RF Switches

RF switches are electromechanical or solid-state components used to route radio frequency and microwave signals between instruments, devices under test, and signal conditioning components. They are fundamental building blocks of automated test equipment (ATE) and switch matrices, enabling a single instrument to test multiple ports or devices sequentially without manual reconnection. RF switches are available in single-pole multiple-throw configurations (SP3T, SP4T, SP6T) and multiport formats covering frequencies from DC to 67 GHz in precision coaxial designs.

Electromechanical RF switches offer very low insertion loss and high port-to-port isolation, making them suitable for high-frequency and high-power applications in aerospace & defense, telecommunications base station testing, and semiconductor wafer characterization. Solid-state switches provide faster switching speeds for pulse measurement and high-throughput production applications. Load protection switches such as the Bird 8640A series safeguard power amplifiers from open-circuit and short-circuit conditions during high-power transmitter testing.

Typical Applications

Automated switching between multiple devices under test (DUT) in production RF testing
Signal routing in switch matrix systems for multi-channel antenna and beamforming tests
Connecting multiple instruments to a single DUT port for sequential measurements
Load protection in high-power transmitter and amplifier characterization setups
Path switching in satellite communication and radar system test benches

Popular Brands

Keysight Technologies offers a comprehensive range of multiport coaxial RF switches, including the 87104A series in SP4T and multiport configurations with driver and interface options for system integration. Bird Technologies supplies load protection switches for high-power transmitter environments. Both companies provide switches with high repeatability and long mechanical service life suited for demanding production and laboratory ATE applications.