SMA Gender & Thin-Wall Adapter Checker
Look at the jack on the radio, not the writing on the rubber duck. Two questions pick the right SMA↔BNC adapter for a Baofeng or other HT: (1) pin out vs hole, (2) flush vs recessed / thin-wall. Built for hard work.
Iron Spear HT whips (Maximus, Guardian, Minimus) use BNC. Most handhelds use SMA on the radio body. Match gender and wall depth so the adapter seats correctly — then grab your whip.
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1Pin sticking out, or a hole?
Unscrew the stock duck. Look into the radio jack — not the print on the duck.
Pin sticking out
That’s SMA-male on the radio (common on Baofeng, Anytone, Tidradio, Yaesu FT-65).
Standard well → SMA female → BNC female
Won’t sit flush → narrow / thin-wall
Hole / no pin
That’s SMA-female on the radio (common on Yaesu FT-60 / VX, Icom ID-52, Kenwood TH-D74).
Standard well → SMA male → BNC female
Won’t sit flush → see thin-wall note
2Does a standard adapter sit flush?
If the shoulder hangs up and the adapter won’t seat against the radio body, you need the same gender with a narrow / thin-wall body — not a different gender.
Flush: standard body is fine.
Recessed / tight / narrow wall: use the thin-wall variant for that gender. Baofeng-class tight SMA-male ports use our narrow-wall SMAF→BNCF. Recessed Yaesu FT-60 / VX-class SMA-female wants thin-wall on the male side — a different part; don’t mix them up.
Your match
Pin out + sits flush
Radio has SMA-male. Buy SMA female → BNC female.
SMA female to BNC Female adapter (Baofeng, AnyTone, etc.) →
Most Baofeng / AnyTone path
Pin out + won’t sit flush
Same gender as above, slimmer shoulder for tight SMA-male ports. Buy Narrow-wall SMA female → BNC female.
SMA Female to BNC female adapter narrow/thin wall. →
Narrow / thin-wall
Hole + sits flush
Radio has SMA-female. Buy SMA male → BNC female.
SMA male to BNC female adapter →
SMA-female radio path
Hole + won’t sit flush
Recessed SMA-female radios (Yaesu FT-60 / VX class) need thin-wall on the SMA-male → BNC-female side — not the Baofeng narrow-wall SKU. Don’t mix them up.
Use the full adapter guide radio finder, or contact the shop before forcing a fit. Standard hole-path adapter (if your well isn’t recessed): SMA male → BNC female.
Different thin-wall partShop rules that save radios
- Hand-tighten only. Tools crack the jack.
- One adapter. Don’t stack them.
- Still unsure? Match the pin, then open the adapter guide model chart.
After your adapter
Maximus (BNC)
Daily-carry 2m/70cm NiTi whip — screws onto the BNC side of your adapter.
Relocation kit
Move the whip off the radio body onto pack, plate, or shoulder.
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).
My Baofeng UV-5R / similar — which adapter?
Usually pin sticking out → SMA female → BNC female (our Baofeng / AnyTone path SKU). 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. Tight SMA-male ports (pin out) 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.
After the adapter, what next?
Pick a BNC whip such as Maximus for 2m/70cm daily carry. Want the antenna off the radio body? Pair with a 24" or 48" antenna relocation kit. See the full radio finder on the adapter guide.
More radios and a searchable chart live on the handheld radio adapter guide. Free tools also include the PNW Freq / CHIRP planner.