The N Connector, question

[Randy222]

Std practice everywhere, ID threading is female, OD threading is male.

N has male pin in a female threading, and a female pin in a male threading.
So which end if the N connector is the "male" end?

[abeyer]

Std practice everywhere, ID threading is female, OD threading is male.

Umm... F? SMA? UHF? Doesn't seem standard at all in common coax connectors.

[fourfathom]

I believe, with no authoritative source, that a male connector has an inner pin (or wire in the case of the F connector), and the female has a socket for that pin.  The shell threads or connecting mechanism are irrelevant to the male / female designation.

Now someone please show us where this is not the case.

[TimFox]

Another example of a male pin insert inside a female "outsert" are the BNC bayonet and the TNC threaded connectors.
Both are generally called "male", and are usually on the cable.  Panel-mount male and female BNCs are available.

[Andy Chee]

Std practice everywhere, ID threading is female, OD threading is male.

UHF male has ID thread, UHF female has OD thread.



Complete opposite to your so-called "standard practice".

[Randy222]

Ok, so it's all based on the pin.
To me, the actual base std should be like the RP connectors where the female pin is in the shell of ID threading.

[Andy Chee]

Oh yes, those SMA connectors are confusing!

[Davecbyp]

The historical engineering view, esp. Manufacturing, is the Male is the one attached TO the Female, i.e. " which half is best mounted to an assembly, and which on a cable."

Yes, generally ' pin fitting into hollow mating contact' defines it, untill its a Reverse pair, or, a connector shell system has multiple arrangements for keyng.

Ultimately, its how Manufacturing sees it, cause they have to build it.

[mtwieg]

My general rule thumb on determining connector gender:
Imagine if the contacts were all 1000V (not counting the shield, except the shield, if it has one)
Choose which one you would rather lick
That's the female

Works in almost all cases. RP-SMA is one exception

[Randy222]

SMA "RP" is almost meaningless.

You can have male sma in male shell, and then RP that, so that male-rp is basically a sma-female.

Just use std, human anatomy for shell, then specifc the pin. male-male, female-male, etc, simple.

shell-pin spec, and skip the RP nonsense.

[fourfathom]

Is there a rational reason why we even have RP SMA?

[Geoff-AU]

Is there a rational reason why we even have RP SMA?

To keep WiFi meddlers away from the real radio gear 

[ejeffrey]

Is there a rational reason why we even have RP SMA?

RP connectors are just a polite fiction for FCC compliance with detachable antennas.  It's used in consumer ISM band equipment to discourage unlicensed operators from attaching amplifiers or high gain antennas rather than what the manufacturer provided.

Obviously it won't stop anyone determined, but it adds one step between "dur, I can get a 40 dBm amplifier from minicircuits, that will overclock my wifi like crazy"