Transceivers maximize range, extend battery life for broad array of wireless apps

Transceivers maximize range, extend battery life for broad array of wireless apps

Claimed by the company to be the industry’s highest performance sub-GHz transceivers, the Si446x EZRadioPRO family provides an extended range for wireless applications by leveraging best-in-class performance specifications in transmit output power (+20 dBm), sensitivity (-126 dBm), link budget (146 dB) and rx adjacent channel selectivity (58 dB). All this makes it an ideal solution for a broad range of wireless applications including smart meters, security and home automation systems, industrial control systems, sensor networks and electronic shelf labels.

The transceivers achieve a 50 nA sleep/standby current with register retention, consuming 75% less current in sleep mode than competing solutions. Transmit current specifications as low as 17 mA at +10 dBm can be achieved for coin cell battery applications and 85 mA at +20 dBm for higher performance applications. The transceivers feature ultra-low receive current specifications in a high-performance receive mode (13 mA) and in a low-current receive mode (10 mA).

In addition, the Si446x transceivers also feature a patented antenna diversity algorithm developed to counteract the effects of multipath and fading, effectively doubling the wireless range in a multipath/fading environment. The family offers a frequency range from 119 to 1,050 MHz and support a number of advanced modulation techniques including 4GFSK, (G) FSK, GMSK and OOK with support for maximum data rates up to 1 Mbps (4GFSK).

The transceivers comply with the 802.15.4 d/g specification and the Wireless M-Bus protocol for smart utility networks. (From $1.57 ea/10,000; Si4463-915-DK/Si4461-915-DK evaluation kits, $799 – samples now)

By Christina Nickolas

Silicon Laboratories , Austin , TX
Information 512-416-8500
www.silabs.com