Atmel rolls out new transceiver for WiMAX apps

February 13, 2006

Atmel Corp. announced the first of its MAX-Link series of transceivers designed for WiMAX applications. The AT86RF535A is a single-chip radio operating at 3.5GHz with multiple bandwidth options. Additional members of the MAX-Link family are being developed to cover other WiMAX frequency bands and will interface with multiple baseband vendors. These devices combine a low-noise amplifier, power amplifier driver, receive/transmit mixer, receive/transmit filters, voltage controlled oscillator, synthesizer, receive gain control and transmit power control.

Jeff Leasure, Atmel's wireless connectivity product line manager, commented that WiMAX technology will revolutionize the way people communicate. "The MAX-Link family of radios is specifically designed for WiMAX. Our transceivers will allow operators and service providers to cost-effectively reach millions of new customers with broadband access. They cannot achieve this with an off-the-shelf radio," Leasure said.

The AT86RF535A transceiver is already available to select customers. Production volumes will be available in early Q2 2006. Pricing is $18 in quantities of 10,000. Modules incorporating the transceiver, baseband and media access control are being added to the roadmap.