[R-390] Gender of connectors

[Tim Shoppa]

sdaitch at mor.ibb.gov wrote:
> Don't forget there are also reverse gender connectors available and used for specialized purposes.  
>
> The normal convention for the BNC series is the male connector has the outside twist-on structure and the female connector has the bayonet pins.
>
> Reverse gender BNCs would have the center conductor genders reversed.

Actually, if you look at what the catalogs call them, BNCs are usually
"plugs" (twist-on slots) and "jacks" (bayonet pins).

But some of us (not me) call all connectors with pins "male".

Others of us (my leaning) call all connectors that are usually plugs "male".

Things get really confusing when you get into mixed-gender connectors
(things like the half-and-half two-pin BNC used for twinax etc) or reverse
gender (BNC's, TNC's, I'm sure there are others I haven't seen).

My personal policy is to not call the connector "male" or "female", but
to call individual pins as "male" or "female".

Remember the Switchcraft microphone connectors (also found on RF
probes on some VTVM's and other instruments) where neither end has a
pin, just those little nubs? You can sex those and put them in your
Funk and Wagnall's!

Tim.