Electronic – What are fundamental mixers

RF

Fundamental mixers (in the context of RF Electronics). What are they? What do they do?

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Best Answer

Fundamental means that the local oscillator is simply the difference between the IF and the input frequency. The other type is termed a sub-harmonic mixer, which is driven at a lower frequency which is multiplied in the mixer. The latter is used at much higher input frequencies, making it easier to generate the local oscillator signal.