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Reviews For: Diamond BNC to SMA Converter

Category: Antenna parts, accessories, incl. baluns, hardware, etc.

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Review Summary For : Diamond BNC to SMA Converter
Reviews: 1MSRP:
Description:
The Diamond BNCJ-SMAP converts SMA Male Connectors to BNC Female Sockets.
Product is in production
More Info: https://diamondantenna.net/bncj-smap.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0012
G4VRR Rating: 2022-04-03
Misses the Target Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This adapter is machined very nicely and comes with the ubiquitous Diamond price hike over Chinese knock-offs. Chinese copies are plagued by the fact that a spacer of some description is needed to use them with your typical handheld transceiver. At something like four times the price I expected better from Diamond, but no- it seems that was an unreasonable expectation.

This phenomenon affects many handy talkie rubber ducks of both gender too. I took the trouble to investigate the standard(s) for SMA connectors, and it would appear that the Diamond (as well as the copies) exceeds that specification with respect to SMA thread length. The problem lies with the radio manufacturers because it seems they design handhelds with a longer than specification coaxial connector presumably to make it stronger? Along comes Diamond with their "take" on things and it is just like the Chinese efforts- too short. I have tried mine on three handhelds; a Standard C510 (fail), an Icom IC-E91 (epic fail) and a cheapie TYT MD390 (OK, but probably only because the "upstand" collar on the handset hides any potential gap?)

Diamond Antenna sells their product line to the Amateur market (amongst others no doubt) so hiding behind the specification is pointless because the product is not fit for purpose in the intended market of ham transceivers, and I have to question how they can get so far as to bring such an item to the market place without carrying out a few basic checks on handie talkies.

If I buy a Chinese effort of anything online and it is no good, I think "OK- my bad- you get what you pay for" but for this at around twenty bucks I start to question things, and it is obvious that the Chinese clones are more than acceptable at a quarter of the cost. Come on Diamond- you are a blue chip corporation, you can (and should) do better for your ham customers. Really, what would it have taken to add approximately 0.10" to the length of the SMA thread? I suspect this affects much of the SMA antenna product line too, so time to have a re-think? If not, then why this stupidity?

No I would not buy this again (at this price anyway) because there is simply no need to do so. Two stars seems churlish given the obvious high level of manufacturing quality, but 2* means "Needs Help" and it does.