I am confused, is it Male or Female or Plug and Jack on some of these specialized connectors?

I am confused, is it Male or Female or Plug and Jack on some of these specialized connectors?

It is a good question, and RF connector terminology can be confusing. Many common RF connectors, such as UHF and Type N, are routinely described as male or female, and their mating configuration is generally easy to recognize.

With miniature connector families such as MC, MCX, MMCX, SMB and SMC, you will frequently see the terms Plug and Jack. Male and female terminology may also appear in manufacturers' descriptions.

Welcome to the world of Plug and Jack!

The important thing to understand is that Plug and Jack generally describe the mating configuration of the connector body, while Pin and Socket describe the center RF contact. These terms should not be assumed to mean exactly the same thing for every RF connector family.

For example, a standard SMB Plug has a female center contact (socket), while an SMB Jack has a male center contact (pin). Other RF connector families can use a different plug/jack and center-contact arrangement.

When identifying a connector, look at the complete connector — the connector family, the mating body and the center contact. Do not identify an unfamiliar miniature connector solely by whether you see a center pin or socket.

Be careful when ordering. Connector terminology is not always used consistently by sellers. Descriptions sometimes combine terms such as male, female, plug and jack in confusing ways. When in doubt, verify the connector family, mating interface and center contact before ordering.