# how to... coaxial cable question? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193 "2003-01-02T12:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/1 "2003-01-02T12:51:11Z")
Does anyone have a link to a site that would show me how to check and redo the connections on a piece of coaxial cable for my television? I’m not sure that what’s on the cable at the moment is actually “correct.” I’ve been hitting up google, but nothing comes close to what I need. Figured someone amongst the teeming millions would probably know? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/2 "2003-01-02T12:54:26Z")
What exactly is the problem? How to fit the connectors to the cable, or where to plug the connectors in? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/3 "2003-01-02T13:19:13Z")
Most likey you are dealing with an F connector. The proceedure for reterminating is not difficult, but you do have to take care when trimming away the inner insulation, avoid nicking the center conductor. At VHF/UHF and above, even a small nick on the surface of a conductor can seriously degrade the signal (c.f. skin effect). Here’s a little something I found: [http://www.eworld.contactbox.co.uk/data/pinout/rfconns.htm](http://www.eworld.contactbox.co.uk/data/pinout/rfconns.htm) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/4 "2003-01-02T15:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carodin \* > \*\*Does anyone have a link to a site that would show me how to check and redo the connections on a piece of coaxial cable for my television? I’m not sure that what’s on the cable at the moment is actually “correct.” > > I’ve been hitting up google, but nothing comes close to what I need. Figured someone amongst the teeming millions would probably know? > > Thanks \*\* I used to make coax connections for a living. Now when I need them, I go to K-Mart or Wal-Mart and buy a length of cable ready made with connectors on each end. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/5 "2003-01-02T16:20:19Z")
Heh, funny. At the hardware store, ask them for some connectors. If you bring the cable they might put them on for you. But they also have some that don’t need a crimp tool to put on. ---
**Author:** ![Servo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Servo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Servo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/6 "2003-01-02T17:50:17Z")
[Step-by-step instructions.](http://www.hometech.com/learn/coaxterm.html) Although it’s a US site. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/7 "2003-01-02T18:07:34Z")
You also need to know what spec cable you’re using, the thin RG-59 or heavier cable like RG-6 to get the right connetor. ---
**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/8 "2003-01-02T18:28:18Z")
**Desmostylus** I needed to know how the existing connectors fitted onto the cable, and how to be able to do it correctly. **David** I’m in the UK so a trip to Walmart isn’t possible. I suppose the main D.I.Y stores would have similar, but I am in “the sticks.” Plus, I wanted to see how they worked and to know how to be able to do it. My current picture is fritzed (even though it’s only a one year old T.V) so I am going through a process of elimination to improve it. It’s most likely the aerial, but as that’s housed internally in the loft (attic) and I can’t get up there right now, I figured I’d start with the cable. heh, Seemed logical at the time. **Handy** why is my question funny? **Attrayant & Servo** Great sites! Between the two I now understand how it’s done. Thanksmuchly guys! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-coaxial-cable-question/146193/9 "2003-01-02T18:30:29Z")
**Padeye** thankyou; noted. Didn’t see your reply when I started typing mine.