SMA Adapter Checker

Look closely at the antenna jack on the actual radio body, rather than reading what is printed on the rubber antenna it came with. You only need to answer two simple questions to pick the correct SMA to BNC adapter for a Baofeng or similar handheld radio. First, does the radio have a pin sticking out or a hole? Second, will a standard adapter sit flush against the radio, or is the connection point recessed? Built for hard work.

Here at Iron Spear Outfitters, our handheld radio antennas, like the Maximus, Guardian, and Minimus, use a BNC connection. Most handheld radios use an SMA connection on the radio body. Your goal is to match the gender and the wall depth so the adapter seats correctly against the radio before you attach your antenna.

You can use the links below to jump straight to your result, or just read through the steps. If you would prefer to look at a chart, you can check out our full handheld radio adapter guide.

1Pin sticking out, or a hole?

Unscrew the stock duck. Look into the radio jack — not the print on the duck.

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.

Your match

Shop 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

Common Questions

How do I tell the difference between SMA-male and SMA-female on my radio? Look straight at the jack on the actual radio, not the writing printed on the rubber antenna it came with. If there is a pin sticking out, you have an SMA-male connection on the radio, which means you need an SMA-female to BNC-female adapter. If you see a hole, you have an SMA-female connection on the radio, and you need an SMA-male to BNC-female adapter.

Which adapter do I need for my Baofeng UV-5R or a similar radio? These usually have a pin sticking out, which means you need an SMA female to BNC female adapter. Please confirm this by looking at your radio's jack before you place an order, because a few clones and newer boards are built differently.

What exactly does narrow-wall or thin-wall mean? These adapters use the exact same gender configuration as the standard adapter, but they have a slimmer shoulder to fit down into recessed or tight radio wells. Tight SMA-male ports with a pin sticking out usually need a narrow-wall SMA female to BNC female adapter. On the flip side, recessed SMA-female ports, like the Yaesu FT-60 and VX series, need a thin-wall adapter on the male side. Those are two very different parts, so you do not want to mix them up.

Can I stack multiple adapters? No, you should only use one adapter at a time. Always tighten everything by hand, because using wrenches or pliers will crack the jack on your radio.

What comes next after I get my adapter installed? Pick out a BNC antenna like the Maximus for everyday 2m/70cm use. If you want to move the antenna off your radio body, you can pair it with one of our 24 inch or 48 inch antenna relocation kits. You can also view our full radio finder on the adapter guide page.

We keep a searchable chart covering a lot more radios on our handheld radio adapter guide. You can also check out some of our free tools, like the PNW Frequency and CHIRP planner.