Coaxial cable connectors for TV

[Chris152]

I've searched the net and can't find my answer.

These two are the connections on our TV ariel cable, one into the wall socket, one into the back of the hard drive. Am I right thinking they're both female connections? I've searched for a new, longer (5m) cable and it seems female to female doesn't crop up where I'm looking.

Thanks, C

 

[ajs]

I suspect from the proportions those are actually male connectors looking at them, albeit with a tubular centre pin, but it's difficult to be definitive from a photo. If that centre pin fits inside the centre tube of the mating connector it is male.

They're called Belling-Lee connectors if you want to search for them online.

 

[Dabop]

Belling Lee or 75 ohm coax connectors- those are the males, readily available online as plugs (use 75 ohm coax!!) or premade 5m is also readily available online or at most hardware stores in premade 5m lengths (the premade ones usually have the same connector (male) each end but also usually include a female to female adapter to turn them into an 'extension cord'...

Usually about $8 to $15 Australian

This is the female to female adapter.. (note the difference in the center pin...)

 

[Chris152]

Well, hold on to your seats y'all. Impatient to shift things around, I moved the TV, plugged in the internet bits without the ariel and - this is the good bit - it turns out you don't actually need a cable connecting to an ariel in 2024! I went into Freeview, and can watch live tv (etc) from there!!! I'd no idea.

Thanks both, but on this occasion I won't be needing a new cable, it seems.

[Slightly embarrassed, tbh]

 

[Silken]

This is the female to female adapter.. (note the difference in the center pin...)
View attachment 189467

Hi Chris152
I can confirm this is the female and the image you posted are both male connectors, I would also point out that the female connectors also has four splits in the outer body to allow room for the male to slide in.

I have used male connectors that look like your image and the hole in the pin is just a different design compared to the dome top pin type; and the hole is smaller than the female connector.

 

[Dabop]

Well, hold on to your seats y'all. Impatient to shift things around, I moved the TV, plugged in the internet bits without the ariel and - this is the good bit - it turns out you don't actually need a cable connecting to an ariel in 2024! I went into Freeview, and can watch live tv (etc) from there!!! I'd no idea.

Thanks both, but on this occasion I won't be needing a new cable, it seems.

[Slightly embarrassed, tbh]

One thing to watch out for- a TV using the internet is dependent on your connection speed and number of devices connected to the router, and can also in some cases use a staggering amount of data each month if you have a data cap...
(I have a 100gb cap on mine- and the tv alone could use it up in a couple of weeks!!! after that, the speed is capped on my internet connection and that really slugs things down...)

Just something to be aware of...

 

[Chris152]

One thing to watch out for- a TV using the internet is dependent on your connection speed and number of devices connected to the router, and can also in some cases use a staggering amount of data each month if you have a data cap...
(I have a 100gb cap on mine- and the tv alone could use it up in a couple of weeks!!! after that, the speed is capped on my internet connection and that really slugs things down...)

Just something to be aware of...

Thanks Dabop - I'll check, I've not looked at the contract in years.

eta - it's an unlimited contract, so all good

 

[Dabop]

Thanks Dabop - I'll check, I've not looked at the contract in years.

eta - it's an unlimited contract, so all good

Mines an unlimited, but with a speedcap after 100Gb... (the one I had before that was also 100Gb- but then 10c per Gb after that!!!!)
sux being rural- we got a 'choice here between Hel$ra, and Belong- which is owned by Hel$tra anyway....

No competition means poor customer service (our cellphone tower has been promised to be upgraded in capacity 'soon'- they promised that when 3G was first introduced- 5G is in now- and we are STILL waiting on that 'soon'...)

If it ain't in the city, they don't give a damn (but we get to pay MORE than you do for the same plan in the city!!!)- I cheat- I use my sisters address to get the 'city plan price' here lol, saves me $10 a month at least...

 

[SammyQ]

Chris 152? Just to round this off: I have a set of 3-4 "gender benders" in my lecky toolbox, specifically to solve your male-to-male (or female-to-female) connections. I stole the following image off eBay to show you and it's female on each side to allow two male connectors like yours to connect.

 

[scockram]

Apologies in advance here, for a thread derail.

I'm looking for a new FM/Dab antenna connector for a Hi-Fi, but I'm unsure what type it is. It looks quite like these Coaxial connectors, but not quite.

Can anyone advise me please? I need a right angle, shorter profile version of these, as the Hi-Fi needs to fit into a confined space.

 

[Richard_C]

I think its a BNC connector.

 

[ajs]

That's an F connector.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_connector

BNC plugs have a bayonet lamp style locking collar as opposed to a screw thread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BNC_connector

 

[Dabop]

AJS is correct- its an F connector and yes the right angle adapters are available online and quite cheap (about $5 here)

 

[scockram]

Thanks all. That's sorted then!

I bought an adapter exactly like that earlier this afternoon @Dabop .

 

[trvlr]

a wee tip... "don't buy cheap connectors, nor cheap ready made cables. The loss with the latter can sometimes be "quite noticeable" when it comes to picture quality and signal strength. There F connectors to Belling type (75 ohm) adapters in all variations/combinations.

 

[scockram]

a wee tip... "don't buy cheap connectors, nor cheap ready made cables. The loss with the latter can sometimes be "quite noticeable" when it comes to picture quality and signal strength. There F connectors to Belling type (75 ohm) adapters in all variations/combinations.

Good point there, thanks. How does one know though, whats good quality and what's not? It's hard to tell these days when most stuff is bought online, with so many options of seemingly similar looking products and prices.

 

[squib]

The aerial chap who came and aligned my aerial told me to throw away my cheap cable and make up my own from decent cable and connectors, easily available and so easy to do plus you can make exactly the right length.

 

[Dabop]

The aerial chap who came and aligned my aerial told me to throw away my cheap cable and make up my own from decent cable and connectors, easily available and so easy to do plus you can make exactly the right length.

Depends- there's a lot of poor quality 'bulk' cable out there too- if you plan on 'rolling your own' it pays to investigate exactly what you are buying... (and making sure you know how to connect the belling-lee connectors (or F connectors if that is what you are using) correctly...)
I have seen some doozies over the years- from a poor homemade lead that only had the center core connected (the 'claws' on the belling-lee were 'dug' into the insulated jacket of the coax!!!), to ones with internal shorts from stray 'whiskers' from the coax shorting to the center pin.... (easy to do with F connectors)
And get the right coax for the job- 75ohm, not 50 ohm RG-58!!! (it doesn't fit the 75 ohm connectors properly, and the impedance mismatch will reduce the signal)- not a huge amount but on long runs or in marginal signal areas- that can be enough to drop the signal into dropping out...

 

[trvlr]

good quality cable often has a more generous copper sheathing sometimes even two layers...) and a more substantial inner/single core. Also the insulation is often a little more apparent - as in almost (if not) "solid..."