SHF Communication Technologies AG
Wilhelm-von-Siemens-Str. 23D • 12277 Berlin • Germany
Phone +49 30 772 051-0 • Fax +49 30 753 10 78
E-Mail: sales@shf-communication.com • Web: www.shf-communication.com

Datasheet
SHF S824 ABroadband Linear Amplifier

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Description
The S824 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.
A feature has been built-in to enable the amplifier gain and crossing to be controlled externally via
software.

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 software 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 further
changes 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-communication.com/software.

GUI of the SHF amplifier control software V1.6

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. 200 mA)
03: DC return on output (max. ±1.75 V, max. 35 mA)

1

1

04: Built-in bias tee on output (max. ±5 V, max. 200 mA)

1

MP: Matches the phase of two amplifiers
DHS: Dual Heat Sink, two amplifiers on one heatsink

1The options 01 & 02 or 03 & 04 cannot be combined.
If an option is chosen, gain and output power might be reduced by up to 1 dB and the low frequency 3 dB point might be increased
up to 90 kHz. The DC resistance of a bias tee is about 4 Ω.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Specifications – SHF S824 AParameter

UnitSymbol

Min

TypMaxConditions

Maximum RF Input Powerin Operation

dBm
VPin max

41peak to peak voltage

Maximum RF Input Powerwithout Power Supply

dBm
VPin max

102

peak to peak voltage

DC Voltage at RF Input

V±9

AC coupled input

DC Voltage at RF Output

V±5

AC coupled output

Supply Voltage

V

120.4 A, reverse voltage protected

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Case Temperature

22Tcase8.5°C

104055

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 S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Parameter

UnitSymbol

MinTypMax

Conditions

Electrical Characteristics (At 40°C case temperature, unless otherwise specified)High Frequency 3 dB Point

GHzfHIGH

Low Frequency 3 dB Point

kHzfLOW

GaindBS21Max. Gain Reduction

dBOutput Power at 1 dBCompressiondBmV

P01dB18510 MHz…15 GHz

Output Power at 2 dB
CompressiondBm
VP02dB

19.5
5.9

10 MHz…15 GHz

Output Power at 3 dB
CompressiondBm
VP03dB21
7.1

10 MHz…15 GHz

Crossing Control Range%

Input ReflectiondB

Output Reflection
Rise Time/Fall Time

Jitter3580
Non-inverting ; measured at Pin=-30
dBm ; Average 40 MHz … 500 MHz

25
2.5

34
peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage

5at 5 Vpp

S11-12-9< 5 GHzdB

S22-10< 30 GHz

pstr/tf

1215

Deconvoluted

630700Deconvoluted±50

40 MHz…30 GHz, 160 MHz aperture

fs-5JRMS400500< 30 GHz

3,4; 20%...80%

3Full Setup ; 20%...80%
3,43

Full Setup

Group Delay Ripple

psPower Consumption

W

3.69 V / 0.4A

Input ConnectorΩ

502.92 mm (K) female

Output ConnectorΩ50

2.92 mm (K) male

Dimensions

mmWeightg

Mechanical Characteristics

3455

please see pages 10 to 12

30240290

without heat sinkwith single heat sink
DHS: two amplifier on one heat sink

Measured with the following setup: SHF DAC 613 A -> DUT (SHF S824 A) -> Agilent 86100D with 70 GHz sampling head and precision time base.
Calculation based on typical results of setup without DUT :𝑡𝑟 /𝑡𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 = √(𝑡𝑟 /𝑡𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 )2 − (𝑡𝑟 /𝑡𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 𝑤/𝑜 𝐷𝑈𝑇 )2 = √(𝑡𝑟 /𝑡𝑓 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 )2 − 11 𝑝𝑠 2
2𝐽𝑅𝑀𝑆 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 = √(𝐽𝑅𝑀𝑆 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 )2 − (𝐽𝑅𝑀𝑆 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 𝑤/𝑜 𝐷𝑈𝑇 ) = √(𝐽𝑅𝑀𝑆 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑝 )2 − 300 𝑓𝑠 2
5

Other gender configurations are available on request.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

Page 4/13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 S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Typical Noise Figure
The measurement had been performed using a FSW85 Spectrum Analyzer by Rhode & Schwarz. The
noise figure defines the degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio when the signal passes the amplifier. An
ideal amplifier would amplify the noise at its input along with the signal. However, a real amplifier adds
some extra noise from its own components and degrades the signal-to-noise ratio. Please note that thisapplies to small signals only. When the amplifier is used close to or in its saturation region additional
non-linear effects will impact the signal-to-noise ratio and the signal waveform.

1098Noise Figure [dB]76543210051015202530

3540

Frequency [GHz]SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Typical Binary Waveforms
Measurements at 32 Gbps had been performed using a SHF 613 A DAC and an Agilent 86100D DCA
with Precision Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).
The measurement at ~ 5 V will be part of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Eye Amplitudes: Input ~270 mV ⇒ Output ~5 V

Input Signal @ 32 Gbps

Output Signal @ 32 Gbps

Measurements at 32 Gbps had been performed using a SHF 12103 A BPG and an Agilent 86100D DCA
with Precision Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).

Eye Amplitudes: Input ~470 mV ⇒ Output ~7 V

Input Signal @ 32 Gbps, ~470 mVpp

Output Signal @ 32 Gbps, ~7 Vpp

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Typical 4-Level Waveforms
Measurements at 32 GBaud had been performed using a SHF 613 A DAC and an Agilent 86100D DCAwith Precision Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).
This measurement will be part of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Eye Amplitudes: Input ~280 mV ⇒ Output ~5 V

Input Signal @ 32 GBaud

Output Signal @ 32 GBaud

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Typical Low Frequency Response (<40 MHz)

Output Power [dBm]

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 S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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192x M4 x 5mm

Mechanical Drawing with Heat Sink

2015.415105

1629.515

10.1
15.2
26.2

nc

4.5

I2C
GND +9V
0.5A

nc

7.8

2.5

15.4

125

40

19.8
15.4
15

39.5
29.5
16

all dimensions in mm

Pin assignment might change if a bias tee option is chosen.
Thermal resistance of heat sink approx. 4 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 thermalgap 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 S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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Mechanical Drawing with Heat Sink Option DHS

32153

Dual Heat Sink, two amplifiers on one heatsink

25

7.6

7.6

78.7
95.8
145
170

6

37.5

31.5

4x Ø6.8

8.8
161.2

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

Page 11/13Mechanical Drawing without Heat Sink

23.6

4x M2x 5 mm

9.855.4

211023.5
35+142 -0512.8275.1

21.2

9.5

339.7
9.8

10.2

28ncnc5
4

GND +9V0.5A

37.3

24

M2 x 4 mm

I2C69140

5.4

23.5

all dimensions in mm

55.4

10Pos.

Connector

12InputOutput

34567nc (optional)
GND+9 V / 0.5 A2ICnc (optional)

In standard configuration pin 3 and 7 are not connected (nc). If an intput bias-tee (option 02) is included
the DC bias can be connected to pin 3. If an output bias-tee (option 04) is included the DC bias can beconnected to pin 7.
Please ensure that adequate cooling of the amplifier is guaranteed.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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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 8.5 …12 V, (0.5 A @ 9V) DC power supply andcan be connected to the supply feed-through filter via an ON / OFF switch.
In case 9 V are applied to the amplifier typically 0.4 A are drawn during operation. However, theamplifier requires more current during start up. This is particularly important in case the current
compliance of a very fast acting voltage source is set too tight. As this can prevent the amplifier fromstarting properly, please allow up to 100% overhead for your current compliance during startup.

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 of greater 40 GHz (K / 2.92 mm attenuators)!

5.

A input signal of about 0.55 Vpp will produce output swing of about 7 Vpp. Higher input voltages areleading to waveform degradation.

6.

The amplifier can only be used without damage by connecting a 50 Ohm precision load to the output.

7.

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)!

8.

The input voltage should never be greater than 1 Vpp equivalent to 4 dBm input power.

9.

In case a bias tee is connected to the amplifier, please note that abrupt connection or disconnectionof the RF port of such bias tees may cause harmful transients. Therefore, it is always recommended
not to connect or disconnect bias tees under bias voltage. For example, ramp down the bias to 0 V
before lifting a waver prober.

10.

For the DC-connections flexible cable 0.2…0.5 mm / AWG 24…20 are recommended. A maximum
soldering temperature of 260 °C for 3 seconds is recommended for the feedthrough (positive supplyvoltage and bias tee pin). The ground pin requires significantly more heat as it is connected to thesolid housing.

2SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice - SHF S824 A - V004 - Aug. 30, 2023

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