Despite the fact that today the Internet is available in almost every home, in many apartments the television signal is still supplied via cable. Therefore, the question of how to connect the antenna cable to the plug is quite relevant. Incorrect installation will negatively affect the quality of the received signal, even if you use the most modern and expensive material. How to properly connect the antenna cable to the plug? How to choose a product so as not to regret your purchase later? What do the experts advise? This article will help you find answers to these questions.

Getting to know the product

The antenna cable is a multilayer wire, which has shielding properties, which ensure stable signal transmission. This way the TV will only show with an antenna connected. Especially for this purpose, it was equipped with a special connector for connection, which is mainly called an antenna socket. The other part of the connection has space for a plug. The home craftsman will have to install the latter on a cable, which can be connected to an antenna, satellite dish or television distribution box.

What will you need for work?

Very often, people who are not used to working with their hands do not know how to connect a thin antenna cable to a plug. Judging by numerous reviews, there is nothing complicated about connecting, so it is not necessary to resort to the services of specialists. You can cope with this on your own. First of all, you need to get an antenna (coaxial) cable, a knife or a stationery cutter.

About cable design

Before wondering how to connect the antenna cable to the plug, you should know the structure of the conductive product. The cable design is simple. It contains: a central core, copper wire, dense plastic insulation, aluminum foil (which is the second conductive element), outer insulation and braided shielding. The task of the latter is to suppress interference, the sources of which may be weather and mechanical influences. On the shelves of specialized stores there is a wide range of products produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers. Since the products presented come in very different qualities, when choosing, you should take into account some nuances, which will be discussed below.

What to look for when purchasing?

Judging by the reviews, the question of how to connect the antenna cable to the plug is not the only one of interest to beginners. What should those who decide to purchase an antenna cable pay attention to? Experts recommend the following to such a consumer:

• Choose a product in which the outer shell is marked 75. This indicates that the cable has a wave frequency with a resistance of 75 Ohms. All modern televisions and switching equipment are designed for this indicator. This number must appear along the entire length of the cable at intervals of 1 m.
• The value of the outer diameter should not exceed 0.6 cm. If at this stage the beginner, due to inexperience, made a mistake, then you should not be upset, since everything can be corrected. If the diameter of the internal thread in the plug is larger than the diameter of the wire, in order for the compression to be high-quality, you will have to wrap insulating tape around the cable. Each master decides how many layers of electrical tape are needed for this depending on the situation. The main thing is that the cable to the plug is fitted as tightly as possible.
• It is best to purchase a cable with a copper main core and braided shielding. In this case, the buyer may encounter difficulties for the reason that most manufacturers, in order to save money, equip their cables with steel central cores or apply copper plating to them. Copper alloy is used to produce braiding, and foil is used for shielding.

About the plug connector

According to experts, normal connection of the antenna cable to the plug will be possible if its connector is type F. This type accepts analog and digital television signals. Judging by numerous consumer reviews, the F-plug is the best: it reproduces a high-quality television signal and is easy to install, which is appreciated by many home craftsmen. Since plug diameters can vary widely, this should be taken into account. Otherwise, the plug will not match the connector and you will not be able to connect the TV. Judging by the reviews, there are often cases when the TV is mounted close to the wall. In such a situation, an angled F plug should be used.

Where should I start?

Before connecting the antenna cable to the plug, you need to do some preparatory work. The connection is made in two ways: the shielding braid is wrapped, or you can also do without it. Judging by numerous reviews, the best and most reliable contact is achieved with the wrapped braid. The cable is cut using a knife or cutter. To do this, step back one and a half centimeters from its end. Next, carefully cut the outer insulating layer in a circle. It is important that the braid and aluminum foil remain intact. The cut insulation is removed. As a result, both the braid and the foil should be open. Then they turn back.

In order to improve the strength of the foil, it is wrapped with polyethylene from the inside. According to experts, during stripping the foil is often damaged. If the plug is placed on a cable with the foil turned away, the contact will be poor quality. Therefore, some craftsmen bend part of the foil back with the conductive part on top. Afterwards it is necessary to remove the insulation from the central core. In this case, they also retreat from the end of the wire, but by 10 mm. It is important not to damage the cable itself.

How to connect the antenna cable to the plug? Process description

This procedure begins after stripping the wire. The first step is to screw the foil onto the first part of the plug. How to connect the antenna cable to the plug correctly? As experts recommend, it is important to ensure that the central core is located exactly in the core of the plug. To work, you will need wire cutters, through which part of the central wire is then removed. This must be done so that it protrudes beyond the union nut by no more than 0.6 cm. Then they begin to screw the second part of the plug all the way to the stop. After completing these steps, the fork is considered ready for use.

Second way

Some beginners are interested in how to install a plug on an antenna cable without wrapping it in foil? According to experienced craftsmen, this is possible. Simply cut off the top insulating layer and remove the cable braid. Next, the plug is disassembled. It must consist of two halves. First of all, the plastic half is placed on the open section of the cable. The second fork is tightened.

About the Angle Design Plug

Judging by the reviews, there are times when there is a need to move the TV with the antenna plug already inserted closer to the wall, which is problematic. In such a situation, a special plug with an angled design will help out.

You can buy it at an electrical appliance store. To connect this product, the technology described above is applicable. If the TV owner does not want to use a plug connection, then soldering will be the optimal connection method. However, for a high-quality signal, the soldered area should be smaller.

In addition, if you need to quickly connect the TV, this will be problematic. In this regard, the plug connection is considered the most convenient.

What mistakes do newbies make?

Not everyone knows that some antenna cable manufacturers cover the inside of the foil with polyethylene. It is quite difficult to clean this material, even with a scalpel. If the cable can be stripped, the presence of plastic will become a significant obstacle to quality contact with the plug. As a result, the signal will be distorted. This can be prevented if the foil is turned back and turned back so that its conductive side comes out. Often, when crimping, thin braided wires come into contact with the main cable core, as a result of which the quality of the received signal is not at the proper level, and may even disappear completely. Often the antenna cable is laid in the same baseboard along with the electrical wiring. This, according to experts, is unacceptable, since with such installation the signal transmission will also be of poor quality.

Many satellite TV users are faced with the problem of connecting the antenna cable to the power supply. We tried to solve this problem and below are some tips to fix it.

For reference. The power supply is a secondary power source. It is used to provide the receiver nodes with electricity. In most cases, the power supply also performs additional functions. It provides stabilization and protection of the supply voltage.

In order to connect the antenna cable to the power supply, you need to connect the cable and the plug of the active antenna power supply.

1. First we cut the cable. To do this, step back one and a half from its end and remove the insulation in a circle using a knife. Be careful not to damage the cable braiding underneath the insulation. These are different wiring and screen foil.

2. We remove a piece of the cut outer insulator and move the screen hairs and foil back.

3. We retreat half a centimeter from the shifted edge of the braid and cut off the inner insulating layer in a circular manner. After that we remove it.

4. We take the cable and place it under the clamp of the power supply plug. We perform all actions very carefully, making sure that the central core is inserted into the latch, and that the metal braid and screen are in contact with the tinned area.

5. We tighten the screws and fix the contacts of the power supply cable.

NOTE! Then make sure that the braid and the main core located in the center are not closed. If this happens, the indicator light will not light up, and if it does light up, it will be very dim. Also, make sure that the metal braid is in contact with the tinned area of ​​the plug. Otherwise, the supply voltage will not reach the TV cable.

If all actions are performed correctly, you will see all channels on the TV screen immediately after scanning and making settings. When you disconnect the power supply from the network, the channels will either disappear from the TV screen or their image quality will deteriorate.

For reference. A television cable is used to connect an antenna to a receiver or television. It is very important to choose the right antenna cable with optimal impedance. This will help ensure maximum power transfer. There are several factors to consider when choosing a cable. Symmetrical lines are sensitive to contamination and very often lose signal. Coaxial ones are susceptible to weather influences and have a short service life. In most cases, single-ended antenna cables with a thick copper main conductor are used. They are equipped with a plastic dielectric. The braid is made of copper wire. The top layer is made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. The second factor is diameter. We give preference to the thickest possible cable, since a thin one will lose a certain part of the energy. A weak signal will affect the image quality.

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When connecting the plug to the antenna or connecting the cable yourself, you must follow some rules. This article is about how to correctly connect an antenna cable to a plug without errors. F-connector "male"

Connection errors

I’ll probably start by citing the most common mistakes when connecting a cable. When installing the plug, you must immediately pay attention to this in order to eliminate troubleshooting in the future.

1. The inner side of the foil does not conduct electric current; it is the base on which aluminum is sprayed. When you wrap it over the braid, there will be no contact with the F-connector. Therefore, it is better to remove it or turn it back.
2. When wrapping the braid, you should pay attention that all the cores of the braid are removed and cannot touch the central core, as this leads to a short circuit. In this case, if the set-top box does not have protection against short circuits in the cable, this may lead to its failure.
3. When crimping some types of plugs, you should not do this too much as this can also lead to a short circuit between the central core and the screen (braid).

Connecting the antenna to the TV

To properly connect the antenna to the TV, it is better to use special plugs. Currently, so-called F-connectors (or F-connectors) have become widespread. They are installed directly on a coaxial cable with a diameter of 6.8 mm with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms intended for television equipment.

With this type of connector, additional attachments can be used: male and female plugs, angled plugs, cable connectors. The variety of such antenna adapters for TV is very large. The advantage of this connection is obvious; it makes it possible to connect a cable without soldering using one knife in a few minutes anywhere. This ensures the reliability of the connection against mechanical stress.

Rusty cable connection contacts

Unfortunately, there are enough counterfeits on the market and you can buy copies like these. This means that the connector was exposed to a damp environment and simply rusted. Most likely the insides of such a connector are made of iron rather than bronze or brass. In this case, its insufficient level or its complete loss will be observed.

Of course, you can connect an antenna to a TV without a plug; just make contact between the RF connector of the TV and the cable. The braid is connected to the connector body and the central core must fit into the central part. Of course, such a connection is not reliable and it is better to solder it, but there is a possibility of damaging the RF contact of the TV.

Connecting the cable to the plug

F - male connector

In order to immediately correctly connect the antenna cable to the plug without any modifications, it is enough to follow certain dimensions and sequence of actions, but do not be afraid that you may get an electric shock, since the voltage in the cable is very low. So, to properly strip the TV cable you need:

• at a distance of 12 - 15 mm, make an incision in the outer shell so as not to damage the braid and, tilting it to the sides, break it off and pull it off (you can do this in a way convenient for you);
• wrap the braid;
• when folding the foil, keep in mind that its inner layer does not conduct current, so turn it around the axis again with the outer layer up or remove it altogether;
• cut the dielectric of the central core at a distance of 8 -10 mm from the end and remove it;
• screw the F connector onto the cable;
• screw the plug into the connector.

If the central core protrudes more than 4 mm, it may rest inside the connector and prevent the nut from screwing in completely, so remove the excess.

If the cable diameter is small, you can wrap a little electrical tape and then wrap the braid on it.

Crimp plug

In this case, the central core is clamped with a screw, and the braid is crimped by the plug body:

• a protective casing is put on the cable;
• the outer shell is stripped to 10 mm;
• aluminum foil is removed;
• the insulation of the central core is removed by 3 mm;
• the braid is wound onto the remaining dielectric;
• the central core is inserted into the groove and clamped with a screw;
• the braid is crimped onto the plug body;
• We screw the protective casing onto the body.

Connecting the antenna power supply separator

In this case, when connecting the cable to the power supply, the dimensions change slightly:

Correctly connect the power supply to the antenna

• the outer protective shell is stripped to 15 mm;
• the foil is removed;
• the braid moves towards the protective sheath;
• the dielectric of the central core is removed by 5 mm;
• the cable fastening screws in the separator are loosened;
• The cable is inserted into the resulting openings and clamped with screws.

Be careful when clamping the braid: firstly, it must touch the tinned area on the board; secondly, make sure that the braid does not touch the central core.

Even in the age of digital technology and the total penetration of the Internet into all spheres of life, many apartments receive a television signal via cable. An incorrect attitude towards its installation can have a very negative impact on the quality of the received signal, even if you choose the most modern and expensive material. In this article we will tell you how to connect a television cable in different ways and give recommendations to beginners.

Features of cable routing

The television cable “comes” into the apartment from the floor panel and is routed through the television receivers available in the house. To correctly install a TV cable throughout your apartment, you should follow some recommendations.

The main elements of a TV cable in stripped and completely exposed form

To avoid signal interference, it is recommended to place the cable away from the electrical wiring. Telephone wire or Internet cable do not interfere with the normal passage of the TV signal, and therefore the general installation of these communications in one cable channel is allowed. If it is impossible to avoid placing an electrical cable together with a television cable, then you should purchase a TV cable with a core diameter of over 1 mm with a double protective screen.

Throughout the apartment, the cable should be pulled in one piece, avoiding any connections or twists that affect the quality of the picture. Crossing cables with electrical networks is not recommended, but if this cannot be avoided, then the intersection should be arranged strictly at an angle of 90°. Read also the article: → "".

Cable routing across rooms to ensure shielding and high quality contacts is carried out using factory-made splitters. Self-made devices are unlikely to be able to provide acceptable signal quality. You should also avoid connecting a television cable with sharp bends or in a coil - the quality of the picture on the screen may suffer greatly from this.

It is better to lay the section of the line running from the floor box to the apartment in a widened cable channel, taking into account the possible activation of an alarm or an additional telephone line. To facilitate maintenance, splitters should be placed in areas with easy access.

Models of television cables may be different, but the general principle of connecting them remains the same.

How to choose the right cable

Even the most modern television receiver and cable plugs are unable to produce an acceptable image if the cable is of insufficient quality. High-frequency TV signal currents flow somewhat differently than home electrical currents. The higher the frequency of the current, the closer to the edges of the main wire it flows, therefore, in cables used in the military or space industry, in order to avoid a critical reduction in the quality of the television signal, they are treated with a silver or gold compound.

Selecting a cable to connect

When selecting material, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• all markings must be present on the outer shell;
• the resistance value of the product should be 75 Ohms, because all television receivers are designed for this value;
• the outer diameter must be more than or less than 6 mm;
• The main core and shielding braid must be made of copper.

In the latter case, manufacturers often sin by trying to reduce the cost of products as much as possible by making the central core from steel and simply covering it with copper plating, making braiding from copper alloys, and shielding from foil. Read also the article: → "".

Marking of television cables

Let's look at the marking using the example of the Chinese RG 6U television cable, the most common in our country.

An example of Russian-made cable marking indicating the main characteristics and technical conditions

How to connect a cable to a plug

You can connect the plug to the cable yourself, especially since the TV signal voltage is too low to cause any harm to health. Even an unplugged cable can be cut without fear of electric shock. A short-circuit between the braid and the main conductor also does not cause any harm. Different plugs are produced for different cable sizes, therefore, when selecting a cable, you need to pay attention to its diameter. The most commonly used are F-plugs.

First you need to cut the cable, which can be done in two ways:

• with braid bend;
• without inversion.

The most reliable method is considered to be cutting with a twist, but if it is not possible to install the plug, then the second method is used. The cable is cut with a scalpel or a sharp knife: the outer sheath is carefully cut to length without damaging the screen. Once the cut is complete, the insulation is folded back and removed.

Step-by-step diagram of crimping a television cable with bending the braid and releasing the main core by 3-5 mm

The copper braid and shielding foil are wrapped. In general, three types of shielding can be used in TV cables:

• aluminium foil;
• copper braid;
• aluminum foil with copper braid.

Aluminum foil is often coated with polyethylene on the inside for strengthening purposes. It is unlikely that it will be possible to clean the film without damaging the foil, so to improve the contact of the screw-on plug with the foil, the bent part of it is slightly wrapped back so that the uninsulated piece of foil faces outward. If the cable diameter is too small, the end entering the plug is wrapped with electrical tape.

The insulation from the main core is removed in a manner familiar to many, similar to removing insulation from electrical wires, without damaging the core itself. Then the plug is screwed onto the foil, and the excess main core is bitten off with wire cutters or cut off with a knife, leaving a length of approximately 3 mm on the outside.

Connecting the cable to the antenna

Connecting the TV cable to the antenna should be carried out in compliance with the rules for switching electrical appliances, guided by the diagrams available in the technical data sheet of the TV. To complete the work you will need:

• splitter;
• antenna cable;
• antenna amplifier;
• wire cutters;
• sharpened knife or scalpel;
• soldering iron

An antenna amplifier is used when the signal is not strong enough or too weak. The splitter is useful for connecting several TVs to one antenna at once. Read also the article: → "".

The cable is connected directly to the TV antenna using screw terminals

The cable, splitter and amplifier must be installed next to the separated cable. In an individual home, the best place to place all appliances is the attic. The end of the cable coming from the antenna is connected to the amplifier through a special terminal. From the amplifier the signal goes to a splitter, to which the television receivers in the house are connected. When connecting to a satellite dish, you will need to use a receiver to which a cable is connected via the antenna connector. Preparing the cable is similar to cutting it before connecting it to the plug.

Tip #1. Before connecting the TV, you must carefully check all the connections of the switching devices and the reliability of the plugs in the appropriate sockets. If the image is noisy or the signal is too weak, you should adjust the antenna amplifier.

Connecting to a splitter

Nowadays, no one can be surprised by the presence of a TV in every room. A small problem is supplying a TV signal to all receivers, since in most cases there is only one signal source. The solution to this problem is to use an antenna splitter. The picture quality when connecting TV receivers through a splitter may deteriorate somewhat, but the connection process itself is not difficult and is completed in just a few minutes.

The connection diagram can be presented step by step as follows:

• choosing a location for the splitter and securing it there;
• removing plugs from used connectors;
• cutting and connecting TV cable.

Connecting the cable in the panel

When laying or connecting the cable, it is not allowed to twist it into knots and coils, bends or sharp bends, which sharply worsen the quality of the received television signal.

Tip No. 2: The section of cable that goes first from the panel to the apartment should be placed in a wide cable channel.

In the case when the cable connection in a staircase box must be performed by soldering, the length of unshielded sections should be minimized, since their presence and length directly affects the quality of the signal and image. After soldering is completed, it is recommended to cover each contact under a layer of varnish - it can prevent the occurrence of pockets of corrosion damage and the ingress of dust particles between the contacts. Dust sticking between the contacts causes the signal to deteriorate when air humidity increases: the image reproduced by an analog TV will become very snowy, and when transmitting a digital signal, the image will simply disintegrate into pixels with an unpleasant squeaking sound.

Connecting a television cable in the entrance panel is not difficult

FAQ

Question No. 1. Is the F-plug suitable for digital TV signal transmission, or only for analogue?

Despite the fact that this type of plug has been used for quite a long time, both its connector and characteristics allow you to fully enjoy not only analog (by the way, broadcasting will cease forever in the near future) television, but also digital and satellite television signals.

Question No. 2. What to do and what to do if the diameter of the cable is slightly smaller than the diameter of the internal thread of the plug? After all, in this case, reliable compression will not work.

Question No. 3. When installing the plug into the corresponding socket, the TV cannot be placed close to the wall. What is the way out of this situation?

In this case, you should use an angled plug, which can be purchased at almost any store that sells electrical household appliances.

Question No. 4. In old Soviet-made TVs, the cable was connected to the plug by soldering. How to connect a modern type of cable to it?

If the signal quality deteriorates or the cable needs to be replaced due to poor contact, the plug and cable can be connected, as before, by soldering.

Question No. 5. How can you connect several TVs to an antenna or cable television network at once?

To connect several television receivers, you can use a special device - a splitter, also called a “divider” or “splitter”.

Using splitters to connect several TVs to one TV cable

Typical connection errors

• Not everyone knows that some manufacturers coat the inside of the cable with polyethylene, which cannot be cleaned even with a scalpel. Plastic, even with the best cable stripping, will prevent the creation of high-quality contact with the plug. To avoid signal distortion, it is recommended to turn part of the turned-off foil in the opposite direction so that the conductive side is on the outside.
• A typical mistake is getting the thinnest braided wires onto the main core of the cable when crimping it. This may result in poor quality or intermittent signal dropouts. A common mistake when installing and laying cables is placing them in the same baseboard as the electrical wiring. This cannot be done, otherwise the interference created can significantly spoil the mood when watching TV shows.

Hello dear readers of the blog site. Recently I have written several articles regarding the installation of digital television in the country. Today I want to talk about how to lengthen the antenna cable if you need to move it for better reception, or if the TV installation location is not suitable for comfortable viewing of TV shows.

In the article about I have already touched on the topic of the need to purchase a high-quality coaxial cable in order to avoid possible problems with signal reception. But I will tell you below what to do and what tools you need to purchase and really hope that everything will be as accessible and clear as possible.

Proper work done will not affect the quality of the received signal. If malfunctions occur or the quality has deteriorated after work, then it is worth checking all the connections and assessing how high-quality the materials were purchased.

Necessary tools and materials for antenna cable extension

If you need to move the TV to another room, or to a corner of the room, there is a shortage of wire length and the question arises of purchasing an additional piece. Before going to the store, be sure to inspect the existing one, evaluate the thickness of the central core, rewrite the markings, and it is best to cut off a small piece for a visual example when purchasing.

In my opinion, there are only two optimal ways to extend a television cable. The first using “F” connectors, and the second using a “splitter” for possible further wiring to several devices.

I won’t talk about soldering, since this matter is quite complicated. When extending a television cable by soldering, it is difficult to achieve the proper wave impedance. And the junction itself will be very fragile.

So, let's look at both options in order.

How to extend a TV cable using “F” connectors

For this method we will need two f connectors and one f connection. Before proceeding with the extension, the wire must be properly “cut”. To do this, carefully remove the top shell without damaging the screen. We twist the shielded braid and bend it in the direction of the cable. We remove the foam insulation, thereby exposing the central core. The approximate length of the freed core should be about one and a half centimeters.

This operation must be performed on both ends that you want to fuse. After the completed operations, take the f connectors and carefully screw them onto the wire. Keep track of so that the central wire does not contact the outer shield.

For better fixation, the junction can be wrapped with electrical tape. This fixation will prevent your product from falling apart when bent or deformed.

This was the first way to extend a coaxial cable. Now I propose to consider the second option and, in my opinion, more practical.

How to extend a coaxial cable using a splitter

Let's first understand what a splitter is and what it is needed for.

A splitter is a small box with one input and several outputs. A splitter is designed to split a connected antenna into several TVs, or to one cable. When choosing a suitable device, you should immediately decide on the number of connected TVs. This is necessary for the correct choice of divisor.

To begin with, such a device should be firmly fixed on a flat vertical or horizontal surface. Only after this proceed with the actual installation. In fact, this method of extending an antenna cable is similar to the previous one. As in the first case, it is necessary to use two f connectors screwed onto the ends. After which we connect the wire coming from the antenna to the input of the splitter, and connect the piece with which we are going to extend the line to the output. In fact, this is the same f connector only with the possibility of further branching.

That's all the information on how to extend the antenna cable. If, in your opinion, the article seemed incomplete and you are looking for other options for solving the problem, then I can easily supplement it, but in my opinion these are the main and simplest ways to solve the problem. In addition to all that has been said, I suggest, for general self-development, to read an article about this, since this question arises quite often when rearranging furniture in an apartment or moving. For clarity and reinforcement of the material, I suggest watching the corresponding video.