NE612 SA612 Obsolete - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 11:48:09 pm
content: The very common NE612 - SA612 IC's are no longer relevant and are obsolete.Good luck finding any reputable sellers.All the usual suppliers show 0 stock.Findchips, Trusted Parts, etc. show no stock in small purchase amounts.Looking at NXP, the website shows that they have been EOL'ed and will never be offered again.https://www.nxp.com/part/SA612AD#/SA612AD/01,11212NC: 935275263112End of LifeLast Buy Date: 18-Nov-2022Last Delivery Date: 18-Aug-2023Enter eBay, Aliexpress, Banggood, Amazon, LCSC for the best in Chinese sand and paint products.Better get'em while you can. When they're gone they'll really be gone.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 12:02:47 am
content: Outrageous!!!Never heard the device, by the way.

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 12:06:06 am
content: RF Mixer / Gilbert Cell.Lots of use in RF projects.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 03:09:35 am
content: Aren't they largely replaced by Tayloe quadrature sampling mixers nowadays?

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 03:18:29 am
content: Next it will be the MC1496, such a shame, it was relatively simple but very versatile.

author: pardo-bsso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 11:46:49 am
content: A shame.I used to pick them from broken wireless phones and TVs.I better refill my stock and add a bag of 1496.

author: Damianos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:10:20 am
content: The SA602 seems alive:https://www.nxp.com/products/radio-frequency/rf-mixers/low-power-fm-if-systems/double-balanced-mixer-and-oscillator:SA602ADEDIT: In another place they announce that also this is discontinuedhttps://www.nxp.com/part/SA602AD#/

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:16:47 am
content: I don't think any time soon. Me thinks obsolescence is coming all too quickly.0 stock, some say 3 weeks, 52 weeks.Besides the SA612 is superior.https://www.trustedparts.com/en/search/SA602Ahttps://www.findchips.com/search/SA602AI have been down this rabbit hole before verification of stock and coming here.I tried all the usual suspects: NE602, SA602, NE602 & SA612. Nada!I was so desperate to search "rf mixer ic" in case of psudonames. Still nada!Some say differently as to them all being the same, even though the wafer went from 45MHz for the 602 to 200MHz for the 612.It says so in the article even though the topic is they are all the same. Not.http://www.ur5ffr.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=166

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:26:17 am
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on February 12, 2023, 12:16:47 amhttps://www.arrow.com/en/products/sa612ad01112/nxp-semiconductors

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:31:50 am
content: I used to have an Arrow account until they lost my info.They "fixed it" and it never worked again."Sorry you already have an account""I can't log in"Since then, ordering from them is a huge pain in the ass.1,972 parts: Ships todayTHIS ITEM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:37:03 am
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on February 12, 2023, 12:31:50 amTo me that means that they have 1972 in stock and won't be getting any more, which seems reasonable if NXP isn't going to be making them. Arrow also has ~5K more on reels shipping from Hong Kong, but the price is higher.

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:59:38 am
content: Hong Kong, China.Who knows what Aliexpress gave them.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 02:28:00 am
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on February 12, 2023, 12:59:38 amOh come on, you know damned well that Arrow isn’t shopping on Aliexpress.

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 02:42:02 am
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on February 12, 2023, 12:31:50 amHover your mouse over the text and it says, "This item has been discontinued by the manufacturer."Arrow still could have it in stock though. But once those are gone... then they won't.

author: Damianos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2023, 12:53:16 pm
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on February 12, 2023, 12:16:47 amIn various web sites you may find contradicting information (opinions). In the data-sheets they give a little tighter specifications on some points for the "602".

author: MisterHeadache
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2023, 05:31:10 pm
content: Not surprised to hear this going obsolete. IC manufacturers need volume to make money, and if these aren't being bought in volume anymore, they're gonna use their fab lines to make stuff that makes them money. Plus I gotta think the *602 and *612 were being made on smaller wafers and larger litho processes, which also are being obsoleted and many ICs just plain aren't getting re-scaled for the larger wafers/smaller litho.I've had to re-PPAP several automotive sensors in the past few years just because the IC manufacturer did decide to re-tool the chip for their larger wafer line. But quite a few went permanently out of production.This trend has been killing off great hobbyist RF BJT's for years (think the 2N5109, 2N3866, and many others...)

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 04:40:15 pm
content: I've searched and I've searched but nothing's been found as ubiquitous as the 602/612 IC, as for the bang for the buck factor.All the chips come up with a frequency range of 400 MHz to the GHz range, with some micro micro package that could never be hand soldered because the thing has a pad(s) under the device.SOT-08 (some MSOP) I can do with bare eyes, but some of these packages are impossible even with "mognefication 12 keptin".Unless there is a stash found in some gummit warehouse, I'm afraid that's all there is to it. Stick a fork in it.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 06:11:01 pm
content: Quote from: Damianos on February 12, 2023, 12:10:20 amIn your second NXP reference, there is a link to the notice that the "RC3" process has been discontinued and a list of affected devices.https://www.nxp.com/pcn/202208013DN

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 07:21:58 pm
content: Discontinuation TypeFULL WITHDRAWAL"I got what I needed.I'm moving on with my life.."Availability"I already told you don't call me again"

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 07:24:50 pm
content: I'm sorry we weren't able to serve you your chips on the correct color platter.

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 07:27:35 pm
content: It's the Brave browser based on Chrome.I have to re-edit all text & photos I send here.It might be the SMF version as my own private web forum (repair log) works the first time I post my blog to it.[size=78%]

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2023, 07:28:15 pm
content: See ^ extraneous text.

author: Andrei YO6TJJ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 20, 2024, 11:47:17 am
content: I just have seen the post via google search, you can still find some genuine NXP SA612A (SMD, SO-8) in stock here:https://rowaves.com/sa612a/and with adapter already installed here:https://rowaves.com/sa612-adapter/thanks for reading, Andrei, yo6tjj @ roWaves

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2025, 01:00:37 pm
content: ZeenKo / ZeeTK is making a NE/SA 602/612 compatible chip. It is being used in the NanoVNA.https://www.zeenko.tech/mmicshttps://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808580606510.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.55767940COATM0https://youtu.be/Yy6mWRhOVu0?t=87

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 01:38:35 pm
content: As for the IC, it's way overpriced for what the original did, and no DIPThe boxes are spec'ed and dubious at best for what they do.Let Alan Wolke W2AEW from YouTube do a thorough test and I'll believe it.I'm not saying they are not usable, but how plentiful and at what price? $10 free shipping seems about right for China. (no battery needed)They might be a limited China run, by a fab I've never heard of, and even more expensive to make-source now to the US.

author: dobsonr741
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 09:23:19 pm
content: LT5560 now makes sense. $4.80 in single quantities.