This video is excellent. You have illustrated a systematic approach to testing cables I have not seen in other videos discussing cable testing with VNAs. I will be testing and documenting my cables using the procedures outlined in this presentation.
You should always check the mechanical dimensions, especially with cheap cables from China. One common issue is pin protrusion on SMA connectors. Too long and it will wreck the mating connector.
I guess that is the most accessible way though, using calipers, especially if its a once a month measurement; no point in investing in a very special piece of equipment just to use it once.
I had somebody who wanted me to test some cables and tried to tell me that I needed to test I think it was on a low resistance range between conductor and shield or was it a high resistance range from end to end. either way if I did that I would've been out of the measurement capabilities of the meter without literally saying out of range.
Practical yet thorough and grounded in theory, as ever 👍
Happy New Year and thank you for your videos!
Happy New Year!
This video is excellent. You have illustrated a systematic approach to testing cables I have not seen in other videos discussing cable testing with VNAs. I will be testing and documenting my cables using the procedures outlined in this presentation.
You should always check the mechanical dimensions, especially with cheap cables from China. One common issue is pin protrusion on SMA connectors. Too long and it will wreck the mating connector.
I read somewhere that there is in fact a special tool used to measure the pin protrusion for connectors - what do you commonly use?
@@FesZElectronics There is but those, like everything RF, are quite expensive. I just use callipers, a bit fiddly ...
I guess that is the most accessible way though, using calipers, especially if its a once a month measurement; no point in investing in a very special piece of equipment just to use it once.
I had somebody who wanted me to test some cables and tried to tell me that I needed to test I think it was on a low resistance range between conductor and shield or was it a high resistance range from end to end. either way if I did that I would've been out of the measurement capabilities of the meter without literally saying out of range.