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Identifying Coaxial Cable Connectors.
Technical Reference Guide
Identifying Coaxial Cable Connectors
Clear naming conventions that prevent ordering mistakes. We use pin (male) and socket (female) throughout to describe the centre contact.
How to Identify Connectors Correctly
1. Body style: Is it a plug (fits into something) or a jack (receives a plug)?
2. Centre contact: Does it have a pin (male) or a socket (female)?
3. Reverse-gender (RP): The body stays the same but the contact swaps. For example: RP-SMA plug (socket) has a plug body with a socket contact.
Ordering tip: Always specify family + body + contact. Example: “N-Type jack (socket)” or “RP-TNC plug (socket)”. This avoids the ambiguity of “male/female” terminology.
Quick Reference
Standard vs reverse-gender contacts for the most common RF families
Standard Plug: pin (male)
Jack: socket (female)
Jack: socket (female)
Reverse-gender (RP-SMA) Plug: socket (female)
Jack: pin (male)
Jack: pin (male)
Standard Plug: pin (male)
Jack: socket (female)
Jack: socket (female)
Reverse-gender (RP-TNC) Plug: socket (female)
Jack: pin (male)
Jack: pin (male)
Standard Plug: pin (male)
Jack: socket (female)
Jack: socket (female)
Reverse-gender Plug: socket (female)
Jack: pin (male)
Jack: pin (male)
Standard Plug: pin (male)
Jack: socket (female)
Jack: socket (female)
Reverse-gender Plug: socket (female)
Jack: pin (male)
Jack: pin (male)
Standard only PL-259 (plug): pin (male)
SO-239 (jack): socket (female)
SO-239 (jack): socket (female)
Reverse-gender Not typically available
Standard Plug: pin (male)
Jack: socket (female)
Jack: socket (female)
Reverse-gender Plug: socket (female)
Jack: pin (male)
Jack: pin (male)
Connector Gallery
Visual guide to common RF connector types with direct product links
SMA — plug, pin (male)
SMA — jack, socket (female)
RP-SMA — plug, socket (female)
RP-SMA — jack, pin (male)
TNC — plug, pin (male)
TNC — jack, socket (female)
RP-TNC — plug, socket (female)
RP-TNC — jack, pin (male)
N-Type — plug, pin (male)
N-Type — jack, socket (female)
BNC — plug, pin (male)
BNC — jack, socket (female)
UHF — PL-259, plug, pin (male)
UHF — SO-239, jack, socket (female)
MMCX — miniature snap-on
MCX — miniature snap-on
SMB — sub-miniature B
SMC — sub-miniature C
U.FL — ultra-miniature
Fakra — automotive standard
F — broadcast/CATV
SMP — high frequency
CRC9 — mobile broadband
TS9 — mobile broadband
Not Sure Which Connector You Need?
Send us a photo or description and we’ll help you identify the correct connector type. We can also recommend compatible cables and adapters.
Need help matching connectors to cables? See our Cable Compatibility Guide.