Gents,
I have an application where there is 10Mbit ethernet that must go through 20 hermetically sealed feedthrough connectors over a 200 foot run. each connector is ~ 4" long. These are custom made feedthroughs due to the environment of the application. The feedthroughs were specified to have a characteristic impedance of 100 - 150 ohms to match the 120 ohm twisted pair wires carrying the ethernet signal. After we got them there was no documentation showing a characteristic impedance test. When we asked the manufacturer they said the didn't have the capacity to measure them but built them to equations and they should be fine.
How can I measure the characteristic impedance of these feedthrough connctors to verify they meet spec?
The obvious fallback plan is to monitor the network signl quality with and without the connectors installed but I'd like a more quantitative measurement of them.
Or am I way off base and the characterictic impedance of the connectors will have a miniscule affect. My RF experience is pretty light but I notice that some coax connectors are rated for 50 or 75 ohms impedance. Don't know if that is the impedance of the connector itself or some termination resistance inside the connector.
You help is appreciated.
thanks