Angled Launch, 1.85 mm Connectors for Test and Measurement

High‑frequency test setups demand more than a connector that simply meets a frequency rating. Mechanical reliability, predictable and repeatable performance, and ease of use are essential, especially as designs become more challenging at 67 GHz and beyond. Samtec’s 1.85 mm 30‑degree angled launch compression mount connector (185-AL Series) is engineered with these real‑world requirements in mind.

Now let’s take a moment to consider why an angle is important for a test and measurement connector. Angled launch connectors are often selected to improve cable routing and reduce stress at the PCB interface. The 30-degree angle accommodates mechanical height constraints, allowing natural cable exit without forcing tight cable bends that can degrade performance and electrical stability.

Another important design feature of a reliable test and measurement connector is how it fastens to the PCB. For termination to the board, the 1.85 mm angled launch connector compression mounts giving it “field replaceable” functionality and allowing the cable to be routed closer to the device under test (versus edge launch connectors). The shorter signal path minimizes signal loss and removes variability from the test setup itself, ensuring accurate representation of a device’s performance. The compression mount design also eliminates the need for solder; removing solder-related performance variability.

However, to fully realize the benefits of an angled launch, selection of the mating cable assembly is also important. Samtec supports multiple mating assemblies, including high-frequency low-loss microwave .047” diameter cable (RF047-A Series), .086” diameter cable (RF086), and stable-during-flexure Nitrowave^® cable (LL071).

Nitrowave^® cable assemblies are highly stable when bending or twisting, referred to as flexure. Flexure changes the cable’s internal geometry and shifts the electrical path, which can lead to measurement errors. These effects can be more pronounced at higher frequencies. So, pairing an angled launch connector—such as 185-AL that accommodates mechanical height constraints—with a Nitrowave^® LL071 cable assembly results in a more stable signal path even as cables are repositioned during testing. A highly stable signal path reduces measurement uncertainty and increases precision and throughput at millimeter wave frequencies.

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Not only is selecting the right RF coaxial cable and connector important in millimeter wave test and measurement applications, how the signal routes from the connector through the printed circuit board is equally important. At Samtec, we often get asked about this and we’re proud to say that we’re here to help. Since board launch optimization is such a popular topic, we put together an FAQs page with the hope of making answers to common challenges easy for customers locate. However, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions related to your specific design by emailing our Signal Integrity Group at [email protected].

If you’d like to see some of our latest product innovations in person, including the 185-AL angled launch connector and LL071 Nitrowave^® cable assembly mentioned above, please feel free to visit us at the International MTT Symposium (IMS) Exhibition in Boston. Booth 14036, from June 9 – June 11.