Bayonet tabs (BNC)
You’re done. No adapter. The Iron Spear antenna goes straight on.
Which adapter do I need for Iron Spear antennas?
Look at the jack on the radio, not the writing on the rubber duck. Pin out vs hole decides SMA gender — that’s how you pick the right SMA↔BNC adapter.
Your Maximus, Guardian, or Minimus screws on with a BNC — the quick quarter-turn connector. Your radio almost certainly doesn’t. That’s fine. You just need the right little SMA to BNC adapter between them. Built for hard work.
Most Baofeng, Anytone, Tidradio, Yaesu, Icom, and other handhelds use SMA on the radio body. Iron Spear HT whips use BNC. Matching connector gender and wall depth is what makes the adapter seat flush — unscrew the stock rubber duck and judge the jack, not the print on the duck.
Quick path: pin sticking out (SMA-male on radio) → SMA female → BNC female; hole on the radio (SMA-female) → SMA male → BNC female; won’t sit flush → same gender with narrow / thin-wall. Then pick your whip and, if you want the antenna off the radio body, a relocation kit.
Prefer a two-question walkthrough? Try the SMA gender & thin-wall adapter checker.
What am I looking at?
Pin sticking out
That’s SMA-male on the radio (common on Baofeng, Anytone, Tidradio, Yaesu FT-65).
Buy: SMA female → BNC female — $7.50
Hole on the radio
That’s SMA-female on the radio (common on Yaesu FT-60 / VX, Icom ID-52, Kenwood TH-D74).
Buy: SMA male → BNC female — $7.50
Won’t sit flush
You need the same gender as above, but a narrow / thin-wall body so it can reach the threads.
For tight SMA-male ports: narrow-wall SMAF→BNCF — $11.
Recessed SMA-female Yaesus (FT-60 / VX class) want thin-wall on the male side — that’s a different part than the Baofeng narrow-wall. Don’t mix them up.
Doesn’t look like either? Stop and double-check. Some commercial Motorolas aren’t standard SMA/BNC at all.
Shop rules that save radios
- Hand-tighten only. Tools crack the jack.
- One adapter. Don’t stack them.
- Still unsure? Match the pin, then grab Maximus / Guardian / Minimus for the bands you actually use.
FAQ
How do I tell SMA-male vs SMA-female on my radio?
Look at the jack on the radio — not the writing on the rubber duck. Pin sticking out = SMA-male on the radio (needs SMA-female → BNC-female). Hole = SMA-female on the radio (needs SMA-male → BNC-female). Pin out vs hole decides SMA gender.
My Baofeng UV-5R / similar — which adapter?
Usually pin sticking out → SMA female → BNC female. Confirm on the jack before you order; a few clones and newer boards differ.
What’s narrow-wall / thin-wall?
Same gender as the standard adapter, with a slimmer shoulder for recessed or tight wells. Baofeng tight SMA-male ports often need the narrow-wall SMAF→BNCF. Recessed Yaesu FT-60 / VX-class SMA-female needs thin-wall on the male side — that’s a different part; don’t mix them.
Can I stack adapters?
No. One adapter. Hand-tighten only — tools crack the jack.
My radio isn’t in the chart / looks like Motorola commercial?
Stop. Some Motorola / Harris commercial handhelds are not standard SMA/BNC. This chart covers common amateur and GMRS handhelds. If you’re unsure, contact the shop before forcing a fit.
After the adapter, which antenna?
Maximus for 2m/70cm daily carry, Guardian for ~155/465 public-safety bands, Minimus for 70cm compact. Want the whip off the radio body? Pair with an antenna relocation kit.
Find your radio
Type your brand or model below. Chart lists 163 common handhelds.
Showing 163 of 163
No radios match that search. Try brand only (Baofeng, Yaesu) or a shorter model fragment.
Adapter key
SMA female → BNC female
$7.50 — radio has SMA-male (pin out)
SMA male → BNC female
$7.50 — radio has SMA-female (hole)
Narrow-wall SMAF → BNCF
$11 — tight SMA-male ports (slimmer shoulder)
Recessed Yaesu FT-60 / VX need thin-wall on the SMA-male → BNC-female side (not the Baofeng narrow-wall SKU).
Antennas
Credit
Connector genders were cross-checked against manufacturer manuals, our shop notes, and public radio-model listings (including SignalStuff). This page is Iron Spear’s own guide and maps to Iron Spear adapters — not a copy of anyone else’s shop.