Overview
Estimate how SMA, RP-SMA, U.FL, MMCX and adapters affect RF signal loss.
Key points
- Every connector and adapter adds some loss.
- Bad adapters can also create mismatch.
- Avoid unnecessary connector chains.
- Use quality connectors at high frequency.
Practical advice
RF cable choice can strongly affect real range. At 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, even short poor-quality cables can lose significant power.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes include using long thin coax, adding too many adapters, confusing SMA and RP-SMA, and ignoring cable loss in the link budget.