The SMA connector is a 50 ohm RF connector originally designed for 18 GHz performance, but the standard interface can operate at 24 GHz. The extended frequency also supports 26.5 GHz performance. SMA connectors are one of the most commonly used connectors for microwave and RF connector applications, and their size, performance, and cost are key considerations. The SMA connector interface uses a PTFE (Teflon) dielectric.

SMA connectors are:

• -Small relative to connectors that preceded them, like BNC and N types.

• -Suitable for use at frequencies up to 18 GHz.

• -Widely used in industry for those frequencies.

• -Quite robust against vibration, repeated insertions, and other abuse

• -Available on a wide range of coaxial cable types

The SMA Connector and 3.5 mm Connector Connectorare compatible connectors. SMA connectors are economical and lower performance interfaces. And for many performances, a 3.5mm connector is much better than SMA Connector, such as mechanical tolerances, stability, temperature performance, SWR, repeatability, and loss.

It is easy to discriminate which type of connector is made by the material through the center pin. The SMA connector has foam beads, while the 3.5 mm connector uses an air interface.

For price reasons, 3.5mm connectors are typically used for metering applications and SMA connectors are used for production. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the coating and scratching of the SMA to affect the connection. Due to the 3.5mm price, the SMA and 3.5mm connectors must be mixed carefully. Avoid damage to the pins of the SMA and 3.5 mm connectors.

The main features of the SMA connector and 3.5mm are as follows

As can be seen from the above table, the inner conductor aperture sizes of the male and female connectors of the two connectors are relatively close, and the outer conductor thread size uses the same standard, but the outer conductor size, cutoff frequency, insulating dielectric material, etc. exist. Large differences, when used by different types of connector interconnects, will affect transmission performance or test accuracy.

After reading this article, We hope you can know more about the SMA connector and 3.5mm connector. EZCON telecom a leading supplier of high-quality RF connectors, cable assemblies, attenuators, RF terminals, etc. with high quality and competitive price. For more details about SMA Connector or RF Connector, pls contact us at rachel_sun@ezcontech.com.