SHF Communication Technologies AG
Wilhelm-von-Siemens-Str. 23D • 12277 Berlin • Germany
Phone +49 30 772051-0 • Fax +49 30 7531078
E-Mail: sales@shf-communication.com • Web: www.shf-communication.com

Datasheet
SHF C712 A40 GHz / 64 Gbps
Dual Digital RF Attenuator

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Description
The SHF C712 A is a dual digital broadband RF attenuator, operating from 100 MHz up to 40 GHz forclock signal, and up to 64 Gbps for NRZ Data signal. It offers high quality output signals together with acompact size and ease of operation.
The two attenuators are fully independent RF building blocks, so essentially two attenuators are operated
by single software and housed in a single chassis as indicated by the block diagram below. It operates inboth directions, i.e. the signal can be applied to or taken from both RF ports (see restrictions of the inputpower)
The range of the Attenuation is 31.5 dB and can be set with 0.5 dB resolution.

Features

Broadband operation up to 40 GHz
Up to 64 Gbps NRZ Data signal
Attenuation of differential signals
Bi-directional (see restrictions of the input power)
Low power consumption
Single-ended operation
USB interface
Simple, easy to use GUI
1
Automated measurements by using different software environments easily possible

Applications
Broadband test and measurement equipment

Block Diagram

1

To operate the switch, intuitive and well documented plain text commands are sent and received via USB. Thus the device can beoperated either by the complementary software or automated by any programming language which can communicate with USB devices.
SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Accessories
 Functional earth cable Mini-USB cable

Options
Option – Low Frequency Compensation (LFC)
The Low Frequency Compensation option is offered in order to reduce the frequency response roll-off. Due toa lower loss at the lower frequencies there is a typical role-off of 7 dB between 1 MHz and 40 GHz. The
compensation reduces the roll-off to approximately 3 dB over the frequency range, but at the same timeincreases the insertion loss by roughly 4 dB at the lower frequency range.

Insertion Loss @ min attenuation – option LFC compared to “no option”

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Absolute Maximum Ratings
Parameter

Unit

Symbol

Min.

Typ.

Max.

Input Power RF A1 / B1dBm

Pin27

Input Power RF A2 / B2dBm

Pin18

External DC Voltage on
RF Ports

V

VDCextComment

Input Parameters-6+6AC coupled ports

Max.

Comment100

Clock Signal

Specifications – SHF C712 A
Parameter

Unit

SymbolMinimum Input Frequency

MHzfminMaximum Input Frequency

GHzfmax

BandwidthGHz

f3dB
f6dB

Data Rate

Gbps

Attenuation RangedB

Attenuation Resolution

dB

Min.

Typ.

Performance

Attenuation Accuracy* % of state

40

Clock Signal
26> 40

Clock Signal

64

Data Signal
31.5
0.5±(0.10 + 0.6%*)±(0.10 + 1.0%*)±(0.15 + 0.8%*)±(0.20 + 2.0%*)±(0.35 + 2.5%*)

dB

100 MHz to 10 GHz
10 GHz to 18 GHz
18 GHz to 26 GHz
26 GHz to 35 GHz
35 GHz to 40 GHzInsertion Loss @ min att.

dB

18

whole frequency range

Insertion Loss @ max att.

dB

3239

whole frequency range

Return Loss @ min att.

dB

1320

< 40 GHz, RF A1 / B1

Return Loss @ min att.

dB

1119

< 40 GHz, RF A2 / B2

Return Loss @ max att.

dB

1622

< 40 GHz, RF A1 / B1

Return Loss @ max att.

dB

1320

< 40 GHz, RF A2 / B2

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Parameter

Unit

Symbol

Min.

Typ.

Max.

CommentJitter RMS

fsJRMSSee note

Duty Cycle%

DCSee note

Inter-Channel Skew

ps

Output Parameters
22

TBD

Power Requirement
Supply Voltage

VVcc

Supply CurrentmAIcc

25

Power DissipationmW

Pd125@ VCC = +5 V

+4.40+5.00+5.25

Mini USB

Mechanical Characteristics
Attenuator A RF A1Ω

50

1.85 mm (V) female

Attenuator A RF A2Ω

50

1.85 mm (V) female

Attenuator B RF B1Ω

50

1.85 mm (V) female

Attenuator B RF B2Ω

50

1.85 mm (V) female

Dimensions

mmWeightgSee Outline Drawing90Conditions
Operating Temperature°C

Tambient

1535

Specifications – SHF C712 A Option LFC
Parameter

Unit

Symbol

Min.

Typ.

Max.

CommentBandwidth

GHz

f3dB

Insertion Loss @ min att.

dB

58

whole frequency range

Insertion Loss @ max att.

dB

36

39

whole frequency range

Return Loss @ min att.

dB

813

< 40 GHz, RF A1 / B1

Return Loss @ min att.

dB

1016

< 40 GHz, RF A2 / B2

Return Loss @ max att.

dB

812

< 40 GHz, RF A1 / B1

Return Loss @ max att.

dB

1220

< 40 GHz, RF A2 / B2

Performance2> 40

Clock Signal

No degradation in jitter or duty cycle performance were observed for sine wave signals with no attenuation settings

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Typical RF Performance @ +25°C
C712 A (no option)
The measurements below had been performed using a VNA.

Insertion Loss vs. attenuation

Insertion Loss @ min attenuation

Return Loss (RF A1/B1) @ min / max attenuation

Return Loss (RF A2/B2) @ min / max attenuation

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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C712 A (option LFC)
The measurements below had been performed using a VNA.

Insertion Loss vs. attenuation

Return Loss (RF A1/B1) @ min / max attenuation

Return Loss (RF A2/B2) @ min / max attenuation

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Typical Output Waveforms
Clock Output Signals (no option)
The measurements below had been performed using an Anritsu signal generator (3697C) and a Digital
Serial Analyzer (DSA8300) with a Phase Reference Module (82A04B-60G) and a Sampling Module(80X02). The output of the module had been connected directly to the DSA input.
Input power of the clock signal is 0 dBm (630 mVpp).

5 GHz input signal

5 GHz output signal @ min attenuation

40 GHz input signal

40 GHz output signal @ min attenuation

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Data Output Signals
31

The measurements below had been performed using a SHF 12105 A Bit Pattern Generator (PRBS 2 -1)
and a Digital Serial Analyzer (DSA8300) with a Phase Reference Module (82A04B-60G) and a Sampling
Module (80X02). The output of the module had been connected directly to the DSA input
31
Input Data signal had a PRBS 2 -1 pattern.

10 Gbps input signal

10 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation

10 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation
Option LFC

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

Page 9/1250 Gbps input signal

50 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation

50 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation
Option LFC

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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64 Gbps input signal

64 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation

64 Gbps output signal @ min attenuation
Option LFC

SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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Outline Drawing – Moduleacb
Ø2.24034284xØ

2.7

Att ARF A11RF A22s = 0.5 dB

Att B
31.50s = 0.5 dB

RF B24354554

RF B1351453531.50

SHF C712 A
Dual Digital RF AttenuatorXXXXX

SHFCommunication
Technologies AG3USB

23.56.4Connector

1

RF A1 Att A 1.85mm (V) female2

RF A2 Att A 1.85mm (V) female3

RF B1 Att B 1.85mm (V) female4

RF B2 Att B 1.85mm (V) female

13.6

Port

13.6

Pos

6.4

All dimensions are in mmPortConnectoraMini-USBbncc

Functional earth (FE)SHF reserves the right to change specifications and design without notice – SHF C712 A - V001 – Sept 17, 2020

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