ConductRF, located at IMS Booth 16095, announced the continued expansion of their
MAESTRO™ RF Cable Composer, an advanced configuration platform designed to help RF
engineers design, compare and optimize RF cable assemblies to meet their complete
requirements for RF and mechanical performance.
In example: an RF subsystem’s requirements call for a three foot long, 0.141 in. diameter “SMA
cable assembly” that must perform efficiently at a maximum frequency of 18 GHz. The
assembly also needs to be connectorized with straight, male plug SMA connectors. With
MAESTRO, a user would set their cable length and maximum performance parameters, pick
their connectors and cable, submit their assembly for composition and view in real time the
assembly’s various high-level RF specifications.
The assembly is presented in a table which automatically offers other similar assemblies
with which to compare against. In this fashion, an engineer can explore the frequency
handling, insertion loss, VSWR, and shielding effectiveness tradeoffs of several 0.141 in.
flexible, hand-formable, semi-flexible, and semi-rigid cables from various proven suppliers.
Upon making a choice, they can instantly purchase the most optimal SMA cable assembly.
(There is no set minimum quantity requirement and price breaks are offered as quantities
increase.)
While many online cable builders focus primarily on selecting from one manufacturers’ catalog of cable and connector parts, MAESTRO was developed to address a more
fundamental challenge: helping engineers understand how various RF cables and
connectors impact overall assembly performance, particularly when working within a
defined frequency and loss budget. By enabling users to witness insertion loss with a given
cable type, and connector interface—in reference to a cable’s length—the platform provides
immediate visibility into how each design choice contributes to (or detracts from) signal
integrity at the system level.
This approach reflects ConductRF’s broader philosophy around interconnect design. The
company places strong emphasis on sourcing and utilizing only the most proven cable and
connector technologies in the industry, paired with the engineering expertise required to
match them and assemble them professionally.
From Static “Building” to Real-Time “Composition
MAESTRO replaces the traditional process of flipping through one manufacturer’s cable and
connector images, and then manually cross-referencing part numbers against others, with a
dynamic, interactive environment that allows engineers to evaluate tradeoffs in real time.
As cable configurations are composed, the platform not only generates a recommended
cable assembly but also presents alternative solutions that may offer advantages depending
on the application.
Users can sort and filter key electrical and mechanical parameters—including cable type
(flexible, semi-flexible, hand-formable, and semi-rigid), frequency handling, insertion loss,
VSWR, shielding effectiveness, dielectric material, and cable diameter—to quickly compare
tradeoffs and identify the best-fit solution. The result is a more informed decision-making
process that balances electrical performance with practical installation factors, rather than
relying on assumptions or incomplete data.
Bridging Engineering and Procurement
Beyond design and evaluation, MAESTRO connects directly to an EZ cart e-commerce
checkout for fast and efficient procurement, reducing the friction that often exists between
engineering intent and purchasing execution. Registered users can view real-time pricing,
download CAD/STEP files, and place orders directly within the platform, eliminating delays
typically associated with quoting and specification validation.
Standard configurations are typically delivered within one to two weeks, supporting both
rapid prototyping efforts and ongoing production requirements.
Connector Interfaces Available
MAESTRO supports a broad range of RF and microwave connector types, including: 1.0 mm,
1.85 mm (V connectors), 2.4 mm, 2.92 mm (K connectors), 7/16, BNC, CBL, D38999, GPO,
MCX, MMCX, N-Type, SMA, SMB, SMP, SMPM, TNC, VITA 67, and VITA 67 Nano.
Built on Proven Industry Components
A key differentiator of the MAESTRO platform is its foundation in widely trusted, field-proven components. In addition to high quality ConductRF brand connectors and cable, the
platform supports assemblies composed with leading connector and cable manufacturers
across the industry, ensuring exact build-to-print and optimal performance requirements.
Connector Manufacturers Supported
- Amphenol
- Corning Gilbert
- Molex
- Rosenberger
- Southwest Microwave
- SV Microwave
- TE Connectivity
- Times Microwave.
Cable Manufacturers Supported
- Huber+Suhner
- Insulated Wire (IW)
- Times Microwave (including LMR® and T-Flex® product lines)
- Certified MIL-STD RG cable suppliers.
ConductRF maintains a strict policy when it comes to RG cables, working exclusively with
certified sources rather than “RG equivalent” constructions. This distinction is critical in
applications where compliance, repeatability, and long-term reliability cannot be
compromised.