Common WiFi Connectors

These are some common connectors and pigtails used in the Wireless world. The pictures should help when choosing pigtails to connect a wireless card to an antenna. There are other connectors as well, so hopefully the page will grow to be a definitive guide.

U.fl (Hirose)

The U.fl connector comes on most MiniPCI cards such as the senao NL-2511MP(prism 2.5 chipset), Senao NL-3054MP(PrismGT chipset), Intel ProWireless, Cisco, Toshiba etc. ( Also known as AMC)

MC CARD (Lucent) to N-Male Pigtail

The Lucent connector comes on cards such as the Orinoco PCMCIA. It has a bad reputation as being easily broken. Connects to a antennas that have an N-Female such as the WaveGuide, Yagi, Cantenna and bigger Omni antennas.

U.fl to N Female Bulkhead Pigtail

The U.fl connector comes on most MiniPCI cards such as the senao NL-2511MP(prism 2.5 chipset), Senao NL-3054MP(PrismGT chipset), Intel ProWireless, Cisco, Toshiba etc. When setting up a WRAP, this pigtail can go on the MiniPCI and the N Female Bulkhead is installed in the case.

RP SMA Male to N Female Pigtail

The RP-SMA is commonly used on PCI cards and access points/routers that have a removeable antenna. Brands such as Netgear and D-Link have these. Hills Parabolic Dish antennas come with a short length of coax and a N-Male connector, so this pigtail can go between an AP and Hills.

MC Card (Lucent) Connector

Commonly found on PCMCIA cards such as D-Link, Orinoco and Lucent based cards

N Male Connector

Hills Parabolic Dish antennas, among others, come with a short length of coax and a N-Male connector. Connects to alot of anennas that have an N-Female such as the Yagi, Cantenna and bigger Omni antennas.

RP SMA Female Connector

The RP-SMA Female is commonly used on PCI cards and access points/routers that have a removeable antenna. Brands such as Netgear and D-Link have these.

RP SMA Male Connector

The RP-SMA Male is commonly used on Antennas that go onto PCI cards and access points/routers that have a removeable antenna. Brands such as Netgear and D-Link have these.

SMA Female Connector

Normal SMA is not commonly used on wireless gear

RP SMA Female PCB Jack

The RP SMA Female Straight PCB Jack is commonly used on access points/routers and wireless cards that use a removeable antenna. Brands such as Netgear, Mitsubishi, Edimax/UltraWAP,Minitar, and D-Link have these. It is available in a variety of configurations such as straight, right-angled, long straight and edge mount.