**HMC738LP4ETR: A 24 GHz GaAs pHEMT MMIC Medium Power Amplifier for Microwave Radio and VSAT Systems**

The relentless growth in data traffic demands robust and high-performance wireless infrastructure, particularly in the realm of point-to-point microwave radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems. Operating within the Ka-band spectrum, these applications require amplifiers that deliver a critical balance of output power, linearity, and efficiency. The **HMC738LP4ETR** from Analog Devices stands as a premier solution, engineered to meet these exacting requirements.

This device is a **GaAs pHEMT Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC)** medium power amplifier, fabricated on a high-performance Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) substrate. The pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistor (pHEMT) process is key to its superior performance, enabling high-frequency operation with excellent gain and power efficiency. The amplifier is designed to operate from **23.5 GHz to 24.5 GHz**, making it ideally suited for the 24 GHz licensed communication bands.

A primary strength of the HMC738LP4ETR is its **high output power capability**. It delivers a typical saturated output power (PSAT) of +26 dBm and an output third-order intercept (OIP3) of +34 dBm. This robust linear output power is essential for supporting complex modulation schemes like 1024 QAM, which are used to achieve high data throughput in modern digital radios. The amplifier provides a high gain of 23 dB, which helps in minimizing the number of gain stages required in a system design, thereby simplifying the architecture and reducing noise.

Housed in a compact, RoHS-compliant 4x4 mm QFN leadless package, the **HMC738LP4ETR is designed for easy integration** into multi-chip modules (MCMs) and printed circuit boards. Its single positive supply voltage of +5V simplifies biasing, while an integrated active bias circuit ensures stable performance over temperature variations. This makes the amplifier highly reliable for outdoor units (ODUs) that are exposed to harsh environmental conditions.

**ICGOOODFIND**: The HMC738LP4ETR is a high-performance MMIC amplifier that provides an optimal blend of high output power, excellent linearity, and integration ease, making it a cornerstone component for next-generation 24 GHz microwave backhaul and satellite communication systems.

**Keywords**: **Ka-band Amplifier**, **GaAs pHEMT**, **Output Power**, **Microwave Radio**, **VSAT Systems**