400-1500 MHz RF Front-End

I’m building a lab-grade signal-testing platform and need a complete RF front-end that cleanly spans 400 MHz to 1.5 GHz. Because the board will sit in front of a vector signal analyzer, flat amplitude response, low noise, and good linearity across that entire band are far more important to me than squeezing every last decibel of efficiency.

All common modulations—AM, FM, FSK, QPSK—must pass, yet the design has to pay special attention to QAM and DSS, which are the test cases I run most often. If a clever topology lets you optimise EVM for QAM while still keeping DSS spectral purity high, that’s exactly what I’m after.

I have no allegiance to any particular vendor or part family, so feel free to choose components that best balance performance, cost, and availability. Just make sure they’re something I can actually buy in 2024.

Deliverables
• Schematic with all component values and part numbers
• Simulated plots (gain, NF, IIP3, VSWR) showing compliance over 400-1500 MHz
• PCB layout files (Altium, KiCad, or ADS preferred) plus Gerbers/ODB++
• Bill of materials with distributors and stock codes
• A brief design note explaining critical choices and expected test results

Acceptance criteria: the simulated gain ripple must stay within ±1.5 dB, NF below 4 dB, and input VSWR better than 2:1 across the band when measured on a calibrated VNA.

If you already have experience in Keysight ADS, HFSS, or similar RF toolchains and can turn around a manufacturable design quickly, let’s talk.