RF Connectors

Question 1

RF connectors are used with what?

Answer 1

coaxial cable and available as plugs, jacks, panel jacks, and receptacles

Question 2

What is the most common coaxial cable for aircraft radio equipment?

Answer 2

RG-58/U

Question 3

Plugs are always what type of contacts?

Answer 3

Male

Question 4

Jacks are always what type of contacts?

Answer 4

Female

Question 5

What are the BNC series of connectors designed for?

Answer 5

small, lightweight, bayonet-type connections on small coaxial cable

Question 6

The TNC series is similar to the BNC, except:

Answer 6

The TNC has a screw on connection and better noise level reduction and vibration resistance

Question 7

What connectors are constructed so coaxial cable with dual shields can be properly terminated?

Answer 7

Triaxial connectors

each layer of shielding fits into a separate portion of the connector

Question 8

What is Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC)?

Answer 8

A major provider of transport communications and system engineering solutions for many industries

Question 9

What is known as the incident wave?

Answer 9

Energy traveling in the correct direction is known as the incident wave

Question 10

What happens if there is a bad antenna?

Answer 10

Some of the energy is reflected back from the load into the transmission line

Question 11

What is reflected energy known as?

Answer 11

Reflected Wave

Question 12

The energy from a standing wave will dissipate how?

Answer 12

in the form of heat

Question 13

A shorted or open cable may cause the coaxial cable to act like what?

Answer 13

An inductor, capacitor, or resonant circuit

Question 14

What are the characteristics of a short circuit?

Answer 14

maximum current, minimum voltage

Question 15

A transmission line with a break before the 1/4 wave point causes what?

Answer 15

the reflected current to lead the reflected voltage, giving the appearance of a capacitor

Question 16

If the open occurs between the 1/4 and 1/2 wave point, what happens?

Answer 16

The source voltage curve will appear to lead the current curve- giving the appearance of an inductor

Question 17

If a short occurs in a transmission line at the exact point of the short then:

Answer 17

current is at a maximum and voltage is minimum

Question 18

If a short occurs in a transmission line and the short occurs at exactly 1/4 wave then:

Answer 18

the source current is at a minimum and voltage is at maximum, giving the appearance of an open.

Question 19

If a short occurs in a transmission line, the behavior of the reflected wave will be:

Answer 19

the exact opposite of those in an open line

Question 20

What tool can be used to help with troubleshooting transmission lines connected to communication transmitters?

Answer 20

A Line Watt Meter

Question 21

Where can the wattmeter be placed?

Answer 21

between the transmission line and the antenna or between the radio and the transmission line

Question 22

If full transmitter power is measured at the radio but not at the antenna then:

Answer 22

something is wrong with the coaxial cable

Question 23

What can also be used in place of a Line Watt Meter?

Answer 23

A Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR)

Used when there’s not anything connected to the cables