RFElectro-mechanical vs. Solid State RF Switches: Key Differences
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solid state
electro-mechanical
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This article compares electro-mechanical RF switches with solid-state RF switches, highlighting the differences between the two technologies.
| Features | Electro-mechanical RF Switch | Solid State RF Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Relies on mechanical contacts for switching. | Uses solid-state devices for switching. These devices include PIN diodes, GaAs FETs, or a combination of both. |
| Frequency Range | From DC | From MHz (solid state PIN diode), From KHz (hybrid-combined PIN and FET) |
| Insertion Loss | Lower | Higher |
| Return Loss | Good | Good |
| Isolation | Good across all frequencies | Good at low-end frequencies (FET); Good at high-end frequencies (PIN diode) |
| Switching Speed | In milliseconds (slow) | In nanoseconds (fast) |
| Settling Time | < 15ms | < 1µs |
| Power Handling | Higher | Lower |
| Life | Medium | Higher |
| ESD Immunity | High | Low |
| Repeatability | Good | Excellent |
| Sensitivity | Sensitive to vibration | Sensitive to RF power over-stress and temperature. |
