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.de • Web: http://www.shf.deDatasheet
SHF M834 ABroadband Linear Amplifier

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

Page 1/12

Description
The SHF M834 A is a broadband RF amplifier with a small footprint, 15 dB small signal gain and abandwidth of more than 34 GHz. In addition, it exhibits excellent amplitude linearity (P1dB) in excess of4Vpp. These characteristics offers the capability to amplify binary signals of more than 32 Gbps while thehigh amplitude linearity enables this amplifier to drive modulators and lasers for PAM, optical QAM, OFDM
and analog signals.
A single stage amplifier design is employed using our monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) insidespecial carriers to achieve the bandwidth and the low noise performance.

Ease of Use
Only a single 8 V supply is needed for operation.
Upon delivery, the amplifier is already set to deliver maximum gain and 50% crossing. For operation underthese conditions the appropriate pins can be left floating. However, in case gain and crossing shall bemodified, this can be done just by applying another bias.

Applications•

Optical Communications•

High-Speed Pulse Experiments•

Satellite Communications•

Research and Development•

Antenna Measurements•

Data Transmission

Available Options
1

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

02: Built-in bias tee on input (max. ±12 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…+12 V, max. 200 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 and the maximum output power might be reduced by up to 1 dB. The low frequency 3 dB Point might beincreased up to 100 kHz. The DC resistance of an bias tee is about 6 Ω.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

Page 2/12Specifications - SHF M834 A
Parameter

UnitSymbolMaximum RF Input

dBmVPin max

DC Voltage at RF Input

MinTypMaxConditions

Absolute Maximum Ratings
102peak to peak voltage

V±12AC coupled input

DC Voltage at RF Output

V-5…
+12

AC coupled output

Positive Supply Voltage

V7.5

89.2

Gain Control Voltage

V-6-5…0+6

will not exceed 0.02 A

Crossing Control Voltage

V-6-5…+5+6

will not exceed 0.02 A

Case TemperatureTcase

104555°C

typ. 0.3 A, max. 0.35 A2
reverse voltage protected

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Parameter

UnitSymbol

Min

TypMaxConditions

Electrical Characteristics (At 45°C case temperature, unless otherwise specified)High Frequency 3 dB Point

GHz

fHIGH

3438

Low Frequency 3 dB Point

kHzfLOW

Gain

dB

S21

14Output Power at 1 dB
Compression

dBm
V

P01dB

164.0

10 MHz…20 GHz

Output Power at 2 dB
Compression

dBm
V

P02dB

195.6

10 MHz…20 GHz

Output Power at 3 dB
Compression

dBm
V

P03dB

20.56.7

10 MHz…20 GHz

Input Return Loss

dBS11-10-8< 20 GHz

Output Return LossdBS22-10-8< 20 GHz

Rise Time/Fall Time

pstr/tf95
inverting15

measured at Pin=-27 dBm @ 500 MHz

peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage

peak to peak voltage< 34 GHz< 34 GHz
20%...80%

Jitterfs

Group Delay Ripple

psPower Consumption

W

500
550

JRMS

2.4

1115

Deconvoluted 2, 3600
650

Deconvoluted 2, 3±50500 MHz…30 GHz, 160 MHz aperture

Full Setup 2

Full Setup 2

VDD = 8 V / IDD = 0.3A

Mechanical Characteristics
Input Connector

2.9mm (K) female4

Output Connector

2.9mm (K) male4

23

Measured with SHF 611C DAC (at full scale) -> DUT (SHF M834 A) -> Agilent 86100C with 70 GHz sampling head & precision time base.
Calculation based on typical results of setup without DUT :=!"(=) −((!") −#/!") =/($ =) − (11(!")) − (300 ' )4Other gender configurations are available on request.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 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 M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Typical Binary Eye Diagrams
Measurements for ~3 V had been performed using a SHF611 C DAC in binary mode and an Agilent
86100C DCA with Precision Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).
Input signals for higher amplitude had been taken from SHF 12103 A BPG with preamplifier M827 A. Thesewill not be part of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Input Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 491 mV

Output Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 2.9 V

Input Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 1 V

Output Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 5.7 V

Input Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 1.5 V

Output Signal @ 32 Gbps, Eye amp: 7.2 V

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Typical 4-Level Eye Diagrams
All measurements had been performed using a SHF 611C DAC and an Agilent 86100C DCA with Precision
Time Base Module (86107A) and 70 GHz Sampling Head (86118A).
Measurements for ~3V Amplitude will be part of the inspection report delivered with each particular device.

Input Signal @ 32 GBaud, ~510 mV

Output Signal @ 32 GBaud, ~3 V

Input Signal @ 32 GBaud, ~700 mVpp

Output Signal @ 32 GBaud, ~4.0 Vpp

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Handling Instructions
To operate the amplifier a positive supply voltage of approximately +8 V must be applied.
The gain can be adjusted by applying a voltage of 0 to -5 V. If this pin is left open, the amplifier will havemaximum gain. By reducing the gain the crossing will shift. Typical characteristics are shown in the following
diagram for an input voltage of 1 V with 50% crossing.

0-2-4-6

Gain [dB]-8-10

Crossing
shift [%]

-12-140-1-2-3-4-5

Gain Control Voltage [V]Crossing [%]The crossing can be adjusted by applying a voltage of -5 to +5 V. If this pin is left open a crossing ofapproximately 50 % is achieved. The range depends on the input voltage. Typical characteristics are shown inthe following diagram for input voltages of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 V with 50% crossing.

60585654525048
46
4442
40

0.5 V
1.0 V
1.5 V-5

05

Crossing Control Voltage [V]Note:

If both functions are used the effect of the gain control will decrease up to -1 dB. This is the typicalcharacteristic of a single stage amplifier.

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

Page 8/12

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 M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Mechanical Drawing with Heat Sink
2xM
5m
4xm

34

6.5

10.6
9.5

46

5.6

nc

1.7

2415dB

P03dB : 21dBm

95kHz - 34GHz

44932

SHF M834 A+8V
0.4A

6.6

Gain
0 ... -5V

2Crossing-5V ... +5V

10.1

10.5
20.4

55
30.4
20.4
10.5

27
14.4
10.6
9.5

5.6

All dimensions in mm

Pin assignment might change if a bias tee option is chosen.
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 M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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Mechanical Drawing without Heat Sink
4xM
52xm

13.6m

4.6

2

6.1
520

2.2

1815dB

95kHz - 34GHz
P03dB: 21dBm

44932

nc

SHF M834 ACrossing-5V ... +5V+8V
0.4A

4.6

9.6

Gain
0 ... -5V

513.1

4.7

7.1
1727
177.1

6.1
52.2

All dimensions in mmPin 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 M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 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 7.5…9.2 V, 0.4 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 1.8 Vpp will produce saturated output swing of about 7 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 2 Vpp equivalent to 10 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 M834 A - V001 – Dez 1, 2016

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