Radiall and Molex Inc. have announced that Molex is now a licensed second source for Radiall SMP-MAX board-to-board coaxial connectors, and as such Molex will manufacture and market the connectors. The SMP-MAX connector line offers a cost-effective large misalignment tolerance, making it simpler and more reliable to make connections even in blind-mate applications. The connectors address the most demanding wireless telecom applications required for the new generation of infrastructure compact equipment such as base stations or handheld devices.

The new SMP-MAX features a patented impedance-matching insulator that is optimized for a larger operating gap between connectors, making it capable of handling a maximum board-to-board tilt (radial travel) of 3°, and up to 2 mm of distance (axial) misalignment without a spring, which is 300 percent more than the standard SMP. The connectors have an operating frequency range of DC to 6 GHz, a 1.2 max VSWR guaranteed up to 3 GHz, and power handling of up to 165 W at 3 GHz.

“We are pleased to welcome Molex as a second source for SMP-MAX large misalignment connectors,” said Nicolas Dupuy, Manager of RF Business Development at Radiall. “The innovative interface is already being designed into numerous telecom, industrial and defense projects, and Molex is a perfect fit to spread what will undoubtedly become a RF board-to-board standard."

Roger Kauffman, RF Sales/Marketing Manager at Molex, added, “The SMP-MAX brings new levels of convenience and performance to board-to-board RF connections. As a certified second source, we can help extend the global acceptance of this new interface.”