Mini-Circuits RC-2SP6T-A18 Users Guide

Mini-Circuits

USB & Ethernet Controlled

RoHS Compliant

See our web site for RoHS Compliance
methodologies and qualifications

USB/Ethernet RF Switch Matrix

RC-2SP6T-A18

50Ω DC to 18 GHz

The Big Deal

• Dual mechanical SP6T switch box

• High reliability, 10 million switch cycles

• 20W power rating (cold switching)

• High isolation, 90 dB typ

Case Style: PF2018

Software Package

Applications

• R&D

• Automated Test equipment

• Controlling RF signal paths

Product Overview

Mini-Circuits’ RC-2SP6T-A18 comprises a pair of independently controlled, electro-mechanical SP6T switches. Each switch
operates over an extremely wide bandwidth, from DC to 18 GHz with high isolation and low insertion loss. The absorptive
switches are of a failsafe and break-before-make-configuration, with a minimum lifetime of 10 million switching cycles per switch
position, when used within the noted specifications.

The switch box is constructed in a compact, rugged metal case (5.5 x 6.0 x 2.75”) with 14 SMA (f) RF connectors on the front
panel. The switches are controlled via USB or Ethernet, allowing control directly from a PC, or remotely over a network. Full
software support is provided, including our user-friendly GUI application for Windows and a full API with programming instructions
for Windows and Linux environments (both 32-bit and 64-bit systems).

Key Features

Feature Advantages

Dual mechanical SP6T switches

Operation from DC to 18 GHz

Break-before-make configuration

USB & Ethernet control

Full software support

1

Windows is a registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Mac is a registered

trademark of Apple Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Neither Mini-Circuits nor the Mini-Circuits

Mini-Circuits and the Mini-Circuits logo are registered trademarks of Scientific Components Corporation.

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

Mechanical absorptive switches provide high reliability, repeatable high performance and internal
terminations of input signals on the disconnected paths

Supports a wide range of RF test and signal routing applications, including 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, with
a single device

Prevents a momentary connection of the old and new signal paths, reducing the inconsistent transient
effects that could otherwise be observed during switching

USB HID and Ethernet (HTTP / Telnet) interfaces provide easy compatibility with a wide range of
software setups and programming environments

User friendly Windows GUI (graphical user interface) allows manual control straight out of the box,
while the comprehensive API (application programming interface) with examples and instructions
allows easy automation in most programming environments

RC-2SP6T-A18

are affiliated with or endorsed by the owners of the above referenced trademarks.

®

Re v. A
NPO-001229
RC-2SP6T-A18
MCL NY
201201

Page 1 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

RC-2SP6T-A18

Electrical Specications

Parameter Conditions Min. Typ. Max. Units

Frequency DC 18 GHz

DC to 1 GHz − 0.04 0.10

Insertion Loss (per Switch)

Isolation (per Switch)

VSWR

Switching Time − − 20 − ms

RF Input Power (Cold Switching)

Switch Lifetime (per Switch)

Rated Voltage

Rated Current (24V DC Input)

Rated Current (USB) − 10 20 mA

1

Maximum power for any connected through path as stated; maximum power into any internal termination is 1W per port, 3W total per switch

2

Hot switching powers above this level will degrade the switch lifetime

1

1 to 8 GHz − 0.10 0.25

8 to 12 GHz − 0.20 0.30

12 to 18 GHz − 0.40 0.80

DC to 1 GHz 90 100 −

1 to 8 GHz 85 100 −

8 to 12 GHz 75 100 −

12 to 18 GHz 75 100 −

DC to 1 GHz − 1.05 −

1 to 8 GHz − 1.15 −

8 to 12 GHz − 1.20 −

12 to 18 GHz − 1.43 −

− − 20 W

100mW hot switching

1W hot switching − 1 −

24VDC input 23 24 25

USB port − 5 −

Both switches in state 1-4 − 160 230

Both switches in state 0 − 60 90

2

10 − −

million switching

cycles

dB

dB

:1

V

mA

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C

Storage Temperature -15°C to 85°C

DC Voltage max. 26V

RF power (through path) 20W

RF power (into internal termination)

3

1W per termination, 3W total

Permanent damage may occur if any of these limits are exceeded.

3

1W

Switching Conguration:

• Normally open (all port disconnected)

• Absorptive (internal terminations on ports J1-J6)

50 Ohm

Termination

Connections

24VDC IN (2.1 mm center positive DC Socket)

RF Switch A
(All ports)

RF Switch B
(All ports)

USB (USB type B receptacle)

Network (Ethernet/LAN) (RJ45 socket)

(SMA female)

(SMA female)

J2J6 J5 J4 J3

J1

IN

®

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

Page 2 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

MSP6TA-18+

MSP6TA-18+

MSP6TA-18+

VSWR

MSP6TA-18+

VSWR

RC-2SP6T-A18

Typical Performance Data

FREQ.
(MHz)

IN-J1 IN-J2 IN-J3 IN-J4 IN-J5 IN-J6 IN J1-ON J2-ON J3-ON J4-ON J5-ON J6-ON

500 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 102.06 1.03 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.02
1000 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 105.92 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.02 1.03
2050 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.04 109.70 1.03 1.01 1.03 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.04
3100 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 107.38 1.05 1.04 1.04 1.03 1.02 1.01 1.03
4150 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.05 0.05 111.45 1.06 1.07 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.07
5200 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.07 112.55 1.07 1.06 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.05 1.07
6250 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.08 108.43 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.04 1.07
7300 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.09 0.10 106.13 1.04 1.05 1.02 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.10
8000 0.11 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.11 105.22 1.08 1.08 1.04 1.07 1.10 1.08 1.13
9000 0.13 0.12 0.11 0.13 0.11 0.12 109.97 1.12 1.11 1.06 1.09 1.12 1.09 1.14
10000 0.14 0.13 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.13 108.68 1.11 1.10 1.07 1.09 1.12 1.10 1.12
12000 0.14 0.15 0.13 0.14 0.14 0.14 105.00 1.07 1.07 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.09 1.09
14000 0.19 0.20 0.18 0.18 0.17 0.18 101.80 1.08 1.08 1.15 1.10 1.09 1.06 1.05
16000 0.37 0.33 0.36 0.35 0.30 0.30 103.98 1.33 1.33 1.35 1.32 1.35 1.26 1.26
18000 0.47 0.40 0.44 0.43 0.36 0.43 97.06 1.46 1.50 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.42 1.54

ON INSERTION LOSS

(dB)

ISOLATION

(dB)

VSWR

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

INSERTION LOSS (dB)

IN-J1

IN-J2

IN-J3

IN-J4

IN-J5

IN-J6

0.00
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 18000

FREQUENCY (MHz)

INSERTION LOSS

1.60

1.50

1.40

1.30

VSWR

1.20

J1-OFF

J2-OFF

J3-OFF

J4-OFF

J5-OFF

J6-OFF

1.10

1.00
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 18000

FREQUENCY (MHz)

115

ISOLATION

110

105

100

ISOLATION (dB)

95

90

0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 18000

FREQUENCY (MHz)

1.60

1.50

1.40

1.30

VSWR

1.20

IN

J1-ON

J2-ON

J3-ON

J4-ON

J5-ON

J6-ON

1.10

1.00
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 18000

FREQUENCY (MHz)

®

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

Page 3 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

ABCDEFGHJK LMNP wt

Outline Drawing (PF2018)

RC-2SP6T-A18

Outline Dimensions ( )

6.00 5.50 2.75 0.36 0.73 1.26 1.63 2.75 0.75 0.28 0.63 3.50 0.375 6.72 grams

152.40 139.70 69.85 9.14 18.54 32.00 41.40 69.85 19.05 7.11 16.00 88.90 9.53 170.69 1350

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

inch

mm

®

Page 4 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

RC-2SP6T-A18

Software Specications

Software & Documentation Download:

• Mini-Circuits’ full software and support package including user guide, Windows GUI, DLL files, programming manual and
examples can be downloaded free of charge from https://www.minicircuits.com/softwaredownload/rfswitchcontroller.html

• Please contact [e-mail] for support

Minimum System Requirements:

Parameter Requirements

Interface USB HID & Ethernet (HTTP & Telnet)

GUI Windows 98 or later

System
Requirements

Hardware Pentium II or later with 256 MB RAM

USB API DLL Windows 98 or later and programming environment with ActiveX or .NET support

USB Direct Programming Linux, Windows 98 or later

Ethernet

Windows, Linux or Mac computer with a network port and Ethernet TCP/IP sup­port

Application Programming Interface (API)

Ethernet Support:

• Simple ASCII / SCPI command set for attenuator control

• Communication via HTTP or Telnet

• Supported by most common programming environments

USB Support (Windows):

• ActiveX COM DLL file for creation of 32-bit programs

• .NET library DLL file for creation of 32 / 64-bit programs

• Supported by most common programming environments (refer to application note AN-49-001 for summary
of supported environments)

USB Support (Linux):

• Direct USB programming using a series of USB interrupt codes

Full programming instructions and examples available for a wide range of programming environments / languages.

®

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

Page 5 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

Graphical User Interface (GUI) for Windows - Key Features

• Connect via USB or Ethernet

• Run GUI in “demo mode” to evaluate software without a hardware connection

• View and set switch states at the click of a button

• Configure and run timed switching sequences

• Set start-up switch state

• Configure Ethernet IP settings

RC-2SP6T-A18

®

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

Page 6 of 7

Mini-Circuits

RF SP6T Switch Matrix

Ordering, Pricing & Availability Information see our web site

Model Description

RC-2SP6T-A18

Included Accessories Part No. Description

USB

/Ethernet RF SP6T Switch Matrix

AC/DC-24-3W1

AC/DC 24VDC Grounded Power Adaptor.
Operating temperature: 0°C to +40°C, I

Max

RC-2SP6T-A18

=2.5A

CBL-3W1-XX

USB-CBL-AB-3+

CBL-RJ45-MM-5

AC Power Cords

7.

Power cords for other countries are also available, if you need a power cord for a country not listed in the table please contact

[e-mail] or check http://www.minicircuits.com/contact/offices.html for regional offices e-mail and phone numbers.

7

Part No. Description

CBL-3W1-US Power Cord for United States

CBL-3W1-EU Power Cord for Europe

CBL-3W1-UK Power Cord for United Kingdom

CBL-3W1-AU Power Cord for Australia and China

CBL-3W1-IL Power Cord for Israel

AC Power Cord (Select one power cord from below with

each Switch Matrix box)

2.7 ft (0.8 m) USB Cable: USB type A(Male) to USB
type B(Male)

5 ft (1.5 m) Ethernet cable: RJ45(Male) to RJ45(Male)

+

Cat 5E cable

Optional Accessories Description

USB-CBL-AB-3+ 2.7 ft (0.8 m) USB Cable: USB type A(Male) to USB type B(Male)

USB-CBL-AB-7+ 6.8 ft (2.1 m) USB Cable: USB type A(Male) to USB type B(Male)

USB-CBL-AB-11+ 11 ft (3.4 m) USB Cable: USB type A(Male) to USB type B(Male)

CBL-RJ45-MM-5+ (spare) 5 ft (1.5 m) Ethernet cable: RJ45(Male) to RJ45(Male) Cat 5E cable

BKT-272-08+

Bracket (One set of 2 each)

Additional Notes

A. Performance and quality attributes and conditions not expressly stated in this specification document are intended to be excluded and do not form a part of this

specification document.

B. Electrical specifications and performance data contained in this specification document are based on Mini-Circuit’s applicable established test performance criteria and

measurement instructions.

C. The parts covered by this specification document are subject to Mini-Circuits standard limited warranty and terms and conditions (collectively, “Standard Terms”);

Purchasers of this part are entitled to the rights and benefits contained therein. For a full statement of the Standard Terms and the exclusive rights and remedies
thereunder, please visit Mini-Circuits’ website at www.minicircuits.com/MCLStore/terms.jsp

®

www.minicircuits.com P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 [phone] [e-mail]

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