Ham Radio Power Cables and Connectors: What You Need to Know

The Boring Stuff That Keeps You On the Air

Power cables and connectors are the most overlooked part of ham radio — and the most common point of failure.

Connector Types

Connector Use Notes
PL-259 / SO-239 Standard HF/VHF antenna Most common — UHF connector
SMA Handheld antennas UV-K1 and UV-K5 use SMA-Female
N-Type UHF+ weather-proof Better for outdoor installs
BNC Quick connect Great for portable ops

Power Cable Tips

  • 12 AWG minimum for mobile radios
  • Fuse both positive and negative wires
  • Anderson Powerpole connectors are the ham standard

UV-K1(8) — SMA antenna, USB-C power →

Back to blog