SMA End-Launch Jack for 18 GHz Signal Paths
The Amphenol RF 132409-10 is an SMA receptacle — the female socket side of the SMA interface — built for board-edge end-launch mounting. PTFE dielectric keeps the dielectric constant stable across the full frequency range, so the impedance through the launch stays clean.
What the 18 GHz and 500-Cycle Ratings Mean on the Bench
The 18 GHz max frequency is the usable bandwidth. The 500 mating cycles come from the gold-over-nickel plating on the BeCu center contact.
Board Edge End Launch — Impedance Through the Transition
The end-launch geometry places the center pin and shield solder pads right at the board edge, so the signal path from the trace to the connector body is a straight shot. That matters for maintaining the 50 Ohm impedance — a right-angle launch would introduce a stub and a discontinuity that eats into the return loss at the top of the band. The shield termination is solder as well, which ties the connector body to the ground plane directly. No crimp option here — this is a solder-to-board part, so the cable side is handled by the mating SMA plug (male) that you terminate to your coax.