RP vs Straight Coaxial Connector Gender Issues

Reverse Polarity or Straight connections- Big Issue!

Nothing is more confusing in the world of WiFi and Radio as the Gender of Coax Connectors The current state of affairs with RP & Straight connectors is just the FCC trying to help... In order to regulate WiFi and try to create connectors specialized for it's use we have the FCC and the wonderful concept of RP (Reverse Polarity).  Now we have Females with Male Pins and Males with Female innards.  See the picture here of SMAs, but TNCs, BNCs, Ns and others can all be Straight or RP depending on their use.  Take a look at the photos and if you don't know which you need Please Ask.

Coaxial Connector Photos      

N Male Connectors	LMR-240 with N Male Connectors		LMR-400 N Male
N Female Connectors	N Female connector (LMR-400)		LMR-400 N Female Connector (right)
UHF Male Connectors	LMR-240 UHF Male Crimp Connector		LMR-400 Solder PL-259 Connector
UHF Female Connectors SO-239 Type	SO239 UHF Female connector (right)		SO239 UHF Female connector (bottom)
BNC Male Connectors	LMR-240 BNC Male Connector		BNC Male
BNC Female Connectors	Standard Female BNC		Female BNC
FME Connectors	FME Male Connector		FME Female Connector
Mini-UHF Connectors	Mini-UHF Male		Mini-UHF Female
F Connectors	F Male Connector

Straight and Reverse Polarity (RP) 

TNC Series Connectors Pics

Straight TNC Male Connectors	Standard TNC Male Connector		Standard Straight TNC Male Connection
RP-TNC Male Connectors	Reverse Polarity TNC Connector Male      RP-TNC    Connector Male		LMR-400  N Male to  RP-TNC  Male (right)
Straight TNC Female Connectors	Female TNC Standard Connection		TNC Female Straight Connection
RP-TNC Female Connectors	Back of Router RP-TNC Female Connection		Reverse Polarity TNC Connector Female

SMA Series Connectors Photos 

Straight & Reverse Polarity RP-SMA Connector Pics

Straight SMA Male Connectors	LMR-400 N Female (left)to SMA Male (right) Cable		Standard SMA Male Connector
RP-SMA Male Connectors	Reverse Polarity SMA Male Connector		LMR-400 Cable RP-SMA Female (top) to RP-SMA Male (bottom)
Straight SMA Female Connectors	Straight  Female SMA    Connection		SMA Straight Female Connector
RP-SMA Female Connectors	Back of Router RP-SMA Female Connection		LMR-400 Cable RP-SMA Female (top) to RP-SMA Male (bottom)

Solder or Crimp Connectors which are better?

For many years now the commercial standard has been to Crimp, Clamp or Compress connectors onto cable assemblies.  Crimped connections simply provide better shielding, retention, service life and ease of installation.  HAM purists of the old school scoff at the very idea!  This is so true that we continue to offer quality Soldered PL-259s as our standard UHF connection. We use Silver plated connectors to assure a good solder joint and Silver solder to make the connections.  Most Hams just seem to desire this.  While we will continue to offer PL-259s standard we will provide the same Crimp UHF connectors we use on our own installs upon request.