Abstract
As demand for increased speeds and capacity for wireless communication grows, the telecom industry is turning to the Extremely High Frequency (EHF) bands (30 GHz to 300 GHz) for the sixth generation (6G) and beyond wireless networks [1]. However, direct implementation of EHF wireless networks is challenging, due to the cost and complexity involved in the assembly process, use of metal waveguides, and mm-wave propagation being Line-of-Sight (LOS). A solution to some of these challenges is to apply an IF radio over fiber link [2]. This design uses readily available commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, offering a practical solution to infrastructure demands. This thesis work is focused on the development of millimeter wave transceiver for this architecture. The microelectronics assembly process and on-board RF link budgets are described with an experiment using 16-QAM over distance to demonstrate viability. Suggestions to improve the boards, as well as recommended layout and part changes for future manufacturing are also provided.