In the complex landscape of wireless connectivity, ensuring a clean, reliable transition between internal circuitry and external antennas is essential. Our SMA Female Bulkhead Antenna Adapter with RG174 Coaxial Pigtail is the perfect solution, offering a robust, low-loss interconnect for devices ranging from IoT gateways and drones to handheld radios and instrumentation. This assembly combines the rugged security of an SMA female bulkhead connector with the flexibility and small diameter of the RG174 cable, providing a versatile link designed for tight spaces and demanding applications.
Optimized Design for Seamless Integration
This adapter assembly is engineered for installers and engineers who require a reliable and compact feed-through solution. The design focuses on maximizing signal integrity while minimizing the footprint.
SMA Female Bulkhead Connector: The centerpiece is a high-quality SMA female connector, typically featuring a brass body with durable gold plating for superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. The bulkhead design includes a panel nut and washer, allowing for secure and stable mounting through an enclosure wall, providing an external connection point for an SMA male antenna or cable.
Secure Mounting: The bulkhead feature ensures the connection point is mechanically fixed and sealed, protecting internal components and preventing rotational stress on the connection.
Standard Interface: The SMA (SubMiniature A) interface is widely adopted due to its compact size and excellent high-frequency performance, reliably operating in applications up to 18 GHz.
RG174 Coaxial Cable: The cable segment is constructed using the widely-used RG174 coaxial standard. This cable is chosen specifically for its desirable characteristics in short-run pigtail applications:
High Flexibility: RG174 features a small diameter (approximately 2.79 mm or 0.11 inches) and a stranded center conductor, making it extremely flexible and easy to route within constrained enclosures. This is a critical advantage for densely packed electronics.
Low Profile: Its diminutive size allows for installation in devices where larger diameter cables would be impractical, maintaining a clean, compact internal layout.
Reliable Performance: While designed for flexibility, the RG174 provides reliable performance over the common frequency ranges used by Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz), GPS, GSM, and other common wireless protocols.
The Gold Standard in Material Quality
The choice of materials is critical to the longevity and electrical performance of any RF connector assembly. We utilize premium materials to ensure consistent, high-performance operation in various environments.
Connector Body and Plating: The connector body is typically made from machined brass, a material known for its strength and excellent machinability. This is finished with a layer of gold plating over a nickel underlayer. Gold is the optimal choice for contact surfaces due to its superb electrical conductivity and resistance to oxidation, guaranteeing minimal contact resistance and long-term reliability over thousands of mating cycles.
RG174 Construction: The cable is constructed with a flexible, stranded copper-clad steel (CCS) center conductor, polyethylene (PE) dielectric, copper braid shielding, and a durable PVC jacket. This construction balances flexibility with effective signal shielding and protection against wear.
Pigtail Termination: The cable is professionally terminated to the bulkhead connector using standardized crimping and soldering techniques, ensuring a robust, low-impedance transition that minimizes signal reflections (low VSWR) and insertion loss.
Versatile Applications in Wireless Technology
This specific SMA Female Bulkhead Adapter with RG174 Pigtail is a cornerstone component in a wide array of wireless applications due to its flexibility, secure mounting, and high-frequency capability:
Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: Ideal for small-form-factor devices, sensors, and embedded systems where the internal electronics need to connect to an external antenna for long-range communication (e.g., LoRaWAN, Zigbee, cellular M2M).
Wireless Access Points and Routers: Used to create external antenna ports on customized networking equipment, improving coverage and connection stability.
Drone and Robotics Systems: The lightweight and flexible nature of the RG174 is perfect for airborne applications where weight is a factor and the cable needs to withstand vibration and movement.
Test and Measurement Equipment: Essential for creating test ports on RF development boards and benchtop instruments, allowing engineers to connect external antennas or test probes easily.
GPS and Telematics: Widely used in automotive and asset tracking systems where a sturdy, weather-resistant external antenna connection is required.
Installation Simplicity and Reliability
The assembly is designed for straightforward integration into any electronic enclosure, simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process.
Effortless Bulkhead Mounting: Installation only requires drilling a corresponding hole in the enclosure wall, inserting the connector, and securing it with the included washer and nut. This provides a professional, stable, and sealed point of entry for the RF signal.
Space-Saving Solution: By utilizing a pigtail, the cable allows the internal connector (often an MHF/U.FL on the PCB end, or another SMA on the other end of the pigtail) to be placed at an optimal location on the circuit board, independent of the bulkhead placement.
Guaranteed Compatibility: The SMA standard ensures compatibility with thousands of commercially available antennas, making component selection and system upgrades seamless.
This adapter provides the critical link between your high-performance electronics and the external world. Its combination of a secure, gold-plated SMA bulkhead and the ultra-flexible RG174 cable ensures both mechanical and electrical reliability for your most demanding wireless projects.
