Buy the best you can and remember that connectors are like diamonds, get a good flawless one and the sky is the limit, get a cheapo from Dodgy Bert down the carboot, and you wil not hear a thing, you wont get a good Tx and ifit shorts, well as the saying goes "Pffffft" as your rig goes up!
Me, when possible, I use N-Type connectors, just saying like!
BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) connectors are available for most types of coax cable. They come in both 50 ohm and 75 ohm versions. Originally developed in the 1980s for military use, today BNC connectors are commonly used on radios and security cameras. They are used at low frequencies, typically below 4 GHz.
TNC (Threaded Neil-Concelman) is an upgraded version of BNC that uses threads to secure itself. These threads minimize leakage and allow the connectors to work at frequencies up to 12 GHz. TNC also has the benefit of being weatherproof and is commonly used for outdoor applications like antennas and cell towers. A reverse polarity version is also available.
F-type connectors are the type of connector seen on the backs of televisions. These connectors are most commonly used on RG59, RG6, and RG11 cable, although there are other options. They can be used for antenna, cable, and satellite television as well as cable modems.
N-series connectors, named after inventor Paul Neill, are a 50 ohm connector originally developed for military use. 75 oh versions do exist today, but they are much less common and incompatible with the 50 ohm version. Modern N-series connectors can handle frequencies up to 18 GHz and are also available in reverse polarity.
UHF connectors are also referred to as PL-259 (male) and SO-239 (female). Originally built for military use during World War II, today UHF connectors are primarily used for amateur radios. At 50 ohms, it is most commonly seen on RG58 and RG8 as well as their LMR equivalents. There is also a Mini-UHF version designed for equipment where space is limited, like a cell phone.
SMA (Subminiature A) is a miniature sized threaded connector that is much smaller than most other coax options. At 50 ohms, it is usually used on RG58 or thinner coax at frequencies up to 24 GHz and is environmentally sealed. They are also available in reverse polarity. SMB (Subminiature B) is used with high-frequency equipment built for a maximum transmission of 4 GHz, with a snap-on connection.
FME is another 50 ohm miniature connector that is mainly used with RG58. The small size of FME allows it to be run through holes and conduit that other coax connectors are too large for.
MC (Microcoaxial), MCX (Micro Coaxial Connector), and MMCX (Micro-Miniature Coaxial) are all types of downsized coax connectors used in areas where other coax connectors would take up too much space. MC is used for cars, antennas, and GPS. MCX was developed for the Apple Airport Extreme Base Station’s antenna and is also used on GPS. MMCX also sees use on GPS in additional to being used on tuners for computers to connect to Wi-Fi.
NMO connectors are removable connectors that double as antenna mounts, designed to be used with Motorola products. They are used with RG58 and LMR-195 cable.
QMA is an upgrade to SMA, being built to connect/disconnect easily and quickly. This is a newer type of coax connector, introduced in 2003, and has not widely caught on yet. Until QMA becomes more widespread, the number of coax cables it is available for will be limited.
DIN/Mini-DIN cables for single line coax come in a few varieties. 1.0/2.3 was developed in the 90s for telecom systems. The 50 ohm version works with frequencies up to 10 GHz while the 75 ohm version supports a maximum of 4 GHz. 4.1/9.5 and 4.3/10 have similar functionality but are larger sizes, for use with thicker types of coax cable. 7/16 is a full-sized 50 ohm DIN that looks similar to an N-series connector. These connectors are German designed and known for their ability to support high levels of power.
Last Updated 2 April 2022