AEL Crystals has improved the performance of its VT53 range of voltage compensated, temperature controlled crystal oscillators (VCTCXOs), primarily aimed at the growing smallcell and femtocell market.
Smallcell cellular base stations are typically used in homes or small businesses to connect to the service provider’s network via broadband, such as DSL. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors, opening up access that could otherwise be limited or unavailable. AEL’s new VCTCXOs have been characterised for use with the growing range of chipsets available for femtocell development, to increase a network’s data range and throughput.
Initially, the oscillators are available in the frequency range 10 to 26MHz, packaged in a 5.0 by 3.2mm format. They are rated at ±100ppb stability over a temperature range of 30 to 65°C; rising to ±250ppb when operating at temperatures from -40 to 80°C.
In addition to base stations, they can be used in ultra-high stability applications. Stability, with respect to load and voltage changes, has been improved to meet ±10ppb and ageing is specified to ±3.0ppm maximum, over 10 years.