# 4 in long RG-6 coax cable **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863 "2007-10-07T18:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/1 "2007-10-07T18:22:29Z")
Anyone know where is a good place to find a very short coax cable for cable TV? I just need about 4 in male-to-male coax to hook up a splitter and don’t want to build one myself. Nobody I can find will sell one shorter than 3 ft. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/2 "2007-10-07T18:41:03Z")
Ask a guy in a cable company truck? An exchange of something of worth would be expected. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/3 "2007-10-07T19:24:23Z")
I’ve never seen one that short. You can get F-connector male to male adapters, but they are only going to be about an inch long. They look like this: [![](https://www.cabletvamps.com/images/F-Male-To-F-Male-Adapter.jpg) ](https://www.cabletvamps.com/images/F-Male-To-F-Male-Adapter.jpg) From this site, but you can get them in lots of places: [http://www.cabletvamps.com/adapters.htm](http://www.cabletvamps.com/adapters.htm) You might see if Radio Shack carries them, or any place else that sells TV stuff (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/4 "2007-10-07T21:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] I…don’t want to build one myself. [/QUOTE] Why not? It’s your best option for getting one that small. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/5 "2007-10-07T22:19:54Z")
Try [Pasternack Enterprises](http://www.pasternack.com/), but it may be more economical for you to buy a longer cable locally, connect it, coil up the excess out of the way, and tie the coil in place. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/6 "2007-10-07T22:32:11Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Why not? It’s your best option for getting one that small. [/QUOTE] You could even get a guy at home depot or lowes to put one together for you if you are nice and they have time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/7 "2007-10-07T23:02:51Z")
FYI, Radio Shack has one- and two-foot long coax cables, or you could use the couplers suggested by **engineer\_comp\_geek**. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/8 "2007-10-08T00:50:11Z")
Walmart sells some little screw on connectors. The cable stripping isn’t difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/9 "2007-10-08T01:05:21Z")
Just use the 3-foot one. It’s likely to be of better quality than any 4" cable built by an amateur. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/10 "2007-10-08T13:07:49Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] …likely to be of better quality than any 4" cable built by an amateur. [/QUOTE] That was my thinking, as it will have to endure the elements outside. Actually, a simple male-to-male F connector may work for me - I’ll check Radio Shack. Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/11 "2007-10-08T19:15:10Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] Actually, a simple male-to-male F connector may work for me - I’ll check Radio Shack. [/QUOTE] Or 2 of them, with a female-to-female adapter in between, which will give you more length. But that’s rather lossy, and probably more expensive than just buying a short cable. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/12 "2007-10-08T19:44:40Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Walmart sells some little screw on connectors. The cable stripping isn’t difficult. [/QUOTE] You’re asking for trouble here. All connectors on cables should be crimped to prevent signal loss. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/13 "2007-10-08T20:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] You’re asking for trouble here. All connectors on cables should be crimped to prevent signal loss. [/QUOTE] Sure, crimped is better, but if the guy can’t make them… I’ve done ok with them even on LNBF cables. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/14 "2007-10-09T05:22:01Z")
This is a good time to get chummy with the local cable TV installer. A fair number of the more recent cable boxes (in this region, at least) have an odd-looking jumper configuration on the back side, and the installer might have some extra jumpers. ---
**Author:** ![Shai\_tan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Shai\_tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shai_tan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-in-long-rg-6-coax-cable/421863/15 "2007-10-09T10:42:20Z")
Actually, they **DO** make and sell cables shorter than 12 inches. I have a few. Look for [**FLAT coax**](http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Coaxial-Cable-Coupler/dp/B0002KR74A) (typically used to run coax through the window and still be able to close it.) Mine are about eight inches long. Try Home Depot.