Trace connectors without guessing.
Treat a cable as two connections. Each end needs a documented mating partner.
Read the shell. Then the center.
For SMA and RP-SMA, the coupling body determines plug or jack. The center contact determines standard or reverse polarity.
| Family | Plug / male Internal threads | Jack / female External threads |
|---|---|---|
| SMA | Center pin | Center socket |
| RP-SMA | Center socket | Center pin |
Symbols show the center-contact distinction only. They are not dimensional drawings or a substitute for the exact connector datasheet. Source: AMETEK RF connector guide, Connector Gender.
Why a threaded fit can fail: an SMA male and RP-SMA female present two pins; an RP-SMA male and SMA female present two sockets. The shell alone does not establish electrical contact. Do not force either combination.
Write the path from the board outward
A direct antenna connection has one mating pair. Adding a cable creates two. A second adapter adds another opportunity for the family, gender or center contact to differ. Record the radio-facing end first and the antenna-facing end second. The checker evaluates both cable orientations because a cable's product title does not necessarily describe its installed direction.
For a case-mounted radio, decide whether you are checking the internal board socket or the exposed enclosure connector. MeshMatch models the bare board ports listed in the catalog. A built-in case pigtail is still a cable and must be included. Do not choose a direct board connection when you actually intend to attach the antenna to a modified enclosure.
Use the complete connector name
In this checker, an SMA male antenna can mate with an SMA female socket. RP-SMA is a separate family. A similar threaded shell is insufficient evidence that the contacts form the intended connection. Read the supplier's description and compare a clear product photo, including the center contact, before ordering.
The Seeed antenna guide explicitly separates SMA antenna chains from RP-SMA gateway chains. Its RP-SMA-to-N cable is therefore not a substitute for an SMA pigtail on a Wio-E5 board. MeshMatch keeps that mismatch visible even if the chosen frequency is correct.
Keep I-PEX uncertainty visible
A generic miniature-coax label is not a full mating specification. A listing that says only I-PEX may omit the connector series. MeshMatch does not assume it fits every similarly named board socket. The Heltec V3.2 datasheet names IPEX1.0, while the cataloged Seeed cable's general guide does not settle its exact series. That combination remains unknown.
Ask the cable seller for the series or mating drawing for the exact SKU and the board supplier for the socket specification. Preserve those answers with your parts record. A picture that looks close is a reason to investigate, not a reason to override the unknown result.
Inspect before applying force
Read the manufacturer's fitting instructions for the selected connector. Check alignment, strain relief and enclosure clearance before installation. This tool does not model mating-cycle limits, torque, cable bend radius or the force required to attach a miniature connector. If the parts resist normal fitting, stop and recheck their identity.
Check your connector chain or continue with frequency coverage.