Radio frequency

Radio frequency (RF) is a frequency or rate of oscillation within the range of

about 3 Hz to 300 GHz. This range corresponds to frequency of alternating current
electrical signals used to produce and detect radio waves. Since most of this range
is beyond the vibration rate that most mechanical systems can respond to, RF
usually refers to oscillations in electrical circuits.

Contents
• 1 Special properties of RF electrical signals
• 2 Frequencies
• 3 See also
• 4 External links

Special properties of RF electrical signals

Electrical currents that oscillate at RF have special properties not shared by direct
current signals. One such property is the ease with which they can ionize air to
create a conductive path through air. This property is exploited by 'high frequency'
units used in electric arc welding, although strictly speaking these machines do not
typically employ frequencies within the HF band. Another special property is an
electromagnetic force that drives the RF current to the surface of conductors,
known as the skin effect. Another property is the ability to appear to flow through
paths that contain insulating material, like the dielectric insulator of a capacitor.
The degree of effect of these properties depends on the frequency of the signals.

Frequencies
Name Symbol Frequency Wavelength Applications

Extremely ELF a 3–30 Hz k 10– Directly audible when converted to sound

low (above ~20 Hz), communication with
100 Mm
frequency submarines

Super low b 30– Directly audible when converted to sound, AC

SLF j 1–10 Mm
frequency 300 Hz power grids (50–60 Hz)

Ultra low c 300– i 100– Directly audible when converted to sound,

ULF
frequency 3000 Hz 1000 km communication with mines

Very low h 10– Directly audible when converted to sound

VLF d 3–30 kHz
frequency 100 km (below ~20 kHz; or ultrasound otherwise)

Low e 30– AM broadcasting, navigational beacons,

LF g 1–10 km
frequency 300 kHz lowFER, amateur radio

Navigational beacons, AM broadcasting,

Medium f 300– f 100–
MF amateur radio, maritime and aviation
frequency 3000 kHz 1000 m
communication

High g 3– Shortwave, amateur radio, citizens' band radio,

HF e 10–100 m
frequency 30 MHz skywave propagation

Very high h 30– FM broadcasting, amateur radio, broadcast

VHF d 1–10 m
frequency 300 MHz television, aviation, GPR, MRI

Broadcast television, amateur radio, mobile

Ultra high i 300– telephones, cordless telephones, wireless
UHF c 10–100 cm
frequency 3000 MHz networking, remote keyless entry for
automobiles, microwave ovens, GPR

Wireless networking, satellite links, amateur

Super high
SHF j 3–30 GHz b 1–10 cm radio, microwave links, satellite television, door
frequency
openers

Extremely Microwave data links, radio astronomy, amateur

k 30–
high EHF a 1–10 mm radio, remote sensing, advanced weapons
300 GHz
frequency systems, advanced security scanning
 • Frequency allocation
• Plastic Sealing/Welding Technologies
• Radio waves
• RF connector
• Spectrum management
• Ultrasound
• RF Switch Matrix – A custom configuration of high frequency switches
used in automated test for testing high frequency components and electronic
devices

v•d•e
Radio spectrum

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zH HkzM HG
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Electromagnetic spectrum

← shorter wavelengths longer wavelengths →

Gamma rays · X-rays · Ultraviolet · Visible · Infrared · Terahertz radiation ·
Microwave · Radio
 Visible (optical) Violet · Blue · Green · Yellow · Orange · Red

W band · V band · Q band · Ka band · K band · Ku band · X band · S

Microwaves
band · C band · L band

Radio EHF · SHF · UHF · VHF · HF · MF · LF · VLF · ULF · SLF · ELF

Wavelength
types Microwave · Shortwave · Medium wave · Longwave

RF connector
N male type RF connector.
An RF connector is an electrical connector designed to work at radio frequencies in the multi-
megahertz range. RF connectors are typically used with coaxial cables and are designed to
maintain the shielding that the coaxial design offers. Better models also minimize the change in
transmission line impedance at the connection. Mechanically they provide a fastening
mechanism (thread, bayonet, braces, push pull) and springs for a low ohmic electric contact
while sparing the gold surface thus allowing above 1000 reconnects and reducing the insertion
force. Research activity in the area of radio-frequency (RF) circuit design has surged in the last
decade in direct response to the enormous market demand for inexpensive, high data rate
wireless transceivers.

Contents
• 1 Types
○ 1.1 Standard types
○ 1.2 Miniature types
○ 1.3 Sub-miniature types
○ 1.4 Precision types
○ 1.5 Flange connectors
• 1.6 Quick-lock connectors
• 2 References
• 3 External links
Types
N right angle direct male connector, solder-type, for semi-rigid .141 cable
Standard types
• 7/16 DIN connector, a high power 50 Ω connector originally developed by Spinner[1]
• BNC (bayonet Neill-Concelman)
• C connector (Concelman)
• Dezifix connector, hermaphrodite connector used mainly by Rohde & Schwarz
• GR connector (General Radio)
• F connector, used for domestic television installations and domestic satellite LNBs (75
Ω) world wide.
• HN connector, a high voltage version of the N connector
• IEC 169-2 connector, also called Belling Lee connector used throughout Europe and
some other countries for domestic television installations and as FM connector for radio.
It is standardised in EN 60169-2.
• Motorola connector, standard AM/FM antenna connector used for automotive radios
• Musa connector, a 50 Ω connector used in telecommunications and broadcast video
• NMO mount (new Motorola mount), for removable mobile antennas. Large threaded base
for durability in wind.
• N connector (Neill)
• SC connector, screw version of C connector
• TNC connector (threaded Neill-Concelman)
• UHF connector (e.g., PL-259/SO-239). Also referred to as an M-type connector by
Japanese manufacturers such as Kenwood
• Twin lead
Miniature types
• Miniature BNC connectors
• Miniature UHF connectors
• DIN 47223 connectors
• U.FL connector
• IPX connector
• SMZ connector - System 43 (BT43 and High Density HD43) for use in DDF
Sub-miniature types
• MMCX connector
• MCX connector
• FME connector
 • SMA connector, including variants:
○ 3.5 and 2.92 mm connectors, which cross-mate with SMA, and
○ 2.4, 1.85 and 1.0 mm connectors, which do not cross-mate with SMA
• SMB connector
• SMC connector
• SMP connector
Precision types
• APC-7 connector
Flange connectors
• EIA RF Connectors series of RF flange connectors
Quick-lock connectors
• QMA and QN connector
• QLS connector
• SnapN connector
• Mini-QMA and HPQN
• Antenna socket
• MHV connector, a coaxial connector designed for high voltages
• SHV connector, a safer coaxial connector designed for high voltages
The following audio and video connectors are sometimes used for RF, but are not generally
considered to be RF connectors:
• DIN connector (not to be confused with the "7/16 DIN" connector)
• RCA connector (Radio Corporation of America) originally introduced for audio, but now
widely used for video as well
• SCART
• List of coaxial connectors
• Concentric twinax connector

RF connectors

APC-7 · BNC · C · F · FME · Hirose U.FL · IPX · Motorola · MCX · MMCX · N · QLS ·
QMA/QN · SMA · SMB · SMC · Twin-lead · TNC · TV aerial plug · UHF / Mini-UHF
Variations and alternate names: 2.9 mm (SMA) · 7 mm · Triax / Triaxial · Twin BNC / Twinax
(BNC) · IPEX · MHF · AMC (UFL) · SnapN · RP-TNC · RP-SMA
Old or seldom used: EIA · GR · Musa

See also: Radio frequency · Radio spectrum · Audio and video connectors · Audio and
video interfaces and connectors

Analog video standards

RF connector · Composite video · S-Video (Y/C) · Component video (YPbPr • RGB)

RF Switch Matrix
An RF/Microwave Switch Matrix is used in test systems, in both design
verification and manufacturing test, to route high frequency signals between the
device under test (DUT) and the test and measurement equipment. Besides signal
routing, the RF/Microwave Switch Matrix may also contain signal conditioning
including passive signal conditioning devices, such as attenuators, filters, and
directional couplers, as well as active signal conditioning, such as amplification
and frequency convertors. Since the signal routing and signal conditioning needs of
a test system differ from design to design, RF/Microwave Switch Matrices
typically have to be custom designed by the test system engineer or a hired
contractor for each new test system. The Switch Matrix is made up of switches and
signal conditioners that are mounted together in a mechanical infrastructure or
housing. Cables are employed to interconnect the switches and signal conditioners.
The switch matrix then employs some type of driver circuit and power supply to
power and drive the switches and signal conditioners. The switch matrix uses
connectors or fixtures to route the signal paths of the sourcing and measurement
equipment to the DUT. The switch matrix is typically located close to DUT in the
test system to shorten the signal paths to the DUT thus reducing insertion loss and
signal degradation.

Contents
• 1 Benefits of an RF/Microwave Switch Matrix
• 2 Making It vs Buying It
• 3 Signal Routing
• 4 Example Applications
• 5 Design Challenges
 • 6 External links
• 7 References

Benefits of an RF/Microwave Switch Matrix

The purpose of a switch matrix is to move the signal routing and signal
conditioning to one central location in the test system versus having it all
distributed at various places in the test system. Moving the signal routing and
signal conditioning to a single location in the test system has the following
advantages:
• Calibration plane between the DUT and test equipment becomes smaller and
centralized making it easier to characterize.

• Switches and signal conditioners have similar power, mounting, and driver
requirements so moving them to a single location means you will only need
a single power supply and driver circuit to power and control them.
• Short signal paths reduce insertion loss and increase signal integrity.
• Exact length signal paths are possible to control phase issues.
• Simplifies service and support.
Making It vs Buying It
Switch matrices present a unique problem to test system designers because the
signal conditioning needs, the frequency range, the bandwidth, and power aspects
change from application to application. So test and measurement companies cannot
provide a one size fits all solution. This leaves test system designers with two
choices for their switch matrix design: Create an in-house solution or contract it
out. Advantages of creating your switch matrix in-house:
• Proprietary concerns can be a big issue especially in the Aerospace Defense
industry. Creating a switch matrix in-house makes proprietary concerns a
non-issue.
• Using spare human resources may be less costly.
• Being the first to develop an emerging technology into a finished product
can be very profitable for a company. When building a switch matrix in-
house the timely process of shopping around for the right contractor is
bypassed. A company is in control of the amount of daily man hours spent
developing a switch matrix.
• Successive switch matrix designs can be highly leveragable from design to
design. The switch driver hardware and software, the mechanical designs,
 the power supply, etc. can all be leveraged from design to design with little
or no modification.
Contracting out advantages:
• Company lacks spare human resources.
• System integrators (contractors) tend to have more experience and expertise.
They can design within tight specs and can handle complicated designs.
• System integrators can provide guaranteed work as well as product support.
Signal Routing
There are two types of switches typically used in switch matrices: Coaxial
Electromechanical Switches and Solid State Switches, also known as electronic
switches. Coaxial electromechanical switches can be further divided into two
categories based on their architecture, latching relay and non-latching relay. Solid
state switches come in three types: PIN diode, FET, and hybrid. The advantages of
solid state switches over EM switches include they have much faster switching
speed (at least 10,000 times faster), they have an almost infinite life, and they are
very stable and repeatable. On the other hand, since solid state switches have non-
linear portions over their frequency range their bandwidth is limited. Also, EM
switches provide better insertion loss, VSWR, power handling, and isolation
specifications. For these reasons EM switches are used much more often in switch
matrix designs.
Example Applications
Custom Switch Matrices are used extensively throughout test systems in the
wireless and aerospace defense sectors for design verification and manufacturing
test. They can range from the simple to the complex. An example of a simple
design switch matrix application would be a 1:16 MUX configuration that routes
12 satellite TV feeds to a single spectrum analyzer input that is used to perform
signal integrity checks on the satellite feeds. Such a design would require 5 SP4T
coaxial EM switches as well as interconnecting coax cable for the signal routing
along with a mechanical infrastructure, power supply, and switch driver circuit to
mount, power, and operate the switches.
An example of a more complex switch matrix is an application that is measuring
jitter on multiple high speed serial data buses. The switch matrix inputs the data
bus signals then provides the proper switching and signal conditioning for the
signals before feeding the signals to test and measurement instruments. This
custom switch matrix employed 14 EM switches and a number of different signal
conditioners including: power splitters, amplifiers, mixers, filters, and attenuators.
Design Challenges
There are six main challenges when designing a custom RF/Microwave Switch
Matrix from beginning to end:
1. Mechanical Design: design of a electrically shielded enclosure or box,
internal component mounting brackets, as well as component and cabling
layout.
2. RF/Microwave Design: RF/Microwave signal routing and signal
conditioning design and testing. A calibration plan for the switch matrix
would need to be developed to properly characterize the signal paths.
3. Power and Control Hardware: The power supply and switch driver circuitry
will need to be designed and developed.
4. Software Control: A software driver will need to be developed to provide an
interface between the control hardware and test system program.
5. Documentation: The whole switch matrix design will have to be
documented to support maintenance and possible future design leveraging.
6. Servicing Plan: A servicing plan will need to be developed to ensure the life
of the switch matrix lasts as long as the life of the test system.
Test equipment manufacturers, such as Agilent Technologies, offer instruments
that provide a power supply, driver circuitry, and software drivers that essentially
saves a test system designer time and cost by eliminating two of the six switch
matrix design challenges: power and control hardware design as well as software
driver development. In early 2008 Agilent Technologies introduced a new product
concept that aids in custom switch matrix design. The new product offers test
system designers a power supply, driver circuitry, and software drivers all wrapped
together in a mainframe. The mainframe provides flexible mounting for switches
and other components as well as blank front and rear panel that can be easily
modified to fit a design need. This new product eliminates 3 of the 6 design
challenges: mechanical design, power and control hardware design, and software
driver development