SP206EA-L RS232 Transceiver Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The SP206EA-L is a 4/3 full-duplex RS232 transceiver manufactured by MaxLinear, Inc., housed in a 24-SSOP surface mount package. This interface IC operates across the 4.5V to 5.5V supply range with a 500 mV receiver hysteresis and supports data rates up to 120 Kbps. The part is classified as obsolete, making equivalent and substitute parts necessary for ongoing system support, maintenance, and new design implementations where RS232 transceiver functionality is required.

Key Parameters

Parameter	SP206EA-L
Manufacturer	MaxLinear, Inc.
Type	Transceiver
Protocol	RS232
Number of Drivers/Receivers	4/3
Duplex	Full
Receiver Hysteresis	500 mV
Data Rate	120 Kbps
Voltage - Supply	4.5V ~ 5.5V
Operating Temperature	-40°C ~ 85°C
Mounting Type	Surface Mount
Package / Case	24-SSOP (0.209", 5.30mm Width)
Product Status	Obsolete
Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL)	2 (1 Year)

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution of the SP206EA-L is determined by strict alignment of the following electrical and mechanical parameters:

Primary Substitution Criteria:

Protocol: RS232 full-duplex transceiver
Number of Drivers/Receivers: 4/3 configuration
Package / Case: 24-SSOP (0.209", 5.30mm Width)
Voltage - Supply: 4.5V ~ 5.5V
Mounting Type: Surface Mount

Secondary Compatibility Parameters:

Receiver Hysteresis: 500 mV (preferred) or 650 mV (acceptable with electrical verification)
Data Rate: 120 Kbps minimum
Operating Temperature: -40°C ~ 85°C (preferred) or 0°C ~ 70°C (limited range)

Substitute parts are grouped into two categories:

Category A - Direct Electrical Equivalents (4/3 Configuration, 500 mV Hysteresis, -40°C ~ 85°C):

HIN206EIAZ (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
HIN206EIAZ-T (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
MAX206EEAG+T (Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated)

Category B - Functional Equivalents (4/3 Configuration, Alternative Hysteresis or Temperature Range):

ADM206ARSZ (Analog Devices Inc.) — 650 mV hysteresis, -40°C ~ 85°C
ADM206ARSZ-REEL (Analog Devices Inc.) — 650 mV hysteresis, -40°C ~ 85°C, Tape & Reel packaging
MAX206CAG+ (Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated) — 500 mV hysteresis, 0°C ~ 70°C temperature range
MAX206ECAG+ (Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated) — 500 mV hysteresis, 0°C ~ 70°C temperature range

Non-Equivalent Parts (Different Driver/Receiver Configuration):

MAX207CDB (Texas Instruments) — 5/3 configuration, not a direct substitute
MAX207CDBR (Texas Instruments) — 5/3 configuration, not a direct substitute
MAX207IDB (Texas Instruments) — 5/3 configuration, not a direct substitute

Parameter Comparison

Part Number	Manufacturer	Drivers/Receivers	Receiver Hysteresis	Data Rate	Voltage - Supply	Operating Temperature	Package	Product Status	RoHS Status	MSL
SP206EA-L	MaxLinear, Inc.	4/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Obsolete	—	2 (1 Year)
ADM206ARSZ	Analog Devices Inc.	4/3	650 mV	—	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
ADM206ARSZ-REEL	Analog Devices Inc.	4/3	650 mV	—	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
HIN206EIAZ	Renesas Electronics Corporation	4/3	500 mV	230 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	3 (168 Hours)
HIN206EIAZ-T	Renesas Electronics Corporation	4/3	500 mV	230 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	3 (168 Hours)
MAX206CAG+	Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated	4/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	0°C ~ 70°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
MAX206ECAG+	Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated	4/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	0°C ~ 70°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
MAX206EEAG+T	Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated	4/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.5V ~ 5.5V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
MAX207CDB	Texas Instruments	5/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.75V ~ 5.25V	0°C ~ 70°C	24-SSOP	Obsolete	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
MAX207CDBR	Texas Instruments	5/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.75V ~ 5.25V	0°C ~ 70°C	24-SSOP	Active	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)
MAX207IDB	Texas Instruments	5/3	500 mV	120 Kbps	4.75V ~ 5.25V	-40°C ~ 85°C	24-SSOP	Obsolete	ROHS3 Compliant	1 (Unlimited)

Engineering Selection Recommendations

For Direct Replacement with Extended Temperature Range: HIN206EIAZ or HIN206EIAZ-T are the preferred substitutes. Both maintain the 4/3 driver/receiver configuration, 500 mV receiver hysteresis, and -40°C ~ 85°C operating temperature range. Both parts are active products with ROHS3 compliance. HIN206EIAZ-T offers Tape & Reel packaging for high-volume applications.

For Active Product Status with Full Temperature Range: MAX206EEAG+T provides the closest electrical match with active product status, ROHS3 compliance, and -40°C ~ 85°C operating temperature. This part is supplied in Tape & Reel packaging.

For Applications with Limited Temperature Range (0°C ~ 70°C): MAX206CAG+ or MAX206ECAG+ are suitable alternatives. Both maintain 4/3 configuration, 500 mV hysteresis, and 120 Kbps data rate. Both are active products with ROHS3 compliance and unlimited MSL rating.

For Extended Temperature Range with Alternative Hysteresis: ADM206ARSZ or ADM206ARSZ-REEL provide -40°C ~ 85°C operation with 650 mV receiver hysteresis. These parts are active products with superior MSL rating (1, Unlimited). ADM206ARSZ-REEL is supplied in Tape & Reel format for production environments.

Not Recommended as Direct Substitutes: MAX207 series parts (MAX207CDB, MAX207CDBR, MAX207IDB) feature a 5/3 driver/receiver configuration and are not electrically equivalent to the SP206EA-L. These parts are suitable only for applications requiring five drivers and three receivers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can MAX207 series parts replace the SP206EA-L? A: No. MAX207 series parts have a 5/3 driver/receiver configuration, while SP206EA-L requires 4/3. The different channel count makes them incompatible for direct substitution.

Q: What is the difference between ADM206ARSZ and ADM206ARSZ-REEL? A: Both parts are electrically identical with 4/3 configuration, 650 mV hysteresis, and -40°C ~ 85°C operation. The difference is packaging: ADM206ARSZ is supplied in Tube packaging, while ADM206ARSZ-REEL is supplied in Tape & Reel format for automated assembly.

Q: Why do some substitutes have 650 mV hysteresis instead of 500 mV? A: The ADM206ARSZ series maintains full electrical compatibility with the SP206EA-L across all critical parameters (4/3 configuration, supply voltage, temperature range, package). The 650 mV hysteresis is within acceptable tolerance for RS232 transceiver applications and does not affect functional compatibility.

Q: Are all substitute parts ROHS3 compliant? A: All active substitute parts listed are ROHS3 compliant. The original SP206EA-L is obsolete and does not carry a RoHS designation.

Q: What does MSL rating mean for these parts? A: Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) indicates the maximum time a part can be exposed to ambient conditions before soldering. MSL 1 (Unlimited) parts have no time restriction. MSL 2 (1 Year) and MSL 3 (168 Hours) parts require controlled storage and handling. Active substitutes generally offer superior MSL ratings compared to the obsolete SP206EA-L.

Q: Which substitute is best for new designs? A: For new designs requiring -40°C ~ 85°C operation, HIN206EIAZ-T or MAX206EEAG+T are recommended. Both are active products with full temperature range, ROHS3 compliance, and 24-SSOP packaging. For designs with 0°C ~ 70°C temperature requirements, MAX206CAG+ or MAX206ECAG+ are suitable alternatives.

Q: Can I use parts with different operating temperature ranges interchangeably? A: No. Operating temperature range is a critical specification. Parts rated for 0°C ~ 70°C must not be used in applications requiring -40°C ~ 85°C operation. Select substitutes based on your system's actual temperature requirements.

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