RF IC sourcing guide: RF amplifiers (LNA, PA, gain block), RF transceivers, mixers, synthesizers, PLLs, and wireless communication ICs. ADD Components stocks ADI and TI RF ICs with anti-counterfeit verification. Covering sub-1 GHz to mmWave — for cellular, satellite, radar, and IoT.
RF ICs — Wireless Communication and RF Signal Processing
Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RF ICs) process signals across the electromagnetic spectrum — from 20 kHz up to 300 GHz and beyond. They are the core of every wireless link: cellular base stations, satellite terminals, Wi-Fi routers, radar systems, IoT sensors, and drone video transmission. Without RF ICs, none of these devices transmit or receive anything.
ADD Components sources RF ICs from Analog Devices (ADI) and Texas Instruments (TI) — two manufacturers with RF portfolios spanning sub-1 GHz ISM band transceivers to multi-GHz agile SDR front-ends. Every RF IC we ship is anti-counterfeit verified: visual inspection for marking authenticity, plus X-ray verification for BGA and QFN packages.
RF IC Sub-Types
RF Amplifiers
Three amplifier classes cover the RF signal chain from antenna to baseband processor:
Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) — The first active stage after the antenna. LNA noise figure directly determines receiver sensitivity. ADD stocks ADI and TI LNAs from 100 MHz to 12 GHz, with noise figures as low as 0.5 dB.
Power Amplifiers (PAs) — The final transmitter stage before the antenna. PAs deliver watt-level output power with high linearity for OFDM, QAM, and other complex modulation schemes. Critical in cellular infrastructure, broadcast, and radar.
Gain Blocks — Broadband fixed-gain amplifiers used throughout the IF and RF chain for signal level recovery. Wideband (multi-octave), unconditional stability, and 50-ohm matched — drop-in building blocks for any RF design.
RF Transceivers
Integrated transmitter and receiver on a single chip — the workhorse of modern wireless. RF transceivers handle modulation, demodulation, frequency synthesis, and baseband interface. ADD sources transceivers for:
Software-Defined Radio (SDR) — AD9361, AD9371, AD9375 covering 70 MHz to 6 GHz with 2x2 MIMO and DPD (digital pre-distortion) for linearization. Used in 4G/5G small cells, drone video links, and military SDR platforms.
Sub-1 GHz ISM Band — TI CC1101 and CC1120 series for low-power wireless sensor networks, smart metering, and industrial IoT. Optimized for range and battery life, with hardware packet handling offloading the host MCU.
GNSS/GPS Receivers — MAX2769 and MAX2771 universal GNSS receivers covering GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. Integrated LNA, mixer, filter, and ADC — a complete RF front-end in one package.
RF Mixers and Modulators
Frequency translation is the heart of every superheterodyne and direct-conversion radio architecture:
Passive Mixers — High IP3, zero DC power. Best linearity for infrastructure receivers.
Active Mixers — Integrated gain, simpler LO drive requirements. Preferred for compact designs.
I/Q Modulators and Demodulators — Direct conversion between baseband I/Q and RF carrier. Eliminates IF stages — smaller, cheaper, lower power.
RF Synthesizers and PLLs
Phase-locked loops (PLLs) with integrated voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) generate stable, programmable RF carriers from a single reference crystal. ADD stocks wideband synthesizers covering 35 MHz to 13.6 GHz in a single chip — critical for frequency-agile systems that must hop across bands or support multi-standard operation.
RF Switches and Attenuators
GaAs and SOI RF switches route signals between antennas, Tx/Rx paths, and filter banks. Digital step attenuators (DSAs) provide precision gain control in receiver AGC loops and transmitter power control. ADD stocks ADI HMC-series and TI RF switches from DC to 20 GHz.
Representative RF ICs We Source
| Part Number | Brand | Type | Frequency Range | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD9361 | ADI | RF Agile Transceiver | 70 MHz - 6 GHz | 2x2 MIMO, 12-bit, SDR reference design |
| AD9371 | ADI | RF Transceiver | 300 MHz - 6 GHz | DPD, 2x2 MIMO, 250 MHz BW |
| AD9375 | ADI | RF Transceiver | 300 MHz - 6 GHz | Integrated DPD for small cell PA |
| ADRV9009 | ADI | RF Transceiver | 75 MHz - 6 GHz | Dual Rx/Tx, 200 MHz BW, JESD204B |
| ADF4351 | ADI | Wideband PLL Synthesizer | 35 MHz - 4.4 GHz | Integrated VCO, fractional-N |
| ADF5355 | ADI | Microwave PLL Synthesizer | 54 MHz - 13.6 GHz | Integrated VCO, low phase noise |
| ADL5602 | ADI | RF Gain Block | 50 MHz - 4 GHz | 19.5 dB gain, 45 dBm OIP3 |
| HMC833LP6GE | ADI | PLL with VCO | 25 MHz - 6 GHz | Fractional-N, low phase noise |
| HMC1118 | ADI | RF Switch (SPDT) | 9 kHz - 13 GHz | GaAs, high isolation, absorptive |
| MAX2769 | Maxim/ADI | GPS/GNSS Receiver | L1 band (1575.42 MHz) | Universal, integrated, low-cost |
| CC1101 | TI | Sub-1 GHz Transceiver | 315/433/868/915 MHz | Low power, packet handling, ISM |
| CC1120 | TI | Sub-1 GHz Transceiver | 164 MHz - 960 MHz | Narrowband, high sensitivity |
| LMX2594 | TI | RF PLL Synthesizer | 10 MHz - 15 GHz | Integrated VCO, <50 fs jitter |
| TRF37x73 | TI | RF Gain Block | 1 MHz - 6 GHz | 15 dB gain, 40 dBm OIP3 |
RF Applications We Support
FPV Drone Video Transmission — 5.8 GHz VTX/VRX systems. ADD stocks the RF signal chain from PA to LNA to transceiver for both analog and digital HD video links.
5G Infrastructure — Sub-6 GHz RUs and small cells. ADI transceivers with integrated DPD paired with TI clocking solutions for JESD204B converter interfaces.
Satellite Communications — L-band, S-band, and Ku-band terminals. ADD can source RF ICs for phased-array beamforming and software-defined modems.
IoT and LPWAN — LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT node designs using TI sub-1 GHz and ADI narrowband transceivers.
Radar and Electronic Warfare — Wideband direct-sampling receivers and agile frequency synthesizers for defense applications.
Send Us Your RF IC Requirements
Working on a wireless design? Need LNAs for your receiver front-end? An SDR transceiver for your drone video link? Send us your part numbers or full BOM. Our team verifies availability, checks PCN history, and commits to anti-counterfeit delivery within 24 hours.
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Last updated on July 14, 2026