SWF connector for customized PCB

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

gcb — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:48:30 GMT

[quote userid="15146" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/30986/swf-connector-for-customized-pcb/122472"]The purpose of the SWF connector is to do RF measurements on a spectrum analyzer[/quote]

When attaching the nRF21540-EK to an nRF52840-DK, how should the RF output from the nRF52840 SoC connect to the SMA connector on the nRF21540-EK? It seems that the SWF connector on any BLE / 802.15.4 Nordic DK isn’t solely for RF measurement purposes if you're using the nRF21540-EK and need to connect the RF path to the shield SMA connector. It requires a connection from the SWF connector on the nRF52840-DK to the SMA connector on the nRF21540-EK. This setup ensures that RF signals from the nRF52840 SoC are correctly routed and transmitted through the SMA connector on the nRF21540-EK.

Essentially, Nordic has equipped all their development kits (DKs) with a Murata SWF connector, where an SWF-to-SMA cable costs at least $30 each. I recently purchased two nRF21540-DB boards to set up four boards with this Front-End Module (FEM). I attached each nRF21540-EK shield to an nRF52840-DK, but now I’m facing an additional $60 expense for two cables just to connect the RF path to the nRF21540-EK shield.

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

User1321 — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 08:07:59 GMT

I have checked and the dimensions are not the same.

But anyway,

Thank you.

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

Sigurd — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 16:31:39 GMT

Yes, on the PCB. Depending on how you have designed the SWF footprint, it could be that the UFL connector could be used with the same footprint to some degree. I.e. you could desolder the SWF connector, and maybe solder on a UFL connector. So you should look into the dimensions, and see if that could be a solution.

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

User1321 — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 16:10:44 GMT

do you mean on the pcb? I think it is already too late for that. I already printed the boards with the SWF :|

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

Sigurd — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 16:04:26 GMT

Hi,

A better solution would be to use UFL instead of SWF. See this and this link.

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

User1321 — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:43:32 GMT

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. No, I didn't place any other antenna on the PCB. I want to use the SWF connector to connect any other antenna and evaluate a peripheral application.

Since I want to connect an external antenna to my board, I was asking if there was any other connector compatible that it was not the same as the one from Murata, so I could connect a smaller antenna like https://www.mouser.com/ds/2/276/0479500011_ANTENNAS-700523.pdf

RE: SWF connector for customized PCB

Sigurd — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:31:52 GMT

Hi,

Did you add an antenna to your PCB design? A PCB antenna or chip antenna?

The purpose of the SWF connector is to do RF measurements on a spectrum analyzer. See this page.

I don't know of any other SWF connectors that can be used, it is Murata who created the SWF Switch Connector.

What types BLE testing are you planning to do?