BFR106 NPN 5GHz Transistor

Here is a breakout PCB for the BFR106 NPN 5GHz bi-polar transistor, and it comes with the transistor pre-installed. The BFR106 has proven to be useful as a “hotter” replacement for more-commonly used devices, especially above 14MHz. With an transition frequency (“fT,” the frequency when gain declines to unity, i.e., no gain at all) at 5GHz, there’s a lot more gain available for the upper-HF bands (and for VHF/UHF use) than the usual “popcorn” parts such as the 2N3904 or the 2N2222. Though recommended by respected members of the Ham community for some time, the BFR106 is only available as a surface-mount component. But now you can have the part and use it, too, either on a Manhattan-style board, or with leads attached for use on perfboard or as a retrofit in existing circuits (see link to example use case below).

The PCB is laid out to provide heat-sink zones for the base, emitter, and collector. These zones are connected to identical zones on the underside of the board through thermal “vias.” Additional heat sinking is not necessary.

Infineon BFR106 Datasheet

Example Use Case: “Q90”

[Note: This first batch of breakout PCBs are marked “BRF106″ rather than “BFR106.”
Of course this will be fixed in the second batch.]