|
Why are SMA's so expensive?
with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why
are they still so expensive? |
John Walton wrote:
with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. -- Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
John Walton wrote:
with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. -- Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
In article ,
says... John Walton wrote: with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. Regrettably true. The SMA/SMB series are the last ones I know of that still have big enough individual pieces (barely) to be hand- assemble capable. Those tiny center pins are a real pain, though... -- Dr. Anton Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute (Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR) kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t c&o&m Motorola Radio Programming & Service Available - http://www.bluefeathertech.com/rf.html "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (Red Green) |
In article , Dr. Anton Squeegee
writes: In article , says... John Walton wrote: with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. Regrettably true. The SMA/SMB series are the last ones I know of that still have big enough individual pieces (barely) to be hand- assemble capable. Those tiny center pins are a real pain, though... The basic SMA design came about almost 30 years ago as a small coaxial connector that would work on up to X-band (8 to 12 GHz). In order to even approach that frequency ALL the mating surface tolerances have to be precise in order to avoid discontinuities that raise the VSWR. Tighter tolerances mean greater cost to produce. The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. SMBs are on the SMA basic plan but are push-on, pull-off mating for quick connect/disconnect. Okay for limited testing in systems and prototyping. Note that BNC males with the outer bayonet connecting sleeve removed will mate with N females for quick testing too (no remarks about miscegenation, please...). You can spot a pro in microwave RF work by the extra 3/8" across the flats wrench within easy reach. An open-end, closed-end combo 3/8" wrench is only about 3 1/2" long (Craftsman). I used to carry mine on the business keychain in my pants pocket...:-) Len Anderson retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person |
In article , Dr. Anton Squeegee
writes: In article , says... John Walton wrote: with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. Regrettably true. The SMA/SMB series are the last ones I know of that still have big enough individual pieces (barely) to be hand- assemble capable. Those tiny center pins are a real pain, though... The basic SMA design came about almost 30 years ago as a small coaxial connector that would work on up to X-band (8 to 12 GHz). In order to even approach that frequency ALL the mating surface tolerances have to be precise in order to avoid discontinuities that raise the VSWR. Tighter tolerances mean greater cost to produce. The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. SMBs are on the SMA basic plan but are push-on, pull-off mating for quick connect/disconnect. Okay for limited testing in systems and prototyping. Note that BNC males with the outer bayonet connecting sleeve removed will mate with N females for quick testing too (no remarks about miscegenation, please...). You can spot a pro in microwave RF work by the extra 3/8" across the flats wrench within easy reach. An open-end, closed-end combo 3/8" wrench is only about 3 1/2" long (Craftsman). I used to carry mine on the business keychain in my pants pocket...:-) Len Anderson retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person |
In article , (Avery Fineman) wrote:
In article , Dr. Anton Squeegee writes: In article , says... John Walton wrote: with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. Regrettably true. The SMA/SMB series are the last ones I know of that still have big enough individual pieces (barely) to be hand- assemble capable. Those tiny center pins are a real pain, though... The basic SMA design came about almost 30 years ago as a small coaxial connector that would work on up to X-band (8 to 12 GHz). In order to even approach that frequency ALL the mating surface tolerances have to be precise in order to avoid discontinuities that raise the VSWR. Tighter tolerances mean greater cost to produce. The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. SMBs are on the SMA basic plan but are push-on, pull-off mating for quick connect/disconnect. Okay for limited testing in systems and prototyping. Note that BNC males with the outer bayonet connecting sleeve removed will mate with N females for quick testing too (no remarks about miscegenation, please...). You can spot a pro in microwave RF work by the extra 3/8" across the flats wrench within easy reach. An open-end, closed-end combo 3/8" wrench is only about 3 1/2" long (Craftsman). I used to carry mine on the business keychain in my pants pocket...:-) Len Anderson retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person But the pro who uses SMA's always has a 5/16" open end wrench handy. Dr. G. |
In article , (Avery Fineman) wrote:
In article , Dr. Anton Squeegee writes: In article , says... John Walton wrote: with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Precision machining. The tolerances are tighter than most connectors. Some of the newer RF connectors are even worse. They have to be machine assembled and ordered made to length, or with a single connector. Regrettably true. The SMA/SMB series are the last ones I know of that still have big enough individual pieces (barely) to be hand- assemble capable. Those tiny center pins are a real pain, though... The basic SMA design came about almost 30 years ago as a small coaxial connector that would work on up to X-band (8 to 12 GHz). In order to even approach that frequency ALL the mating surface tolerances have to be precise in order to avoid discontinuities that raise the VSWR. Tighter tolerances mean greater cost to produce. The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. SMBs are on the SMA basic plan but are push-on, pull-off mating for quick connect/disconnect. Okay for limited testing in systems and prototyping. Note that BNC males with the outer bayonet connecting sleeve removed will mate with N females for quick testing too (no remarks about miscegenation, please...). You can spot a pro in microwave RF work by the extra 3/8" across the flats wrench within easy reach. An open-end, closed-end combo 3/8" wrench is only about 3 1/2" long (Craftsman). I used to carry mine on the business keychain in my pants pocket...:-) Len Anderson retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person But the pro who uses SMA's always has a 5/16" open end wrench handy. Dr. G. |
What buch of bunk! What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start
production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. 73 hank wd5jfr "John Walton" wrote in message ... with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? |
What buch of bunk! What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start
production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. 73 hank wd5jfr "John Walton" wrote in message ... with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? |
On 09 Nov 2003 18:12:36 GMT, (Avery Fineman)
wrote: The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. With all the available semi-rigid cables with connectors available as surplus it has never been neccessary to mount such connectors, got a few hundred cable connector 10 years ago, but really not needed them, and I do have 10GHz SSB transverter with SMA connectors 73 Jan-Martin, LA8AK http://home.online.no/~la8ak/d.htm -- remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!) |
On 09 Nov 2003 18:12:36 GMT, (Avery Fineman)
wrote: The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more SMAs used with semi-rigid coax are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it and are incredibly durable physically and in all kinds of environments. The solid center conductor of the semi-rigid becomes the "pin" just as in the TV set F connector used with RG-59 75 Ohm semi-flexible. F connectors are good to 1 GHz (with some higher VSWR than others) so don't anyone knock the method. SMAs are dandy to use with stripline in aluminum hog- out enclosures. With all the available semi-rigid cables with connectors available as surplus it has never been neccessary to mount such connectors, got a few hundred cable connector 10 years ago, but really not needed them, and I do have 10GHz SSB transverter with SMA connectors 73 Jan-Martin, LA8AK http://home.online.no/~la8ak/d.htm -- remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!) |
Henry Kolesnik wrote:
What buch of bunk! What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. 73 hank wd5jfr Cheap garbage is out there, but after you've seen it, you will never use it again. I have seen imported "N" "ell" adapters with over 20 dB of attenuation. I have seen crappy SMA connectors that pop apart before you can even tighten them to the chassis connector. I will not buy or use garbage. I have some Omni-Spectra, and a pile of surplus SMA connectors left, plus a pile of modules from commercial Sat receivers, and telemetry equipment that should last me a couple years. -- Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
Henry Kolesnik wrote:
What buch of bunk! What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. 73 hank wd5jfr Cheap garbage is out there, but after you've seen it, you will never use it again. I have seen imported "N" "ell" adapters with over 20 dB of attenuation. I have seen crappy SMA connectors that pop apart before you can even tighten them to the chassis connector. I will not buy or use garbage. I have some Omni-Spectra, and a pile of surplus SMA connectors left, plus a pile of modules from commercial Sat receivers, and telemetry equipment that should last me a couple years. -- Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur
HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more =============== There are High quality PL259 connectors with teflon insulation where only the (gold plated) centre pin has to be soldered . The braid connection is like an N-connector with a 'flanged braid insert' .. They are relatively expensive (GBP 3.00 = US$ 4.50) ,yet I have adopted them as standard for all the necessary 'UHF' connections in the shack. In the UK these connectors are available from Westlake. Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH |
The old "UHF" connectors (SO-, PL- numbers) common on amateur
HF and low-VHF equipment were obsolete for new designs a half century ago. Those are cheap because there isn't much QC on them and the tolerances are sloppy in comparison. It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more =============== There are High quality PL259 connectors with teflon insulation where only the (gold plated) centre pin has to be soldered . The braid connection is like an N-connector with a 'flanged braid insert' .. They are relatively expensive (GBP 3.00 = US$ 4.50) ,yet I have adopted them as standard for all the necessary 'UHF' connections in the shack. In the UK these connectors are available from Westlake. Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH |
This is somewhat OT, but I am regularly amazed at the Chinese ability to turn out high quality parts dirt cheap. Computer components are a good example. Psst... Don't tell them. :-) ============================ Tell them what? 8-) Jack |
This is somewhat OT, but I am regularly amazed at the Chinese ability to turn out high quality parts dirt cheap. Computer components are a good example. Psst... Don't tell them. :-) ============================ Tell them what? 8-) Jack |
In article ,
W7TI wrote: On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 19:17:28 -0600, "Henry Kolesnik" wrote: What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. __________________________________________________ _______ This is somewhat OT, but I am regularly amazed at the Chinese ability to turn out high quality parts dirt cheap. Computer components are a good example. Psst... Don't tell them. :-) You could too if you paid your workforce a buck day. Al -- There's never enough time to do it right the first time....... |
In article ,
W7TI wrote: On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 19:17:28 -0600, "Henry Kolesnik" wrote: What we need is to get the Chinese factories to start production. Their copies of well known watches that sell for a few dollars are a testament to their cpabilites to maintain and keep close tolerance while being competitive. __________________________________________________ _______ This is somewhat OT, but I am regularly amazed at the Chinese ability to turn out high quality parts dirt cheap. Computer components are a good example. Psst... Don't tell them. :-) You could too if you paid your workforce a buck day. Al -- There's never enough time to do it right the first time....... |
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 12:50:26 -0000, "Frank Dinger"
wrote: It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more =============== There are High quality PL259 connectors with teflon insulation where only the (gold plated) centre pin has to be soldered . The braid connection is like an N-connector with a 'flanged braid insert' . They are relatively expensive (GBP 3.00 = US$ 4.50) ,yet I have adopted them as standard for all the necessary 'UHF' connections in the shack. In the UK these connectors are available from Westlake. Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH SO239/PL259 were used in the 60's for radio link equipment on 400MHz, but it was a prosedure to connect the cables correctly. I wouldn't choose such connector, my choice would be N-type or Spinner for cables going out of the equipment, with a limited application of BNC type. In fact BNC is just as bad as PL-259, and it is seldom mentioned in AR groups, but rather intermittent above 1GHz. Suppose most participants on the NG's operates only 2m FM? TNC is far better, but I don't like to mix up with too many standards. PL259 are good enough when already installed on proffesional equipment, and only then. Inside the equipment I would prefer conhex on lower frequencies and BNC when impedance is important, SMA on SHF. Also have some equipment with dezi-fix connectors, but I've never seen much comments on these, not sure when they are 50 or 60 ohm type 73 Jan-Martin, LA8AK http://home.online.no/~la8ak/21a.htm -- remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!) |
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 12:50:26 -0000, "Frank Dinger"
wrote: It is good for many purposes, even up to 432MHz - in spite of what somebody says. In the local radio club the problem is that they don't like to solder and even SO239/PL259 means a great problem. Not to mention a club which went into a very large scale of antenna installations for CQ-WW contest last year and discovered that some of the antennas which were put up few days before didn't work any more =============== There are High quality PL259 connectors with teflon insulation where only the (gold plated) centre pin has to be soldered . The braid connection is like an N-connector with a 'flanged braid insert' . They are relatively expensive (GBP 3.00 = US$ 4.50) ,yet I have adopted them as standard for all the necessary 'UHF' connections in the shack. In the UK these connectors are available from Westlake. Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH SO239/PL259 were used in the 60's for radio link equipment on 400MHz, but it was a prosedure to connect the cables correctly. I wouldn't choose such connector, my choice would be N-type or Spinner for cables going out of the equipment, with a limited application of BNC type. In fact BNC is just as bad as PL-259, and it is seldom mentioned in AR groups, but rather intermittent above 1GHz. Suppose most participants on the NG's operates only 2m FM? TNC is far better, but I don't like to mix up with too many standards. PL259 are good enough when already installed on proffesional equipment, and only then. Inside the equipment I would prefer conhex on lower frequencies and BNC when impedance is important, SMA on SHF. Also have some equipment with dezi-fix connectors, but I've never seen much comments on these, not sure when they are 50 or 60 ohm type 73 Jan-Martin, LA8AK http://home.online.no/~la8ak/21a.htm -- remove ,xnd to reply (Spam precaution!) |
On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 08:06:41 -0500, John Walton hath writ:
with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Just a guess: Because it is so labor intensive to remove the leads. HI!HI! Jonesy -- | Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | OS/2 | Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | linux __ | 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK |
On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 08:06:41 -0500, John Walton hath writ:
with what would appear to be a plethora of devices using SMA connectors, why are they still so expensive? Just a guess: Because it is so labor intensive to remove the leads. HI!HI! Jonesy -- | Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | OS/2 | Gunnison, Colorado | @ | Jonesy | linux __ | 7,703' -- 2,345m | config.com | DM68mn SK |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:29 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
RadioBanter.com