Rakon releases ±20 ppb stability Hybrid TCXO for 5G networks to enable fronthaul and radio synchronisation

Rakon has announced the release of the RTH7050PA, a high performance Hybrid TCXO that incorporates Rakon’s proprietary Mercury+™ ASIC. The product features a hybrid technology, where the ASIC has two functionalities, namely temperature compensation and a heated element to keep the temperature of the resonator constant. The oscillator achieves a frequency stability of ±20 ppb over a wide temperature range from -40 to +105°C. Its frequency slope over temperature is as low as 0.5 ppb/°C.

The RTH7050PA uses a high-Q crystal and an in-house quartz manufacturing process, resulting in superior close-in phase noise performance, an all causes stability of ≤ 4.6 ppm/20 years. Nominal frequencies are available from 10 to 50 MHz in a 10 pad, 7.5 x 5.5 mm footprint size.

5G radios and front-haul synchronisation systems use very low bandwidth servos, down to mHz range. To meet the stringent 3GPP air interface requirements for radios and time alignment error requirements stipulated by ITU-T for front-haul routers and switches, frequency references with very good short to medium term performances are essential.

Compared to traditional TCXOs, Rakon’s Hybrid TCXOs offer 10 times the performance of Stratum 3 TCXO in terms of:

• Frequency slope (temperature sensitivity): ±0.5 ppb/°C (vs ±20 ppb/°C)
• Temperature stability: ±20 ppb (vs ±300 ppb)
• Ageing: 3 ppb/day (vs 30 ppb/day)

The extremely low temperature sensitivity ensures minimal dynamic noise on the low bandwidth system output, across the entire temperature regime. The close-in phase noise performance enables systems to optimise cost performance by rendering second stage phase noise clean up redundant.

Key specifications:

• Excellent frequency stability: ≤±20 ppb over -40 to 85°C (see Figure 1. -40 to 105°C available upon request)
• Low frequency slope: 0.5 ppb/°C typ.
• Superior close-in phase noise; noise floor -160 dBc/Hz for 10 MHz devices
• Fast warm-up time (±20 ppb): <15s at -25°C, <20s at -40°C
• All causes stability: ≤4.6 ppm/20 years
• Excellent g-sensitivity: 1 ppb/g
  

The unique frequency specifications enable the RTH7050PA to meet both 5G network synchronisation and air interface requirements. It is the ideal choice for applications such as 5G RRHs/RRUs, 4G/5G small cells, optical networks and microwave transmission systems.

Product Enquiries:

Email sales@rakon.com. For more information, please view the RTH7050PA datasheet.