SMA connectors

SMA (Sub-Miniature version A) connectors are coaxial RF connectors with a screw type coupling mechanism, 50 Ω impedance and they are designed for use from DC to 18 GHz.

There are two kinds of connectors: SMA and RP-SMA, the latter is commonly found in consumer equipment like Wifi antennas. There is some confusion when it comes to SMA male/female nomenclature because RPSMA uses the counter-intuitive convention of male=receptacle and female=pin. SMA uses the right logic, though.

To further confuse you, some manufacturers refer to the male SMA as plug, and to the female SMA as jack, and the same convention applies to RPSMA.

4 images are worth 1000 words:

Connector	Explanation
	Male SMA or SMA plug: inside thread / center pin
	Female SMA or SMA jack: outside thread / center receptacle. This particular photo is of a PCB mount female SMA connector, but there are also cable end connectors, panel mount, etc.
	Male RP-SMA or SMA plug: inside thread / center receptacle
	Female RP-SMA or SMA jack: outside thread / center pin

The trackuino uses the following connectors:

	Connector	Mate with
GPS	SMA female	SMA male GPS antenna
RF out	SMA female	SMA male VHF antenna