Cables, Connectors (N/SMA/BNC) & Adapters with Measured Results for Comparisons

[KungFuJosh]

I'm happy with the M&P stuff, I just need to do a better job than that other shit cable I made. I think that was maybe the worst one I did- that's why I tested it.

I will have a better idea on the M&P quality soon though. They're making me an N cable with their Sahara 10 cable, which is rated much higher than the other cables I have. I'm looking forward to seeing how that looks on my VNA. I can't test my other good cables because they're N to BNC, and I want the S21 chart like Mario showed above.

If I can get a good deal on one of the cables you linked, I'd love to test it for comparison...but generally speaking, that's 3 times the price I would want to pay for a cable. Now that I think of it, I'm going to get some longer cheap cables to compare also.

Thanks,
Josh

[Rubo]

No worries 

My biggest issue with M&P cables is except for their "whatever 10" stuff and "airborn5" cables. none of the other cables they make is compatible with standard/regular connectors.

The Hyperflex 5 for example is .212 diameter, so you can't use none of the .195/200 connectors on it or the .240 connectors, so you have to use whatever connectors they sell.
And I think (from my experience, no imperical evidence) that their connectors aren't that good at higher frequencies.

Just my $.02 cents

[KungFuJosh]

Tools for the job.

For me, the Hyperflex 5 was an excellent upgrade compared to other cables when doing bandwidth tests on my oscilloscopes. None of my scopes have gone to or over 1GHz though. I always got a higher -3dB point with the M&P cables compared to anything else I tried. IME I think their quality is good for their pricing.

Hyperflex 5 isn't rated for higher frequencies over 2 or 2.4GHz, but it's not terrible either. I'll test it higher to see what it looks like. The only sorta issue is that my cal kit is only rated to 4.5GHz, so I dunno how good it will look above that regardless.

I find other things about M&P weird. Like they had N crimp connectors for 5 and 10, but not 7 series cables.

For people like you and Mario that are more serious about RF, I can see budgeting higher priced/quality cables. Makes no sense for me when this is 95% academic and 100% a waste of money...though I might have ordered a pre-owned Huber+Suhner Sucoflex 104 cable to compare. 

[Rubo]

Tools for the job.

Yup, 100%

For me, the Hyperflex 5 was an excellent upgrade compared to other cables when doing bandwidth tests on my oscilloscopes. None of my scopes have gone to or over 1GHz though. I always got a higher -3dB point with the M&P cables compared to anything else I tried. IME I think their quality is good for their pricing.

That's been my experience also. My highest bandwidth oscilloscope is an analog-ish LeCroy/Iwatsu @ 470MHz, so my tests have been done using VNA's & SA's

I find other things about M&P weird. Like they had N crimp connectors for 5 and 10, but not 7 series cables.

Yup, makes no sense 

Makes no sense for me when this is 95% academic and 100% a waste of money...though I might have ordered a pre-owned Huber+Suhner Sucoflex 104 cable to compare. 

 

 

[KungFuJosh]

 

 

Yup, another point for you. Don't worry- I'll get you again! 

[hendorog]

I posted this cable test procedure a while ago. It comes from Dr Joel Dunsmore - who pops up here from time to time.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cables-and-connectors-for-vna-lt-3-ghz/msg2444583/#msg2444583

With VNA cables, normally the priority is stability and being free of faults. Within reason the absolute performance in Return Loss and Through Loss is not as important.

As an aside, I discovered I had a fault in a cable using TDR on SNA a while ago.
(See attached DTF mode pic from the recently repaired SSA which I had handy)
I terminated the far end of the cable, and the trace shows a spike about 2/3rds of the way along the cable.
This was one of a pair of Siglent (Rosenberger) N-SMA cables that have seen a bit of travel, so it may have had a minor mishap (bent) at some stage.

[KungFuJosh]

I posted this cable test procedure a while ago. It comes from Dr Joel Dunsmore - who pops up here from time to time.

Can you pretty please demonstrate that method using the SNA5000A Rob gave you?

Thanks,
Josh

[hendorog]

I posted this cable test procedure a while ago. It comes from Dr Joel Dunsmore - who pops up here from time to time.

Can you pretty please demonstrate that method using the SNA5000A Rob gave you?

Thanks,
Josh

That is good to hear, sounds like he doesn't want it back!!!   

I'll take some pics.

[KungFuJosh]

Pop quiz: How much did this 2 meter cable cost?

[Rubo]

No clue, but looks like s***t 

One thing I'm forgetting to ask. Are you testing them as a through (both end connected to the vna) or single ended (as if it were an antenna)?

[KungFuJosh]

No clue, but looks like s***t 

I'd say that's a clue. 🤣

One thing I'm forgetting to ask. Are you testing them as a through (both end connected to the vna) or single ended (as if it were an antenna)?

Doesn't the S21 measurement answer your question?

[tautech]

I posted this cable test procedure a while ago. It comes from Dr Joel Dunsmore - who pops up here from time to time.

Can you pretty please demonstrate that method using the SNA5000A Rob gave you?

Thanks,
Josh

That is good to hear, sounds like he doesn't want it back!!!  

You paying for our Siglent HQ trip and hotel costs later this year ? 

[hendorog]

I posted this cable test procedure a while ago. It comes from Dr Joel Dunsmore - who pops up here from time to time.

Can you pretty please demonstrate that method using the SNA5000A Rob gave you?

Thanks,
Josh

That is good to hear, sounds like he doesn't want it back!!!  

You paying for our Siglent HQ trip and hotel costs later this year ? 

More money in test gear sales than cal kits fella 

[KungFuJosh]

 

[Rubo]

Doesn't the S21 measurement answer your question?

Brain fart 

I need to stop reading/looking at things before my first cup of coffee 

[KungFuJosh]

Serves you right for getting me to buy two different H+S cables. 

[Rubo]

Serves you right for getting me to buy two different H+S cables. 

I'm pleading the Fifth

[KungFuJosh]

Here's that new M&P cable (Hyperflex 10 Sahara). Whattayathink?

[KungFuJosh]

This is the Stealthflex 7 cable I made with crimp N connectors.

This was a little funny. I thought I did something wrong since I ordered 3 meters, and DTF was saying it's 4 meters long. After triple checking my settings, my daughter helped me measure the cable. The VNA was correct. M&P sent me an extra meter for free.

[Rubo]

They look OK.
But I still wouldn't use them above around 2GHz or so.

[KungFuJosh]

They look OK.
But I still wouldn't use them above around 2GHz or so.

Sure, but they don't really recommend that on them either (at least not the thinner ones). For non-critical measurements, they're fine anyway. I might do some sweeps and see what it looks like. Also compare the prices to the Sucoflex 104 or higher, and they're definitely worth it.

[KungFuJosh]

I'm tempted to add support for the SNAs to TestController for sweep comparisons.

[tautech]

I'm tempted to add support for the SNAs to TestController for sweep comparisons.

Visual or analytic ?

Pretty sure you can save a reference trace to compare a live one against.

[KungFuJosh]

I'm tempted to add support for the SNAs to TestController for sweep comparisons.

Visual or analytic ?

Both. For example, I made drivers for the V3500A power meter and SMIQ06B sig gens, and the attached is a comparison of multiple V3500A units using the SMIQ as the source.

For cable comparisons, I could do sweeps of all the cables with the SNA as both ends, and separate tests with the SMIQ as an external source to the SNA.

TestController will make charts and spreadsheets with the data.

Pretty sure you can save a reference trace to compare a live one against.

That would work for using the SNA by itself, but it would be fun to use other toys too.

[Rubo]

I'm tempted to add support for the SNAs to TestController for sweep comparisons.

Do it