Overview
ISO 20860-1:2008 defines the mechanical and electrical characteristics of a 50 Ω impedance radio frequency (RF) connection system interface for road vehicles. It specifies the male and female coaxial connectors, their dimensions, coding options, and key electrical characteristics to ensure interchangeability across vehicle equipment and cable assemblies. This part focuses on dimensions and electrical requirements; test procedures are covered in ISO 20860-2.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Connector geometry and coding
- Detailed dimensional drawings for male (cable connector CC and connector on apparatus CA) and female (FCC) connectors.
- Mechanical coding ribs and arrangements for physical keying and colour coding (RAL references) to prevent mismating.
- Support for multiple-interface designs (dual connectors Type X and Type Y).
- Electrical characteristics
- Nominal impedance: 50 Ω.
- Frequency range: 0 GHz to 4 GHz.
- Return loss, insertion loss and shielding effectiveness requirements (measurement zones defined).
- Dielectric withstand voltage: minimum 500 V.
- Working voltage/current: ≤ 60 V DC and ≤ 1 A DC.
- Insulation resistance: 1 000 MΩ before strain, 500 MΩ after strain.
- Contact resistance: centre and outer contacts ≤ 5 mΩ before, ≤ 40 mΩ after 25 matings.
- Mechanical performance
- Insertion and extraction forces ≤ 25 N; locking strength and strain relief values defined.
- Minimum mating cycles: 25.
- Material/coating guidance: gold (Au) for centre contact coating; nickel (Ni) or tin (Sn) for outer contact coating.
- Designations and interchangeability
- Standardized naming conventions (e.g., ISO 20860 CC–H) to simplify procurement and documentation.
Applications
ISO 20860-1 is applicable wherever reliable RF connections are needed in vehicles:
- Vehicle antennas (cellular, GPS, AM/FM, satellite)
- Telematics and infotainment modules
- RF cable harnesses and interface assemblies
- Antenna distribution systems and repeaters inside vehicles
- Connector suppliers, OEMs, and tier‑1 automotive electronics manufacturers specifying compatible RF interfaces
Who uses it:
- Automotive engineers and systems integrators
- RF connector and cable manufacturers
- Test laboratories and QA teams verifying mechanical/electrical conformance
- Procurement and standards compliance groups at OEMs and suppliers
Related standards
- ISO 20860-2 (Test procedures for this interface)
- IEC 60169-1 (RF connectors - general requirements and measuring methods)
- DIN 47299-1 (RF coaxial connector terminology and coupling)
- RAL 840‑HR (colour reference for codings)
Keywords: ISO 20860-1, 50 ohm impedance, RF connector, automotive RF interface, coaxial interface, dimensions and electrical requirements, vehicle antenna connectors, RF interchangeability.