Difference between these RF adapters

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











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Can someone explain me the differences between these two RF adapters. I know the one on the right is better (and much more expensive as well) but is there a difference in the functioning of these adapters ?



Thanks a lot.



enter image description here






rf adapter







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    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    Can someone explain me the differences between these two RF adapters. I know the one on the right is better (and much more expensive as well) but is there a difference in the functioning of these adapters ?



    Thanks a lot.



    enter image description here






    rf adapter







    share|improve this question























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      Can someone explain me the differences between these two RF adapters. I know the one on the right is better (and much more expensive as well) but is there a difference in the functioning of these adapters ?



      Thanks a lot.



      enter image description here






      rf adapter







      share|improve this question













      Can someone explain me the differences between these two RF adapters. I know the one on the right is better (and much more expensive as well) but is there a difference in the functioning of these adapters ?



      Thanks a lot.



      enter image description here






      rf adapter




      rf adapter






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 3 hours ago









      Ultra67

      346




      346




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          5
          down vote



          accepted










          This:



          enter image description here



          is a simple BNC splitter, it has no real circuit inside, all ground/shields are directly connected and so are the signal pins. There is only a straight wire between all pins.



          This BNC splitter is only suitable for low frequency applications like distributing a 10 MHz reference clock to all your measurement equipment. Or for connecting low frequency signals from a waveform generator to an oscilloscope. If you use this BNC splitter for signals above 100 MHz or so, you can expect issues like reflections that will distort your signals. At low frequencies this is less of an issue and at DC it is no issue at all.



          The other device is a proper RF power splitter/combiner, inside it might look similar to these splitter/combiners:



          Fancy model, note that the lid has been removed:



          enter image description here



          or this poor man's model, just a PCB with connectors:



          enter image description here



          Oh, but there I only see (PCB) traces ! It is also a straight connection!



          Yes but no, note the shape of the traces, these are designed such that RF signals of certain frequencies (see the datasheet) are properly divided / combined between all inputs and outputs.



          This device can spilt one signal into two signal with a smaller power.



          This device can also combine two signal into one signal with the combined power of the input signals.



          This device only works properly if all ports are properly terminated with the right characteristic impedance (usually that will be 50 ohms). You would normally only use such an RF splitter / combiner with RF equipment that already has the proper input and output impedance.



          The ZFRSC-42 you show a picture of is actually simpler than the splitter/combiners I show above, the ZFRSC-42 is a resistive version and probably has a circuit like:



          enter image description here



          That is simpler than the "special traces" shown above but means some power is lost in the resistors. The advantage is that the usable frequency range can be larger than those shown above.






          share|improve this answer






















          • Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
            – Ultra67
            2 hours ago

















          up vote
          3
          down vote













          The one on the left is simply a "T" connector. All three connections are joined to each other.



          The other is a resistive splitter, with an input and two outputs. Data Sheet



          Which is "better" depends on what you want it to do.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            The device on the left is a "T" adapter. The center pins of the three BNC connectors are simply connected to each other. There is no isolation between the pins.



            The device on the right is NOT an adapter. It's a two-way resistive power splitter (or combiner). There is some (6dB) isolation between the connectors.



            There are better splitter/combiners that offer more isolation.






            share|improve this answer




















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              3 Answers
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              active

              oldest

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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

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              active

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              up vote
              5
              down vote



              accepted










              This:



              enter image description here



              is a simple BNC splitter, it has no real circuit inside, all ground/shields are directly connected and so are the signal pins. There is only a straight wire between all pins.



              This BNC splitter is only suitable for low frequency applications like distributing a 10 MHz reference clock to all your measurement equipment. Or for connecting low frequency signals from a waveform generator to an oscilloscope. If you use this BNC splitter for signals above 100 MHz or so, you can expect issues like reflections that will distort your signals. At low frequencies this is less of an issue and at DC it is no issue at all.



              The other device is a proper RF power splitter/combiner, inside it might look similar to these splitter/combiners:



              Fancy model, note that the lid has been removed:



              enter image description here



              or this poor man's model, just a PCB with connectors:



              enter image description here



              Oh, but there I only see (PCB) traces ! It is also a straight connection!



              Yes but no, note the shape of the traces, these are designed such that RF signals of certain frequencies (see the datasheet) are properly divided / combined between all inputs and outputs.



              This device can spilt one signal into two signal with a smaller power.



              This device can also combine two signal into one signal with the combined power of the input signals.



              This device only works properly if all ports are properly terminated with the right characteristic impedance (usually that will be 50 ohms). You would normally only use such an RF splitter / combiner with RF equipment that already has the proper input and output impedance.



              The ZFRSC-42 you show a picture of is actually simpler than the splitter/combiners I show above, the ZFRSC-42 is a resistive version and probably has a circuit like:



              enter image description here



              That is simpler than the "special traces" shown above but means some power is lost in the resistors. The advantage is that the usable frequency range can be larger than those shown above.






              share|improve this answer






















              • Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
                – Ultra67
                2 hours ago














              up vote
              5
              down vote



              accepted










              This:



              enter image description here



              is a simple BNC splitter, it has no real circuit inside, all ground/shields are directly connected and so are the signal pins. There is only a straight wire between all pins.



              This BNC splitter is only suitable for low frequency applications like distributing a 10 MHz reference clock to all your measurement equipment. Or for connecting low frequency signals from a waveform generator to an oscilloscope. If you use this BNC splitter for signals above 100 MHz or so, you can expect issues like reflections that will distort your signals. At low frequencies this is less of an issue and at DC it is no issue at all.



              The other device is a proper RF power splitter/combiner, inside it might look similar to these splitter/combiners:



              Fancy model, note that the lid has been removed:



              enter image description here



              or this poor man's model, just a PCB with connectors:



              enter image description here



              Oh, but there I only see (PCB) traces ! It is also a straight connection!



              Yes but no, note the shape of the traces, these are designed such that RF signals of certain frequencies (see the datasheet) are properly divided / combined between all inputs and outputs.



              This device can spilt one signal into two signal with a smaller power.



              This device can also combine two signal into one signal with the combined power of the input signals.



              This device only works properly if all ports are properly terminated with the right characteristic impedance (usually that will be 50 ohms). You would normally only use such an RF splitter / combiner with RF equipment that already has the proper input and output impedance.



              The ZFRSC-42 you show a picture of is actually simpler than the splitter/combiners I show above, the ZFRSC-42 is a resistive version and probably has a circuit like:



              enter image description here



              That is simpler than the "special traces" shown above but means some power is lost in the resistors. The advantage is that the usable frequency range can be larger than those shown above.






              share|improve this answer






















              • Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
                – Ultra67
                2 hours ago












              up vote
              5
              down vote



              accepted







              up vote
              5
              down vote



              accepted






              This:



              enter image description here



              is a simple BNC splitter, it has no real circuit inside, all ground/shields are directly connected and so are the signal pins. There is only a straight wire between all pins.



              This BNC splitter is only suitable for low frequency applications like distributing a 10 MHz reference clock to all your measurement equipment. Or for connecting low frequency signals from a waveform generator to an oscilloscope. If you use this BNC splitter for signals above 100 MHz or so, you can expect issues like reflections that will distort your signals. At low frequencies this is less of an issue and at DC it is no issue at all.



              The other device is a proper RF power splitter/combiner, inside it might look similar to these splitter/combiners:



              Fancy model, note that the lid has been removed:



              enter image description here



              or this poor man's model, just a PCB with connectors:



              enter image description here



              Oh, but there I only see (PCB) traces ! It is also a straight connection!



              Yes but no, note the shape of the traces, these are designed such that RF signals of certain frequencies (see the datasheet) are properly divided / combined between all inputs and outputs.



              This device can spilt one signal into two signal with a smaller power.



              This device can also combine two signal into one signal with the combined power of the input signals.



              This device only works properly if all ports are properly terminated with the right characteristic impedance (usually that will be 50 ohms). You would normally only use such an RF splitter / combiner with RF equipment that already has the proper input and output impedance.



              The ZFRSC-42 you show a picture of is actually simpler than the splitter/combiners I show above, the ZFRSC-42 is a resistive version and probably has a circuit like:



              enter image description here



              That is simpler than the "special traces" shown above but means some power is lost in the resistors. The advantage is that the usable frequency range can be larger than those shown above.






              share|improve this answer














              This:



              enter image description here



              is a simple BNC splitter, it has no real circuit inside, all ground/shields are directly connected and so are the signal pins. There is only a straight wire between all pins.



              This BNC splitter is only suitable for low frequency applications like distributing a 10 MHz reference clock to all your measurement equipment. Or for connecting low frequency signals from a waveform generator to an oscilloscope. If you use this BNC splitter for signals above 100 MHz or so, you can expect issues like reflections that will distort your signals. At low frequencies this is less of an issue and at DC it is no issue at all.



              The other device is a proper RF power splitter/combiner, inside it might look similar to these splitter/combiners:



              Fancy model, note that the lid has been removed:



              enter image description here



              or this poor man's model, just a PCB with connectors:



              enter image description here



              Oh, but there I only see (PCB) traces ! It is also a straight connection!



              Yes but no, note the shape of the traces, these are designed such that RF signals of certain frequencies (see the datasheet) are properly divided / combined between all inputs and outputs.



              This device can spilt one signal into two signal with a smaller power.



              This device can also combine two signal into one signal with the combined power of the input signals.



              This device only works properly if all ports are properly terminated with the right characteristic impedance (usually that will be 50 ohms). You would normally only use such an RF splitter / combiner with RF equipment that already has the proper input and output impedance.



              The ZFRSC-42 you show a picture of is actually simpler than the splitter/combiners I show above, the ZFRSC-42 is a resistive version and probably has a circuit like:



              enter image description here



              That is simpler than the "special traces" shown above but means some power is lost in the resistors. The advantage is that the usable frequency range can be larger than those shown above.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 2 hours ago

























              answered 2 hours ago









              Bimpelrekkie

              44.9k24099




              44.9k24099











              • Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
                – Ultra67
                2 hours ago
















              • Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
                – Ultra67
                2 hours ago















              Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
              – Ultra67
              2 hours ago




              Thanks a lot, it was very helpful :)
              – Ultra67
              2 hours ago












              up vote
              3
              down vote













              The one on the left is simply a "T" connector. All three connections are joined to each other.



              The other is a resistive splitter, with an input and two outputs. Data Sheet



              Which is "better" depends on what you want it to do.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                3
                down vote













                The one on the left is simply a "T" connector. All three connections are joined to each other.



                The other is a resistive splitter, with an input and two outputs. Data Sheet



                Which is "better" depends on what you want it to do.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote









                  The one on the left is simply a "T" connector. All three connections are joined to each other.



                  The other is a resistive splitter, with an input and two outputs. Data Sheet



                  Which is "better" depends on what you want it to do.






                  share|improve this answer












                  The one on the left is simply a "T" connector. All three connections are joined to each other.



                  The other is a resistive splitter, with an input and two outputs. Data Sheet



                  Which is "better" depends on what you want it to do.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 3 hours ago









                  Simon B

                  4,863818




                  4,863818




















                      up vote
                      2
                      down vote













                      The device on the left is a "T" adapter. The center pins of the three BNC connectors are simply connected to each other. There is no isolation between the pins.



                      The device on the right is NOT an adapter. It's a two-way resistive power splitter (or combiner). There is some (6dB) isolation between the connectors.



                      There are better splitter/combiners that offer more isolation.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        The device on the left is a "T" adapter. The center pins of the three BNC connectors are simply connected to each other. There is no isolation between the pins.



                        The device on the right is NOT an adapter. It's a two-way resistive power splitter (or combiner). There is some (6dB) isolation between the connectors.



                        There are better splitter/combiners that offer more isolation.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote









                          The device on the left is a "T" adapter. The center pins of the three BNC connectors are simply connected to each other. There is no isolation between the pins.



                          The device on the right is NOT an adapter. It's a two-way resistive power splitter (or combiner). There is some (6dB) isolation between the connectors.



                          There are better splitter/combiners that offer more isolation.






                          share|improve this answer












                          The device on the left is a "T" adapter. The center pins of the three BNC connectors are simply connected to each other. There is no isolation between the pins.



                          The device on the right is NOT an adapter. It's a two-way resistive power splitter (or combiner). There is some (6dB) isolation between the connectors.



                          There are better splitter/combiners that offer more isolation.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 3 hours ago









                          mike65535

                          7111418




                          7111418



























                               

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