When working at frequencies above a few tens of megahertz, the quality and reliability of connections should be monitored more carefully than at lower frequencies. At radio frequencies (RF) and above, the integrity of the transmission line must be maintained throughout the connection, which highlights the importance of the mechanical and electrical compatibility of the connectors.
RF connectors are designed to join devices together as seamlessly as possible. To mate properly, the outer conductor mating surfaces must be clean and flat, and the inner conductor surfaces should come very close together. Even perfectly clean, unused connectors can cause trouble if they are mechanically outside the scope of the specifications. Using a connector gauge is essential, since the critical tolerance in precision microwave connectors is very small.
CAUTION |
Damaged or dirty connectors can significantly degrade measurements. To continue to get the best performance from equipment and extend the life of the connectors, perform regular inspections, gauge mechanical tolerances, and clean the RF connectors. |
CAUTION |
A damaged or out-of-spec connector can destroy the other good connector in just one connection. No device should be used if the connectors are found to be out of the specification. |
This document contains operating and maintenance instructions for RF connectors:
NOTE |
Explore this document and the documentation for gauging before beginning operation with RF connectors. |
