The MAX2720/MAX2721 are low-cost, high-performance, direct I/Q modulators designed for use in widebandCDMA and wireless local-loop (WLL) systems. Their direct-upconversion architecture reduces system cost, component count, and board space compared to devices with dual-conversion architectures. The MAX2720/MAX2721 include an I/Q modulator, a variable gain amplifier (VGA), and a power amplifier (PA) driver. The quadrature modulator accepts differential baseband I/Q signals and directly modulates an RF carrier in the 1.7GHz to 2.1GHz range (MAX2720) or the 2.1GHz to 2.5GHz range (MAX2721). The VGA provides 35dB of output power control. The modulator's amplitude and phase balance yield 35dBc of sideband suppression and 30dBc of carrier suppression. These devices feature an LO frequency doubler that allows the external LO source to operate at half-frequency or full-frequency when disabled.