CA Series: Ultra Low Loss & Amplitude/Phase Stable Flexible Coaxial Cable
CA Series: Ultra Low Loss & Amplitude/Phase Stable Flexible Coaxial Cable is engineered for high-precision RF and microwave measurement systems requiring extremely low insertion loss and exceptional amplitude and phase stability. This high-performance RF cable assembly is widely used for vector network analyzer testing, antenna measurement systems, radar electronics, satellite communication equipment and 5G mmWave RF test environments where stable signal transmission and repeatable measurement accuracy are essential.
CA Series: Ultra Low Loss & Amplitude/Phase Stable Flexible Coaxial Cables
AO Microwave’s CA Series coaxial cables are designed to deliver exceptional phase and amplitude stability under flexure combined with ultra-low signal attenuation up to 50 GHz [3.3.4]. Utilizing an advanced, low-density expanded microporous PTFE (ePTFE) dielectric, these cables achieve a high velocity of propagation (Vp) of typically 80% to 83%. To secure superior shielding, the cable core is wrapped with a helically wound silver-plated copper tape shield, overlaid with a silver-plated copper round wire braid and a rugged FEP or polyurethane jacket. Operating across standard bands, our CA Series assemblies achieve a shielding effectiveness of typically > 90 dB, low VSWR, and minimal phase variation under bending.
These high-performance test and measurement cable assemblies are engineered to minimize the electrical length variations caused by physical movement. They are critical for high-accuracy Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) test ports, phased array radar interconnects, and multi-channel system calibration.
The Physics of ePTFE Dielectrics & Phase Stability under Flexure
Flexible coaxial cables suffer from electrical path changes when subjected to physical bending. Bending compresses the inner dielectric and shifts the center conductor slightly off-center. This mechanical displacement changes the cable's capacitance and physical length, leading to phase and amplitude drift.
AO Microwave resolves this signal drift by utilizing expanded microporous PTFE (ePTFE) dielectrics. ePTFE contains microscopically small air pockets, increasing the velocity of propagation to >80% while providing high mechanical resilience. When the cable is bent, the ePTFE structure compresses evenly, keeping the center conductor centered. This prevents concentricity shifts and ensures highly stable phase (typically < 5° phase shift at 40 GHz under a 180-degree wrap) and amplitude characteristics under flexure.
Target Applications & Operational Advantages
By providing low attenuation and high phase stability, our CA Series flexible cables secure critical active systems:
Laboratory VNA Test Port Connections
Function: Connects devices under test (DUT) to Vector Network Analyzers in high-frequency laboratories.
Advantage: Phase and amplitude stability under movement prevent calibration drift during manual testing up to 50 GHz [3.3.4].
Phased Array Radar Systems
Function: Connects multi-channel antenna arrays to transceiver modules in scanning radars.
Advantage: Exceptional thermal phase stability maintains precise beamforming and steering accuracy across wide operating temperatures.
Broadband Satellite Feed Routing
Function: Routes high-frequency transmit and receive signals in portable Satcom terminals.
Advantage: Multi-layer mechanical armoring protects the low-loss cable core from rugged outdoor handling and physical kinking.
CA Series Coaxial Cable FAQs
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