A General Measurement Method of Parameter Extraction for High-Frequency Mounted Cables with Arbitrary Connectors

Cable parameters are required when system simulation or fault diagnosis is implemented. For mounted cables, such as underground cables and airborne cables, specific methods of parameter extraction should be applied. In this paper, an easy-to-use measurement method with two general cases for extraction of the complex propagation constant and characteristic impedance is developed. This method is especially suitable for high-frequency cables and not confined to a certain type of connectors. In complement to many existing methods, principles of eliminating effects of connectors which could lead to considerable errors at high frequencies are given. The proposed method is validated by a standard coaxial cable of 75-ohm characteristic impedance, with several connectors and possible connecting lines at both ends, over the frequency range 400 kHz to 400 MHz.