Understanding the Ins and Outs of RF Connectors

A radio frequency connector, also known as an RF connector, is an electrical device that works at radio frequencies in the multi-megahertz range (from 0-18 GHz). These connectors help in making an electrical connection for the transmission of signals in radio frequency applications. 

Almost all the RF connector types have a female connector and a male connector. The difference between the male connector and female connector is that male connectors act as plugs and female connectors as jacks. The locking mechanism, outer grounding, and centre pin provide a solid connection. 

There are many factors on which the selection of RF connectors depends. The factors include the performance, shape and size, and frequency range of each connector type. Even if you know which RF connector to buy, you might find it confusing to understand the difference between a male connector and a female connector.

If you are looking for information on RF connectors including how to identify the male and female components, keep on reading to know the ins and outs of RF connectors.

RF connector types – understanding the ins and outs of each one

There are different types of RF connectors with varying designs, to know the ins and outs of the connectors, let us start by taking a look at the varieties of RF connectors and the mechanisms of their working:

SMA connectors

SMA (Sub Miniature version A) connectors are probably the most common and most popular type of RF connectors. The mating mechanism in these connectors is that of a screw. 

SMA connectors are the most suitable connectors at UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and in the majority part of the SHF (Super High Frequency) range. One of the most coveted choices for RF engineers, these connectors are small in size and offer reliable performance. For impedance matching, SMA connectors are regarded as the best-performing connectors. 

A 3.5 mm connector is the most common type of SMA connector. The operating frequency of these connectors is 0 to 18GHz. These connectors are used extensively in radio communication boards, CDMA, GSM, RF isolators, RF power amplifiers, directional couplers, power splitters, low-power UHF communication systems, and Wi-Fi antennas. 

Here is a brief description of the ins and outs of the SMA connectors – 

The normal SMA male has a male centre pin and male outer shell with an inner screw thread. The SMA female has a centre receptacle for accepting the male centre pin and female outer shell with an outer screw thread. 

There are two other variants in the form of reverse thread and reverse polarity (RP). The reverse thread SMA connectors are the same as normal SMA, but there is a left-hand thread in this variety. On the other hand, the RP-type SMA connectors are different from the standard SMA connectors as the connector interface comes with reversed gender. 

RP refers to the gender of the connector pin and has nothing to do with signal polarity. The RP male has a female centre receptacle and a male outer shell with an inner screw thread. The female has a male centre pin and a female outer shell with outer screw thread. 

Check out an SMA male to SMA female cable to understand the connector better. 

BNC Connectors

BNC (Bayonet Neill Concelman) connectors are the most common connectors used for low-frequency RF applications and coaxial cables. These are miniature connectors with quick connect and disconnect mating mechanisms without a screw head along with a great locking mechanism and a rigid body. These connectors have the simplest design when compared to other connectors. 

BNC connectors were originally used in the military sector but now they find applications in various other areas as well. The operating frequency of these connectors is 0 to 4 GHz. BNC connectors are used in amateur radio, video signals, clock/timing signals and instrumentation, test instruments, etc. These connectors are also very popular as computer network connectors. 

The BNC male connector has a male centre pin with two slots on the male outer shell. These mate with two bayonet lugs on the female connector. The BNC female connector has a female centre receptacle with two bayonet lugs on the outer shell. Just with a quarter turn, the mating is complete. 

There are BNC connectors that come with RP as well. These are just a variation of the standard BNC connector, with the reverse polarity at the interface. The RP BNC male has a female centre receptacle along with two slots on the male outer shell. These mate with the bayonet lugs of the female connector. The RP BNC female has a male centre pin and two bayonet lugs on the outer shell. 

Type N connectors

Type N connectors are medium-sized RF connectors. These are highly suitable when durable applications are the need of the hour. These connectors offer stable performance up to 11GHz. The thread-locking mechanism of the Type N connectors offers a reliable and strong connection. For specific applications, waterproof Type N connectors are also available. 

The majority of RF test equipment use Type N connectors as the default solution. These connectors are also a highly preferred choice for well-matched impedance applications. The operating frequency of these connectors is in the range of 0 to 12 GHz. 

Type N connectors are mostly used in satellite systems, RF equipment, base stations, low and high-power UHF communication systems, and RADAR systems. 

The Type N male connector has a male centre pin and a male outer shell with an inner screw thread. On the other hand, the Type N female connector has a female centre receptacle and a female outer shell with outer thread. 

As with the other two connectors on this list, there are  RP Type N connectors as well. These connectors are variations of standard Type N connectors, with the reverse polarity at the interface. The RP Type N male connector has a female centre receptacle and a male outer shell with an inner screw thread. On the other hand, the RP Type N female connector has a male centre pin and a female outer shell with an outer screw thread. 

TNC connectors

One of the most popular RF connector types is the TNC (Threaded Neill Concelman) connector. TNC connectors are considered the threaded version of BNC connectors. However, when compared to BNC connectors, TNC connectors offer much better performance, particularly at microwave frequencies. TNC connectors are extensively used in wired and radio applications. 

One of the main characteristics of TNC connectors is that they are highly water resistant when compared to other standard connector types. As a result, they are a popular choice to be used with outdoor equipment. 

The TNC male connector has a male centre pin and male outer shell with an inner screw thread. The TNC female connector, on the other hand, has a female centre receptacle and female outer shell with an outer screw thread. 

These connectors also come in the RP version. There is the reverse polarity of the interface and it is just a variation of the standard TNC connectors. The RP TNC male connector has a female centre receptacle and a male outer shell with an inner screw thread. The RP TNC female connector has a male centre pin and a female outer shell with outer screw thread. 

SMB connectors

After SMA connectors, SMB (Sub Miniature version B) connectors are another popular choice with RF engineers. These connectors are easy to use as well as rigid. They are also smaller in dimension than the SMA variants. SMB connectors come in customised shapes and can be used in different kinds of applications. They are also more affordable compared to some of the other connectors on this list. 

The design of SMB connectors is simple, offering scopes of easy connection and disconnection. These connectors do not have the difficult mechanism of locking threads. Instead, they feature ‘snap-on’ coupling for easy operations. 

SMB connectors offer great performance below 4 GHz frequency. However, the range of operating frequency is 0 to 10 GHz. These connectors find applications in base stations, medical equipment, radio applications, and low-power UHF communication systems. 

The SMB male connector has a centre pin and the female connector has a female centre receptacle. The connector works by the male connector slotting inside the female connector and ‘clicking’ into place. 

Purchase the best quality RF connectors at the Schneider Electric e-shop

Having an idea of RF connector types and understanding the difference between the male connector and female connectors of various RF connectors will help you in selecting the most appropriate connectors as per your requirements. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the different types of RF connectors and their ins and outs of operations. 

Now, if you are looking for superior quality RF connectors in India, look no further than the Schneider Electric eshop. The eshop is your one-stop destination for finding all standard varieties of RF connectors. Visit the official website to browse through the different RF connectors and choose the one you need.