RCLN1000S Generator is based on a low phase noise Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Oscillator

It has additional frequency stabilization achieved using a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL)

And with Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) as a reference

Ensuring high frequency stability over a wide temperature range

Listing includes:

• Low Noise Reference Oscillator RF Unit [RCLN1000S]
• Power Supply [DC 7.5V/2A] [US, EU, UK] [AC plug] (optional, choose in selector)

General information:

RCLN1000S is designed as a high-performance reference source for applications requiring exceptional low phase noise,
spectral purity, and frequency stability.

RCLN1000S generator is based on a low phase noise Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) oscillator.
Additional frequency stabilization is achieved using a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL)
with a Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) as a reference,
ensuring high frequency stability over a wide temperature range.

With an affordable price, low phase noise, high temperature stability, and excellent noise immunity enabled by its thick aluminum housing
this device stands out as an excellent choice among competing products.

Ideal for use with high-speed digital and mixed-signal systems such as DDS, ADCs, DACs, and other precision RF systems.

When it comes to Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS), the quality of the output signal is directly determined by the characteristics of the reference clock source.
In RF modules based on the AD9910 and AD9912, using an external low-phase-noise 1 GHz clock generator provides a significant advantage over the internal PLL frequency multipliers integrated within the DDS chips.

These internal PLLs are low-cost compromise solutions — for example, the built-in PLL in both AD9910 and AD9912 typically exhibits a phase noise of around – 115 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset – and they introduce a considerable amount of spurious spectral components (spurs), degrading signal purity and preventing the DDS from reaching its full performance potential.

Key parameters of the reference clock source include phase noise (measured in dBc/Hz, where lower is better), frequency stability (in PPM),
as well as minimal harmonic content and absence of spurious signals in the spectrum.
All of these directly affect the output quality of the DDS:
any spectral impurity or noise present in the reference clock will inevitably appear in the output signal spectrum of the synthesizer.

The pursuit of achieving the lowest possible phase noise in a signal generator inevitably leads to increased cost.
That is why we offer our customers a product line that is conditionally divided into two categories:

Base – Low Phase Noise, with typical performance in the range of approximately –136 to –139 dBc/Hz @ 10kHz offset
Premium – Ultra Low Phase Noise, with performance in the range of –140 to –150 dBc/Hz @ 10kHz offset

Description:

The basis of this oscillator is a custom 1000MHz VCSO (Voltage Controlled Surface Acoustic Wave Oscillator) with low phase noise of -139 dBc @ 10kHz offset.

SAW oscillators are advantageous due to their extremely low phase noise and ability to operate at high frequencies (up to several GHz) without the need for frequency multipliers. However, they suffer from very poor temperature stability — even a few degrees of temperature change can cause frequency drift in the range of tens or even hundreds of kilohertz
To mitigate this issue, we implemented a phase-locked loop (PLL) system with a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) as the reference source, providing frequency stabilization through feedback control.

Since a PLL inherently adds phase noise to the generator’s output signal, we used a very narrow loop filter bandwidth (just a few tens of hertz) to preserve the low phase noise of the SAW oscillator without introducing additional noise.

To amplify the output signal to a level of +15 dBm, a low-noise monolithic microwave amplifier is used.
An output low-pass filter (LPF) is employed to suppress unwanted harmonics and subharmonics.

To minimize mutual interference between internal modules, five separate power lines are used,
each regulated by a low-noise low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator with minimal phase noise.

The block diagram of this generator is as follows:

RCLN1000S Block Diagram

Specifications:

• 1 GHz Fixed Frequency
• Low Phase Noise: -139 dBc/Hz @10 kHz
• Spurious suppression: < -50 dBc
• Output Power: +15 dBm
• Supply Voltage: 7.5 VDC
• Supply Current: 200 mA
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to +70°C
• Frequency Stability (0-70°С): ±2 ppm (±2 kHz)
• Stability per degree: 0.06 ppm/°C (57 Hz/°C)
• Case Material: Aluminum
• Dimensions: 50х50х22 mm
• Weight: 150 g
• Power Connector: 5.5×2.1 mm (+ in center)
• RF Connector: SMA

We are offering custom design development for this Unit for 1200$.
This comes with condition that at least 10 pieces of them will be ordered then

Aplications:

• Frequency Synthesizers (DDS)
• Local Oscillator
• Receivers
• Wireless Communications
• SATCOM
• Optical Communications

Actual Phase Noise Performance:

This graph demonstrates the outstanding phase noise performance of the RCLN1000S generator.
Starting from a 10 kHz offset, the noise level confidently drops below -139 dBc/Hz, reaching -169 dBc/Hz at a 1 MHz offset.
This confirms the exceptional signal quality and makes it a benchmark solution for the most demanding applications.

Spectrograms:

Aplications:

Telecommunications:

Low phase noise generators are very important for modern telecommunication systems.
They provide signal stability and accuracy under the conditions of transmitting large volumes of data.
In mobile networks and fiberoptic communication systems frequency control accuracy is needed to prevent interference and ensure high data transmission speeds.
Low phase noise allows for improved communication quality, especially in the high-frequency range, where interference can be particularly noticeable.

Radio Astronomy:

In radio astronomy low phase noise generators are used in radio telescopes to enhance the quality of observations.
This allows for improved accuracy of measurements and the quality of the obtained data.
They are also used in complex systems, such as interferometers, where signals from different antennas need to be precisely synchronized.

Radar:

In radar systems low phase noise generators allow for improved accuracy in determining the distance to objects.
The accuracy of frequency, as well as stability and low noise level, are important when locating objects.
Lower phase noise can lead to more accurate location and identification of objects, especially at long distances.

RCLN1000S Low Phase Noise Reference Oscillator by GRA & AFCH