Sierra Monolithics

Sierra Monolithics Announces Shipments of Dual Band WiMAX Transceivers

April 21, 2005

REDONDO BEACH, CA -- Sierra Monolithics Inc; a leading supplier of high frequency mixed signal ICs and modules for the wireless and telecommunication industries today announced that it is shipping a dual-band transceiver that enables low-cost customer premise equipment (CPE) for broadband wireless access (BWA) applications. This product has been designed to support WiMAX compliant products.

“Standards-based, cost-effective WiMAX modems and gateways are key to the success of the wireless broadband market,” said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel’s Broadband Wireless Division. “SMI’s dual band single chip transceiver , the SMI7035, and the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface enable more cost effective WiMAX modems, which will help bring them to a broader audience.”

The transceiver, part number SMI7035, is a dual band transceiver incorporating full receive and transmit paths with on-chip synthesizers and VCOs. The transceiver tunes over 2.3 to 2.7 GHz and 3.3 to 3.8 GHz and provides a low-cost, high-performance solution. The 3.3 to 3.8GHz transmitter offers 55 dB of gain control range and greater than 35 dB EVM (Error Vector Magnitude). The receiver has an input range of -100 dBm to -20 dBm and is designed to operate in an interference limited environment. The on-chip synthesizer features about 1 degree rms and settling time less than 80 microseconds. The single IC with wide tuning range allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to address the wide variety of different frequencies being utilized worldwide with a single part. This lowers inventory costs for OEMs while simultaneously providing a dramatic cost reduction of the RF section of the radio.

Sierra Monolithics also has evaluation kits available. The kits provide a complete RF section at 3.5 GHz suitable for half duplex frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD) operation. Schematics and assembly information are provided. This evaluation kit is compatible with the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface, the first IEEE 802.16-2004 system-on-chip optimized for cost-effective WiMAX modems and residential gateways. Vivek Pendharkar, interim CEO of Sierra Monolithics stated “The SMI7035 dual band transceiver and development kit provides a low cost high performance RF solution that is ETSI mask compliant and supports 64 QAM performance. This will enable OEMs to rapidly adopt WiMAX technology.”

The SMI7035 transceiver is offered in a low-cost, surface mount 7x7 mm QFN package.

About Sierra Monolithics
Sierra Monolithics Inc, headquartered in Redondo Beach California, is a leading supplier of high frequency mixed signal ICs and modules for the wireless and telecommunication industries. The company is privately held with Storm Ventures and US Venture Partners being major investors.

CONTACT: Public Relations, Sierra Monolithics

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