RF switches are devices that route radio frequency signals to particular waveguides.  Important performance specifications to consider when searching for RF switches include the frequency range, insertion loss, isolation, switching speed, impedance, and VSWR.  The frequency range is the signal frequency range of the switch.  Insertion loss is the total RF power transmission loss resulting from the insertion of a device in a transmission line. It is defined as the ratio of signal power at the output of the inserted device to the input signal power at the input of the inserted device.  The isolation from port A to port B of a device is defined as the degree of attenuation of the signal at port A measured at the B port with all other ports properly terminated.  Isolation is expressed in dB.  The switching speed is the speed at which the switch can operate.  Impedance is typically either 50 ohms or 75 ohms.  When there are impedance mismatches in a system, some energy transmitted through will be reflected back to the source. Different amounts of energy will be reflected back depending on the frequency of the signal.   VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) is a unitless ratio ranging from 1 to infinity, expressing the amount of reflected energy.  A value of one indicates that all the energy will pass through, while any other value indicates that a portion of the energy will be reflected.

The switch actuator for RF switches can be single pole single throw (SPST), single pole double throw (SPDT), double pole single throw (DPST), double pole double throw (DPDT), single pole four throw (SP4T), single pole eight throw (SP8T), and single pole twelve throw (SP12T).  Actuator voltage is also an important to consider.  Common control interface choices for RF switches include RJ-45, RS232, RS422, and TTL.  Package types for RF switches include surface mount, flatpack, through hole or plug-in, connectorized, and waveguide assembly.  In Surface Mount Technology (SMT), components are mounted on printed circuit boards by soldering the component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board.  A flatpack is an IC package with gull wing or flat leads on two or four sides.  In Through Hole Technology (THT), components are mounted on printed circuit boards by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering.  A connectorized package is a component that is attached to the system by mean of connectors such as coaxial or other type.  A waveguide assembly is a unit that is used in a microwave waveguide system. A waveguide normally consists of a hollow metallic conductor, usually rectangular, elliptical, or circular in cross-section. Under certain conditions it may contain a solid or gaseous dielectric material.  Common features for RF modules include connector type choices, antenna connector, LED indicators, adjustable power output, and environmental parameters.  Choices for connector types include BNC, MCX, Mini UHF, MMCX, SMA, SMB, SMP, TNC, Type F, Type N, UHF, 1.6 / 5.6, and 7/16.  An important environmental parameter to consider is the operating temperature.

RF switches are devices that route radio frequency signals to particular waveguides.  Important performance specifications to consider when searching for RF switches include the frequency range, insertion loss, isolation, switching speed, impedance, and VSWR.  The frequency range is the signal frequency range of the switch.  Insertion loss is the total RF power transmission loss resulting from the insertion of a device in a transmission line. It is defined as the ratio of signal power at the output of the inserted device to the input signal power at the input of the inserted device.  The isolation from port A to port B of a device is defined as the degree of attenuation of the signal at port A measured at the B port with all other ports properly terminated.  Isolation is expressed in dB.  The switching speed is the speed at which the switch can operate.  Impedance is typically either 50 ohms or 75 ohms.  When there are impedance mismatches in a system, some energy transmitted through will be reflected back to the source. Different amounts of energy will be reflected back depending on the frequency of the signal.   VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) is a unitless ratio ranging from 1 to infinity, expressing the amount of reflected energy.  A value of one indicates that all the energy will pass through, while any other value indicates that a portion of the energy will be reflected.

The switch actuator for RF switches can be single pole single throw (SPST), single pole double throw (SPDT), double pole single throw (DPST), double pole double throw (DPDT), single pole four throw (SP4T), single pole eight throw (SP8T), and single pole twelve throw (SP12T).  Actuator voltage is also an important to consider.  Common control interface choices for RF switches include RJ-45, RS232, RS422, and TTL.  Package types for RF switches include surface mount, flatpack, through hole or plug-in, connectorized, and waveguide assembly.  In Surface Mount Technology (SMT), components are mounted on printed circuit boards by soldering the component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board.  A flatpack is an IC package with gull wing or flat leads on two or four sides.  In Through Hole Technology (THT), components are mounted on printed circuit boards by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering.  A connectorized package is a component that is attached to the system by mean of connectors such as coaxial or other type.  A waveguide assembly is a unit that is used in a microwave waveguide system. A waveguide normally consists of a hollow metallic conductor, usually rectangular, elliptical, or circular in cross-section. Under certain conditions it may contain a solid or gaseous dielectric material.  Common features for RF modules include connector type choices, antenna connector, LED indicators, adjustable power output, and environmental parameters.  Choices for connector types include BNC, MCX, Mini UHF, MMCX, SMA, SMB, SMP, TNC, Type F, Type N, UHF, 1.6 / 5.6, and 7/16.  An important environmental parameter to consider is the operating temperature.