TABLE OF CONTENTS RF coaxial connectors are the most important element in a cable system. These connectors will be used internally to the test equipment in addition to on the load board. High-quality coaxial cables have the potential to deliver all the performance a system requires, but they are often limited by the performance of the connectors. Impairments such as power loss, electrical noise, and intermodulation distortion, a major concern in today's communications systems, are minimized by the design and manufacturing techniques of these connectors.
Connectors generally come in both "male" and "female" sections. Higher-quality RF connectors are even sometimes designed and manufactured in male-female pairs to gain optimal performance. The selection of quality connectors is a critical area to achieving the necessary performance.
Often, quality connectors for production testing are well worth the extra money spent. Through repeated connecting and disconnecting of, for example, a load board, the connectors can exhibit mechanical wear (i.e., gold plating is removed and electrical properties change). To minimize potential problems, it is imperative to maintain clean connectors in a test system (using a lint-free swab and rubbing alcohol, for example) and to ensure that any nuts on the connectors are tightened to the proper torque specification provided by the manufacturer [1].
When microwave cables and connectors are used in test and measurement applications, their service life may be considerably reduced as a result of frequent use [2].
This appendix will provide a descriptive overview of commonly used connectors in RF and SOC production testing.
