RF Connector Type Guide

RF Connector Identification Guide

A Professional Reference for Male, Female, and Reverse Polarity Connectors

The Gold Rule of Gender Identification

In the RF industry, gender is determined by the center conductor (contact), not the outer shell threads:

  • Male: Features a Center Pin.
  • Female: Features a Center Jack (Socket/Hole).

Note: Standard connectors follow traditional threading (Male has inside threads), but RP (Reverse Polarity) versions swap the center contacts.

SMA Series

Standard for 4G LTE antennas, cellular routers, and handheld radios.

SMA Male Inside Threads + Center Pin
SMA Female Outside Threads + Center Hole

Most industrial 4G/5G routers use SMA Female chassis connectors.

N-Type Series

Durable, weatherproof connectors for outdoor antennas and base stations.

N Male Inside Threads + Large Center Pin
N Female Outside Threads + Large Center Hole

Used primarily in fiberglass antennas and high-power RF equipment.

TNC Series

Threaded version of BNC, providing high stability in vibration environments.

TNC Male Inside Threads + Center Pin
TNC Female Outside Threads + Center Hole

Commonly found in automotive GPS and aviation telemetry.

IPEX / U.FL Series

Miniature SMT connectors used for internal PCB wireless modules.

IPEX Plug Cable-side terminal (Snap-on)
IPEX Receptacle PCB-mounted socket

Warning: MHF4 is smaller than U.FL (MHF1). They are not cross-compatible.

Reverse Polarity (RP) Warning

RP-SMA is widely used in WiFi equipment (TP-Link, ASUS, Cisco) to prevent unauthorized antenna connections. The center pin and hole are swapped.

RP-SMA Male
Inside Threads + Center Hole
RP-SMA Female
Outside Threads + Center Pin

Remember: "RP" stands for swapped contacts, not swapped threads.