A low cost high performance MMIC low noise downconverter for direct broadcast satellite reception

A low-cost single-chip receiver designed for use as a direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) receiver operating over 11.7 to 12.2 GHz is described. The chip comprises a low-noise amplifier, an image filter, an active mixer, an IF filter, an IF amplifier, and a local oscillator, replacing about 50 discrete components in a typical outdoor DBS receiver. The unit is housed in a low-cost hermetic package and requires only a dielectric resonator for proper operation. With power supplies of +6 V and -5 V, the typical noise figure is about 5 dB, with a conversion gain of about 36 dB. The device is manufactured using a 0.5- mu m, buried p-layer GaAs MESFET IC process without substrate vias.<>