Coaxial Connector Guide: Finding the Right Plug for WiFi, 4G & 5G

A high-quality antenna cable is useless if it doesn't fit your router or antenna. The world of coaxial connectors can be extremely confusing at first glance. What is the difference between a male plug and a female jack? And what does that tricky "RP" (Reverse Polarity) mean?

In this guide, we explain all the common connector types in our inventory and help you find the perfect match for your project.

The Golden Rule: Male vs. Female

In RF (Radio Frequency) technology, connectors are differentiated by their gender. Classically, this is determined by the inner contact:

• Male (Stecker): Typically features a center pin and inner threads (the rotating nut).
• Female (Buchse): Typically features a center receptacle (hole) and outer threads.

The Exception: RP (Reverse Polarity). With RP connectors, this logic is swapped! An RP-SMA Male has the inner threads of a normal male, but the center hole of a female. This was originally invented to prevent consumers from attaching professional antennas to home WiFi routers.

Our Connector Dictionary: All Types at a Glance

We assemble your antenna cables with the following industrial-grade RF connectors:

1. The N-Series (The robust outdoor classic)

The N standard is massive, waterproof, and extremely low-loss up to 11 GHz. It is almost always used for outdoor antennas or large wireless bridge setups.

• N Male (N-Stecker): Center pin, thick rotating nut with inner threads.
• N Female (N-Buchse): Center hole, outer threads. Often flange-mounted on antenna housings.

2. The SMA Series (The LTE & 5G Standard)

Very compact and efficient. SMA is the absolute standard for mobile routers (LTE/5G) and external cellular antennas.

• SMA Male (SMA-Stecker): Center pin, inner threads. (Standard on cables going to LTE routers).
• SMA Female (SMA-Buchse): Center hole, outer threads. (Often built directly into the router).

3. The RP-SMA Series (The WiFi Standard)

This is the global standard for almost all WiFi routers (e.g., ASUS, TP-Link) and WiFi antennas.

• RP-SMA Male: Center hole (!), inner threads.
• RP-SMA Female: Center pin (!), outer threads.

4. The FME Series (The Automotive/Mobile Specialist)

FME connectors are very slim. The highlight: They fit through narrow drill holes (e.g., in cars or window frames) and can easily be adapted to other standards later.

• FME Male & FME Female.

5. TNC & RP-TNC (The threaded BNC)

TNC connectors are similar to BNC but use threads instead of a bayonet mount. This makes them highly vibration-resistant and popular in industrial settings.

• TNC Male & TNC Female: Classic polarity (Pin = Male).
• RP-TNC Male & RP-TNC Female: Reverse Polarity (RP), often used on legacy Cisco WiFi Access Points.

Your Custom Cable: Any Combination is Possible!

Are you looking for an "exotic" connector combination because you need to connect a professional outdoor antenna to a compact indoor router? No problem!

As a specialist retailer with our own cable manufacturing facility, we are not bound by standard inventories. We build your antenna cable with the exact connector combination you need. Here are some of our most popular custom combinations:

• N Male to SMA Male: The classic choice for connecting large outdoor LTE antennas to home routers.
• N Male to RP-SMA Male: Perfect for outdoor WiFi antennas connected to standard WiFi routers.
• SMA Female to N Male: Ideal as an extension or adapter cable.
• FME Female to SMA Male: Highly popular for adapting mobile vehicle antennas to modern 5G routers.
• N Female to N Male: The standard, low-loss outdoor extension cable.

Whether you need an RP-TNC Male to N Female or an SMA Female to FME Male – use our Cable Configurator and get a cable tailored to the exact centimeter!