For 3.5mm/2.92mm/2.4mm/SMA connectors, I believe many practitioners are not very clear. It's a pleasure to share your knowledge of 3.5mm/2.92mm/2.4mm/SMA connectors. Many users have encountered such a situation, 3.5mm/2.92mm/2.4mm three types of connectors, which can be directly with the sma connector seamless docking. Before we answer this question, we should first look at these connectors:
Initially, SMA connectors were designed for 0.141" semi-hard coaxial cables, typically filled with polytetrafluoroethylene media, and are used primarily as precision connectors for microwave applications in the military industry. Under the conditions of the time, due to the small size of the SMA connector, it can be used at a higher frequency (the frequency range of the semi-hard cable is DC to 18GHz; When fitting soft cables, it works under DC to 12.4GHz and quickly becomes popular. Even the later development of millimeter-wave connectors (e.g. 3.5mm, 2.92mm) considered mechanical compatibility.
What is a 3.53.5mm connector, it is an external conductor with a diameter of 3.5mm, a characteristic impedance of 50 ohm, and a connector with a connection mechanism of 1/4-36UNS-2 imperial thread. The biggest difference from the SMA connector is that 3.5mm uses air media. The outer conductor of the 3.5mm connector is thicker than the SMA connector and has better mechanical strength than the SMA connector. Therefore, not only electrical performance is better than SMA connectors, but also mechanical durability, performance repeatability is higher than SMA connectors, so it is more suitable for the test industry.
The 2.92mm connection is an RF coaxial connector with an external conductor diameter of 2.92mm, a characteristic impedance of 50 ohm, and a connection mechanism of 1/4-36UNS-2 imperial thread. It has a similar structure to a 3.5mm connector, but is smaller. 2.92mm connector in the DC-46GHz band range, has good electrical performance, and can be compatible with SMA connector, 3.5mm connector machinery, quickly recognized by the majority of manufacturers, has become one of the most widely used millimeter wave connectors in the world.
2.4mm connector, is the external guide body diameter of 2.4mm, impedance 50 ohm connector and 1.85mm connector, is the outer guide body diameter of 1.85mm, impedance 50 ohm connector. They have a smaller inner diameter size and therefore operate at higher frequencies, with nominal frequencies of up to 50GHz and 67GHz, respectively. The two connectors are mechanically compatible and can be interconnected, but it is important to remember that they must never be connected to a 2.92mm, 3.5mm or SMA connector, otherwise they can directly cause damage to the connector!
