WFC725A - FR3 Extension Board
Designed for researchers, network innovators, and system manufacturers, this compact, plug-and-play board translates RFSoC’s native 10 MHz–7.125 GHz coverage into the emerging FR3 spectrum, enabling rapid prototyping of 5G-Advanced and 6G systems.
Product details
The WFC725A is a high-performance 6G Frequency Range 3 (FR3) radio front-end (RFFE) module, specifically engineered as a frequency extension for Vector Signal Transceivers (VSTs). It supports a wide frequency range from 6.9 GHz to 25.8 GHz, and when combined with the base VST, it covers a total of 10 MHz to 25.8 GHz. It highlights a wide instantaneous bandwidth (iBW) of up to 1.2 GHz. This board enables seamless up- and down-conversion, making it an essential tool for wideband signal generation and analysis in next-generation wireless infrastructure
Key Features
- Full FR3 coverage: VST frequency extension for measurements from 6.9 to 25.8 GHz
- Combined frequency range from 10 MHz to 25.8 GHz
- 1.2 GHz instantaneous bandwidth
- High-performance signal chain: Up to 1.474 GSa/s sampling rates
- Ready for tomorrow: Supports 5G-Advanced (standardized in 2023) and future 6G in base station-like conditions
- Compact & robust: 2.6 cm (H) x 25 cm (L) x 13 cm (W)
| Other Solutions | WFC725A | Why is this relevant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Frequency Coverage | Limited (tipically 6-18 GHz) | Ultra-wide: From 6.8 GHz to 25.8 GHz (possiblility to use full range 10 MHz-25.8 GHz if used with our base VST) | Flexibility of utilisation of different bands for a wide range of applications (radar, 5G/6G communications, etc.) |
| Operating Mode | TDD only, or TDD and FDD | Full Versatility (FDD/TDD compatible) | TDD: Transmit and receive in alternating time slots. FDD: Transmit and receive continuously at the same time |
| Integration level | In some cases, the LO is not integrated and requires external RF sources | LO integrated | Need to add external blocks that impacts the SWAP characteristics and complexity of the system |
| Instantaneous Bandwidth (iBW) | Limited to 1 GHz (due to external circuits) | 1.2 GHz, high performance across full range | Greater iBW equals to faster data throughput and superior signal resolution by allowing the simultaneous processing of wider frequency ranges |
| Phase Coherence | Functional accross multiple channels | Functional accross multiple channels | Greater iBW equals to faster data throughput and superior signal resolution by allowing the simultaneous processing of wider frequency ranges |
| Physical durability | Sometimes bare board; fragile and prone to damage | Robust, integrated design | Time-to market reduced to integrate it in a payload |
| Customer support | Often slow or impersonal corporate support | Agile & dedicated technical partnership | Personalized attention to the customer |
A deeper look in the RF signal management
One relevant feature of the WFC725A (that applies to all Wupatec’s communication modules) is the strategic optimization of Intermediate Frequency (IF) selection. In the transmit path, the baseband signal is interpolated and shifted to an IF via a Digital Upconverter (DUC), followed by bandpass filtering to suppress DAC images. The signal is then upconverted to the FR3 band using an IQ modulator. By utilizing a sufficiently high IF, unwanted components such as RF images and LO leakage are positioned far from the signal bandwidth, allowing for efficient filtering. This architectural advantage would be lost if a lower IF were used, as shown in the diagram below:
By utilizing a high IF, unwanted components such as DAC images, RF images, and LO leakage are positioned far from the signal bandwidth (see the spectrum image below of the tx path). This spectral ‘breathing room’ enables highly efficient filtering, ensuring a clean and compliant spectrum across the entire 10 MHz to 25.8 GHz range.
By the way, this work was presented during the WSJ Workshop Session during the International Microwave Symposium in 2025. Check the related article on Microwave Journal here!
Use Cases
5G-Advanced & 6G Research
Satellite Communications
Radar & Electronic Warfare
Wi-Fi 7 & Future Connectivity
Conference Demonstrations
The WUPATEC FR3 Extension Board is a high-performance frequency translation solution that bridges the gap between conventional RFSoC coverage (10 MHz–7.125 GHz) and the emerging FR3 spectrum (7.125–24.25 GHz). By upconverting and downconverting RFSoC signals into the FR3 band, it enables the exploration of the full potential of next-generation wireless systems.
Designed for use with the AMD ZCU670 evaluation kit and WUPATEC VST firmware, this compact module delivers up to 1.2 GHz instantaneous bandwidth. It supports sampling rates up to 1.474 GSa/s, making it ideal for multi-carrier, high-order modulation, and MIMO scenarios. Its vector signal generation and analysis capabilities allow precise EVM and ACPR characterization across 7–26 GHz, helping accelerate the design and validation of FR3-ready radio units.
The extension board supports 5G-Advanced—the enhanced version of 5G standardized in 2023, enabling ultra-high-speed data rates, massive capacity, and ultra-low latency—and paves the way for 6G, which will leverage the entire FR3 band to achieve even higher spectral efficiency and support massive simultaneous connections. With the commercialization of 5G-Advanced beginning this year, the FR3 Extension Board provides an indispensable tool for early adopters, academia, and industry leaders shaping the next decade of wireless connectivity.
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