finding suitable connector for PMA5-83-2W+ evaluation board - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 06:28:53 pm
content: Hello, I am building the exact copy of PMA5-83-2W+ evaluation board shown below.Currently I am stuck on the choosing the RF connector for the board .In the datasheet they said to use 2.92 connector , but as you can see in the link there many 2.92 .given the photos and datasheet what kind of connector they used?Thanks.https://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/PMA5-83-2W+.pdfhttps://eu.mouser.com/c/connectors/rf-interconnects/rf-connectors-coaxial-connectors/?rf%20series=2.92%20mm&srsltid=AfmBOorzMVjCrOnDPsJhVG62fdfKg-SqhIFx43Iqe42qGO8pkEC4_L4-

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 06:40:43 pm
content: Quote from: john23 on July 20, 2025, 06:28:53 pmWell it’s obviously flange mount, selecting that in the parametric search immediately cuts the list down by 75%. Choose “normally stocked” and the list shrinks from 45 to 34. Then you can look at the remaining 34 and see that most of them either have 4-hole flanges, or clearly have much smaller flanges than in your module. So you really only have a handful to look at.What I find interesting is that those appear to not have a solder pin at all, but rather just a socket on the inside, which mates with a pin that you solder onto the board.

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 02:59:48 am
content: Hello ,Yes exactly , they dont have the inner pin.the width of the rf trace is 0.434mm as shown below.How can I buy such inner Pin for the connector?Thanks.https://eu.mouser.com/c/connectors/rf-interconnects/rf-connectors-coaxial-connectors/?mounting%20style=Flange%20Mount&rf%20series=2.92%20mm&normallystocked=y

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 08:16:46 am
content: The datasheets state that a 0.012” pin is required. That’s exactly 0.3mm.The cheapest connector on mouser that looks like what you probably need is Cinch/Johnson 145-0701-602. If you look at theJohnson coaxial connector catalogon page 42, they recommend using a particular feedthrough pin, which is found on page 44. Chances are the Minicircuits eval board uses that or an equivalent from some competitor.It looks like you have the eval board? I think that inspecting it carefully (including disassembling the connector) might give you some much-needed insight on its construction. I am guessing from your questions that you aren’t super experienced with microwave circuit construction (I’m not either, but have done a little bit), since if you were you’d probably be able to answer your questions yourself. But if your goal is to simply manufacture the PCB using their Gerbers, then you need to know that you also will need to precision machine the enclosure to go with it, since these connectors require it.And you need to know that the trace geometry given is valid only for the specific specialty PCB substrate they list.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 08:19:53 am
content: P.S. So nobody else needs to waste time trying to locate the version (Rev A) of the eval board drawing that OP shared only screenshots from, it's athttps://web.archive.org/web/20240507164905/https://www.minicircuits.com/pcb/WTB-PMA5-83-2WC+_P02.pdfThe version currently on the minicircuits website (Rev B) does not have any connector information, nor a schematic or BOM!

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 08:58:45 am
content: One other thing to consider: do you actually need it to be a precision 2.92mm (SMK) connector?? The amp in question is specified for 10GHz, which is well within the 18-26GHz rating of high-quality SMA connectors.

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 01:23:12 pm
content: Hello tooki,given the catalog you presented and the photo below.How do I buy the .0120+/-.0005(0.305+/-0.013) pin?Is there some manufacturing number for this pin like the Cinch/Johnson 145-0701-602 from mouser?https://www.cinch.com/media/catalogs/products/rf-microwave/cable-assemblies/cable-assembly/ca-Johnson-Catalog.pdfThanks.

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 08:27:58 am
content: How do I buy the .0120+/-.0005(0.305+/-0.013) pin?Is there some manufacturing number for this pin like the Cinch/Johnson 145-0701-602 from mouser?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 09:49:43 am
content: Quote from: john23 on July 22, 2025, 01:23:12 pmI literally tell you this in the same sentence where I gave the catalog link.

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 02:37:41 pm
content: Hello tooki,few questions:1.Where did you see in the datas sheet that they require 0.012” pin ?2.How did you see in the catalog the required pin in page 42?I just scrolled down but the catalog didnt say (requared pin is 142-1000-033)How did you see that?connector:https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/cinch-connectivity-solutions-johnson/145-0701-602/686195inner pin:https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/cinch-connectivity-solutions-johnson/142-1000-033/686191catalog:https://www.cinch.com/media/catalogs/products/rf-microwave/cable-assemblies/cable-assembly/ca-Johnson-Catalog.pdfdatasheet:https://www.minicircuits.com/WebStore/dashboard.html?model=PMA5-83-2W%2B&srsltid=AfmBOopM2o6wCFvPkz5vR2WOdO-gbOqg2XJA-Ma3XZiawg5cPn-V6yXC

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2025, 07:48:53 pm
content: Hello tooki,Where did you see in the datas sheet that they require 0.012” pin ?Thanks.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 09:32:54 am
content: Quote from: john23 on July 23, 2025, 02:37:41 pmI am baffled. The information is right where I said it is. I saw it by… reading the text on the page? I honestly don’t know how else to explain it. It’s right there.I’ve highlighted it on screenshots, attached.I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but if you can’t locate basic information within documentation, how do you ever hope to lay out a functional microwave PCB and have it successfully manufactured with the correct materials?

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 06:30:55 pm
content: Hello tooki,I have an option for a connector shown in the link below.So given that my connector needs to sit on rf trace is 0.434mm.I need to choose a pin for it.Two questions:1.given the 0.434mm trace , what pin diameter you reccomend to use?2.what is the difference between thin and thick wall presented in the picture?Where is this wall ,why its important? I just need the pin to connect the connector.https://www.hasco-inc.com/connectors/sma-connectors/214-510sf-super-sma-jack-female-2-hole-550-long-flange-accepts-pin-dia-012/Thanks.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2025, 09:15:11 am
content: Do you understandwhythe trace is 0.434mm?Are you sure 0.434mm is the correct width for the PCB you are actually having made?(These are not rhetorical questions. I would like you to answer them.)The pin diameter is dictated by the connector used, obviously. The connector has a socket for a pin of a particular size.The “thin wall” and “thick wall” pins are differentlengths, so that you can choose the one that matches the wall thickness of the enclosure you’re using.Can I ask: why are you doing this project? It seems clear to me that you don’t have any background knowledge in RF design, nor in PCB layout in general, just because of the helplessness I am perceiving. Don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with not knowing things yet. But I feel like you’ve taken on something that is beyond your current skill level. (Again, not a rhetorical question.)

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 05:43:42 am
content: Hello , 0.434 is because its 50ohm impedance.I am trying to undesrand the inner pin situation:few questions:1.If my 50 ohm microstrip width is 0.434 what pin diameter it needs to be?2.The term "Wall" is the measure I signed betwee the connector ending and the start of the microstrip?3.Is there a place I could find the STEP file of the connector shown in the link?Thanks.Thanks.https://www.hasco-inc.com/connectors/sma-connectors/214-510sf-super-sma-jack-female-2-hole-550-long-flange-accepts-pin-dia-012/

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2025, 06:13:04 am
content: Quote from: john23 on July 28, 2025, 05:43:42 amAaaand…? That’s maybe 1/3 of the answer to the question. Keep going.I asked three questions, and I got 0.3 answers. I’m not answering any more questions until you answer the ones asked.

author: john23
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2025, 07:01:17 am
content: Hello tooki, regarding your other questions:"Are you sure 0.434mm is the correct width for the PCB you are actually having made?"This is the orginal gerber of the manuacturer wich fits the substrate(for 50 ohms)"why are you doing this project? "I am doing this project to recreate the original PMA-83https://www.minicircuits.com/WebStore/dashboard.html?model=PMA5-83-2W%2B

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 11:05:14 am
content: Quote from: john23 on July 29, 2025, 07:01:17 amAnd are you going to use the exact same substrate? (Type and thickness.) Any change in the layer stack and you need to recalculate the trace geometry.Quote from: john23 on July 29, 2025, 07:01:17 amNo, that iswhatyou are doing. My question iswhy?Why try to clone it rather than just buying more of them? You are clearly a bit beyond your comfort zone and experience (and well beyond your… “curiosity zone”, shall we call it?), so what’s the impetus for making a clone board instead of buying?