Technical resource

Aircraft Antenna Connector Guide

Connector mismatch is one of the most common reasons a correctly specified aircraft antenna cannot be fitted. Every product page in this catalog lists the connector supplied on that part number, taken from the manufacturer data. This guide explains the terminology you will see there and what to compare it against.

Connector Terminology You Will See

Aircraft antenna catalogs describe a connector by series, gender and sometimes mounting orientation — for example a female BNC receptacle, or a TNC connector on a threaded interface. Series identifies the mechanical and electrical family; gender identifies which half of the pair the antenna presents.

BNC — bayonet-coupled, widely used on VHF COM and NAV antennas.
TNC — threaded version of the same size family, common where vibration resistance or higher-frequency use matters.
N type — larger threaded connector found on some antennas and RF assemblies.
SMA — small threaded connector used on GPS, satellite and other higher-frequency products.

Matching the Connector to the Installation

Three things have to agree: the connector on the antenna, the connector terminated on the aircraft's coax, and what the avionics equipment expects at the other end. Where they do not, the correct resolution is defined by the installation documentation — not by adding adapters as a matter of course.

Adapters introduce additional loss and additional mechanical joints. Whether one is acceptable in a given installation is a maintenance decision to be made against the applicable approved data.

Cable Type and Loss

Connectors are only part of the RF path. The equipment manufacturer typically specifies the coax type and the maximum allowable loss between the antenna and the unit, which becomes more significant at transponder, DME, ADS-B, GPS and satellite frequencies. Confirm the specified cable before assuming a connector change is all that is needed.

Before You Order

Compare the connector listed on the product page with the antenna you removed and with the equipment installation manual. If the part number you need is listed with a different connector variant, contact us with the part number and we will confirm what is available.

Always verify installation requirements against the antenna manufacturer's installation instructions and the approved data applicable to the aircraft.

USE THE ANTENNA FINDER SEARCH BY PART NUMBER