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3-4

85131E/F/H

 

Use, Maintenance, and Care of the Cables

Precision Slotless Connectors (3.5 mm)

Precision Slotless Connectors (3.5 mm)

The female 3.5 mm connectors in the cable sets are metrology-grade, precision slotless 
connectors (PSC). Precision slotless connectors are used to improve accuracy. A 
characteristic of metrology-grade connectors is directly traceability to national 
measurement standards through their well-defined mechanical dimensions. With PSCs on 
test ports and standards, the accuracy achieved when measuring at 50 dB return loss 
levels is comparable to using conventional slotted connectors measuring devices having 
only 30 dB return loss. This represents an accuracy improvement of about 10 times.

Conventional female center conductors are slotted and, when mated, are flared by the male 
pin. Because physical dimensions determine connector impedance, this change in physical 
dimension affects electrical performance, making it very difficult to perform precision 
measurements with conventional slotted connectors.

The precision slotless connector was developed to eliminate this problem. The PSC has a 
center conductor with a solid cylindrical shell, the outside diameter of which does not 
change when mated. Instead, the center conductor has an internal contact that flexes to 
accept the male pin.

Summary of Contents for 85131E

Page 1: ...ogies 85131E F H NMD 3 5 mm f to 3 5 mm Flexible Test Port Return Cables Agilent Part Number 85131 90009 Printed in USA Print Date February 2008 Supersedes September 2007 Copyright 1995 2004 2006 2008 Agilent Technologies Inc All rights reserved ...

Page 2: ...IS DOCUMENT THAT CONFLICT WITH THESE TERMS THE WARRANTY TERMS IN THE SEPARATE AGREEMENT WILL CONTROL DFARS Restricted Rights Notice If software is for use in the performance of a U S Government prime contract or subcontract Software is delivered and licensed as Commercial computer software as defined in DFAR 252 227 7014 June 1995 or as a commercial item as defined in FAR 2 101 a or as Restricted ...

Page 3: ...f documentation from the Web download the PDF file from the Agilent web site Go to www agilent com Enter the document s part number located on the title page in the search function Click Search Click on the hyperlink for the document Click the printer icon located in the tool bar ...

Page 4: ...iv 85131E F H ...

Page 5: ... 3 3 Look for Obvious Defects and Damage First 3 3 Inspect the Mating Plane Surfaces 3 3 Precision Slotless Connectors 3 5 mm 3 4 Cleaning Connectors 3 5 Gaging Connectors 3 7 Connector Gage Accuracy 3 7 When to Gage Connectors 3 7 Gaging Procedures 3 8 Making Connections 3 10 How to Make a Connection 3 10 How to Separate a Connection 3 12 Handling and Storage 3 12 Avoiding Cable Movement 3 13 4 R...

Page 6: ...Contents 2 ...

Page 7: ...85131E F H 1 1 1 General Information ...

Page 8: ...tions 85131H The 85131H set contains a single cable the f to m cable from the 85131F cable set It is shorter than the 85131E single cable See Figure 1 1 Connector Designators NMD Connectors NMD denotes a connector that has larger than standard coupling threads for greater stability NMD connectors are used on test cables test ports test port adapters and test port cables Female slotted NMD test por...

Page 9: ...at is to be connected to the female test port This will be a male short from the calibration kit A connector gage is referred to in terms of the connector that it measures For instance a male connector gage has a female connector on the gage so that it can measure male devices Incoming Inspection Verify that the shipment is complete by referring to Table 4 1 on page 4 4 If the case or any device a...

Page 10: ...remove dirt or metallic particles on a mating plane surface can degrade repeatability and accuracy and can damage any connector mated to it Improper connections resulting from center conductor values being out of limits see Table 2 on page 2 4 or from bad connections can also damage cable connectors Replaceable Parts See Table 4 1 on page 4 4 for a complete list of cable set contents and their ass...

Page 11: ...85131E F H 2 1 2 Specifications ...

Page 12: ... 79 F Storage temperature 40 C to 75 C 40 F to 167 F Altitude Operation 4 500 meters 15 000 feet Storage 4 500 meters 15 000 feet Relative humidity Always non condensing Operation Up to 80 at 30 C Storage Up to 95 at 40 C Table 2 2 Electrical Specifications Cable SWR Return Loss dB Insertion Loss dB a a f frequency in GHz Frequency Range GHz 85131E 1 38 15 94 0 35 f 0 3 DC to 26 5 85131F 0 25 f 0 ...

Page 13: ...ing plane This condition will indicate a positive value on the connector gage Recession is the condition in which the center conductor is set back from the outer conductor mating plane This condition will indicate a negative value on the connector gage Table 2 3 Supplemental Characteristics 1 of 3 Cable Cable Length Approximate Electrical Length Magnitude and Phase Stability With a 90 Benda b a f ...

Page 14: ...3 Supplemental Characteristics 3 of 3 Center Conductor Pin Depth Precision Connector Allowable Recessiona a Center conductor shoulder behind outer conductor mating plane Allowable Protrusion mm in mm in NMD 3 5 mm f 0 005 to 0 056 0 0002 to 0 0022 0 0000 0 0000 PSC 3 5 mm f 0 0025 to 0 013 0 0001 to 0 0005 3 5 mm m ...

Page 15: ...85131E F H 3 1 3 Use Maintenance and Care of the Cables ...

Page 16: ...s use a grounded conductive table mat while making connections always wear a heel strap when working in an area with a conductive floor If you are uncertain about the conductivity of your floor wear a heel strap always ground yourself before you clean inspect or make a connection to a static sensitive device or test port You can for example grasp the grounded outer shell of the test port or cable ...

Page 17: ...he more use a connector gets the faster it wears and degrades The wear is greatly accelerated when connectors are not kept clean or are connected incorrectly Connector wear eventually degrades performance of the cable Replace cables with worn connectors The test port connectors on the network analyzer test set may have many connections each day and are therefore also subject to wear It is recommen...

Page 18: ... comparable to using conventional slotted connectors measuring devices having only 30 dB return loss This represents an accuracy improvement of about 10 times Conventional female center conductors are slotted and when mated are flared by the male pin Because physical dimensions determine connector impedance this change in physical dimension affects electrical performance making it very difficult t...

Page 19: ...ING Keep isopropyl alcohol away from heat sparks and flame Store in a tightly closed container It is extremely flammable In case of fire use alcohol foam dry chemical or carbon dioxide water may be ineffective Use isopropyl alcohol with adequate ventilation and avoid contact with eyes skin and clothing It causes skin irritation may cause eye damage and is harmful if swallowed or inhaled It may be ...

Page 20: ... plane surfaces Refer to Figure 2 1 on page 2 4 When cleaning a female connector avoid snagging the swab on the center conductor contact fingers by using short strokes c Let the alcohol evaporate then blow the connector dry with a gentle stream of clean low pressure compressed air or nitrogen Always completely dry a connector before you reassemble or use it 4 Reinspect Inspect the connector again ...

Page 21: ...ts having different gage orientations on the connector Even the resultant average can be in error by as much as 0 0001 inch due to systematic biasing errors usually resulting from worn gages and gage masters The information in Table 2 3 on page 2 4 assumes new gages and gage masters As your gages undergo more use their systematic errors can become more significant in the accuracy of the measuremen...

Page 22: ... page 3 10 for additional information c As you watch the gage pointer gently tap the barrel of the gage to settle the reading The gage pointer should line up exactly with the zero mark on the gage If not adjust the zero set knob until the gage pointer lines up exactly with the zero mark d Remove the gage master 4 Gage the device connector refer to Figure 3 2 a While holding the gage by the barrel ...

Page 23: ...85131E F H 3 9 Use Maintenance and Care of the Cables Gaging Connectors Figure 3 2 Gaging 3 5 mm Connectors ...

Page 24: ...and tighten the connector nut finger tight CAUTION Do not turn the device body Only turn the connector nut Damage to the center conductor can occur if the device body is twisted Do not twist or screw the connectors together As the center conductors mate there is usually a slight resistance 7 The preliminary connection is tight enough when the mating plane surfaces make uniform light contact Do not...

Page 25: ...th wrenches within 90 degrees of each other before applying force See Figure 3 3 Wrenches opposing each other greater than 90 degrees apart will cause a lifting action which can misalign and stress the connections of the devices involved This is especially true when several devices are connected together Figure 3 3 Wrench Positions 2 Hold the torque wrench lightly at the end of the handle only bey...

Page 26: ...ing plane surfaces always support the devices and connections CAUTION Do not turn the device body Only turn the connector nut Damage to the center conductor can occur if the device body is twisted 1 Use an open end wrench to prevent the device body from turning 2 Use the torque wrench to loosen the connecting nut 3 Complete the separation by hand turning only the connecting nut 4 Pull the connecto...

Page 27: ...e Avoiding Cable Movement When you use cables to make a precise calibration you may have to fixture the cables to prevent excessive movement after the calibration In some cases unless you restrict cable movement you may not be able to perform a verification after the calibration especially if you use a precision calibration kit NOTE After you perform a calibration move the cables as little as poss...

Page 28: ...3 14 85131E F H Use Maintenance and Care of the Cables Handling and Storage ...

Page 29: ...85131E F H 4 1 4 Replaceable Parts ...

Page 30: ...umber and the quantity desired Telephone or send your order to Agilent Technologies see Contacting Agilent on page 4 3 Ordering One Cable in a Cable Set If you need only one of the cables in a cable set and don t want to order an entire set use the appropriate single cable part number listed in Table 4 1 on page 4 4 When you order using a single cable part number you do not get a pair of cables be...

Page 31: ...d when the problem occurred such as calibration or measurement Contacting Agilent Assistance with test and measurement needs and information on finding a local Agilent office are available on the Web at www agilent com find assist If you do not have access to the Internet please contact your Agilent field engineer NOTE In any correspondence or telephone conversation refer to the Agilent product by...

Page 32: ... ID black as necessary 1401 0214 STR 0 234 ID red 1401 0202 Items NOT Included in a Cable Set ESD Protective Devices Grounding wrist strap 1 9300 1367 5 ft grounding cord for wrist strap 1 9300 0980 2 ft by 4 ft conductive table mat with 15 ft grounding wire 1 9300 0797 ESD heel strap 1 9300 1308 Connector Cleaning Supplies Isopropyl alcohol 30 ml 8500 5344 Foam tipped cleaning swabs 100 9301 1243...

Page 33: ...0 Ω fixed termination f 1 00902 60004 3 5 mm offset short m 1 85052 60006 3 5 mm offset short f 1 85052 60007 3 5 mm Airline 7 5 cm 1 85053 60005 a Refer to Clarifying the Terminology of a Connector Interface on page 1 3 Table 4 1 Replaceable Parts Descriptiona Qty Agilent Part Number ...

Page 34: ...4 6 85131E F H Replaceable Parts Returning a Cable or Cable Set to Agilent ...

Page 35: ...85131E F H A 1 A Connector Care Quick Reference ...

Page 36: ... connector care and connection techniques are critical for accurate repeatable measurements and for extending the life of your devices Prior to making connections to the network analyzer carefully review the connector care information provided with your product See the following table for quick reference tips about connector care ...

Page 37: ...propyl alcohola Get liquid into plastic support beads Clean connector threads Gaging Connectors Do Do Not Clean and zero the gage before use Use an out of spec connector Use the correct gage type Use correct end of calibration block Gage all connectors before first use Making Connections Do Do Not Align connectors carefully Apply bending force to connection Make preliminary connection lightly Over...

Page 38: ...A 4 85131E F H Connector Care Quick Reference Principles of Microwave Connector Care ...

Page 39: ...type 1 2 precision 3 5 mm and SMA 3 12 PSC type 1 3 quick reference A 3 sex 1 3 slotless 3 4 SMA and precision 3 5 mm 3 12 threads 3 5 type DUT end 2 3 test set end 2 3 visual inspection 3 3 wear 3 3 connector terminology 1 3 contacting Agilent 4 3 D damage to connectors 3 3 to shipment 1 3 defective connectors 3 3 description of cable sets 1 2 device conductor mating plane 2 3 connecting 3 10 dis...

Page 40: ...m connecting to SMA 3 12 preventive maintenance 1 4 protrusion pin depth 2 3 PSC connectors 1 3 Q quick reference connector care A 3 R reaching Agilent 4 3 recession pin depth 2 3 regulations environmental 3 6 replaceable parts 4 2 requirements environmental 2 2 return loss specifications 2 2 return set or cable 4 3 S separating connections 3 12 set overview 1 2 return to Agilent 4 3 sex connector...

Page 41: ...E F H Index 3 W warranty documentation ii wrench open end 3 11 3 12 4 4 part numbers 4 4 proper positioning of 3 11 torque 3 10 3 11 4 4 precautions for use of 3 11 proper use of 3 11 Z zeroing connector gage 3 8 ...

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