ADI Hittite Mixer Selection Guide | HMC RF Mixers
ADI and Hittite RF mixers are widely used for frequency conversion in microwave radios, SATCOM terminals, radar, electronic warfare, test equipment and wideband receivers.
Available products include passive double-balanced mixers for straightforward upconversion or downconversion and I/Q mixers for image-reject receivers and single-sideband transmitters.
The correct mixer should not be selected from RF frequency alone. Engineers must also verify the LO frequency and drive level, required IF bandwidth, conversion loss, input linearity, port isolation, image rejection, package and product lifecycle.
Explore additional ADI/Hittite RF and microwave components or compare related LO-chain devices in the ADI Hittite Frequency Multiplier Selection Guide.
ADI Hittite Mixer Model Comparison
| Model | Mixer Type | RF / LO Range | IF Range | Typical Conversion Loss | Typical Input IP3 | Package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMC213BMS8E | Double-balanced | 1.5–4.5GHz | DC–1.5GHz | 10dB | 21dBm | 8-lead MSOP |
| HMC525ALC4 | I/Q, image reject / SSB | 4–8.5GHz | DC–3.5GHz | 8dB | 20dBm | 4 × 4mm LCC |
| HMC553ALC3B | Double-balanced | 6–14GHz | DC–5GHz | 7dB at 6–11GHz | 18dBm at 6–11GHz | 2.9 × 2.9mm LCC |
| HMC773ALC3B | Double-balanced fundamental | 6–26GHz | DC–8GHz | 9dB | 20dBm | 3 × 3mm LCC |
| HMC8191 | Wideband I/Q, image reject / SSB | 6–26.5GHz | DC–5GHz | 9dB | 24dBm | 4 × 4mm LCC |
| HMC292ALC3B | Double-balanced | 14–30GHz | DC–8GHz | 9dB | 19dBm | 3 × 3mm LCC |
HMC773ALC3B vs HMC8191
| Parameter | HMC773ALC3B | HMC8191 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Double-balanced fundamental mixer | Wideband I/Q mixer |
| RF / LO Range | 6–26GHz | 6–26.5GHz |
| IF Bandwidth | DC–8GHz | DC–5GHz |
| Conversion Loss | 9dB typical | 9dB typical |
| Input IP3 | 20dBm typical | 24dBm typical, downconverter |
| Image Rejection | Requires external frequency-plan filtering | 25dBc typical |
| Best Fit | Simple wideband up/downconversion | Image-reject receiver or SSB transmitter |
Typical Applications
Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave radios
VSAT and satellite communication terminals
Radar and electronic-warfare receivers
Electronic countermeasure and C3I systems
RF and microwave test equipment
Wideband sensors and spectrum-monitoring systems
Image-reject receivers and single-sideband transmitters
FAQ
What is the difference between a double-balanced mixer and an I/Q mixer?
A double-balanced mixer performs basic upconversion or downconversion and normally relies on external filtering to reject the unwanted image or sideband.
An I/Q mixer combines two mixer paths with quadrature phase relationships, allowing image-reject downconversion or single-sideband upconversion when correctly driven and terminated.
Which Hittite mixer covers the widest frequency range?
Among the representative packaged models in this guide, HMC8191 covers 6–26.5GHz as an I/Q mixer, HMC773ALC3B covers 6–26GHz as a double-balanced mixer, and HMC292ALC3B extends the upper operating frequency to 30GHz.
Can HMC773ALC3B directly replace HMC8191?
No. Although their RF ranges overlap, HMC773ALC3B is a double-balanced mixer and HMC8191 is an I/Q mixer.
Their packages, pinouts, IF interfaces and system functions differ, so they are not drop-in replacements.
Do passive HMC mixers require a DC power supply?
The passive mixer core does not require DC bias, but the LO source and surrounding amplifiers still require power.
The PCB must also follow the grounding, impedance and layout recommendations in the exact device datasheet.
Request an ADI Hittite Mixer Quote
DataStorageIC supports sourcing for selected ADI and legacy Hittite RF mixers, including HMC213BMS8E, HMC525ALC4, HMC553ALC3B, HMC773ALC3B, HMC8191, HMC292ALC3B and related ordering variants.
Contact us with the required part number, quantity, frequency plan, package, date-code requirements and target delivery date.
Stock, price, lifecycle and lead time are confirmed for the exact ordering code at the time of quotation.
