What Are Coaxial Connector Adapters?

RF Coaxial Connector Adapters are simply RF Coaxial Connectors with a common internal transmission line and specific coaxial connector types or genders on either end. For instance, some RF Adapters are simply coaxial connector male-to-male or female-to-female adapters, which allows for the interconnection of a male coaxial connector to another male coaxial connector or a female coaxial connector to another female coaxial connector, respectively. Another example is using coaxial male-to-female connector at the ports of equipment in order for the connect/disconnect cycles to occur at the adapter instead of the port connectors, thus increasing the longevity of the port connectors.

It is common in the RF Industry to have coaxial connectorized parts and coaxial cable assemblies with a wide variety of different genders or coaxial connector types. RF Adapters help to enable interconnection between these diverse coaxial connectorized packages and/or coaxial cable assemblies without the need to retrofit the packages or cable assemblies to all have compatible coaxial interconnect. Inserting a coaxial adapter does add some insertion loss and non-perfect VSWR at the connector ports, but good quality RF coaxial connector adapters have minimal insertion loss and good VSWR performance.

Key Specification Parameters for RF Coaxial Connector Adapters

Frequency Range [hertz]
Impedance [Ohms]
Insertion Loss [dB]
VSWR
Power handling capability [dB]
Connector types
Polarity (standard or reverse)
Interface Specification (MIL-SPEC or other standards)
Mating Torque [Nm or in-lbs.]
Contact Material
Insulation Material
Body Material
Coupling Nut Material

It is important to note that RF coaxial connector types have a maximum frequency dictated by the geometry of the connectors, and a coaxial connector adapter will have a maximum frequency range limited by the lowest maximum frequency coaxial connector type. For instance, typical N-type coaxial connectors have a rated frequency range of about 11 GHz and SMA coaxial connectors have a rated frequency range of 18 GHz. A N-type to SMA coaxial adapter will have a frequency range of only 11 GHz, as the N-type coaxial connector is the limiting maximum frequency range. There are extended frequency range versions of some common connector types, such as N-type and SMA, so it is possible to have a 18 GHz N-type to SMA coaxial adapter.

There are also some Coaxial adapters that adapter to other connector standards other than coaxial, such as BNC to Double Banana Adapters. There are also adapters that allow for interconnection between coaxial connector standards and twinaxial/triaxial connectors, such as these BNC Twinax Adapters and BNC Triax Adapters. There are also sexless and hermaphroditic connector types and standards and adapters that allow for the interconnection of coaxial connectors and these connector types.