTime Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A). The measurement at ~2.4 V will bepart of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Eye Amplitude: Input ~200 mV ⇒ Output ~2.5 V

Input Signal @ 56 GBaud

Output Signal @ 56 GBaud

Eye Amplitude: Input ~65 mV ⇒ Output ~800 mV

Input Signal @ 56 GBaud

Output Signal @ 56 GBaud

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Typical Low Frequency Response (<1 MHz)

Typical Saturation power

Top (red): 3 dB compression;
Middle (green): 2 dB compression;
Bottom (blue): 1 dB compression

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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Mechanical Drawing with Heat Sink
2x M4x 5 mm

99.9

9.5

27

13
26.5
9.5

23.2

10.4

12.2

ncnc

7.1

I2C
GND +9V
0.3A

10.4

5.5

3.2
3.5

9.9

73
36.5
26.5

9.5

9.9

27

14.3

13

all dimensions in mm

Pin assignment might change if a bias tee option is chosen.
Thermal resistance of heat sink approx. 6 K/W
For permanent mounting remove the heat sink from the amplifier. In that case please ensure that
adequate cooling of the amplifier is guaranteed. It is recommended to use thermal paste or a thermal
gap pad for the mounting. In order to separate the heat sink from the amplifier, remove the four screws
on the heat sink. Please note, thermal paste is used between the heat sink and the amplifier housing.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016Page 10/12

Mechanical Drawing without Heat Sink

23.6

4x M2x 5 mm

9.8

55.4

2110
23.5
35+142 -0

10.2

5.1
12.4

21.2

ncnc

27.9

I2C
GND +9V
0.3A

37.3

12.4

539.7
9.8

40

5.4

23.5

55.4

10

all dimensions in mm

Pin assignment might change if a bias tee option is chosen.
Please ensure that adequate cooling of the amplifier is guaranteed.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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User Instructions
ATTENTION!
Electrostatic sensitive GaAs FET amplifier1.

To prevent damage through static charge build up, cables should be always discharged before
connecting them to the amplifier!

2.

Attach a 50 Ohm output load before supplying DC power to the amplifier!

3.

The supply voltage can be taken from any regular 8…12 V, 0.3 A DC power supply and can beconnected to the supply feed-through filter via an ON / OFF switch.

4.

Using a 3 dB or 6 dB input attenuator will result in a 6 dB or 12 dB increase of the input return loss. For
minimal degradation of amplifier rise time, these attenuators should have a bandwidth specification ofgreater 50 GHz (V/ 1.85mm attenuators)!

5.

An input signal of about 0.45 Vpp will produce saturated output swing of about 4.2 Vpp.

6.

Higher input voltages will drive the amplifier’s output stage into saturation, leading to waveform peakclipping.

8.

Saturated output voltages can only be used without damage while the amplifier is connected to a 50
Ohm precision load with a VSWR of less than 1.2 or better than 20 dB return loss up to 40 GHz.

9.

While using a reflective load the output voltage has to be reduced to a safe operating level according
to the magnitudes of the reflections.
ATTENTION: At radio frequencies a capacitive load can be transformed to an inductive one throughtransmission lines! With an output stage driven into saturation this may lead to the immediate
destruction of the amplifier (within a few ps)!

10. The input voltage should never be greater than 1 Vpp equivalent to 4 dBm input power.
The input voltage without DC power supplied to the amplifier should never be greater than 2 Vppequivalent to 10 dBm input power.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF S804 A - V001 – May 18, 2016

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