 MC Card |
 MMCX |
 RP-MMCX |
 U.FL |
|
|
 RP-SMA MALE |
 SMA FEMALE |
 RP-SMA FEMALE |
 TNC MALE |
|
 TNC FEMALE |
 RP-TNC FEMALE |
 N MALE |
 N FEMALE |
Why are some of the connectors RP (reverse polarity)? What is the difference between RP and a standard connector?
The reverse polarity (RP) connector specification is mandated by the FCC for ISM equipment which includes 802.11a/b/g. There is no difference between the standard and RP type connectors as far as RF performance is concerned. The only difference is that the gender of the center part of the connector is reversed, i.e. a male connector has a female jack, and a female connector has a male plug.
If you are developing a product for the ISM band, you should be using reverse polarity connectors for any user accessable external connectors on your device.; There are exceptions to this rule, including micro sized connectors such as MMCX and MC Card. Please consult FCC regulations for full details.
The polarity of connectors isdetermined by the body of the connector, not the center.
A Reverse Polarity Male connector has a Male body (threads inside) and a Female center jack.
A Reverse Polarity Female connector has a Female body (threads outside) and a Male center plug.
If no gender is specified, it is always assumed to be a Male connector. Example: RP-SMA indicates an RP-SMA Male connector
Other Notes:
A Male connector is also known as a "Plug"A Female connector is also known as a "Jack"
Reverse Polarity (RP) and Reverse Gender (RG) mean the same thing.