RP-SMA Pinout
A reverse-polarity SMA coaxial connector common on Wi-Fi and consumer RF antennas.
Overview
RP-SMA (Reverse Polarity SMA) is a variant of the SMA connector that swaps the gender of the center contact: an RP-SMA plug keeps the male threaded shell but has a female center socket, and vice versa. The thread and impedance (50 ohm) are otherwise identical to standard SMA.
The reversed center contact was introduced largely so consumer Wi-Fi equipment could meet regulatory antenna-coupling rules. As a coaxial connector it still has only two conductors: a center signal contact and the threaded outer shield.
Pinout
| Pin | Name | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center | Signal | SIGNAL | Center contact (gender reversed vs standard SMA) carrying the RF signal |
| Shield | Ground / Shield | GND | Threaded outer shell, coax shield and ground return |
Notes
- 50 ohm. Only the center-contact gender is reversed; the shell thread matches standard SMA.
- Will mate mechanically with SMA but not make a center-contact connection — they are not interoperable.
Reference: Wikipedia — SMA connector (reverse polarity)· verified 2026-06-27