I want to transmit my 24GHz signal from PCB through coaxial to antenna. I wonder how to chose best match for it, also the power is -5dBm, 50 ohm. It's based on ADF5901 2ch PA. I have found two good site but still I think I didn't found my way:
https://www.rosenberger.com/us_en/test-measurement/precision_connectors/
http://precisionconnector.com/
Most of them are for cable and not for connecting to PCB, specially I want it to be surface mount. The cable will be too small, the antenna is placed on other board and have few Centimeter distance from transmitter, I want it's cable be flexible and thin.
It is my first project on RF board I have zero experience, please help to chose the best cable and connector.
Best Answer
At 24GHz any flexible cable/connector system is going to have horrible losses, I would be thinking about handi-form if not hardline for this, probably with an isolator on each end to handle the inevitable mismatch. I would not be at all surprised to see 6dB of losses between the connectors, the isolators and the line loss!
Actually, I would just put the damn chip on the antenna board, less losses that way and overall a much simpler design.
Connectors for 24Ghz are NOT trivial, so go to some lengths to avoid them, far better to move the IF and reference frequency between boards and only have the quick stuff on the antenna board. A reference and IF at a few MHz to a few GHz are much easier to deal with then 24GHz across connectors.
To give you a flavour of just how tough this stuff is, my Gore test port extension cables cost well over $1,000 for a foot of cable with two 2.92mm precision connectors (And they are NOT specified to 24GHz!).
You do have access to a VNA good for 24GHz? And the cal kit to make it useful? Otherwise you have basically no chance of pulling this off.