Cabling and Connectivity

Radio signal frequencies are rising to the millimeter-wave (mmWave) range as applications such as 5G networks and automotive radar systems seek more bandwidth at higher frequencies. Testing is an important part of producing new products at mmWave frequencies and coaxial cable assemblies are vital parts in getting signals from a signal generator to a device under test (DUT) and then to an analyzer.

Part 2 of this article summarizes the results of recent testing conducted by the author on the shielding effectiveness of screened cables up to 2.8 GHz.

Part 1 of this two-part article explores some basic rules for terminating cable shields. Part 2 of the article will appear in our October 2022 issue and will summarize the results of recent testing conducted by the author on the shielding effectiveness of screened cables up to 2.8 GHz

In this column, the author offers a brief summary of a more systematic approach for using ferrite cores on cables. This summary can serve as a “ferrite core checklist” for design and test engineers.

In this article, the author will identify two major types of single-conductor structure resonances and describe some case studies for both. He will then describe how design projects can quickly and easily be ‘de-risked’ from the possibilities of suffering either type of resonance by the use of low-cost field and circuit simulators and/or low-cost bench testing on physical ‘mock-ups’.

Known mechanisms that couple lightning surges onto communication cables, and how these mechanisms apply for the specific case of Ethernet cabling.