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How to Specify a Custom Coaxial Cable Assembly: RFQ Checklist & Template
A buyer emails: "Need 50 SMA cables, 1 m, please quote." The supplier replies with five questions. Male or female on each end? RG316 or RG174? Straight or right-angle? Any VSWR limit? Tested how? A week passes before the quote is even possible, and… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
What Does a Cable Assembly Test Report Include? (VSWR, IL, Continuity)
A purchasing manager asks for "a test report" with every cable. The supplier sends a one-line certificate: "Tested OK." The engineer who receives the cables cannot tell whether OK meant a continuity beep or a full 18 GHz sweep, and has no data to c… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
Why Do RF Connectors Have Gold-Plated Pins?
Open a bag of RF connectors and the center pins are gold even on a two-dollar part. That looks like jewelry on a part meant for cheap cable. It is not. Gold plating solves a specific set of problems at the contact, and the metal underneath it solve… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
LMR-400 vs LMR-240 vs LMR-195: Low-Loss Cable Selection Guide
LMR-400 generally gives the lowest attenuation of these three standard 50 Ω cable sizes, while LMR-240 and LMR-195 reduce diameter and routing burden. Choose the smallest cable that still meets the actual feeder loss, environmental and connector re… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
What Happens If You Overtorque an SMA Connector?
A technician tightens an SMA cable onto a spectrum analyzer with pliers. It feels solid. A week later the return loss at 18 GHz is 6 dB worse, and the cable looks fine. The dielectric inside the connector was crushed, and the center contact moved a… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
dBm to Watts Conversion Table and Calculator for RF Power
Convert dBm to watts with P(W) = 10^((dBm - 30)/10), or to milliwatts with P(mW) = 10^(dBm/10). The reverse calculation is dBm = 10 log10(P(W)) + 30 for positive power in watts.A radio specified at 30 dBm supplies 1 W at its stated output reference… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
Coaxial Cable Assembly Cost Drivers: What Makes One Cable Rs.200 and Another Rs.20,000
A buyer receives two quotes for what looks like "a one meter SMA cable." One is Rs.200. The other is Rs.20,000. Neither supplier is lying, and neither is necessarily overcharging. They are quoting different cables that happen to share a name. Cost… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
Prototyping to Production: Managing MOQ, Lead Times and Revisions for RF Cables
A radio team orders 5 prototype cables, finds that a 0.5 m length does not fit, changes it to 0.42 m and orders 5 more. After three rounds, the design freezes and they place a production order for 2,000. The supplier quotes 8 weeks because the cabl… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
RG58 vs LMR-240: Same Size, Very Different Loss
A gateway sits 10 m from its antenna. The old RG58 feeder fits the conduit, so a replacement cable that looks only slightly thicker seems like a simple upgrade. The signal-loss benefit can be real, but connector fit and routing still need engineeri… More
Posted on 10/13/2026
Does Coax Cable Length Affect GPS Accuracy?
A fleet integrator mounts GPS antennas on truck roofs and runs 8 m of thin coax to the telematics box in the cab. Another installer uses 1 m. Both ask the same question: does the longer cable make the position less accurate? The short answer is no,… More
Posted on 10/13/2026