I have mentioned this vendor before, but the question still pops up every couple of years.
I use United Microwave Micropore 190 cable for my low-loss 18 GHz work. Let’s compare specs with that $2400 cable. A 15 meter run of Micropore 190 has about 20 dB attenuation, and with a male SMA at each end, costs about $400 (my guess). I suspect the loss is pretty much the same as the expensive cable, so where does the big cost difference come from? Well, the Micropore isn’t mechanically tough, it won’t handle 100 Watts at 18 GHz, it likely doesn’t like UV exposure, and you have to buy a specific cable length from the vendor (they affix the connectors). In my lab environment, as long as I treat my cables with care, I can have a whole set of Micropore cables for the cost of a single $2400 cable. Sure, I have a few Gore cables (also check out Storm Products for good, expensive cables), but they cost so much I try to use them only when absolutely necessary. Of course, the Micropore isn’t for every use, but a cable shouldn’t be over-specified any more than any other component. http://www.unitedmicrowave.com/Resource/190.jpg http://www.stormproducts.com/microwave/product-finder-fx.asp http://www.gore.com/en_xx/products/cables/coaxial/index.html Ed Price [email protected] <blocked::mailto:[email protected]> WB6WSN NARTE Certified EMC Engineer Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab Cubic Defense Applications San Diego, CA USA 858-505-2780 Military & Avionics EMC Is Our Specialty From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob Richards Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 6:34 AM To: Ken MacGrath; [email protected] Subject: Re: Low loss cables Ken, We have been replacing our older emissions cables with those from Microcoax. www.microcoax.com. Expensive, but really good cable. We have a couple of cables for testing up to 26.5 GHz, which is the MKR300C ruggedized cable. We also have one cable for up to 40 GHz, MKR240A. And we just ordered a 15m cable (to antenna mast) for up to 18GHz, UFB293C with optional armor and precision N connectors. That last cable is over $2400. Whatever cables you get from Microcoax, get the "test" cables and not the "hookup" cables. The "test" cables are rated much higher for flexure, the "hookup" is made more for a cable that will be installed and not moved around afterwards. Bob R. --- On Tue, 7/19/11, Ken MacGrath <[email protected]> wrote: From: Ken MacGrath <[email protected]> Subject: Low loss cables To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 9:04 PM Hello All, I'd appreciate any/all cables recommendations for a rugged low loss cable for radiated emissions testing at 10 meters, and cables for radiated immunity (61000-4-3). Thanks in advance! Ken - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <[email protected]> David Heald <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <[email protected]> David Heald <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <[email protected]> David Heald <[email protected]>
