Broadband characterization of SMA connectors by measurements

Abstract

This paper presents the characterization of various types of SubMiniature version A (SMA) connectors. The characterization is performed by measurements in frequency and time domain. The SMA connectors are mounted on microstrip (MS) and conductor-backed coplanar waveguide (CPW-CB) manufactured on high-frequency (HF) laminates. The designed characteristic impedance of the transmission lines is 50 Ω and deviation from the designed characteristic impedance is measured. The measurement results suggest that for a given combination of the transmission line and SMA connector, the discontinuity in terms of characteristic impedance can be significantly improved by choosing the right connector type.