Editing RF connector

{{Short description|Electrical connector designed to work at radio frequencies}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Coaxial connector|Coaxial power connector}}

[[File:RF Connectors Assortment.jpg|alt=This photo shows various circular RF connectors.|thumb|Various popular RF connectors]]
[[File:Coaxial ConnectorSymbols.png|200px|thumb|Electronic symbols for the plug and jack coaxial connectors]]
[[File:TDR SMA BNC BNC term.svg|thumb|[[Time-domain reflectometry]] shows reflections due to impedance variations in mated RF connectors.]]

An '''RF connector''' ('''radio frequency connector''') is an [[electrical connector]] designed to work at [[radio frequency|radio frequencies]] in the multi-megahertz range.
RF connectors are typically used with [[coaxial cable]]s and are designed to maintain the shielding that the coaxial design offers. Better models also minimize the change in transmission line [[Characteristic impedance|impedance]] at the connection in order to reduce [[signal reflection]] and power loss.<ref name="taoe">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAiWPwAACAAJ |title=The Art of Electronics |edition=2nd |last1=Horowitz |first1=Paul |last2=Hill |first2=Winfield |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1989 |isbn=0-521-37095-7 |page=880}}</ref> As the frequency increases, [[transmission line]] effects become more important, with small impedance variations from connectors causing the signal to reflect rather than pass through. An RF connector must not allow external signals into the circuit through [[electromagnetic interference]] and capacitive pickup.

Mechanically, RF connectors may provide a fastening mechanism ([[Screw thread|thread]], [[Bayonet mount|bayonet]], braces, [[blind mate connector|blind mate]]) and [[Spring (device)|springs]] for a low ohmic electric contact while sparing the gold surface, thus allowing very high mating cycles and reducing the [[zero insertion force|insertion force]]. Research activity in the area of radio-frequency circuit design has surged in the 2000s in direct response to the enormous market demand for inexpensive, high-data-rate wireless transceivers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pasternack.com/pdf/catalog/ConnectorIdentifier.pdf |publisher=Pasternack, Inc. |title=Connector Identifier |access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref>

Common types of RF connectors are used for [[television]] receivers, [[two-way radio]], [[Wi-Fi]] PCIe cards with removable antennas, and industrial or scientific measurement instruments using radio frequencies.

==See also==
{{Portal|Electronics}}
* [[List of RF connector types]]
* [[TV aerial plug|Antenna socket]]
* [[Coaxial cable]]
* [[Optical fiber connector]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|RF connectors}}
*[http://ece-www.colorado.edu/~kuester/Coax/connchart.htm Common Coaxial Connectors]
*[http://www.wa1mba.org/rfconn.htm RF Connectors For Upper Frequencies]
*[https://www.allchips.ai/blog/how-to-select-use-maintain-coaxial-connectors-for-rf-applications How To Use Coaxial Connectors For RF Applications]
*[https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/rf-connectors/coax-cable-connectors.php RF connectors] Summary of the main types and additional pages with details of each type mentioned.

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[[Category:RF connectors]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]

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