RF & Microwave Connectors, Adapters and Cables

TCF cable assembly and KPC adapter
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Coaxial RF Adapters

Flexible RF Cables

Semi-rigid RF Cables

Semi-flexible RF Cables

Coaxial RF Launchers

Coaxial RF Panel Adapters

Support

Coaxial RF Adapters

 

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC100MF
KPC100MM
KPC100FF
1.0 mm male
male
female
1.0 mm female
male
female
110 GHz
KPC135F100F
KPC135F100M
KPC135M100F
KPC135M100M
1.35 mm female
female
male
male
1.0 mm female
male
female
male
90 GHz
KPC185F100F
KPC185F100M
KPC185M100F
KPC185M100M
1.85 mm (V) female
female
male
male
1.0 mm female
male
female
male
67 GHz
KPC185MF
KPC185MM
KPC185FF
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
65 GHz
KPC185M-SMPM-FD
KPC185M-SMPM-SB
KPC185M-SMPM
KPC185F-SMPM-FD
KPC185F-SMPM-SB
KPC185F-SMPM
1.85 mm (V) male
male
male
female
female
female
SMPM male (fd)
male (sb)
female
male (fd)
male (sb)
female
65 GHz
KPC240MF
KPC240MM
KPC240FF
2.4 mm male
male
female
2.4 mm female
male
female
50 GHz
KPC240F185F
KPC240F185M
KPC240M185F
KPC240M185M
2.4 mm female
female
male
male
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
male
50 GHz
KPC292MF
KPC292MM
KPC292FF
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
2.92 mm (K) female
male
female
40 GHz
KPC292F185F
KPC292F185M
KPC292M185F
KPC292M185M
2.92 mm (K) female
female
male
male
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
male
40 GHz
KPC292F240F
KPC292F240M
KPC292M240F
KPC292M240M
2.92 mm (K) female
female
male
male
2.4 mm female
male
female
male
40 GHz
KPC350MF
KPC350MM
KPC350FF
3.5 mm male
male
female
3.5 mm female
male
female
26.5 GHz
KPC350F240F
KPC350F240M
KPC350M240F
KPC350M240M
3.5 mm female
female
male
male
2.4 mm female
male
female
male
26.5 GHz

Flexible RF Cables

 

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
TCF107ZPZP
TCF107ZPZJ
TCF107ZJZJ
0.8 mm male
male
female
0.8 mm male
female
female
145 GHz
TCF119ZP1.0J 0.8 mm male 1.0 mm female 125 GHz
TCF119XX120G
TCF119XY120G
TCF119YY120G
1.0 mm male
male
female
1.0 mm male
female
female
120 GHz
TCF119XX
TCF119XY
TCF119YY
1.0 mm male
male
female
1.0 mm male
female
female
110 GHz
TCF119TX
TCF119TY
TCF119UX
TCF119UY
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
female
1.0 mm male
female
male
female
67 GHz
TCF219TT70G
TCF219TU70G
TCF219UU70G
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
1.85 mm (V) male
female
female
70 GHz
TCF219TT
TCF219TU
TCF219UU
1.85mm (V) male
male
female
1.85 mm (V) male
female
female
67 GHz
TCF219QT
TCF219QU
TCF219RT
TCF219RU
2.4 mm male
male
female
female
1.85 mm (V) male
female
male
female
50 GHz
TCF280QQ
TCF280QR
TCF280RR
2.4 mm male
male
female
2.4 mm male
female
female
50 GHz
TCF280KQ
TCF280KR
TCF280MQ
TCF280MR
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
female
2.4 mm male
female
male
female
40 GHz
TCF358KK
TCF358KM
TCF358MM
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
2.92 mm (K) male
female
female
40 GHz
TCF358FK
TCF358FM
TCF358GK
TCF358GM
3.5 mm male
male
female
female
2.92 mm (K) male
female
male
female
26.5 GHz
TCF358FF
TCF358FG
TCF358GG
3.5 mm male
male
female
3.5 mm male
female
female
26.5 GHz
TCF500AA
TCF500AB
TCF500BB
SMA male
male
female
SMA male
female
female
20 GHz
TCF500AD
TCF500AE
TCF500BD
TCF500BE
SMA male
male
female
female
N male
female
male
female
18 GHz
TCF500DD
TCF500DE
TCF500EE
N male
male
female
N male
female
female
18 GHz

Semi-rigid RF Cables

 

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
CA100MF
CA100MM
CA100FF
1.0 mm male
male
female
1.0 mm female
male
female
110 GHz
CA185F100F
CA185F100M
CA185M100F
CA185M100M
1.85 mm (V) female
female
male
male
1.0 mm female
male
female
male
67 GHz
CA185M119SMPM
CA185F119SMPM
1.85 mm (V) male
female
SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 65 GHz
CA185MF
CA185MM
CA185FF
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
60 GHz
CA240MF
CA240MM
CA240FF
2.4 mm male
male
female
2.4 mm female
male
female
50 GHz
CA240F185F
CA240F185M
CA240M185F
CA240M185M
2.4 mm female
female
male
male
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
male
50 GHz
CA240M119SMPM
CA240F119SMPM
2.4 mm male
female
SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 50 GHz
CA292MF
CA292MM
CA292FF
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
2.92 mm (K) female
male
female
40 GHz
CA292F185F
CA292F185M
CA292M185F
CA292M185M
2.92 mm (K) female
female
male
male
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
male
40 GHz
CA292F240F
CA292F240M
CA292M240F
CA292M240M
2.92 mm (K) female
female
male
male
2.4 mm female
male
female
male
40 GHz
CA292M119SMPM
CA292F119SMPM
2.92 mm (K) male
female
SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 40 GHz

Semi-flexible RF Cables

 

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
SFCA100MF
SFCA100MM
SFCA100FF
1.0 mm male
male
female
1.0 mm female
male
female
110 GHz
SFCA185119MF
SFCA185119MM
SFCA185119FF
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
65 GHz
SFCA119SMPM SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 65 GHz
SFCA185M119SMPM
SFCA185F119SMPM
1.85 mm (V) male
female
SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 65 GHz
SFCA292119MF
SFCA292119MM
SFCA292119FF
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
2.92 mm (K) female
male
female
40 GHz
SFCA292F119185F
SFCA292F119185M
SFCA292M119185F
SFCA292M119185M
2.92 mm (K) female
female
male
male
1.85 mm (V) female
male
female
male
40 GHz
SFCA292M119SMPM
SFCA292F119SMPM
2.92 mm (K) male
female
SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™) 40 GHz

Coaxial RF Flange & Sparkplug Launchers

 
Flange Launcher

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC100M311
KPC100F311
1.0 mm male
female
Connector Pin 110 GHz
KPC185M302
KPC185F302
1.85 mm (V) male
female
Glass Bead GB185 65 GHz
KPC292M302
KPC292F302
2.92 mm (K) male
female
Glass Bead GB292 40 GHz

 

 

Sparkplug Launcher

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC185M301
KPC185F301
1.85 mm (V) male
female
Glass Bead GB185 65 GHz
KPC292M301
KPC292F301
2.92 mm (K) male
female
Glass Bead GB292 40 GHz

Coaxial RF Panel (Bulkhead) Adapters

 
Panel (Bulkhead) Adapter

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC185MF PA
KPC185MM PA
KPC185FM PA
KPC185FF PA
1.85 mm (V) male
male
female
female
1.85 mm (V) female
male
male
female
65 GHz
KPC292MF PA
KPC292MM PA
KPC292FM PA
KPC292FF PA
2.92 mm (K) male
male
female
female
2.92 mm (K) female
male
male
female
40 GHz
KPC185FSMPMFDPA 1.85 mm (V) female SMPM male (fd) 65 GHz
KPC292FSMPMFDPA 2.92 mm (K) female SMPM male (fd) 40 GHz
SMAFF PA SMA female SMA female 20 GHz

 

 

Front Panel (Bulkhead) Adapter

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC185MF FPA 1.85 mm (V) male 1.85 mm (V) female 65 GHz
KPC292MF FPA 2.92 mm (K) male 2.92 mm (K) female 40 GHz

 

 

Hermetically Sealed Panel (Bulkhead) Adapter

P/N Connector 1 Connector 2 Bandwidth
KPC185FF HA 1.85 mm (V) female 1.85 mm (V) female 65 GHz
KPC292FF HA 2.92 mm (K) female 2.92 mm (K) female 40 GHz

Support – RF Connectors & Cables

Literature

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General Info

All interfaces you need (1.00 mm, 1.85 mm (V), 2.40 mm, 2.92 mm (K), 3.5 mm, SMA and SMPM (Mini-SMP, GPPO™)
RF adapters, microwave cable assemblies and high frequency connectors up to 110 GHz can be supplied by SHF. Our partners KMCO and Totoku are located in Japan and provide excellent product quality, competitive pricing and fast delivery.

 

Tailored to Your Needs
All parts will be manufactured on customer request. This enables us to provide all cables exactly tailored to the customers demand (any user specified length and bend is available) while keeping the delivery time at 3 weeks.

 

Phase & Lengths Matching
Optionally we offer phase or delay matched versions of any cable. These extremely accurate manufactured cables are the ideal tool for transmitting complementary data streams or achieving a well defined bit delay, e.g. for decorrelation of data streams in DQPSK applications. The phase matching is possible to any reference value (e.g. bit delay, reference cable or transmission time).

Cryogenic Applications
Some of our coaxial components are designed and approved for cryogenic and vacuum environments. An example for custom designed semi-rigid cables for cryogenic applications can be found here.

Application and Tutorial Notes

Cables for Cryogenic Applications

An example for custom designed semi-rigid cables for cryogenic applications can be found here.

FAQ

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Which connectors are compatible?

Below you will find the interface mating dimensions of different KMCO RF connectors. Whether a high quality male and female connector can mate together without any mechanical harm depends on the dimensions  c, d, e, f, g  and the thread type.

 

 

The table below shows IEEE-std-287 RF connector standards. The combinations with a check mark share the same specifications for the dimensions  c, d, e, f, g  and the thread type. Thus, these are mechanically compatible.

 

SMA: SMA, 3.50 mm, 2.92 mm

3.50 mm: SMA, 3.50 mm, 2.92 mm

2.92 mm: SMA, 3.50 mm, 2.92 mm

2.40 mm: 2.40 mm, 1.85 mm,  1.00 mm

1.85 mm: 2.40 mm, 1.85 mm,  1.00 mm

1.00 mm:  1.00 mm

 

Although mechanically compatible, the different interfaces still have different dimensions of the inner and outer connector (the dimensions a and b). Mechanically, this means that a conductor with a larger diameter connects with a smaller diameter conductor. The junction is not as smooth as if two connectors of the same type would mate. This “impurity” does influence the electrical performance. However, practically this influence is very small. In particular for data signals it is not noticeable.

IEEE-std-287 defines the interface names according to the inner diameter of the outer conductor  (dimension b). Some manufactures, however, designate parts with their own names. These are not different connector standards; just different names. Thus they mate perfectly. The list below shows which designations are essentially referring to the same interface.

2.92 mm = K

1.85 mm = V

1.00 mm = W1

SMPM = Mini-SMP = GPPO™ = SSMP

Can I work beyond the specified bandwidth or even cut-off frequency?

The term cut-off frequency originally comes from wave guides.  A wave guide structure has a low frequency cut-off, guiding the wave at frequencies above the cut-off with minimal loss. The waveguide doesn’t need an inner conductor.

The basic performance of an RF and microwave coaxial cable is determined by the connector diameters.

At low frequencies, electrical signals propagate in coaxial lines in the TEM (Transversal Electro Magnetic) mode. If the frequency of a signal into a coaxial line is chosen too high waveguide modes of the electromagnetic field (such as the H11) may exist.  To ensure that only the TEM mode propagates, thus keeping the signal clean, the frequency needs to stay below the cut-off frequency fc.

The cut-off frequency is not exactly the same as the specified upper frequency limit. In fact, the standards leave some margin as shown below.

 

3.50 mm:
Upper Frequency Specification: 26.5 GHz
Cut-Off Frequency fc: 34 GHz

2.92 mm:
Upper Frequency Specification: 40 GHz
Cut-Off Frequency fc: 45 GHz

2.40 mm:
Upper Frequency Specification:50 GHz
Cut-Off Frequency fc: 55 GHz

1.85 mm:
Upper Frequency Specification: 65 GHz
Cut-Off Frequency fc: 71 GHz

1.00 mm:
Upper Frequency Specification: 110 GHz
Cut-Off Frequency fc: 133 GHz

 

The characteristic for the onset of the 1st moding frequency is the occurrence of a null (a drop in signal) in the frequency transfer characteristic. If the application is for broadband communication signals (i.e. PRBS or similar type of data) the impact of this first frequency null might be negligible. In fact, in case a cable with a lower cut-off frequency is chosen, one may not suffer from the potential moding, but benefit from less attenuation due to the bigger diameter.

However, the first mode is potentially damaging the signal if the system is supposed to transmit narrowband RF signals at or around the moding regime.

Is it always the best to use the cable with the highest cut-off frequency?

At first sight, one may think the “additional bandwidth can do no harm”.  However, higher the cut-off, smaller is the diameter of the conductors. In practical applications, there are two important reasons that do not encourage smaller connector and cable geometries:

  • Cost: very small connectors are difficult to manufacture and therefore tended to be more costly
  • Loss: smaller the connector geometry, higher the over-all cable loss caused by  skin effect

 

Attenuation of the TCF flexible cable assemblies series (click/touch to enlarge)

 

So, in particular for longer cables one might consider sacrificing bandwidth to minimize over-all loss of the transmission path. For example, SHF delivers its 64 Gbps Bit Pattern Generators with 2.40 mm cable assemblies although a cable with 1.85 mm connectors might provide more bandwidths.

Some connectors are available with different cables. Which cable shall I choose?

In a nutshell, if there are different cables which can be equipped with the same connector: always choose the cable with the bigger diameter (simply because the bigger diameter results in less attenuation).

The Totoku cable line up below shows that some connectors can be attached to different cables. If above rule always applies, why would one do that?

1.
Because a cable can be equipped with two different connectors (like an adapter). The TCF280, for example, can be equipped with a 2.92 mm on one end and a 2.40 mm on the other end. Bearing in mind that such a combination results in the attenuation of a 2.40 mm cable while providing only the bandwidth of a 2.92 mm connector, such a cable can perfectly be used to omit an adapter.

2.
Because mechanical restrictions in the setup restrict the use of a bigger diameter cable.

Other than that, there is no reason to choose the thinner cable.

 

Totoku cable line up (click/touch to enlarge)