Coax Connectors

Coax connectors are essentially any connectors that are used to connect a coaxial cable to another cable or a device that requires a signal carried by the coaxial cable. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be known by quite a few names. Among these, the most common alternative name for coax connectors are RF connectors.

All coax connectors are designed for individual uses, and very few connectors share exactly the same function or design specifications. However, although there are many differences between coax connectors, there is one feature they all share. Every coax connector is designed to work specifically with a coaxial cable and maintain the electromagnetic shielding that the coaxial cable can offer.

Below, you will find some information about a few of the most used coax connectors.

Headphone/Microphone Jacks

These types of coax connectors are specifically manufactured solely audio purposes. Their maximum frequency is, on average, anything below 100 kHz. While they were originally designed for phones and switchboards, they are now frequently found in musical instruments and other types of audio equipment, such as speakers, amplifiers, and headphones.

RCA/Phono Plugs

These are connectors designed for consumer level video and audio connections. Also known as component or composite connectors, they are commonly found in a myriad of audio and video equipment in the average consumer's home. These types of coax connectors come in sets of three and are color coded with red and white for audio and yellow for video. RCA plugs operate with a maximum frequency of 10 MHz.

F/Video Plugs

This is the typical coax connector that the majority of people are familiar with. It features a single pin with a type of hex nut on the outside for added security and ruggedness. While the threading is normally found in all coax connectors of this type, there are also push-in versions as well. Designed for audio and video purposes, this type of connector is suitable for a maximum frequency anywhere between 250 MHz and 1 GHz.

7/16 DIN Connector

This connector is relatively new to the United States, but has been used in Germany and other parts of Europe for some time now. It is designed to handle high voltages and higher frequencies, as much as 7.5 GHz, making it a prime candidate for wireless and cellular applications. It is tightened with a wrench for extra stability and can be highly ruggedized with metal plates and rubber gaskets.

Subminiature-A/SMA/WSMA Plug

The SMA coax connector is designed for frequencies of 12 GHz to at least 27 GHz, known as microwaves. It is perfect for cables that are not frequently joined together and taken apart. This coax connector's design allows the male and female ends to join without any air gaps but sacrifices structural stability due to the small parts and very low tolerances for error.

Other Coax Connectors

There are quite a few connectors that are used with coaxial cable for specific applications. These include: 7/16 DIN, BNC, C, Dezifix, IEC 169-2, F, GR, HN, MiniQuick, Motorola, Musa, N, NMO, SC, TNC, Twin lead, UHF, Miniature BNC, Miniature UHF, DIN 47223, IPX, SMZ, IMP, MMT, MMS, U.FL, UMP, MMCX, MCX, FME, SMA, SMB, SMC, SMP, APC-7, QMA, QN, QLS, SnapN, Mini-QMA, WQMA (Waterproof QMA), and HPQN.