TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm
Temperature compensated crystal oscillator, 26MHz frequency, ±2.5ppm stability, 3.3V operation, ideal for GPS and pre...
Product Overview
Description
The TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm is a high-stability temperature compensated crystal oscillator providing exceptional frequency stability across temperature variations. It delivers ±2.5ppm stability from -30°C to +85°C.
This TCXO uses internal temperature compensation circuitry to counteract the natural frequency drift of the quartz crystal with temperature. The result is a stable clock source suitable for GPS receivers, cellular communication, and precision timing applications.
Operating from 3.3V supply with CMOS output, this TCXO is compatible with modern GPS and communication chipsets. The 26MHz frequency is standard for GPS reference and widely used in mobile communication.
Product Series
TCXO
Primary Application
GPS/GNSS receiver reference
Key Features
- Excellent ±2.5ppm temperature stability
- 26MHz standard GPS reference frequency
- 3.3V operation for modern chipsets
- Wide -30°C to +85°C temperature range
- Fast warm-up time <2 seconds
- CMOS output compatible with GPS/communication ICs
- Compact 3.2x2.5mm package
- RoHS compliant
Specifications
| Frequency | 26.000 MHz |
|---|---|
| Frequency Stability | ±2.5 ppm |
| Temperature Range | -30°C to +85°C |
| Output Type | CMOS |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V ±5% |
| Output Voltage | 0.2V to VDD-0.2V |
| Rise/Fall Time | ≤3 ns |
| Duty Cycle | 45-55% |
| Current Consumption | ≤25 mA |
| Package | 3.2 x 2.5mm SMD |
Applications
GPS/GNSS receiver reference
Electronic system design
Cellular baseband timing
Electronic system design
LTE/4G/5G communication
Communication and interface
Precision instrumentation
Electronic system design
SDH/SONET networking
Communication and interface
Test and measurement equipment
Data acquisition and conversion
FAE Expert Insights
"The TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm is my top recommendation for GPS and cellular applications. The ±2.5ppm stability is excellent for GPS receivers - it meets the requirements for most consumer and industrial GPS modules. I've used this TCXO in numerous GPS designs with u-blox, MTK, and Qualcomm chipsets with excellent results. The 26MHz frequency is the standard reference for GPS L1 band. For cellular, this stability supports LTE and 5G NR requirements. The 3.2x2.5mm package is compact enough for mobile devices. Power consumption of 25mA is reasonable for the performance. Warm-up time of 2 seconds is acceptable for most applications. If you need even better stability, XGHC offers ±1.0ppm and ±0.5ppm versions. Overall, an excellent TCXO for precision timing applications."
High-stability TCXO ideal for GPS and cellular communication applications
— James Chen, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes TCXO better than standard crystal oscillators?
TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) provides much better frequency stability than standard oscillators: Standard XO has ±25-100ppm stability varying with temperature. TCXO has ±0.5-2.5ppm stability across temperature. This 10-50x improvement comes from internal temperature compensation circuitry that adjusts oscillator frequency based on temperature sensor readings. TCXO is essential for: GPS receivers (need <±2.5ppm for reliable lock), cellular communication (tight frequency requirements), precision timing, and any application where frequency drift affects performance. The trade-offs are higher cost, higher power consumption, and slightly larger size. For applications requiring stability across temperature, TCXO is the solution.
Choose TCXO when frequency stability across temperature is critical. Standard XO is sufficient for less demanding applications.
Is this TCXO suitable for GPS applications?
Yes, TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm is excellent for GPS applications. GPS receivers require stable reference frequency for accurate position calculation. Key requirements: (1) Frequency - 26MHz is standard reference for GPS L1 band (1575.42MHz); (2) Stability - ±2.5ppm provides adequate stability for consumer and industrial GPS; (3) Temperature range - -30°C to +85°C covers most operating environments; (4) Warm-up - 2 seconds is acceptable for GPS cold start. For high-precision GPS (RTK, surveying), consider ±1.0ppm or ±0.5ppm versions. For basic navigation and tracking, ±2.5ppm is sufficient. This TCXO is compatible with popular GPS modules from u-blox, MTK, Qualcomm, and others. Many successful GPS designs use this TCXO.
±2.5ppm TCXO is suitable for most GPS applications. Choose tighter tolerance for high-precision GPS.
What is the warm-up time and why does it matter?
TCXO warm-up time is the time from power-on to stable frequency output. For TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm, warm-up time is <2 seconds. This includes: (1) Oscillator start-up - milliseconds; (2) Temperature sensor stabilization - hundreds of milliseconds; (3) Compensation circuit settling - seconds. Warm-up time matters for: (1) GPS cold start - affects time-to-first-fix; (2) Communication systems - may affect initial synchronization; (3) Precision measurement - wait for stable frequency before calibration. After warm-up, frequency is stable within specification. Some applications can operate during warm-up with reduced accuracy. For faster warm-up, consider specific fast-warm-up TCXO models. OCXO has much longer warm-up (minutes) due to oven heating.
Allow 2 seconds for TCXO warm-up. Consider fast-warm-up models if quicker stabilization needed.
How do I verify the TCXO stability meets specification?
To verify TCXO stability: (1) Frequency accuracy - measure frequency at 25°C with precision counter, should be within ±2.5ppm of 26MHz; (2) Temperature stability - measure frequency across temperature range (-30°C to +85°C), variation should be <±2.5ppm; (3) Allan deviation - for short-term stability measurement; (4) Phase noise - for jitter characterization. Test equipment needed: precision frequency counter (0.1ppm resolution), temperature chamber, spectrum analyzer (for phase noise). XGHC TCXOs are 100% tested before shipment. For production, sample testing is usually sufficient. For critical applications, full characterization may be warranted. Contact XGHC for detailed test reports.
Verify with precision frequency counter. Contact XGHC for detailed test reports and characterization data.
Can I use this TCXO for cellular LTE/5G applications?
Yes, TCXO-26MHz-3.3V-2.5ppm is suitable for cellular LTE and 5G applications. Cellular systems require precise frequency reference for: (1) Carrier frequency accuracy - affects transmit/receive frequency; (2) Symbol timing - affects data decoding; (3) Handoff performance - affects switching between cells. LTE requirements: typically ±0.1ppm for carrier frequency. This TCXO's ±2.5ppm is sufficient for most LTE user equipment when combined with network synchronization. 5G NR has similar or slightly tighter requirements. The 26MHz frequency is commonly used in cellular baseband processors. For cellular infrastructure (base stations), tighter stability may be required. For mobile devices and IoT, this TCXO meets requirements. Check your cellular chipset datasheet for specific reference requirements.
Suitable for LTE/5G user equipment. Check cellular chipset datasheet for specific requirements.