WR-15 High Power Termination
The WR-15 High Power Termination is a precision-engineered waveguide component that absorbs massive amounts of RF energy, safely dissipating it as heat to prevent signal reflection. It is specifically designed for the 50 - 75 GHz frequency range, serving as a critical building block in V-Band infrastructure.
High-power terminations feature a wedge-shaped ceramic or silicon-carbide absorbing element bonded to a large external heatsink with cooling fins to maximize thermal convection. WR-15 spans the 50-75 GHz V-Band. Its 0.148" x 0.074" dimensions are the standard for 60 GHz commercial backhaul networks and inter-satellite links (ISL) in low earth orbit constellations.
Key Features
High Power Capacity
Rated for sustained high-power RF absorption with integrated thermal management for reliable operation.
Heat Dissipation
Cooling fin heatsink design provides maximum thermal dissipation for continuous high-power operation.
Rugged Construction
Heavy-duty OFHC copper body engineered for demanding transmitter test and system burn-in environments.
Full-Band Coverage
Maintains excellent VSWR and return loss across the complete operating bandwidth even at elevated power levels.
V-Band Use Cases
Satellite Cross-links
In-orbit ISL data transfer
60 GHz ISM
Commercial backhaul
Auto Radar Test
Early generation sensors
Radiometry
Earth observation
More High Power Terminations
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a high power termination overheats?+
If the absorbing wedge exceeds its thermal limit, it can crack or outgas. More importantly, as it heats up, its electrical resistance changes, ruining the impedance match and causing massive RF reflections (high VSWR) back into your amplifier.
How is WR-15 used in space applications?+
WR-15 is the standard for Inter-Satellite Links (ISL) in V-Band. Because there is no oxygen in space to absorb the 60 GHz signals, satellites can transmit massive amounts of data to each other using WR-15 feed networks and high-gain antennas without interference from Earth-based signals.
Are WR-15 components difficult to manufacture?+
Yes. At 75 GHz, the wavelength is only 4 millimeters. A manufacturing defect of just 0.1 mm inside a WR-15 component acts as a massive impedance mismatch. All RF Essentials WR-15 products undergo strict metrology and vector network analyzer testing.