• High isolation - >120 dB@4 GHz
• High repeatability - <0.03 dB typical
• Low SWR - <1.10@4 GHz
• Low-insertion loss - <0.22 dB@4 GHz
• Long life - >5 million cycles
The solution for
high-volume wireless
communications test
• dc to 2 GHz
• dc to 4 GHz
• dc to 20 GHz
• dc to 26.5 GHz
In today’s fast moving technical indus-
tries, test engineers need components
they can count on. Agilent now offers
a new line of latching coaxial switches
that combine legendary reliability with
the widest range of performance
options available today.
Reduce downtime
Agilent Technologies is the world leader
in innovating and developing microwave
accessories for communications and
aerospace applications. Our innovative
design and strict adherence to quality
process control ensure that each switch
is guaranteed to perform within war-
ranted specifications for its entire life-
time. With fewer breakdowns and less
need to recalibrate, your test platform
moves quicker with less downtime,
creating more throughput and revenue.
Raise your standards
All Agilent switches offer excellent
repeatability and long life – up to five
times the lifecycles of the competition.
Add to this aggressive specs for isola-
tion, SWR, and insertion loss, and you
have a switch that impresses even the
most demanding engineer with its pre-
cision and durability.
Increase flexibility
For test systems that require extra
functionality or increased performance,
the N181x family of switches has a
solution that fits your need. The options
include:
• Reduced SWR
• Increased isolation
• Standard or TTL drive
• 5, 15, 24 volt drive
• Position indicators
• Current interrupts
Increase productivity
When you buy your switches from
Agilent, you notice a difference. Your
test platforms run smoother, longer
and faster, while yielding more viable
and valuable measurements.
Product Overview
Agilent N1810/1/2
Coaxial Switches
High Quality Electromechanical Switches for
Microwave and RF Manufacturing Test Systems
2
Description
N1810UL
Unterminated latching
The Agilent N1810UL is a single-pole
double-throw switch available in the
frequency range from dc to 26.5GHz. In
precision measurements and monitor-
ing applications where insertion loss
repeatability is crucial, these switches
operate in excess of 5 million cycles
with better than .03 dB of insertion
loss repeatability at 25° C.
N1810TL
Terminated latching
The Agilent N1810TL is a single-pole
double-throw switch available in the
frequency range from dc to 26.5 GHz.
The unused port is terminated 50 ohms,
making it ideal for applications where
port matching is required.
N1811TL
Terminated latching
The N1811TL is a terminated bypass
switch available in the frequency range
from dc to 26.5 GHz. The switch’s
internal load can terminate the device
under test when in the bypass mode
(up to 1 watt). Because of its compact
design, it is ideal for drop-in, drop-out
applications.
N1812UL
Unterminated latching
The N1812UL is a versatile, unterminated
5-port switch available in the frequency
range from dc to 26.5 GHz. In transfer
switch applications, the fifth port can
be terminated externally with a high-
power termination. It can also be uti-
lized for signal path reversal or as a
calibration port.
Technology
Agilent Technologies switches are
designed with a rectangular coaxial
structure similar to edge-line. This
transmission line structure provides
for movement of the edge-line center
conductor between two fixed, continu-
ous ground planes. The main advantage
of this innovation is that the moving
contacts can be easily activated, yet
maintain high-isolation and low-inser-
tion loss.
The RF contact configuration is designed
for controlled wiping action. Since the
outer conductor is not part of the switch-
ing function, repeatability and life are
improved. The switching action occurs
typically within 15 milliseconds, after
which permanent magnets latch the
contacts to retain the new switch posi-
tion.
Operation
All switches are “break before make”:
the switched ports are not connected
to each other. This helps to prevent
possible damage to sensitive circuits
and enhances test simplicity.
Driving
There are two positions for the N181x
family of switches. Standard switching
is accomplished by applying the supply
voltage to pin 5 (+V) and grounding
either pin 4 (DA) or pin 3 (DB) to actu-
ate the mechanism to the desired state.
See page 3, Pin out diagram..
When option 403 is added, the drive
current is automatically disconnected
after the switch is fully latched (15ms).
Without option 403, the switches MUST
be actuated using a pulse drive--the
switches are not designed to withstand
continuous current. In this case, the
pulse duration must be at least 15ms
to ensure that the switch will fully
latch.
Option 401 drives the switch with
TTL/5V CMOS compatible logic.
Option 402 provides electronic indica-
tion of switch state. The circuitry
consists of two independant commons,
which can be connected to outputs
corresponding to either position A or B.
Because the commons are electrically
isolated from each other as well as the
drive circuit, this option allows two
position signals to be obtained.
IA ICA ICB IB
Position "A"
IA ICA ICB IB
Position "B"
Indicator option circuit diagram
3
N1810UL
Standard/TTL drive
Pin out diagram
4
N1810TL
Standard/TTL drive
Pin out diagram
5
N1811TL
Standard/TTL drive
Pin out diagram
6
N1812UL
Standard/TTL drive
Pin out diagram
7
Specifications
General
Input power (into load) 1W, 7V dc, 50W pk, 10ms max pulse duration, not to
exceed 1W avg
Input power (into thru) 2W, 7V dc, 50W pk, 10ms max pulse duration, not to
exceed 2W avg
Life > 5 Million
Coil voltage 5, 15, 24 VDC
Switching time < 15ms
Repeatability < 0.03 dB Typical
Environmental
The switch is designed to fully comply with Agilent Technologies’ product operating
environment specifications. The following summarizes the environmental specifications
for these products (Class B1).
Temperature:
Operating: -25 to +75 deg C
Storage: -55 to +85 deg C
Cycling: -55 to +85 deg C, 10 cycles per MIL-STD 202F, 170D,
Condition A (modified)
Vibration:
Operating: 7g, 5-2000 Hz @ 0.25in. p-p
Survival: 20g, 20-2000 Hz @ 0.06 in. p-p, 4min/cycle, 4cycles/axis
Random: 2.41 g (rms.) 10min/axis
Shock: Half sine: 500 g @ 0.5 ms, 3 drops/direction, 18 total
Operating: 50g @ 6 ms, 6 directions
Humidity:
Operating: 15 to 95 % relative humidity
Storage: 65C, 95% RH, 10 days, MIL-STD 202F, Method 106E
Altitude:
Operating: 15,000 feet / 4.6 km
Storage: 50,000 feet / 15.3 km, MIL-STD 202F, Method 105C, Condition B
General operating characteristics - N181x series
Switching speed Repeatability Life Impedance
< 15ms < .03db typical > 5mil cycles 50ohms
Standard performance specifications - N181x series
Isolation (dB) = 90 - 1.13 X F, where F is specified in GHz
dc 4 GHz 12.4 GHz 20 GHz 26.5 GHz
90 85 76 67 60
Insertion loss (dB) = 0.3 + 0.019 X F, where F is specified in GHz
dc 4 GHz 12.4 GHz 20 GHz 26.5 GHz
0.30 0.38 0.53 0.68 0.80
SWR dc-2 GHz 2-4 GHz 4-12.4 GHz 12.4-20 GHz 20-26.5 GHz
1.10 1.15 1.20 1.30 1.60
RF Performance*
Optional high-performance specifications - N181x series
Isolation (dB) = 125 - 1.32 X F, where F is specified in GHz
dc 4 GHz 12.4 GHz 20 GHz 26.5 GHz
Opt. 301 125 120 109 99 90
Insertion loss (dB) = 0.15 + 0.017 X F, where F is specified in GHz
dc 4 GHz 12.4 GHz 20 GHz 26.5 GHz
Opt. 302 0.15 0.2 0.31 0.41 0.6
SWR dc-2 GHz 2-4 GHz 4-12.4 GHz 12.4-20 GHz 20-26.5 GHz
Opt. 302 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.4
* Specifications include margins for measurement uncertainties
8
Ordering information
Required - Specify one model number, one frequency, one coil voltage,
and one DC connector type
Optional - Specify RF performance enhancements and drive options
(may select any, all, or none)
(1) Select a model to fit your application. (Required)
N1810UL – Unterminated latching 3-port
N1810TL – Terminated latching 3-port
N1811TL – Terminated latching 4-port
N1812UL – Unterminated latching 5-port
(2) Select a frequency range. (Required)
002 - DC to 2GHz
004 - DC to 4GHz
020 - DC to 20GHz
026 - DC to 26.5GHz
(3) Select a coil voltage level. (Required)
105*– 5 volts
115 – 15 volts
124 – 24 volts
(4) Select a DC connector type. (Required)
201 – “D” subminiature 9 pin female
202 – Solder lugs
(5) Select RF performance enhancements. (Optional)
301 – Increased isolation
302 – Reduced standing wave ratio
and insertion loss
UK6 – Calibration certificate with test data
(6) Select drive options. (Optional)
401 – TTL/CMOS compatible 5v drive
402 – Position indicators
403 – Current interrupts
Ordering example:
For an unterminated 5 port switch, operating up to 20 GHz, with 15 volt coils,
D-sub connector, high isolation, and TTL, the order should look as follows:
N1812UL Opt 020 115 201 301 401
*Includes options 402 and 403
Agilent Technologies’ Test and Measurement
Support, Services, and Assistance
Agilent Technologies aims to maximize the
value you receive, while minimizing your risk
and problems. We strive to ensure that you get
the test and measurement capabilities you
paid for and obtain the support you need. Our
extensive support resources and services can
help you choose the right Agilent products for
your applications and apply them successfully.
Every instrument and system we sell has a
global warranty. Support is available for at
least five years beyond the production life of
the product. Two concepts underlay Agilent's
overall support policy: “Our Promise” and “Your
Advantage.”
Our Promise
Our Promise means your Agilent test and mea-
surement equipment will meet its advertised
performance and functionality. When you are
choosing new equipment, we will help you with
product information, including realistic perfor-
mance specifications and practical recommen-
dations from experienced test engineers. When
you use Agilent equipment, we can verify that it
works properly, help with product operation,
and provide basic measurement assistance for
the use of specified capabilities, at no extra
cost upon request. Many self-help tools are
available.
Your Advantage
Your Advantage means that Agilent offers a
wide range of additional expert test and mea-
surement services, which you can purchase
according to your unique technical and busi-
ness needs. Solve problems efficiently and
gain a competitive edge by contacting us for
calibration, extra-cost upgrades, out-of-warran-
ty repairs, and on-site education and training, as
well as design, system integration, project man-
agement, and other professional services.
Experienced Agilent engineers and technicians
worldwide can help you maximize your produc-
tivity, optimize the return on investment of
your Agilent instruments and systems, and
obtain dependable measurement accuracy for
the life of those products.
For more assistance with your test and
measurement needs go to
www.agilent.com/find/assist
Product specifications and descriptions
in this document subject to change
without notice.
Copyright © 2000 Agilent Technologies
Printed in USA 09/2000
5968-9653E
Model number
(Select one)
N1810UL
N1810TL
N1811TL
N1812UL
(1)
Options
Frequency
(Select one)
002
004
020
026
(2)
Coil voltage
(Select one)
105
115
124
(3)
DC connector
(Select one)
201
202
(4)
RF performance
(Select any)
301
302
UK6
(5)
Drive
(Select any)
401
402
403
(6)
