#Coaxial cable connector how to#

Pulse Larsen makes mini coax cables that can range from 3 inches to 20 inches. Whoever is installing might cut a portion of the cable into shorter lengths depending on the signal strength and range you need to cover. Cable lengths can be from 50 to 1000 feet. Coaxial cables can be cabled together to cover long distances. The most common sizes of coax cables are,Ĭoax cable lengths can vary depending on their use. SMA, NMO, FME is usually used on RG-58 or thinner coax cables. To find the type of coax cable you have to look on the cord for those two things.Ī UHF connector talked about before, can be commonly seen on RG-58 and RG-8. The number followed identifies the cable type. The two letters you’ll see are RG meaning Radio Guide. To identify the coaxial cable type, you’ll see two letters followed by numbers on the cable. If it’s too big, it’s not secured properly and will most likely fall off the cable. If a connector is too small, it’s not going to fit the cable. Coax cable connectors must be the right size for installation. This damages connectors and can interfere with the signal.Īnother thing you need to know is the size of the coax cable. Reverse connectors help prevent users from connecting the wrong types of connectors like male to male and female to female. Below provides an example of what reverse polarity looks like in both male and female connectors. The reverse polarity jack is female and has a center pin with outside threads. A reverse polarity plug is male and has a socket, inside thread, and a center hole. This type of style can be shown in the above paragraph regarding male or female connectors. Standard is what is normally seen in connectors. You can tell the polarity is either standard or reverse by the look at the plug/jack. Reverse polarity just means that the hole and pin are switched or reversed. When you connect the male to the female connector, they must have the same polarity. There are two types of polarity connectors can have: Standard and Reverse polarity. Polarity is another thing you must know to put connectors together. The pictures below for more details on what male and female connectors look like. You won’t be able to connect a male-to-male coaxial cable connector and vice versa. Male and female connectors go together so the shell of the plug (male) covers the shell of the jack (female). A male connector plug has threads inside, while a female connector jack has threads on the outside. The ends of connectors can be identified as male or female. These are mainly found as male connectors. These can be seen with antenna mounts like those from Motorola or Pulse Larsen. NMO is another connector you might frequently see. FMEįME is a smaller size and can be run through holes and be a conductor for larger coax connectors. These are made to be quick-disconnect meaning they can be quickly and easily removed. QMA can be known as an upgraded version of SMA. Reverse polarity is available in this connector. SMA connectors are small and hold thinner coax cables. Mini versions of this connector were designed for use with cell phones. UHF connectors are used for amateur radios. F-Typeį-Type can be seen on television sets and used with antenna, cable, satellite TV’s, and modems. These helps solve signal issues while operating your devices. These connectors are weatherproof and are commonly used in cell phones and RF/antenna connections. The TNC connector is a threaded version of a BNC Connector.

BNC is used for low frequencies and used on radios and security cameras. These RF connectors are used for quick connect and quick disconnect in RF equipment. Here is a list of the coaxial cable connector types.īNC is a popular type of connector for the radio signal. We’ll review the,Ĭoaxial cable connectors connect cables to other devices and help maintain the shielding around the cable.

#Coaxial cable connector how to#

To understand how to choose the right coax cable and connector, this article will explain the things you should know when searching for connectors.

They must match correctly for both connectors to work and have adequate signals. Understanding what a coaxial cable is and the cable connectors can help you determine the right one you need.Ĭonnectors have genders, polarity, and different types and sizes that can be confusing if you’re not aware of how connectors work. Connectors are used to connect cables to devices and help maintain the shielding of the cable. These RF coaxial cables are used for carrying radio frequency signals from one point to another. Coaxial cables for radio communication use are also known as RF (radio frequency) coaxial cables.