RF coaxial connectors consist of an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and an insulator; the inner and outer conductors share a common central axis, with the insulating medium serving as a support.
Common types include Type N (threaded connection, high power/frequency), BNC (bayonet-style, quick connect), SMA (miniature threaded, high frequency/bandwidth), Type F (threaded, cable TV), and UHF (early design, threaded connection).
UHF connectors are available in solder-type (soldering the center conductor and cable shield) and crimp-type (crimping the center conductor and cable shield) versions; crimp-type is typically used for flexible cables, while solder-type is common for semi-flexible or semi-rigid cables. Mating styles include snap-on (quick locking), push-in (high-density mounting), threaded (high reliability and vibration resistance), and slide-on (compact and easy to operate).
Common plating finishes include bright nickel (general-purpose, corrosion-resistant), bright silver (high conductivity, prone to sulfidation), ternary alloy (copper-tin-zinc; good electrical properties and corrosion resistance), and gold (stable, wear-resistant). Common body materials include brass, stainless steel, and aluminum alloy.
Product design focuses on key electrical and mechanical parameters, such as characteristic impedance (50Ω/75Ω), operating frequency range, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), insertion loss, contact resistance, insulation resistance, mechanical durability (mating cycles), and environmental resilience (temperature, humidity, and ingress protection ratings).
Modern coaxial connector design is trending toward miniaturization, higher frequencies, surface-mount technology (SMT), multifunctionality, and high performance (low loss, low VSWR, high power handling). Design considerations include quality grades-such as metrology-grade, instrument-grade, and production-grade-as well as compatibility issues.