Product category:
Cables and Wires
News Release from: Gigatronix | Subject: Ku-flex
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 15 March 2005
Microwave cable assemblies perform up to
18GHz
A new range of durable microwave coaxial cable assemblies is designed for 50ohm applications to 18GHz where consistent high performance characteristics, flexibility and low loss are critical.
Ku-flex is a new range of durable microwave coaxial cable assemblies for the Ku-band frequency range (12-18GHz) from Gigatronix, developed for 50ohm applications to 18GHz where consistent high performance characteristics, flexibility and low loss are critical This makes them an ideal solution for test, instrumentation and other high frequency applications
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 25 Jun 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Incorporating a flexible alternative to RG402 (141) and RG405 (086) semi-rigid cables, they remove the requirement for hand or precision bending and forming equipment whilst still maintaining the durability and performance characteristics commonly associated with semi-rigid cable assemblies.
All Ku-flex cable assemblies have a double screened, silver covered copper tape and braid construction that provides low passive intermodulation and comparable shielding effectiveness and power handling to that of RG402 and RG405 semi-rigid cables.
In addition the cables have a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) jacket, a PTFE dielectric and silver plated solid centre conductors.
Further reading
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Ku-flex 402 cable assemblies have attenuation per metre of 2.10dB at 18GHz, and the 405 versions have attenuation of 3.23dB per metre at 18GHz.
Both assemblies have typical return loss characteristics of better than 20dB at 18GHz.
Ku-flex microwave cable assemblies are available terminated with gold plated SMA connectors or tri-alloy plated N Type connectors, both of which are held ex-stock to reduce manufacturing lead-times.
Typically assemblies are available for any length requirement within 5-7 days without any minimum order quantities.
Customers can also discuss alternative variations with the Gigatronix technical sales team.
The complete range incorporates an integral brass tubing and double heat shrink sleeving to provide a superior and more durable strain relief system that helps to reduce cable damage from bending, twisting or flexing.
This extends the life of the assembly while also maintaining its performance characteristics.
Each cable assembly is tested and plotted for insertion loss and attenuation, from 40MHz to 18GHz.
The resulting plot is then serialised and linked to its appropriate assembly by way of a central identification sleeve.
This ensures that each assembly has known, exact performance criteria that can be used for calibration or traceability by the user.
"Ku-Flex offers the performance characteristics and durability expected with semi-rigid cable assemblies whilst also providing the flexibility now commonly required in higher frequency test, instrumentation and microwave communication equipment".
"Customers now also have the option of constructing and purchasing all of our Ku-flex cable assemblies online using our unique Cabulator cable assembly design software", commented Bruce Burton, Managing Director at Gigatronix.
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