DC to 18 GHz Test Cables

A series of wideband 50 ? coaxial test cables has been introduced that feature extra rugged construction with integrated strain relief for longer life. The CBL-series Coaxial-Flex test cables are designed for use from DC to 18 GHz and are useful over a temperature range of –55° to +105°C. The cables use a triple shield construction comprised of a solid silver-plated, copper-clad, steel inner conductor with a solid PTFE dielectric, covered by a silver-plated, copper, flat ribbon braid inner shield, a 36 GA aluminum-polyimide tape interlayer and a silver-plated copper braid outer shield. The outer jacket is clear FEP. This coaxial configuration provides excellent shielding effectiveness, while ensuring good flexibility and a small bend radius. Passivated stainless steel SMA and N-type connectors with captivated center contacts are utilized for long mating-cycle lifetime. Their center pins are gold-plated beryllium copper with PTFE dielectric.

Fig. 1 Typical insertion loss vs. temperature for a CBL-3FT-SMSM cable.

The cables feature low insertion loss with low VSWR and phase variation versus flexure. Figure 1 shows typical insertion loss vs. temperature performance for a CBL-3FT-SMSM cable; Figure 2 displays typical return loss vs. temperature variation characteristics for the same cable type.