RF front end vs RF tranciever

What is the difference between an "RF front end IC" and an "RF tranciever" ?

the RF front end is the usual reference to the first amplifier stage in a receiver

a RF transceiver is as it states ... a transceiver.... the whole package, trans = transmitter, ceiver = receiver

Dave

In mobile phones, the front end module includes transmit/receive switches and filters and diplexers for band switching. As Dave has already described, the front end module does not include the actual receiver/transmitter.

So...a tranciever always includes an RF front end ?

No the tranciever usually does not include the amplifier or the antenna but does include the downconvers, upconverters, and filters.

The RF transceiver IC supports various bands and consists of LNA, mixer and BB filter in the case of a Rx chain and DA,mixer, BB filter in a Tx chain and of course the PLL. This IC cannot meet the LTE/GSM/WCDMA specifications. Hence you use a front end IC (could be discrete components too) that consists of a primary and diversity antenna switch module, duplexer module and PA to make sure you hit the target specifications.

yes thats correct there is always a RX front end in a transceiver

there may or may not be external TX power amplifiers or RX preamplifiers involved in your particular application

cheers
Dave

davenn, b4bb4ge

You're saying different things.
Which one is correct ?

Does a transciever have an integrated RF front end circuit on the same IC?
Or does it need to be connected to an external RF front end IC ?

shaiko said:

davenn, b4bb4ge

You're saying different things.
Which one is correct ?

Does a transciever have an integrated RF front end circuit on the same IC?
Or does it need to be connected to an external RF front end IC ?

Click to expand...

The front end may be part of the IC depending on what that IC is, you havent told us anything about the application
or it may be a discrete device ... transistor, FET, MMIC on the same PCB and immediately prior to the receiver IC where down conversion and demodulation take place

The front end ALWAYS refers to the first RF receiver amplifier ( excluding any externally cabled preamplifier)

You asked a generic question ... I have given you an answer to suit your question My post #2 is correct

B4bb4ge 's answer in post #5 is not correct .... as he/she is referring to parts outside then main unit ... TX power amp, RX preamp, Antenna
Items that hang off the coax cable between the transceiver ( or individual TX and RX units) and the antenna

Obviously, in something like a mobile ( cell) phone and all the antenna, TX/RX switching and filtering are all on the same PCB as the transmitter and receiver circuitry
And with that style of electronics, LSI chips are common ( many functions done across several chips)
BUT the RX frontend is STILL the first device that sees and amplifys the received signal be it a discrete device or something built into a chip

There is a BIG difference

Dave

Thanks Dave.

You asked a generic question ... I have given you an answer to suit your question

Click to expand...

Now a specific question - what is the difference between these two:
https://www.ti.com/product/cc1190
https://www.ti.com/product/cc1125

As you can see from the block diagram, cc1190 is frontend = receive/transmit amplifiers and switches only, and does not include any receiver & transmitter

and the cc1125 is a full package ?

shaiko said:

and the cc1125 is a full package ?

Click to expand...

Description

The CC1125 is a fully integrated single-chip radio transceiver designed for high performance at very low power and low voltage operation in cost effective wireless systems. All filters are integrated, removing the need for costly external SAW and IF filters. The device is mainly intended for the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) and SRD (Short Range Device) frequency bands at 164 to 192 MHz, 274 to 320, 410 to 480 MHz and 820 to 960 MHz.

Thanks for the links

a couple of nice chips and volker described the differences well
So hopefully you are on the right track now

cheers
Dae