How it connects
The male plug's hex coupling nut (internal 3/8-32 UNEF) screws onto the jack's external thread; the cable's solid center conductor inserts into the jack's spring socket. Push-on F plugs slide over the thread instead.
Male and female halves
This is the female (jack): external thread, female center socket. The male (plug) has the internal-threaded nut and the bare center conductor as pin. Gender follows the center contact, not the thread.
Usually connects to
- 75 Ω F male plug with center conductor/pin and internally threaded 3/8-32 coupling nut; compression, crimp or twist-on types for RG6/RG59/RG11 cable
- Push-on/quick-connect F male plug
Common sizes
- One 75 Ω interface: 3/8-32 UNEF-2A external thread, 9.525 mm (about 9.5 mm) major diameter, 32 TPI, 0.79375 mm (about 0.794 mm) pitch.
- Bulkheads commonly use a 7/16 in hex; center-conductor acceptance is roughly 0.6–1.1 mm, with some listings giving 0.6–1.0 mm.
- Typical frequency ratings are 1, 2 or 3 GHz. RG6/RG59 compatibility describes cable termination, not a different mating thread.
Where it is used
Cable televisionSatellite televisioncable modemshome AV wiringCoaxial wall outletsterrestrial TV antennasCCTVsplitters and amplifiers
Variations
- F-81 female-female barrel/feedthrough
- Keystone mount
- Bulkhead/panel mount with nut
- Straight or right-angle PCB mount
- Right-angle adapter
- 2/3 GHz-rated versions
How to recognise it
Short nickel or gold plated threaded barrel ~9.5 mm OD with fine threads, a white/blue dielectric face with a small center hole (no pin), often a hex flange; double-ended for feedthroughs.
Often confused with
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Belling-Lee TV connector | Belling-Lee is push-on with no thread and a pin/tube center; F has a 3/8-32 thread. Belling-Lee is unthreaded push-fit with a 9.5 mm sleeve; F female has a visible fine 3/8-32 external thread. |
| SMA jack | SMA is 1/4-36 UNS thread (smaller) and 50 ohm with a PTFE dielectric and solid socket. |
| female pipe thread | Here the female describes the center contact; the shell is male-threaded. This is an electrical coaxial interface with a central insulated contact and 3/8-32 fine coupling thread; nominal pipe-thread sizes do not identify it. |
| Male F-type plug | Male has a projecting centre conductor/pin and internally threaded coupling nut; the female jack has a centre socket and external shell threads. |
Also called
F jack/socket/receptacleF female connector/portCoax wall jackF-type bulkhead jackF-81 female-female barrel/feedthrough
Good to know
The mating thread is external even though the center contact makes this the female F-type connector. Its mating identity is F-type rather than a generic thread.
Related connections
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