Microwave (SP4T & SP6T) Relay Comparison

    Pickering offers two main families of Radiall SP4T & SP6T microwave relays in both PXI (models 40-785 & 40-784) & LXI (models 60-800/803 & 60-801/802). Due to the staggered introduction time of the two relay families, there are duplicate offerings in the 18-40GHz unterminated solutions range. The main differences between the two relay families are summarized following:

    Sub-miniature  RAMESES
     Pros Cons  Pros  Cons 
     Performance, equal or superior for most parameters      Performance
       Frequency, up to 40GHz  Frequency, up to 67GHz  
       Only SP4T & 6T  SP3T/4T/5T/6T/8T/10T & 12T  
       No terminated options  Terminated options  
     Physically smaller, permitting three relays in two chassis slots compared to two      Physically larger


    Note: not all frequency / channel count options are available in all combinations.

    For more details regarding the various product families please refer to the product literature. 

    The following tables compare the performance of the 18-40GHz frequency options.

    Comparison of 18GHz relays

    Insertion Loss 
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 0.2 db 0.3 db 0.4 db   0.5 db Same performance 
     Sub-miniature 0.2 db 0.3 db 0.4 db  0.5 db

    Isolation
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 80 db 70 db 60 db   60 db Same performance 
     Sub-miniature 80 db 70 db  60 db   60 db

    RF Power
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 240 W 150 W 120 W 100 W Sub-miniature family has equal or superior performance 
     Sub-miniature 250 W 150 W 120 W  100 W

    VSWR
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50 Same performance 
     Sub-miniature 1.20 1.30 1.40  1.50


     Family Life Sw. Speed    Conclusion 
     RAMSES 2.5M <15mS Sub-miniature family has superior performance
     Sub-miniature 10M <10mS


    Comparison of 26.5GHz relays

    Insertion Loss 
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz 18-26.5GHz  Conclusion 
     RAMSES 0.2 db 0.3 db 0.4 db   0.5 db  0.7 db Sub-miniature family has equal or superior performance 
     Sub-miniature 0.2 db  0.3 db 0.4 db   0.5 db  0.6 db

    Isolation
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz 18-26.5GHz  Conclusion 
     RAMSES 80 db 70 db 60 db   60 db  50 db Sub-miniature family has equal or superior performance 
     Sub-miniature 80 db 70 db 60 db   60 db  55 db

    RF Power
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz  12.4-18GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 240 W 150 W 120 W 100 W 40 W Sub- miniature family has equal or superior performance
     Sub-miniature 250 W 150 W 120 W  100 W 40 W

    VSWR
     Family 0-3GHz  3-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz  18-26.5GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50 1.70 Sub- miniature family has equal or superior performance
     Sub-miniature 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50 1.60


     Family Life Sw. Speed    Conclusion 
     RAMSES 5M <15mS Sub- miniature family has equal or superior performance
     Sub-miniature 10M <10mS


    Comparison of 40GHz relays

    Insertion Loss 
     Family 0-3GHz  3-6GHz  6-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz 18-26.5GHz  26.5-40GHz  Conclusion 
     RAMSES 0.2 db 0.2 db 0.4 db   0.4 db  0.5 db  0.7 db  1.1 db Very similar performance with each family having an equal number of superior performing points over the other
     Sub-miniature 0.2 db  0.3 db 0.3 db   0.4 db  0.5 db  0.7 db  1.1 db

    Isolation
     Family 0-3GHz  3-6GHz  6-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz 18-26.5GHz  26.5-40GHz  Conclusion 
     RAMSES 70 db 70 db 60 db  60 db  60 db  55 db  50 db Similar performance with the Sub-miniature family having more superior performing points than the RAMSES
     Sub-miniature 80 db 70 db 70 db  60 db  60 db  55 db  45 db

    RF Power
     Family 0-3GHz  3-6GHz  6-8GHz  8-12.4GHz  12.4-18GHz   18-26.5GHz  26.5-40GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 40 W 40 W 30 W  30 W  25 W  15 W  5 W Similar performance with the Sub-miniature family having more superior performing points than the RAMSES
     Sub-miniature 60 W 35 W 35 W  30 W  25 W  15 W  5 W

    VSWR
     Family 0-3GHz  3-6GHz  6-8GHz  8-12.4GHz   12.4-18GHz  18-26.5GHz  26.5-40GHz Conclusion 
     RAMSES 1.30 1.30 1.40 1.40 1.50 1.70 2.20 Sub- miniature family has equal or superior performance
     Sub-miniature 1.20 1.30 1.30 1.40 1.50 1.70 2.20


     Family Life Sw. Speed    Conclusion 
     RAMSES 2M <15mS Sub- miniature family has equal or superior performance
     Sub-miniature 2M <10mS

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