--- title: UHF, PL-259, SO-239. What is the difference? description: The difference between UHF, PL-259 and SO-239, and how to tell them apart. How to use them, where they're found, and how they're typically installed. image: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0345/4055/2323/files/PL-259_Male_and_SO-239_Female_480x480.jpg?v=1600363703 --- [Skip to content](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/uhf-pl-259-so-239.-what-is-the-difference#main-content) [![Arcadian](https://blog.arcantenna.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Arcadian-Logo.png?width=300&height=70&name=Arcadian-Logo.png)](https://www.arcantenna.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/contact-us) [Contact us](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/contact-us) 1. [Home](https://www.arcantenna.com/) 2. / 3. [Blog](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog) 4. / 5. UHF, PL-259, SO-239. What is the difference? # UHF, PL-259, SO-239. What is the difference? [Michael Crudele](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/author/michael-crudele) · Mar 31, 2026, 1:54:16 PM · 3 min read · [PL259](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/tag/pl259) [SO239](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/tag/so239) [UHF](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/tag/uhf) ![UHF, PL-259, SO-239. What is the difference?](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0345/4055/2323/files/PL-259_Male_and_SO-239_Female_480x480.jpg?v=1600363703) I get many inquiries each month from customers looking for [NMO cable kits](https://www.arcantenna.com/m2m-antenna-hardware/m2m-antenna-mounts-brackets/nmo-motorola-style-mounts.html?connector_1=328&dir=asc&limit=60&order=position) and mounts for radios with UHF connectors. The problem is that there is often confusion concerning the terminology used to describe UHF connectors. The most common questions that I get on this topic are: - Is [PL-259](https://www.arcantenna.com/collections/connectors#?Collections=CONNECTORS&search_return=all&Metaconnector1=UHF+Male%2F+PL-259%2F+UHF+Plug) the same as UHF Male? - Is SO-239 the same as UHF Female? So, I thought that our blog would be a good place to clear up any confusion once and for all! Here are the facts... - UHF-Male (or UHF Plug) is THE SAME as PL-259. - UHF-Female (or UHF-Jack) is THE SAME as SO-239. The above connectors are used in applications like amateur / HAM radio, CB / Citizens Band radio, Marine radio & VHF radio. Typically, the SO-239 (UHF Female/UHF Jack) is installed ON THE RADIO, and the PL-259 (UHF Male/UHF Plug) is installed ON THE CABLE. The two "mate" and are collectively known as a UHF Connection. **(Left) UHF Female SO-239 vs. (Right) UHF Male PL-259** ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0345/4055/2323/files/PL-259_Male_and_SO-239_Female_480x480.jpg?v=1600363703)   **Have a question about a different connector type?** [**Read Our Blog About How to Identify Connector Types**](https://www.arcantenna.com/blogs/news/how-to-identify-coaxial-connectors) [**Shop Our Coax Cables, Adapters, and Connectors**](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/cable-collections) Share this post [mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EUHF%2C+PL-259%2C+SO-239.+What+is+the+difference%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.arcantenna.com%2Fblog%2Fuhf-pl-259-so-239.-what-is-the-difference](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EUHF%2C+PL-259%2C+SO-239.+What+is+the+difference%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.arcantenna.com%2Fblog%2Fuhf-pl-259-so-239.-what-is-the-difference) ### Subscribe Get the latest antenna and RF insights delivered to your inbox. ### Recent Posts - #### [![RFID Reader Antenna Basics - Overcoming Fading with Antenna Diversity with Antenna Diversity](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0345/4055/2323/files/uhf_rfid_system_480x480.png?v=1623767287) RFID Reader Antenna Basics - Overcoming Fadin... 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Arcadian Dev Team · Mar 04, 2026 · 4 min read [![Arcadian-Arc-logo-white](https://blog.arcantenna.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Arcadian-Arc-logo-white.png?width=325&height=85&name=Arcadian-Arc-logo-white.png "Arcadian-Arc-logo-white")](https://www.arcantenna.com/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/arcadian-inc) [Search](https://www.arcantenna.com/search) [About Us](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/contact-us) [Terms and Conditions](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/arcadian-incs-terms-and-conditions) [Reviews](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/arcadian-reviews) [Sales Tax Exemption](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/tax-exemptions) [Shipping Policy](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/shipping-and-delivery) [Blogs](https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog) [FAQs](https://www.arcantenna.com/pages/faq) [Terms of Service](https://www.arcantenna.com/policies/terms-of-service) [Refund Policy](https://www.arcantenna.com/policies/refund-policy) [Privacy Policy](https://www.arcantenna.com/policies/privacy-policy) --- © 2026 Arcadian • All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Michael Crudele", "url" : "https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/author/michael-crudele" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-31T17:55:05.438Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-31T17:54:16.000Z", "headline" : "UHF, PL-259, SO-239. What is the difference?", "image" : [ "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0345/4055/2323/files/PL-259_Male_and_SO-239_Female_480x480.jpg?v=1600363703" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.arcantenna.com/blog/uhf-pl-259-so-239.-what-is-the-difference", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.arcantenna.com/hubfs/Logos/Arcadian-Logo.png" }, "name" : "Arcadian Inc. " } } ```