RTL-SDR Blog SMA Pigtail Antenna Adapter Set – 6 RG316 Adapters

The RTL-SDR Blog SMA Pigtail Antenna Adapter Set is a versatile six-piece RF adapter kit designed for software-defined radio receivers, antennas, RF accessories, scanners, amateur radio equipment, and test instruments. Each adapter uses approximately 20cm of flexible RG316 coaxial cable, providing a convenient way to connect SMA-equipped SDR hardware to several commonly used RF connector standards.

The set includes adapters for Type N, UHF, BNC, PAL and Type F connections, plus a bonus SMA male-to-SMA male pigtail that is useful for connecting SDR accessories such as upconverters, filters, amplifiers, attenuators and other SMA-equipped RF devices.

Six Useful RF Adapter Pigtails

The kit provides six commonly needed connections in one compact set:

• 1 × SMA to Type N female pigtail
• 1 × SMA to UHF female pigtail
• 1 × SMA to BNC female pigtail
• 1 × SMA to PAL female pigtail
• 1 × SMA to Type F female pigtail
• 1 × SMA male to SMA male pigtail

The SMA side of the antenna adapters is designed for connection to compatible SMA RF equipment such as RTL-SDR Blog receivers.

20cm Flexible RG316 Coax

Each adapter uses approximately 20cm of RG316 coaxial cable. Unlike solid straight adapters or semi-rigid coax, RG316 is flexible and makes it easier to position connected antennas and accessories without placing excessive mechanical leverage on the SDR's RF connector.

The short cable length also keeps the adapter compact enough for portable SDR kits and desktop RF setups.

Reduce Stress on SDR Connectors

Large antennas, heavy coaxial cables and stacked rigid adapters can place significant mechanical stress on the small SMA connector of an SDR receiver.

Using a flexible pigtail moves that load away from the receiver and allows the cable to bend naturally. This is especially useful when connecting thicker antenna cables or larger Type N, UHF and BNC connectors to a compact SDR dongle.

Ideal for RTL-SDR Receivers

The adapter set is designed as a convenient accessory for RTL-SDR Blog receivers with SMA antenna inputs, but it can also be used with many other SDRs and RF devices that use compatible SMA connectors.

Compatible applications can include:

• RTL-SDR Blog receivers
• HackRF
• Airspy
• SDRplay
• bladeRF
• USRP hardware
• Spectrum analyzers
• Signal generators
• RF filters and LNAs
• Upconverters and downconverters
• Amateur radio receiving equipment

Type N Adapter

Type N connectors are commonly used with outdoor antennas, higher-quality coaxial feed lines, cellular equipment, RF laboratory hardware and microwave components. The included Type N female pigtail makes it easier to connect these systems to an SMA-equipped receiver.

UHF Adapter

UHF connectors such as PL-259 and SO-239 are widely used in amateur radio and VHF/UHF antenna systems. The UHF female adapter provides a convenient connection for antennas and feed lines that would otherwise require an additional rigid adapter.

BNC Adapter

BNC is widely found on scanners, oscilloscopes, test equipment and many professional RF devices. The BNC female adapter allows BNC-based antennas and cables to connect directly to an SMA-equipped SDR.

PAL Adapter

PAL/IEC antenna connectors are commonly found on television and broadcast-reception equipment in Europe and other regions. The included PAL female adapter makes it possible to experiment with compatible television antennas and RF distribution equipment.

Type F Adapter

Type F connectors are widely used for television, satellite and cable installations. The included Type F female adapter allows compatible coaxial cables and antennas to be connected to an SMA SDR receiver.

SMA Male-to-Male Pigtail

The bonus SMA male-to-SMA male cable is particularly useful for connecting two SMA female devices together.

Typical applications include connecting an SDR to:

• Upconverters
• Low-noise amplifiers
• RF filters
• Bias tees
• Attenuators
• Splitters
• RF switches
• Other SMA-equipped accessories

Useful for Portable SDR Kits

With five common antenna connector standards covered in one set, the kit is ideal for SDR users who frequently change antennas or operate portable receiving stations.

Instead of carrying multiple rigid adapters, the pigtail set provides flexible connections for many of the antenna and RF connector types commonly encountered in radio experimentation.

Key Features

• Official RTL-SDR Blog SMA Pigtail Adapter Set
• 6 RF adapter pigtails
• Approximately 20cm cable length per adapter
• Flexible RG316 coaxial cable
• Type N female adapter
• UHF female adapter
• BNC female adapter
• PAL female adapter
• Type F female adapter
• Bonus SMA male-to-SMA male adapter cable
• Designed for SMA-equipped RTL-SDR receivers
• Suitable for antennas and RF accessories
• Reduces mechanical stress compared with heavy rigid adapter stacks
• Compact enough for portable SDR toolkits

Typical Applications

• Software-defined radio reception
• General radio scanning
• Amateur radio monitoring
• ADS-B antenna connections
• AIS reception
• Airband monitoring
• Satellite reception
• VHF and UHF antennas
• Upconverter connections
• LNA and RF filter connections
• Spectrum analyzer setups
• RF experimentation
• Portable SDR stations

Pigtail vs Straight RF Adapters

Flexible pigtail adapters provide better mechanical isolation than solid straight adapters and are easier to use when the connected cable is heavy or space around the SDR is limited.

Straight adapters can provide slightly lower insertion loss because they do not include a length of coaxial cable. For most general SDR receiving applications, however, the flexibility and reduced connector stress of a short RG316 pigtail can be more convenient.

Connector Impedance Notice

RG316 coax and many SMA, BNC and Type N RF systems are commonly designed around 50-ohm impedance, while Type F and PAL television systems are commonly 75 ohms. These adapters are useful for general receiving and experimentation, but users performing precision RF measurements should consider connector and system impedance throughout the complete signal path.

SMA vs RP-SMA Notice

Always verify the connector on your equipment before ordering. Standard SMA and RP-SMA connectors may appear very similar but use different center-contact configurations. These adapters are intended for standard SMA connections and should not be assumed to fit RP-SMA equipment.

What's in the Box?

• 1 × SMA to Type N female RG316 pigtail
• 1 × SMA to UHF female RG316 pigtail
• 1 × SMA to BNC female RG316 pigtail
• 1 × SMA to PAL female RG316 pigtail
• 1 × SMA to Type F female RG316 pigtail
• 1 × SMA male to SMA male RG316 pigtail

Total: 6 adapter cables, each using approximately 20cm of RG316 coaxial cable.