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

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 , (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.

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!)

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

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.

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!)