CPI’s 100 W C-band GaN-based Solid State BUC. Photo: CPI

[Via Satellite 09-15-2014] Communications & Power Industries’ (CPI) Satcom Products group has released a 100-Watt C-band solid state Block Upconverter (BUC), based on Gallium Nitride (GaN). The new device complements existing Ku-band and X-band GaN BUC’s from CPI and, according to the company, is almost twice as power efficient as Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) counterparts.

“CPI’s new 100-Watt BUC is ideal for satellite uplinks where compact size, light weight and low thermal dissipation are critical factors in overall system design, such as in maritime, satcom-on-the-move, and land-based small terminal and mobile satcom applications” said Colin Eastment, VP of business development at CPI Satcom Products.

The device includes a user- selectable Local Oscillation (LO) frequency for improved operating flexibility. CPI provides solid state GaN and GaAs products in C-, X-, Ku- and Ka-band.